Premier: Ban soccer in Italy for 2-3 years

ROME — Premier Mario Monti suggested yesterday that Italian soccer be suspended for two to three years after the latest match-fixing scandal rocked the national team and again tarnished the sport’s image in the country just a week before the European Championship.

Dawn raids on Monday resulted in 14 arrests — including Lazio captain Stefano Mauri — to bring the total number of suspects arrested in the match-fixing inquiry to about 50 since last year. Many more have been placed under investigation.

“Football should be stopped for two to three years,” Monti said yesterday in a powerful message to Italy’s soccer authorities on the need to clean up the game. “It is not a proposal by the government but a question I am asking as someone who was passionate when football was still football.”

Monti made the comments while standing beside the prime minister of Poland, which is co-hosting Euro 2012 with Ukraine starting June 8.

“I’m not making a proposal, and even less is it a proposal that comes from the government, but it’s a desire that sometimes I feel inside me: That it would really benefit the maturity of us Italian citizens if this game was completely suspended for two to three years,” he said.

He also ruled out the use of public money to bail out teams in difficulty.

Police swept through the Italian national squad’s training camp near Florence on Monday as part of the operation and Italy defender Domenico Criscito was left off the Euro 2012 squad after he was placed under investigation.

Antonio Conte, who coached Juventus to the Serie A title this term, was also officially notified that he is under investigation for alleged wrongdoing while in charge of Siena in 2010-2011.

Apart from those arrested Monday, three people have been placed under house arrest and two others are to present themselves to authorities. Five of the arrests were made in Hungary.

Numerous others have had their houses searched, including Chievo Verona striker Sergio Pellissier as well as Conte and Criscito.

The investigation was started by judicial authorities in Cremona last year. It has resulted in former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni being banned from soccer for 3 1/2 years, and the arrest of former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori.

Mario Monti, Stefano Mauri, Italian soccer online, investigation, soccer authorities, Domenico Criscito, proposal, Lazio, Sergio Pellissier

Nypost.com

Home Team Lineups

TODAY
May 29

WED
May 30

THU
May 31

FRI
June 1

SAT
June 2

SUN
June 3

MON
June 4

Yankees

L.A. Angels
10:05
YES Network
WCBS 880 AM

L.A.A. 10:05 YES WCBS

NO GAME

Det. 7:05 YES WCBS

Det. 7:15 FOX
WCBS

Det. 1:05 YES
WCBS

T.B.
7:05
YES
WCBS

Mets

Philadelphia
7:10
SportsNet NY
WFAN 660 AM

Phi.
7:10
SNY
WFAN

NO GAME

St.L. 7:10 SNY WFAN

St.L. 4:10 WPIX
WFAN

St.L. 8:05 ESPN
WFAN

St.L. 1:10 SNY WFAN

Devils

NO GAME

L.A.
8:00
NBC
WBBR

NO GAME

NO GAME

L.A.
8:00
NBC
WFAN

NO GAME

L.A.
8:00
NBCSN
WFAN

NO GAME

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

Ind.
7:10
No TV

Ind.
6:00
MSG

NO
GAME

Red Bulls

NO
GAME

^Char. 7:30

NO
GAME

NO GAME

NO GAME

NO
GAME

NO
GAME

HOME

AWAY
Nypost.com

Belmont Analysis

Post Time: 12:50 p.m.

All Horses appear in post position order

1. 6 1/2 fur; $59,000; alw; 3up

SMOKIN HERO likes an off track and should improve after tiring this level in first start since January. RECURRING DREAM stalked the pace and finished third in the slop this level going longer. MOONLIGHT SONG set the pace and tired going longer in most recent.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Sailmate(L),121

D Cohen

4-1-1

Kimmel

7-5

2 Smokin Hero(L),121

C Nakatani

7-6-3

Englehart

5-2

3 Moonlight Song(L),121

J Alvarado

5-1-1

Baker

6-1

4 Recurring Dream ,118

E Castro

3-1-1

Barker

3-1

5 Wishful Tomcat(L),121

I Ortiz, Jr

7-4-4

Arroyo

12-1

6 Tap Attack(L),121

A Lezcano

6-6-6

Persaud

20-1

2. 6 fur; $28,000; mdn clm($20,000); 3up(f)

JOY RISING goes turf to dirt and drops in class after tiring badly in seasonal debut for new barn. LADY UTOPIA shows steady works while prepping for career debut. LA BUSTA goes turf to dirt and drops in class.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Signora Sofia(L),111

