Knicks in the groove

‘Get There’ for Friday night telecasts

With the Knicks playing 18 times on Friday nights this season — almost a quarter of the schedule — MSG Network has rocked with a new musical platform for those games called “Friday Night Knicks.”

MSG’s Knicks director Howie Singer and producer Spencer Julien, known music aficionados, came up with the concept before the season and enlisted steel pedal guitar player Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph and the Family Band) to create a theme song — “Get There” — for the Friday night telecasts. Each Friday, depending on the opponent, Randolph (left) changes a few lines (a la Hank Williams on Monday Night Football).

Randolph, a diehard Knicks fan from Jersey, attends lots of games. MSG shot a video of “Get There” in the MSG mall area in October.

Randolph will be at the Grammy Awards next month in L.A. He was nominated for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group,” and has a new album due this year, a follow-up to his 2006 album “Colorblind.”

“I’ve been a Knicks fan all my life, so when MSG Network called to see if I’d be interested in recording a song for the telecasts, I jumped at it,” Randolph said “And let me add that I like the way the team has been playing of late, and I’m excited about the future.”

Each week, highlight packages are run to the music of a specific artist. For Friday’s Lakers game, it was Pearl Jam. When the Knicks played in New Orleans in December, it was the Neville Brothers.

Tyree in the running

When high-scoring teams such as the Saints and Vikings get together — they will in today’s NFC Championship game — people often say the football game turned into a track meet. Well, the opposite could happen in Friday’s Millrose Games when the meet debuts the Super 60, with past Super Bowl champions showcasing their speed on the Garden track. Locals likely will be rooting for ex-Giants hero David Tyree, now with the Ravens, best known for his miracle catch in Super Bowl XLII.

The 49-year-old Willie Gault, who had 129 receiving yards in the Bears’ Super Bowl XX victory, also will run in the race, as will wide receiver Tim Dwight, who had a 94-yard kickoff return for the Falcons against the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII. Veteran Lions cornerback Phillip Buchanon and former Colts linebacker Ryan LaCasse also will race.

Knight’s big day

Rutgers senior cornerback Devin McCourty stands to get some quality face time over the next few weeks on NFL Network. On Friday, he was selected to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. on Jan. 30.

Not only is the game itself a launching pad for potential NFL careers, so are the workouts, as scouts and representatives from all 32 NFL teams are on hand. And for those who aren’t there, both the game and all practices are aired on NFLN.

If that’s not enough of a buildup for McCourty, perhaps he should take a look at Rutgers’ history in this game. The last four Scarlet Knights to accept Senior Bowl invites, in fact, made it to the NFL: quarterback Mike McMahon (2001), tight end L.J. Smith (2003); running back Brian Leonard (2007), and tight end Clark Harris (2007). The pressure is on, Devin.

Manuel a Sanchez fan

Mets manager Jerry Manuel has a special rooting interest today. Before Mark Sanchez even threw a meaningful football pass in a Jets jersey, he took the mound at Citi Field to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before a Mets game.

“I’m rooting for the kid,” Manuel said. “He was extremely polite and talking to him briefly he seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. I’m thrilled with the success they are having. I hope they can get to the Super Bowl.”

Boomer Blueshirt

Boomer Esiason, who wore No. 7 during his career because of his hockey idol, Rod Gilbert, accepted the Rangers legend’s invitation to play with their all-star alumni team on March 18 at MSG in the final round of the “Skate to the Garden” tournament. Gilbert, who will be serving as coach of the team including Adam Graves, Ron Duguay, Stephane Matteau and Dan Blackburn, also presented a No. 7 Rangers jersey to Esiason on his WFAN radio show Wednesday morning.

Meet the Nets

The Nets’ Devin Harris will host the fifth-annual “Nets Foundation Basketbowl” tomorrow at Lucky Strike Lanes in Manhattan, and Bobby Simmons will sign autographs for fans on Thursday from 3-4 p.m. at Pathmark in Clifton, N.J. . . . The New York Sportimes of World TeamTennis, led by GM John Dato and captain John McEnroe, will be donating more than 40 dozen T-shirts and other pieces of apparel to the relief effort in Haiti.

Eat ’em up, Jets!

Gallagher’s Steak House jumped on the Jets bandwagon all week with the “Go Gang Green Power Lunch.” Menu items included: “Shonn Greene Spinach Salad” and “Darrelle Revis Endive and Beet-up the Offense” Salad as appetizers, the “Rex Ryan Classic Burger,” the “Broadway Joe (Namath) Burger” and the “Mark Sanchez CAB Steak” as main courses, and “Nick Mangold New York Cheese Cake” for dessert. No AFC Championship on the TVs at Gallagher’s, though. . . . Revis celebrated the Jets’ victory over the Chargers Tuesday night with friends at Meatpacking District hotspot STK.

Hangin’ with Hank

New York City kids from Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Long Island visited Florida, stayed with Ray Negron and were guests of Hank Steinbrenner and Felix Lopez at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

“I am as proud of these kids and what they have accomplished with their education as I am with a 27-time world championship ballclub.” Hank Steinbrenner said.