WHACK BACK AT VAC

J.R. Heilman: Scott Perry is a great hire by the Knicks. Hopefully James Dolan will finally get out of the way — just like the Rangers. Now the basketball people can do the heavy lifting the next few years. Maybe Clyde and Pearl can introduce the new Dancing Harry!

Vac: It never fails to amaze how badly Knicks fans want to believe in good news. Just one of

these days, for their sake, I hope it really, truly happens.

Jonathan Fiskus: Regarding Carmelo Anthony, I think trading him is addition by subtraction. I don’t really care what we get back for him as long as he’s gone. He is not a winning player, his time in New York was

underwhelming, and it is time for Kristaps Porzingis to become the focal point. As long as Melo is here that won’t happen.

Vac: I think even those of us who view Melo’s time here kinder than others will concede that it isn’t good for either side for him to be here on opening night.

@abemichaels: Can we call Gary (Garrett) Cooper Pride of the Yankees? @MikeVacc: Yup.(Gary Cooper fans will get that joke).

Alan Sperber: I did not see Joe DiMaggio in 1936, but I did see all of the other rookies on your 10best list, and none of them had a greater impact than Willie Mays in 1951. He came up to the Giants in May from Minneapolis after batting .477 there and proceeded to ignite a lifeless franchise that had not been to the postseason in 14 years. Thereafter, New York had three baseball franchises, the Yankees, the Dodgers and Willie Mays.

Vac: Maybe the list should have been longer. Willie should’ve been on it.