1.   As NBA rookies become younger, spectacular dunks and passes, once reserved for the playground and demonized by control-freak coaches, have been institutionalized.

2.   On Wednesday night at Veterans Stadium, the rookie became the sixth Mets player to hit for the cycle.

3.   Talented rookies now routinely become immediate starters with movie-star contracts and visibility.

4.   The rookie is becoming old hand at this stuff.

5.   The trade-off is that rookies would become unrestricted free agents after three years.

6.   The red-hot rookie became the first Washington goalie in four years to record two straight shutouts.