This is a statement on NYC tabloids, not John Sterling. But I still remember this Page Six item all these years later. Borrowing a phrase a colleague used to say, “What a business!”

pagesix.com/2008/07/09/fin…

Good to see a full-page ad in Newsday Sports promoting Gregg Sarra’s high school coverage. He and the prep reporters do a tremendous job.

Thanks to ⁦Molloy Lions⁩ basketball coach Charles Marquardt for serving as the keynote speaker at our year-end West Hempstead basketball dinner on Wednesday evening. Here’s our senior class, which led the Rams to their first-ever Long Island championship.

Sorry to see Birmingham-Southern College closing. I spent a semester living on the campus when I was a 19-year-old Birmingham News intern a lifetime ago. They could not have been more hospitable. I covered their games in ensuing years when I returned to B’ham for a full-time job.

Congrats Emmanuel Berbari. Used to call games for me at NYIT when he still was in high school.

Final: Woodlands 72, your West Hempstead Rams 66 in overtime. Most memorable season of the 17 years following the MacArthur/West Hempstead coach. State regional finalist for the first time in school history.

Headed to overtime with a state Final Four berth at stake. West Hempstead 59, Woodlands 59 in Yorktown.

West Hempstead possession after a timeout. Tied with 35.1 seconds to go.

Tied with under 2:00 remaining …

Halftime in Yorktown. Your West Hempstead Rams 24, Woodlands 24. State Final Four berth at stake.

Your West Hempstead Rams have a tough task today when they play Woodlands at Yorktown HS in the Elite 8 round of the state tournament. Tipoff now 5 p.m. Hopefully the run continues. It’s already the farthest a West Hempstead team has ever reached. Three wins from a state title.

Looking forward to seeing Kevin Devaney Jr. for the first time in forever Saturday in Yorktown, with a New York State Final Four berth at stake for your West Hempstead Rams.

Your West Hempstead Rams are headed to Yorktown HS on Saturday to face Section I champ Woodlands from Hartsdale in the state quarterfinals!

Long Island Champions! West Hempstead 75, Suffolk champion Pierson 54. Headed upstate for the state quarterfinals!

Going to be a challenge for your West Hempstead Rams … Monday is gameday for the Long Island championship. The Rams (18-4) face Pierson from Sag Harbor at Center Moriches HS. 4 p.m. tipoff. Newsday alum Mark Herrmann may attend. Four wins from a state title. We can dream?

Thanks, Peter. We were all thrilled folks the caliber of you and Colin Cosell joined us on PA (and play-by-play, too, in your case) for assorted sports.

End of the road for me as a college sports information director with a women’s hockey OT loss in the conference semis tonight. Going to wrap up the winter seasons and get everything in order tomorrow and hang it up. Thanks to LIU for the past two years.

COUNTY CHAMPS! West Hempstead 54, Carle Place 45. Your Rams are headed to the Long Island championship game on Monday vs. Pierson at Center Moriches High School.

Friday at 8 p.m. at Farmingdale State. … Your West Hempstead Rams vs. Carle Place for the Nassau County B title.

Welcome back to New York, Jorge …