NYPOST.COM

Sports PRINCES AND PUNKS By JAY GREENBERG

March 2, 2003   -- The Post concludes its two-part look at the best and worst qualities of the city's professional sports personalities:

CLASSY

1. Curtis Martin, Jets To take the pressure off, many religious athletes use God to make their success or failure predetermined. Martin undertakes his faith as an every-day obligation to improve himself and the world (through his youth foundation).

2. Mark Messier, Rangers In 24 years of kicking opponents and underachieving teammates' butts, has he ever once put that foot in his mouth?

3. Allan Houston, Knicks Overpaid, sure, and over-criticized, too, like most good, but not great, players on mediocre teams. Gets over it all by being the best person he can be, which is why he was so quickly forgiven for a slip of ignorance, confused with faith, that insulted the religion of many Knicks' customers.

4. Robin Ventura, Yankees Good year, bad year, Bronx, Queens, hurt, healthy, praised, criticized, always the most level head in the manic-depressive city.

5. Kerry Collins, Giants Justifies cheering a Shockey catch. Just feel good for the guy who made the throw, whose every completion is a reminder how the young and dumb can grow up.