W Garcia

10-4-9

Sciacca

20-1

2 Catalina Island(L),118

D Cohen

8-3-9

Englehart

5-2

3 Joy Rising(L),118

J Alvarado

11-10-8

Ferraro

8-1

4 Lady Utopia ,118

T Hole

x-x-x

Goodwin

20-1

5 Freud's Dream(L),117

J Ortiz

10-2-3

Ryerson

3-1

6 Read the Research(L),118

R Maragh

5-6-x

Pompay

2-1

7 Galaxy Jet(L),124

A Lezcano

6-4-8

C Martin

8-1

8 La Busta(L),124

I Ortiz, Jr

11-5-8

Campo

12-1

3. 1 mile; $77,000; alw; 3up

ENDER KNIEVEL has been working steadily after pressing the pace and tiring in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby. THIS HARD LAND usually runs off the pace but led every step of way to defeat state-breds in the slop this distance. PRIVATE TALE cuts back in distance after finishing second as favorite.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Street Thug(L),118

R Dominguez

1-2-x

R Dutrow

7-2

2 Term Loan(L),116

C Nakatani

6-1-2

Violette

4-1

3 This Hard Land(L),123

J Lezcano

1-2-1

Ubillo

5-1

4 Adirondack Express(L),121

R Napravnik

4-3-5

R Dutrow

8-1

5 Ender Knievel(L),116

J Velazquez

5-1-2

Pletcher

6-5

6 Private Tale(L),121

J Castellano

2-3-1

Trombetta

12-1

4. 1 1/16 miles; $75,000; mdn; 3up

HE AINT BLUFFING adds blinkers after finishing third as the favorite at Gulfstream in career debut in January. DESERT STORM finished second while going shorter and adding blinkers in April. MULHEB adds Lasix after finishing fourth in the slop when making US debut.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Transplendent(L),118

D Cohen

5-9-x

Kimmel

15-1

2 Desert Storm(L),118

J Alvarado

2-3-3

Mott

2-1

3 North Ocean(L),118

E Castro

6-x-x

Weaver

20-1

4 He Ain't Bluffing(L),123

R Dominguez

3-x-x

R Dutrow

5-2

5 Stressing(L),118

I Ortiz, Jr

3-7-5

Persaud

10-1

6 Beach Boy Alex(M),118

J Velazquez

x-x-x

Contessa

15-1

7 Mulheb(M),118

A Garcia

4-8-x

McLaughlin

5-1

8 Arkansas Joe(L),118

C Nakatani

3-2-4

Zito

4-1

Next >

1

2

3

Recurring Dream, Horse, LADY UTOPIA, career debut, career debut, Signora Sofia online, La Busta

Nypost.com

Pitching Form

(Game time)

2012

'11 vs OPP

CAREER

LAST 3 STARTS

LINE

W-L

ERA

*REC

W-L

ERA

vs OPP

W-L

IP

ERA

*AHW

Yankees

Nova (R)

6-7

4-2

5.69

6-2

—

—

0-0

1-1

18.1

5.89

13.3

Athletics

Ross (R)

(10:05pm)

2-4

5.73

3-4

—

—

0-0

1-2

17.2

2.55

12.7

Padres

Bass (R)

(7:10pm)

2-4

2.89

3-5

0-0

2.25

0-0

1-1

19.2

1.83

11.0

Mets

Gee (R)

5 1/2-6 1/2

3-3

5.44

4-4

1-0

1.35

1-0

1-1

17.2

7.13

14.3

Cubs

Dempster (R)

(7:05pm)

0-2

2.28

1-6

2-2

5.25

8-12

0-1

19.0

4.26

12.8

Pirates

Burnett (R)

Even-6

2-2

4.78

4-2

1-0

3.37

4-0

1-0

22.0

2.45

9.4

Giants

Lincecum (R)

(7:10pm)

2-4

6.04

2-7

1-0

0.00

2-0

0-2

16.0

6.75

15.8

Marlins

Johnson (R)

5 1/2-6 1/2

2-3

4.82

5-4

—

—

0-3

2-0

21.0

2.14

8.6

Rockies

Friedrich (L)

(7:10pm)

1-1

5.00

1-2

—

—

0-0

1-1

18.0

5.00

13.0

Reds

Cueto (R)

