Currently, the New York Post and even Long Island Newsday have more circulation than the Daily News and New York Times. I remember when it was the New York Post that was the wannabe (part of the reason why it was not included in Billy Joel’s song). The Times and the News had close to a million a day circulation. The Post wasn’t even available past Fairfield County in CT until a newspaper strike gave them an opportunity to expand. In those days, a superior sports section was a great way for an NYC tabloid to expand readership, and the Post had one.
Remember how the Post was an Afternoon Paper? It would come out each afternoon, not in the AM. So you could get fresh news! Also, the Long Island Press was like that, but I guess that one is long gone.