REASSURING OURSELVES

The Giants are falling apart, the Jets will break your heart and so will the Mets, the Yanks have thrown a bunch of money around with little to show, the hockey and hoops are dismal, but we're still number one in corruption...aren't we?

What color foam-rubber #1 finger goes with that, anyway? (Don't answer that.)

DITKA: TANNED, RESTED AND READY

Suddenly, Albany's got some catching-up to do in the grand corruption race. Client #9, meet Senate Candidate #5. At this rate, they'll have a retired-numbers wall going up by Christmas.

HI DE HI DE HI DE HI

Congressman (and user of hair-care products last favored by Cab Calloway) Charlie Rangel's got yet another tax scandal on his plate. How strange that so many of these should come to light after the election.