8-9

5-1

1.97

7-2

1-0

0.00

1-1

1-1

18.0

3.50

13.0

Nationals

Detwiler (L)

(7:35pm)

3-3

3.65

4-4

1-0

2.25

1-0

0-2

16.0

7.31

14.1

Braves

Hudson (R)

7-8

3-1

3.03

4-1

4-1

2.64

14-3

2-1

21.2

1.25

9.1

Phillies

Lee (L)

Even-6

0-2

2.66

1-5

1-1

1.76

3-1

0-1

21.0

3.43

9.4

Cardinals

Lohse (R)

(8:15pm)

5-1

2.91

7-2

1-1

1.76

3-4

1-0

17.1

4.67

15.1

Brewers

Gallardo (R)

(9:40pm)

2-4

4.62

3-6

2-0

1.38

5-0

1-1

18.0

2.50

10.0

D'Backs

Kennedy (R)

5 1/2-6 1/2

3-4

4.47

3-6

1-0

0.00

1-1

0-3

17.1

7.27

13.0

Astros

Harrell (R)

(10:10pm)

3-3

4.09

3-6

—

—

0-0

1-1

16.2

2.70

13.0

Dodgers

Kershaw (L)

10-12

4-1

1.90

7-2

1-0

1.29

3-1

2-1

24.0

0.75

7.1

Royals

Chen (L)

(7:05pm)

3-4

4.17

3-6

1-1

3.09

2-1

3-0

19.2

2.75

11.0

Orioles

Hammel (R)

6-7

5-1

3.12

6-2

0-1

12.27

0-2

2-0

17.0

5.29

12.2

Rays

Cobb (R)

(7:10pm)

1-0

2.57

1-0

—

—

0-0

1-0

7.0

2.57

10.3

Red Sox

Lester (L)

8-9

3-3

3.95

4-5

1-3

4.32

10-6

2-1

20.0

2.70

10.8

Blue Jays

Morrow (R)

(8:05pm)

5-2

2.63

6-3

1-0

2.77

4-4

2-1

20.0

3.15

9.5

Rangers

Holland (L)

6 1/2-7 1/2

3-3

4.27

4-4

1-0

3.21

2-1

1-1

18.1

2.95

10.3

Tigers

Smyly (L)

5 1/2-6 1/2

1-1

2.89

4-4

—

—

0-0

0-1

15.2

5.17

10.9

Twins

Swarzak (R)

(8:10pm)

0-3

4.73

0-3

0-0

3.00

0-1

0-3

14.2

6.75

14.7

Indians

Gomez (R)

Even-6

3-2

3.19

5-2

2-0

2.25

2-1

1-1

20.0

3.60

10.8

White Sox

Quintana (L)

(8:10pm)

0-0

0.00

0-0

—

—

0-0

---

---

---

---

Angels

Santana (R)

5 1/2-6 1/2

2-6

4.22

2-7

2-2

2.34

11-6

2-0

21.0

1.71

10.3

Mariners

Beavan (R)

(10:10pm)

2-4

4.46

4-4

1-0

2.53

1-0

1-1

12.0

4.50

14.3

* REC: Won-lost record of pitcher's team in games he has started.

* AHW: Average total of hits and walks yielded per nine innings.
Nypost.com

5 questions for... Jon Barry

Espn analyst Jon Barry breaks down the NBA playoffs with The Post’s Justin Terranova.

Q: How have the Spurs adapted from a defensive team to an offensive one this season?

A: It’s Gregg Popovich. You have to change with the times, and that’s exactly what they’ve done. They have got younger and more athletic around their three guys. And Popovich is not afraid to play them. A lot of times you get to the playoffs and they say you have to shrink your rotation, and he’s certainly not done that.

Q: A year ago many questioned the chemistry between the Thunders’ Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Why has that not been as much of an issue this season?

Jon Barry

A: It’s all predicated on how well Westbrook plays. He’s so much more in control than he was last year at this time. He just has a better understanding of when to pick his spots, and when he does that he has a chance to take over a game like we saw against the Lakers in Game 4.

Q: Last year the Heat rolled to the NBA Finals. Do you think getting tested by the Pacers will help?

A: It is good, but they are going to need Chris Bosh back. I don’t think they can win a title without Bosh. They don’t have the interior depth, something they haven’t addressed in two years, without him. Fortunate for them is this game is not about big men anymore. Of the teams left, Tim Duncan is the only post player left who plays with his back to the basket.

