* I read the news in the papers and I think, hey, the Yankees are actually doing something smart! They’re ridding themselves of Randy Johnson. Perhaps a youngster can finally compete for a spot in the rotation rather than being treated like juvenile jetsam. But wait, Andy Pettitte has been signed, and now I read the main reason for dealing Johnson is to free up money to pursue Roger Clemens, The Retro Rocket. And everyone seems to think these are lovely ideas? It’s New York, it’s an affliction, I understand. But fairly soon every game will seem like Old Timers’ Day, at least on the graying Yankee Stadium mound.
BILL MAILE JR.
Union Dale, Pa.
* When the Yankees acquired Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano, every Yankees fan started doing a victory dance. Combined with Alex Rodriguez, those two meant the Yankees were now the greatest team of all time . . . yada, yada, yada. Now, they’ve begged the Diamondbacks to take Randy back, half of them want to get rid of A-Rod and they can’t sell Pavano on e-Bay. So much for the greatest team ever.
JAMES PANZO
Brooklyn
* Good riddance to Randy Johnson. Don’t let the door hit you on the rear, Mr. Smiley.
KENNETH HOGAN
Rockaway Point
Mangini High
* The Jets sported a 4-12 record in 2005 and thus were given what amounts to a simplistic scrimmage schedule in 2006. Their 2006 record of 10-6 was unimpressive, because it was amassed against teams with a combined 95-113 record (46.7 winning percentage). Moreover, their 10 wins were amassed against teams with a combined 58-86 record (40.27 winning percentage). To add insult to injury, only three of their 13 opponents had winning records, and against those teams the Jets were 1-4. I can’t wait for the Jets to play Fort Hamilton H.S. for the undisputed championship.
ELIO VALENTI
Brooklyn
Giant losses
* I know the Giants are bad now, but why does every supposedly knowledgeable media person refuse to touch on what led to all this? I defy any football club to absorb the loss of their middle linebacker, their left offensive tackle, their two pro-bowl defensive ends, their leading receiver and their best return man. Without these losses or at least with fewer of them there is no question that the Giants would have won the NFC East going away – despite a head coach who is at best adequate.
KEN VAN SLAARS
Conway, S.C.
Shock (over)value
* How can Steve Serby compare Jeremy Shockey to the likes of Tedy Bruschi, Jack Lambert and Ray Nitschke [“Shock to his system,” The Post and nypost.com, Jan. 4]? The latter players contibuted to some of the greatest teams in the NFL because of their hard work, discipline and self sacrifice. Shockey is an underachieving big mouth, who is the player most responsible for this Giants team being one of the most selfish, undisiplined and dysfunctional in recent memory.
BILL YERMAL
Oxford, N.J.
Gilbride-al party
* Giants quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride, who called the offensive plays in the victory at Washington, deserves tremendous credit for the team’s entry into the playoffs. Now if only there were an able-bodied replacement for defensive coordinator on the Giants sidelines, the team would have an opportunity to advance in the playoffs.
LANCE BARNETT
Austin, Texas
Ranger danger
* The Rangers need a major shakeup to fix this disaster of a season. The first step is to fire the head coach Tom Renney. The offense on this team has diasappeared. Jaromir Jagr, who doesn’t deserve to wear the Captain’s “C,” needs to open his mouth and shake this lackluster team up to keep it from sinking into the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
M. MONTI
Brooklyn
Fighting words
* Mark Everson’s observation that the NHL is a dying league [“This league lifeless,” The Post and nypost.com, Jan. 2] is a day late, a dollar short, and a real howler to boot. Look at the photo chosen to accompany the article, which proposes more “natural rival” games over the holidays: It shows two players fighting. Neither the media nor the stewards of the game of hockey show any signs of coming to grips with the number one reason people like me abandoned the sport a decade ago: Fist-fights should not be part of a sporting event, and I won’t have my sons watch it. Period. Until the NHL understands this, it is headed toward oblivion.
LOU SENECA
Skillman, N.J.
Holiday gift rap
* I was a little tickled by the announcer’s copy on the NFL Network last week that kept repeating that the channel’s free preview was “a holiday gift.” Usually, my holiday presents aren’t this difficult to find, nor do they need the pressure of elected officials to be delivered.
JIM BURNS
Valley Stream, N.Y.
Boy, oh Boise
* I stayed up late to watch Boise State’s exciting win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday. I hope the college poll voters did too. Boise State may not be No. 1, but the Broncos are deserving of the second spot.
THOMAS DOWD
East Meadow, N.Y.
