There are some great sports stories all over the news today: LeBron James made his un-triumphant return to Cleveland last night, the Jets and Patriots are getting set for a pivotal Monday Night Football game, and Yankees GM Brian Cashman and his frosted tips are rapelling down buildings like a rich man's Spiderman. So what better time to ignore all that, and talk about K-Rod and the Mets! more ›

Someone slipped the 44-page ruling in the Jeremy Piven sushi saga to the Times, and it's a must-read for the Piven completist. You'll recall (because we wouldn't let you forget) that last December the Smokin' Aces star abruptly quit the Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow, claiming that excessive seafood consumption—not excessive partying—had left him exhausted with "dangerously high" mercury levels. But we never found out exactly what unfolded during the emotional, three-day arbitration hearing in June. Until now. more ›

Just like he did in star said, “All we can ask for is our day in court. I was lucky enough to get it, and the truth prevailed. It’s a beautiful thing...I think our president has shown us, beautifully, that the high road is the road to take and so I’m going to take his lead on this." more ›

Albany's in turmoil. The MTA's in fiscal crisis. Cheap lawn chairs clutter Broadway. But just in time to heal a troubled city, Jeremy Piven is back. You'll recall that last December the Smokin' Aces star abruptly quit the Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow, claiming that excessive seafood consumption—not excessive partying, shut up!—had left him exhausted with "dangerously high" mercury levels. The world—or at least, that tiny fraction of it that goes to theater—snorted derisively, but Piven stuck to his story, even going on Good Morning America to warn everyone about mercury. Producers of Speed-the-Plow, which made less money once the rubes learned a tee-vee star wasn't in it anymore, filed a complaint against Piven with the actors' union. At a grievance hearing in February, the five actors on the panel bought it (he cried!), while the five producers didn't, and thus here we are at arbitration, which is happening this week! Producers whisper to the Post that they'll nail Piven good this time by citing examples of his odd behavior at the theater, which included showing up late for his call time and even telling one backstage visitor, "I'm bored out of my mind." more ›

Despite no longer being a member of the team, Plaxico Burress still has a one million dollar check signed by the Giants coming to him after a ruling today. The NFL's special master ruled that the Giants will have to pay the final million of Plax's $4.25 million signing bonus that the team tried to withhold in December, two weeks after his shooting incident that caused the team to suspend him for the rest of last season. Union lawyers for Burress argued last week that the shooting did not constitute a "willful" attempt to default on his contract. The Giants now have to undergo another arbitration case over whether their four-game suspension was "excessive" in an attempt by Burress to recoup the salary he lost as a result. The NFL thinks today's decision illustrates "a serious flaw in the current system" and said, "When clubs pay upfront bonuses as part of a long-term deal, they do it on the assumption that the player’s ability to play will not be limited by his own unlawful activities.” more ›

Yes! The saga continues! After yesterday's grievance hearing ended in a split decision, we were all so worried that the legend of Jeremy Piven's mercury poisoning had at last reached its denouement. But aggrieved producers of the Broadway Speed-the-Plow revival still say Piven was lying when he claimed that elevated mercury levels forced him to quit the show. Now they've issued a statement announcing their intention to pursue the matter further, meaning a continued Piven-related diversion for all! The short press release states: "The grievance went as expected yesterday. The grievance committee (made up of League and Equity representatives) did not rule for either side and we will be filing for arbitration as provided by our contract." Your move, Ari! more ›

As if any government agency needs to go deeper into debt these days, it has been announced that despite protest, the Port Authority will in fact have to pay Ground Zero developer Larry Silverstein (pictured) a total of $64 million. The money is being paid for fines stemming from missing deadlines in preparing the site for its turnover. The authority was fighting the fines and claiming that they had prepared what they were supposed to by October 5, but arbitrators agreed with the developer who said that the remaining wall at the site known as "The Berlin Wall of Ground Zero" impeded building and warranted the fines. The daily fines will continue into the new year, when the Port Authority has already announced it will miss its next December 31 deadline. There has been no estimated date given for completion of the work. The Daily News points out that the $64 million owed by the PA is equal to 7.9 million trips across the George Washington Bridge. more ›