Q: Do you give the 76ers a chance in Game 7?

A: The Celtics should prevail, but they are like a box of chocolates: You never know what you are going to get. They go through offensive lulls, they lose their defensive intensity at times. They are just really inconsistent. Paul Pierce is really banged up. The 76ers did a great job to get here.

Q: What do the Knicks have to do in the offseason to get to the next level?

A: If you are going to keep Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire on the same team you have to figure out some sort of system to get these guys together. It’s simple as that. Jeremy Lin is not going to get to play like that again. Mike D’Antoni is gone and that’s not the way it’s going to be. So that’s a huge question. They need some perimeter shooting. They are on the right track. They started to believe under Mike Woodson and understanding that defense wins. There’s a lot of good pieces in place, but there’s a lot of work to be done for this to be a championship team.

jterranova@nypost.com

Gregg Popovich, NBA playoffs, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Chris Bosh, Jon Barry, Carmelo Anthony, NBA Finals, Mike Woodson, Tim Duncan, Espn

Nypost.com

Giants' Tuck won’t duck talk of ‘dynasty’

Justin Tuck did not back off the “dynasty’’ comments he made at last week’s championship ring ceremony, continuing to claim the Giants — who have two Super Bowl victories in a four-year span — can attain that lofty status.

“Why wouldn’t I feel that way?’’ Tuck said yesterday. “I don’t need to be playing the game if I’m not thinking about winning the championship every year. I feel very confident in this team’s talent and this coaching staff and we have that shot. We do have a shot at it.’’

Coach Tom Coughlin did not exactly embrace the “dynasty’’ talk, but he didn’t shoot it down, either.

“I would say this: I think we must raise the bar for our own performance, whether it be in the meetings, on the practice field, on the game field,’’ Coughlin said. “That’s what I’d like to see. I’d like to see everyone come in here — the young players, the new players — [and] understand the New York Giants championship culture ... and try to raise the level of how we do everything so that it is championship level.’’

paul.schwartz@nypost.com

Exclusive Super Bowl merchandise featuring New York Post front pages

Tom Coughlin, Justin Tuck, championship ring, the Giants, championship, Super Bowl victories

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Rangers coach ‘very optimistic’ about 3-for-all

The Rangers have not played their best hockey in Newark, and the worst of it came last night when they lost to the Devils, 4-1, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Yet that hasn’t kept coach John Tortorella from seeing the glass as half full with the series, now a best-of-three, shifting back to the Garden for tomorrow night’s Game 5.

“I’m very optimistic,” Tortorella said. “I still think some guys are close to getting their games. I don’t think all of us are there. But as I’ve said all year long with this club, when you get in these situations — and we’ve been trading [wins and losses] all playoff season — they always find a way to find a good game.

“So I’m truly confident we’ll answer it the proper way,” he continued, “when we play our next one.”

Though the stat sheet had the Devils outshooting the Rangers just 30-29 — and out-attempting them just 52-50 — it was clear who dominated the play all evening, something that Tortorella wasn’t exactly willing to deny.

“I think the most important thing is we just have to have the puck more,” Tortorella said. “We had opportunities. We had the yips with it. We just gave it back to them, and they just progressed with their forecheck.”

The players echoed their coach’s sentiment, though in a little different manner.

“I’m pretty sure our composure has been pretty good all year long,” Derek Stepan said. “We just have to move past it as fast as we can and get ready for Game 5.”

In each of the Rangers’ three playoff series, they have won Game 1 only to lose Game 2. They have only won consecutive games within a series once, when they took Games 6 and 7 against the Senators in the first round.

After an emotional 3-0 win in Game 3 on Saturday, they followed up with a dud that kept them from taking a stranglehold on the bitter Battle of the Hudson.

“Of course we’re real, real disappointed now, not being able to come back with a big one here,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made 26 saves. “We just have to forget about it.”

For a team that finished atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season with 109 points, the Rangers’ confidence in a comeback is reasonably well-founded.

“All I’m concerned about is the next game,” Tortorella said. “We need to answer the proper way. That’s the only thing I’m concerned about right now — how we’re going to answer. And we’ve done it all playoffs.”

bcyrgalis@nypost.com

John Tortorella, Tortorella, Tortorella, Eastern Conference, the Devils, Rangers, Derek Stepan, Henrik Lundqvist, Eastern Conference

Nypost.com