Tiki Barber wanted a more intense, fiery Eli Manning. The New York Giants quarterback gave his former teammate what he wanted – but good – yesterday.

Two days after being criticized on national TV by Barber for a lack of strong leadership, Manning ripped his former teammate and current NBC football analyst for distracting the team last season with his early retirement announcement and his criticism of coach Tom Coughlin.

Cool name Michaelangelo Celestina He's a coach for Curacao's team in the Little League World Series.

“I guess I'm just happy for Tiki that he's making a smooth transition into the TV world,” Manning said. “You know, I'll be interested to see if he has anything to say (about a team) besides the Giants, and what his comments will be on that.”

The normally reserved Manning seemed to enjoy going after Barber, who retired after last season to pursue a TV career.

Speaking at halftime of the Giants-Ravens game on Sunday night, Barber had said Manning's attempt to lead an offensive meeting in the 12th week of last season was “comical” at times.

“He didn't feel like his voice was going to be strong enough and it showed,” Barber said. “Sometimes it was almost comical the way that he would say things.”

Barber questioned whether Manning could be a leader of men and make plays when the chips were down.

“His personality hasn't been so that he can step up, make a strong statement and have people believe that it's coming from his heart,” Barber said.

Said Manning: “I'm not going to lose any sleep about what Tiki has to say. I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season, and he's lost the heart (to play).”

Trivia time

Twenty-three years ago today, the Mets' Doc Gooden, all of 19, struck out nine to become the 11th major leaguer to whiff 200 or more in his rookie season. Against what team did he accomplish this feat?

The bargain Benz

Big Papi is looking for someone to make a Big Purchase.

David Ortiz is auctioning off a red 2005 Mercedes Benz on eBay, joining fellow Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez in trying to make a sale on the Internet site. Ortiz's posting, though, seems more legitimate than Ramirez's listing of a gas barbecue grill during spring training.

The convertible listing describes the SL-Class SL65 AMG as “David Ortiz's Toy” that has 604 horsepower and goes from zero to 60 mph in “just over four seconds.”

It says he bought it for more than $205,000 as a present to himself after Boston won the 2004 World Series, then added $35,000 in accessories. The listing said the 12-cylinder car was built by hand.

The auction ends tomorrow.

Told that the current bid is $169,000, Sox manager Terry Francona said, “Pass.”

Parting shot

Matt Murphy, the guy who caught Barry Bonds' home run ball No. 756, telling Bloomberg Television he'll sell the souvenir at auction, reportedly for about half a million bucks:

“Ideally, what I would love to happen would be for someone to buy the ball and donate it to the Hall of Fame. It's a piece of history and belongs in the Hall.”

Trivia answer

The Padres.