Bad Habits

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas - Just after returning from the NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh, N.C., in January - undoubtedly one of the highlights of his career - Danny Briere went into a serious slump. Briere posted 26 goals and 19 assists in his first 47 games, prior to Jan. 30. In his first 15 games after the All-Star festivities, which he enjoyed with his sons Caelan, Carson and Cameron by his side, Briere mustered just two goals and four assists. He was so frustrated that he went back and looked at video to compare his play to the beginning of the season.

Lavoy Allen has a problem. His high school coach, Frank Sciolla, understands the problem. Unfortunately, he does not have a solution. "I always said to him. 'If you would just get a tattoo, if you would just start beating your chest and pointing to the sky, maybe an occasional flex, maybe a technical here or there, the fan base would love you so much more,' " said Sciolla, who coached Allen at Pennsbury High. Allen is what we always say we want in a player - unselfish, team-oriented, fundamentally sound.

LAST WEEK, a study was released that found a whopping one-third of American babies are either overweight or obese at as young as 9 months. I heard this shocking data when I caught Matt Lauer's interview on the "Today" show with Dr. Darshak Sanghavi, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. "The solution is not to put babies on diets," he said, diplomatically suggesting that families and pediatricians need to learn how to distinguish hunger cues from boredom, annoyance and other emotions babies display.

THE NUMBERS that float around after a 15-goal game, win or lose, often can be devilishly difficult to interpret. Not after the Flyers' 8-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday. The Lightning went 3-for-9 on the power play, a testament to its No. 4 power-play ranking. Expect similar carnage if the sixth-ranked Capitals get nine chances when they host the Flyers tonight. The Caps' 29 points lead the league; the Flyers trail by three in the Eastern Conference. It's the sort of swing game that can set a team like the Flyers back on a roll.

The road the 76ers are traveling this season is narrow. It's a car's width at its widest, the margin for error nil. One slip of the wheel - a losing streak, an injury, a subpar effort - and this team will find itself on a different road entirely. If you look around the league, some teams are flying down a four-lane highway. They can swerve, slow down, drift, or speed. No matter how imprecise their route, in April they'll still be exiting for the NBA playoffs. Not your Sixers.

Four years ago, Philadelphians voted overwhelmingly to launch an independent city Board of Ethics that had both the bark and bite of a good watchdog. But instead of welcoming the needed reform, City Council has largely treated the board like a meddling interloper. Last week, most Council members signed on to bills that, in part, would file down this watchdog's teeth. The proposals also would risk politicizing city services by letting city employees take party and campaign jobs.

After four days of continuous adulation from students, faculty and everyone else on campus, the Villanova men's basketball team left last night for the airport and its trip to Detroit to participate in the NCAA Final Four. Wildcats coach Jay Wright said the departure came at just the right time. "I think we're ready to go on the road," he said. "I think we've enjoyed all the home cooking and accolades, but it's getting a little crazy around here right now. "So I think the timing is perfect that we get on the road, and get to make this a little bit more of a business trip.

The phrase that best describes my mother, Gina Pino, is "tower of strength. " Juggling three kids, a husband, and a high-pressure career is no easy feat, but somehow she not only manages but thrives. Sure, we nag her and sometimes take our problems out on her, but she still gives loving advice, offers support, and forgives us when we lose our tempers. Why is it as children we take our anger out on our mothers? I finally figured it out. We do it because we know in the end they will still love us. So, Mom, this Mother's Day I would like to say thank you for putting up with me and tell you I appreciate and love you. Alexis V. Pino Sewell I made a mistake, and my mom, Susan DiRenna, helped me fix it. I was away from home for the first time - rebellious and confident I could conquer the world.

Atlantic City High last night completed its improbable turnaround from a young, inexperienced team that started the season 3-6 to South Jersey Group 4 boys' basketball champion. The Vikings, who earlier in the season looked as if they would have a difficult time even qualifying for the tournament, won their third sectional title in the last four years, jolting visiting Winslow Township, 76-64, before a roaring sellout crowd of 1,400. In a game played at breakneck speed, 6-foot junior guard Umar Shannon scored 19 points and 5-8 senior Khalif Toombs added 17 to pace fifth-seeded Atlantic City (20-9)

RE CHRISTINE Flowers' recent op-ed, "Mommie Dearest": My daughter, Ebony Nicole Dorsey, was indeed spectacular in all respects: gorgeous, strong, intense, caring and loving. Despite the fact that there are millions of parents in this country who have made ugly choices in life, none are being publicized and scrutinized as I have been. No one understands the pain I feel. But among all other things, I can tell you I am a good mother. My children are the most important beings in my life.