New York Today: Losers

Barton Silverman/The New York Times That kind of year: the Knicks guard Iman Shumpert (No. 21) fouling Paul George of the Indiana Pacers en route to an overtime loss on Wednesday.

Even if you don’t follow sports closely, you might have noticed something odd about the local pro teams lately.

They’re not very good. All of them.

The area’s seven pro basketball, football and hockey squads have amassed a collective record of 65 losses and 41 wins.

Not one has a winning record.

The fall highlight reel features blown leads, last-minute interceptions and infuriatingly timed fouls.

There have been a few bright spots.

The Giants lost their first six games, but have now won four straight.

Still, the Knicks, Rangers, Nets, Jets and Islanders are bringing their fans to tears.

Jay Schreiber, a Queens-born deputy sports editor at The Times who has followed local teams for more than 50 years, said he could not recall anything like it.

Whatever the cause, it’s not underfunding.

The Nets’ owner, a Russian tycoon, is “spending an enormous amount of money, and the team right now is a disaster,” Mr. Schreiber said.

Maybe it’s just coincidence, he said.

“Turn the clock back three years, maybe four of the seven teams had good shots at the playoffs.”

This year, not so much.

Here’s what else you need to know for Friday and the weekend.

WEATHER

Kind of blah. Showers this morning, clouds all day, high of 56.

Sunny and cooler tomorrow. Sunday: ice cold, with a chance of snow.

COMMUTE

Subways: Click for latest status.

Rails: Click for L.I.R.R., Metro-North or New Jersey Transit status.

Roads: Click for traffic map or radio report on the 1s.

Alternate-side parking is in effect.

COMING UP TODAY

- Mayor Bloomberg unveils a new Amur leopard habitat at the Staten Island Zoo.

- What do Dick Cheney, Raymond W. Kelly, Tommy Lasorda and Dr. Mehmet Oz have in common? All will be honored at the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s annual luncheon.

- You can skirmish over vinyl at the WFMU Record Fair in the Flatiron District. [$7, $25 for early admission to get a chance at the best stuff]

- Or ponder the state of German film at a two-day conference about the Berliner Schule at New York University’s Deutsches Haus. 7 p.m. [Free]

- See the play that landed Mae West in court for obscenity, “Diamond Lil,” performed at the Jefferson Market library in the West Village. 7 p.m. [Free]

- A German piano-cello duo, Sarah Hiller and Lucas Sieber, make their New York recital debut at a New York Chamber Music Festival show at Christ and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on the Upper West Side. 8. p.m [Free]

- Many observances of the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. They include a show of photographs surrounding the event at the International Center of Photography in Midtown. [$14]

- An art and memorabilia exhibition, “‘Dearest Jackie’: On the Death of JFK,” at the main New York Public Library. [Free]

- And a panel of conspiracy theorists at the Cornelia Street Cafe. [$20]

- For more events, see The New York Times Arts & Entertainment guide.

Weekend Travel Hassles: Click for subway disruptions or list of street closings.

Joseph Burgess contributed reporting.

New York Today is a morning roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till about noon.

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