They say yes.

But given their recent shenanigans over the fate of the West Side stadium — despite its importance to the city's bid for the Games — you've got to wonder.

Yesterday, the speaker dissed the idea that New York could win its bid to host the Olympics in 2012, suggesting it was a long shot. Such words can easily become self-fulfilling.

And on NY1 he suggested he'd oppose it were it not for Mayor Bloomberg's support. "I don't see the great need for it," he said.

Silver also dismissed as irrelevant a sharply written letter from Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee, warning that New York doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of winning the Games unless the West Side stadium gets full approval — soon.

But Ueberroth (who knows how Olympic bids are won, having corralled the '84 Games for Los Angeles) wrote two weeks ago that the International Olympic Committee "has made it clear that without full approval" of the stadium before the IOC's July 6 final vote, "New York's bid will not be successful."

Indeed, he cautioned, "the IOC will simply not take the risk of awarding the Games to a city that has not secured the necessary approvals for this marquee Olympic venue."

So what's Silver trying to do — kill New York's bid?

Indeed, since that letter was received, Silver has been defiantly pooh-poohing the idea of quick approval of the stadium, citing spurious lawsuits by its opponents.

Plus, not only did he claim the city's hopes for the 2012 Olympic are dim, he actually recommended New York begin gearing up to vie for the 2016 Games.

Silver might have meant this as an excuse for nixing the stadium — which, in itself, would be tragic. But such defeatism (even if New York's odds are poor) and lack of enthusiasm for the 2012 Games certainly won't help the city's bid.

Separately, Silver insists his decision on the stadium doesn't hinge on state and city support of other projects. But yesterday he presented a list of projects, mostly in his lower Manhattan district, that sure looked like he wants to play "Let's Make a Deal."

Bruno has been similarly negative. Wednesday, he forced the gov to remove the stadium from the agenda of a key meeting by the Public Authorities Control Board, which must OK its financing.

And he said he would kill the plan entirely unless Gov. Pataki answers a detailed list of questions.

Such chest-beating is not uncommon from Albany's key players — and sometimes signals a deal is near.

But some observers wonder if it instead signals a secret decision by the majority leader to oppose the stadium in order to help his son, Ken Bruno — who's being paid by Cablevision and Madison Square Garden to lobby against it.

The fact is, the West Side stadium is vital not only to the city's Olympic bid, but also to redeveloping the fallow area on Manhattan's West Side.

Which is why building the facility in one of the outer boroughs, as stadium opponents (including some who hope to be mayor) suggest, doesn't cut it.

Not to mention that the Jets — who'd be paying for the facility — have ruled out other boroughs, and are reportedly lining up a backup plan to stay in Jersey.

It comes down to this: The city's Olympic hopes are hanging in the balance. Yet two of New York's key players are actively working to undermine them.

Here's hoping that changes. Fast.