Bernie Williams: I don’t think you have seen the last of me…

Bernie Williams remains a man without a team, but the former Yankee hasn’t given up on playing again.

“I’m trying to stay in shape, working hard and we’ll see what happens in the future,” Williams told WNBC yesterday. “I don’t think you’ve seen the last of me yet.”

The 38-year-old centerfielder was at the Theater at Madison Square Garden yesterday, where he gave the commencement address at Iona College’s graduation.

He drew several loud ovations during the ceremony, where he spoke for about 10 minutes.
And while his old team continues to see its season spiral out of control, undoubtedly some of the graduates wanted to see Williams back in pinstripes - especially as it struggled against the Mets and with Boston on its way to The Bronx today.

“Obviously, I feel for those guys,” Williams said of his ex-teammates, who face an unprecedented deficit in the Joe Torre era. “I know they’re not going through a very good moment right now, but I have enough confidence in their abilities that they’re going to pull out of it and I send them my best.”

With the way things are going - an anemic offense and a pitching staff riddled with injuries and the scorching hot Red Sox pulling away from the AL East pack - Williams’ well-wishes might not be enough.

As for a comeback, however, Williams, who spent 16 years in the Bronx, was non-committal.
“I have no idea,” Williams said. “I haven’t really made plans that far [ahead]. I’m still in shape. I’m enjoying my time away from the game. I do miss it.”

Williams had a chance to stay with the Yankees, but he refused the team’s offer for a minor-league contract and invitation to spring training - even spurning Torre’s efforts to get him to Florida. And he didn’t pursue opportunities with other teams.

Nevertheless, during his speech, he repeatedly referred to his baseball career in the present tense.

“I have played professional baseball for over half my life,” Williams said. “From the time I picked up a baseball glove, I did not want to put it down ... you have to trust that everything will work out.”

He also talked about signing with the Yankees when he was 16 and having played for only one organization.

Williams, who received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from the New Rochelle school, told the graduates that they should “stay focused on things you can control and not things you cannot control. Don’t let your job define who you are.”
Right now, that’s not a problem.