Sports

The Rumble

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CHAMPIONSHIP ANNIVERSARY ‚ÄìDec. 4, 2012: Steiner Sports Marketing & Memorabilia founder Brandon Steiner celebrates 25th Anniversary of company with two of his biggest clients and New York favorites, world champions Mark Messier, Rangers, and Mariano Rivera, Yankees, and birthday cake provided by TLC’s “Cake Boss.” Steiner announced on line auction benefiting Hurricane Sandy victims, as well as collectibles line with 100 percent of proceeds going to favorite charities of 25 participating athletes. Photo Credit: Michael Priest (
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Steve Spagnuolo comes back to MetLife Stadium today with the Saints and tries to outwit Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and beat Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin. But he never will forget what it was like floating down the Canyon of Heroes with them as Super Bowl XLII champions.

“[Coughlin is] the ultimate coach,” Spagnuolo, the former Giants defensive coordinator, told the Rumble, “and a compassionate coach for the game of football. I learned a great deal of football from Coach Coughlin.”

The man the Giants defenders grew to love as “Spags” recalled the 6:30 a.m. Friday tape sessions with Coughlin.

“I grew to really appreciate that,” Spagnuolo said. “He’d always have some insight about what we could do defensively from an offensive point of view.”

Spagnuolo was 10-38 with a rebuilding Rams team in his first head-coaching try, but deserves to get another chance. He’s too good of a man, football and otherwise.

“What you gain in experience through situations like that is invaluable,” Spagnuolo said. “Hopefully I’ll get to use it again one day.”

He has managed to keep the Saints defense together through the thick and thin of Bountygate, which lead to the suspension of head coach Sean Payton.

“In the middle of all the controversy and adversity, what you see here is a solid group of people who know how to overcome things thrown at them that you’re not prepared for,” Spagnuolo said.

Consider Spags among those on the “Elite Eli” bandwagon.

“In my mind, he is [elite]. You can’t argue with his success,” Spagnuolo said. “What he stands for, what he’s about, speaks volumes to me. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know his dad. That’s a wonderful family.”

Ron is Darling of fundraisers

During the baseball season, nobody works harder than Ron Darling. He does games for SNY and Turner Broadcasting. In the offseason, the former Mets pitcher is equally busy devoting a great deal of his time to work worthwhile fundraisers in the community. Last week, he was the MC for the Shannon Forde fundraising event, which drew more than 1,000 people to help the Mets media relations employee battling breast cancer. On Thursday, the Ron Darling Foundation is hosting the third annual Poker and Casino Night at Leonard’s on Northern Boulevard in Great Neck. Most of the proceeds will be going to those who suffered losses in Hurricane Sandy.

“Ron Darling is one of the most giving people I know,” former teammate John Franco said. “He moved his own event in December so he could host Shannon’s event. I don’t think he says no to anyone.”

For information on the event, call (516) 466-6620.

Knicks bring hoops to five boroughs

The Knicks recently launched Basketball in the Boroughs presented by Chase, a new community initiative that will serve thousands of youth in the city’s five boroughs. The program will run December-April with one borough featured each month, beginning with Queens, followed by Staten Island, Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan.

The Knicks and Chase will host a variety of events and activities to celebrate each borough during its month, including appearances by current and former Knicks at select Chase branches, free basketball clinics and basketball court refurbishments. The activities will culminate each month with a borough Theme Night at the Garden during a Knicks game.

The program kicked off on Dec. 3 at two Queens Chase locations, where Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith and Knicks great Larry Johnson made appearances, and on Dec. 6 a free basketball clinic was held in Queens.

The Knicks game against the Nuggets today will celebrate Queens. Borough natives will sing the anthem, participate in the halftime Kids Talent Search and a local Queens basketball coach will be honored.

Go to NYKnicks.com for more information.

Stars join children on ‘North Pole’ trip

Knicks great John Starks and Rangers great Rod Gilbert join Santa, his elves, Liberty alumni Kym Hampton, the Rockettes and the Knicks City Dancers in celebrating MSG and Delta Air Lines third annual “Holiday in the Hangar” event with more than 100 children from the Garden of Dreams organization Tuesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The children will board a Delta 767 and taxi down the runway to the “North Pole,” located inside an airplane hangar transformed into a winter wonderland.

Starks, Gilbert and company will distribute gifts, sign autographs and take pictures with the children at the carnival-themed holiday party.