Sports

The Rumble

Damons’ open house

Welcome Robertsons to their Jersey home

Johnny Damon got wind of the Yankees making a move with the pitching staff in late May and knew that David Robertson was looking for a place to live in the metropolitan area. Damon also knew that Robertson was on the bubble and could suffer the fate of signing a lease and being sent to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A).

So, Damon tapped into his big heart and opened the door to his New Jersey home to Robertson and his wife, Erin.

“I heard we were going to make a pitching move and I know how it works with young players — you find a place to live and it becomes the kiss of death,” Damon said.

With a downstairs living section in their Cresskill home, Damon and his wife, Michelle, welcomed the Robertsons in.

“I couldn’t imagine dealing with that as a young player, looking for a place in New York,” Damon said.

No Brady sacks good for charity

As tough as hanging in the pocket was for Tom Brady in last Sunday’s 16-9 loss to the Jets, he actually got a bonus from the battering.

Despite the defeat, Brady’s offensive line did not surrender a sack, which was good news for Boston Centers for Youth & Families, which received big bucks through “smartwater’s zero sack give back” program.

For every regular-season game Brady goes unsacked this season, smartwater will contribute $5,000 to the center. The donations support education programs for kids and families in Boston. . . . From 9 p.m. until midnight following the victory over the Patriots, Jets tight end Dustin Keller bowled in a private suite on the main floor of Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge with a dozen of his hometown friends and family.

Jansen, LaFontaine ‘Marathon’ men

Dan Jansen won the gold medal in speed skating in his last Olympic race in 1994. Now the NBC speed skating commentator will lace up to compete once more, only this time it will be in the ING New York City Marathon this November, running on behalf of the ING Run for Something Better program.

He will be joined by fellow Olympian Pat LaFontaine, who starred for all three New York NHL teams — the Islanders, Sabres and Rangers.

Jansen and Lafontaine will “go for the orange” as they team up to help promote personal fitness. They will be in the Big Apple Wednesday to officially announce their involvement with Run for Something Better, which provides funding for school-based running programs.

Educating kids about the importance of living an active life is the cornerstone of the program. Since 2004, it has donated more than $750,000 to youth running initiatives in cities across the country.

ING has committed to donating $2.5 million through 2010. Kids participating in the ING Run for Something Better-funded programs have run 1,700,000 miles.

Prime minister’s wife meets the Garden King

Filippa Reinfeldt, wife of Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, paid a Garden locker room visit Wednesday night to Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Despite the fact Lundqvist might be bigger in Sweden than even the prime minister, he graciously signed a note to bring back to his Excellency and their three children.

“It was a pleasure to have her at Madison Square Garden to watch us play and get a preseason win,” Lundqvist said.

Loyal first fan hits ‘Bulls’-eye

Herb Weltig of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., season-ticket holder since the Red Bulls were born the Metro Stars in 1996, had the honor Wednesday of being the first to pick his new seats for Red Bull Arena.

The team is welcoming its suffering subscribers 20 at a time to tour its new Harrison N.J. digs and choose their locations.

“It’ll be very exciting to be in our own home,” said Weltig, survivor and optimist. “We’ll have noisy crowds here and have a winning season next year and for many years after.”

Fore-cast good for Darling tournament

Honoree Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden will be among the 1986 World Champion Mets to tee it up Thursday at the Ron Darling Golf Classic at Pine Hollow Country Club in East Norwich, N.Y. on Thursday

Proceeds of this event will benefit Urban Dove Children’s Charity and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation via the Ron Darling Foundation.

David Wright and celebrities from the entertainment world also are expected to attend. For those that do not golf, there will be an after party, dinner and show featuring singer Michael Amante and comedian Rob Bartlett.

For tickets and information, call (516) 466-0177

Hall of an honor for former Knick Smith

Former Knick Charles Smith, a native of Bridgeport, and championship UConn women’s point guard Jennifer Rizzotti will be among the honorees Oct. 19 at the 5th anniversary Sports Night Hall of Fame awards dinner at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.

For more information or to purchase tickets at $125, call Tom Chiappetta at (203) 984-4806 or go online at http://www.fairfieldcountysports.com.