The things you hear and see on a train ...

On the Amtrak from Boston to New Jersey -- my 412th damn trip back and forth from Beantown to Newark in the past week, it seems -- a man sitting behind me was, well, slightly angry.

His voice was raised and he was clearly agitated. He was on a cell phone and I really, really, really tried to block out his voice by turning up the Public Enemy on my iPod, but not even Flavor Flav could tame this guy's voice. He was that boisterous.

I'm not saying he was screaming but something was definitely making him angry and I kept hearing the phrase: "We had nothing to do with that!"

"That didn't come from our office!" he said.

I thought it was simply another loudmouth, obnoxious lawyer. They seem to infest the Acela.

The train stopped in Newark and as I exited, literally stepped through the doors, I decided to glance back and see who was so hot and bothered.

It was baseball investigator George Mitchell.

For a second, I thought about dashing back onto the train but someone would have probably pegged me as a terrorist from Algiers.

What likely set Mitchell off was Mitchell's office receiving irate phone calls from excuse-making Cleveland Indian fans who believe Mitchell, a member of the Boston Red Sox board, leaked the fact that cheater Paul Byrd used human growth hormone.

What Mitchell was apparently doing on the train was crafting his response to what are simply ignorant and misguided accusations, because not long after his semi-outburst on the train his office released a statement denying any link to the Byrd news leak.

I can tell you absolutely: Mitchell was genuinely irritated by any suggestion he leaked anything. There's no way he did, based on what I heard.

The things that happen on a train ...

BOSTON -- It seems silly and specious to state that Curt Schilling, who’s tummy resembles LenDale White's and whose power once made him feared, is now a fragile pitcher. Yet that is what Schilling is now: Fragile.

Or maybe it's better to state it this way. Schilling's utter destruction by the bats of the Cleveland Indians in Game 2 of the ALCS signaled the probable end of Schilling as we have known him.

He’s too heavy, too distracted, too old, too spent to be the dominant Schilling of post-season's past.

Entering this series Schilling was one of the more intimidating post-season pitchers in baseball history. His 9-2 record in 16 post-season starts tied him for ninth with the likes of Whitey Ford, Dave Stewart and David Wells. His 1.93 ERA in the post-season was 13th best all-time.

Saturday night's line: 4 2/3 innings, nine hits, five runs earned and two home runs. His stint against Cleveland was the second shortest of his career.

Schilling getting run down is understandable. He's 40-years-old. And unlike another older pitcher who shall not be named, I don't believe Schilling is pumping shark 'roids and billy goat gonads into his bloodstream as a way to cheat older age.

Schilling showed up this season overweight and later battled what the Red Sox called right shoulder tendonitis. He reinvented himself in mid-season and is now more of a finesse pitcher than power one (though he can still get into the low 90s on fastball). He'll test free agency this off-season.

So while Schilling might still be effective he will probably no longer scare anyone.

Hey, it happens to the best of them.

So now who is going to take care of Travis Henry's 83 kids?

Oh, Travis. What about the children, Travis? So many mouths to feed, Travis. The children, Travis. How could you do it Travis?

Allegedly.

Prepare to mount the bust of Henry on the Mt. Rushmore of Pot Stupidity -- right next to Ricky Williams -- if Internet and newspaper reports are accurate that Henry failed a league-mandated test for marijuana and faces a yearlong suspension.

If true -- and that's a big if -- Henry is another player who let pot destroy his career.

And possibly irreparably damaged the only way he can take care of the nine kids he had out of wedlock with nine different women.

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who have smoked pot and those who will.

But good grief, Travis. If I had nine kids to take care of I might switch to Diet Coke.

Or the marijuana patch.

What a mess.

But you know who I don't feel sorry for? The Broncos. They took a huge risk with Henry. Indeed, several general managers have told me privately this season that while Henry is uber-talented, he also comes with uber-risk.

So the Broncos took a chance and might get bitten in the rear for it.

And we weep for the children.

Well, Isiah, that b---- is going to get her cash and if there is any justice in this world you'll get the boot.

In fact there is one person who could administer even more justice than what a jury of your peers just did and he should immediately.

If this insanely handled situation by the New York Knicks -- they could have quietly settled this whole Anucha Browne Sanders sexual harassment mess months ago -- does not allow for David Stern to intervene in the disaster that is the Knicks nothing will.

The reason I admire Stern is that except for a single crooked ref (we hope it's just one) Stern mostly keeps his league one step ahead of trouble.

He can do the same with the Knicks by utilizing his power as commissioner to severely punish the organization by fining and suspending Thomas and if possible, punishing James Dolan, the chairman of Madison Square Garden, as well.

The problem with the Knicks is that under Dolan and Thomas they have now gone beyond just being inept. A jury finding that the Garden and Thomas sexually harassed Browne Sanders moves this argument from one of ineptitude to legal wrongdoing.

If Stern doesn't act now -- and act in a big way with a sweeping punishment and urging of the Knicks to totally restructure the team -- then Stern himself is sending a message that the Knicks' abhorrent behavior is just fine with the NBA.

And yes while there is no precedent like this situation it is still within Stern's powers to severely punish Thomas.

The NBA was furious the Knicks took this to trial and you can only imagine how Stern feels now.

The Knicks are 118-182 since Thomas took over with a 0-4 record in the playoffs.

The record the Knicks now have to worry about is 0-1 in sexual harassment trials.

SAN FRANCISCO -- When it’s bad, it’s so very bad, and everyone piles on.

San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice was doing analyst work for a local television station late Sunday night. After discussing the 49ers’ loss to Seattle, the topic switched to the walking cadaver, Norv Turner.

Rice said he and Turner worked together briefly when both were with the Oakland Raiders. When the host of the show asked Rice what it was like in a meeting room with Turner, Rice said: “The majority of guys were asleep in the back.”

Man that’s cold. True but cold.