Soccer Superpowers Clash at Yankee Stadium

The Transformation of European Football By Niemann, Arne (EDT)/ Garcia, Borja (EDT)/ Grant, Wyn (EDT) (Google Affiliate Ad)

"European Football Jersey" (Google Affiliate Ad)

Franklin Premier Folding Soccer Goal (Google Affiliate Ad)

(Photo by NY Yankees)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 9- Soccer fans flocked to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night to see two of the legendary European superpowers, Real Madrid of Spain and A.C. Milan of Italy, meet in a friendly match.

Prior to entering Yankee Stadium, many in the large crowd had dinner at neighborhood eateries on 161^st Street. Several distributed 4-inch commemorative soccer balls to its patrons. Dr. Cary Goodman, Executive Director of the 161 BID Business Improvement District), who spearheaded the project, commented, “We want everyone to enjoy this great soccer match. These are two great teams, representing two great soccer traditions.”

Having the opportunity to see two of the most prestigious football sides on the Yankee Stadium pitch was quite an attraction as the sellout crowd of 49,474 was the largest gathering to witness a soccer game in either Yankee Stadium.

The match between the world renowned sides was the second of the World Football Challenge matches held at the iconic sports venue in the Bronx this summer. Soccer’s premiere at the current Yankee Stadium took place on July 22, when the Chelsea F.C. and Paris St. Germain fought to a 1-1 draw. A very respectable crowd of 38,202 attended that contest.

Excitement grew as the day of the second game drew nearer. The two sides have been among the most prominent world football squads in history. Milan, now in its third century of existence, is one of the most decorated clubs in history. The club has been an 18-time winner of Italy’s Series A. It has captured the European Cup/UEFA Champions League Title in seven years, 1963, ‘69, ‘89, ‘90, ‘94, 2003 and ‘07.

Real holds a record nine wins of the European Cup beginning with five consecutive titles from 1956-60, ’66, ’98, 2000 and ’02. Within Spain, Real has been victorious a record 32 times. The club’s most recent season, 2011-12 was a banner year. It set marks for points, 100, goals scored, 121, difference in goals scored, +89, away wins, 16, and total wins (32).

The contest proved to be extremely one-sided to the delight of most of those in attendance as Real was victorious, 5-1. Although billed as a “friendly,” individual and club pride are always factors when professional athletes are in action.

One of the greatest current superstars of the sport, Christian Ronaldo, lived up to expectations as he scored two goals, During the 2011-12 season, the Portuguese forward scored 46 goals in 37 games in La Liga in Spain and netted 12 in 13 other appearances. Ronaldo remains the most costly transfer in world football history as Real Madrid paid $130 million to Manchester United to obtain his services.

The 27-year old received a standing ovation from the full house when he was removed from the contest with 10 minutes left. When asked why Ronaldo was given so many minutes, Madrid’s manager, Jose Morinho, replied, “It’s a historical stadium, a historical opponent, a full stadium. Christian is part of the show, what the people want to see.”

Another Real Madrid player in the spotlight was Kaká. The talented Brazilian assisted on two goals in the second half. The 30-year old was rumored to be returning to his previous club, Milan, for the new season. Marinho forthrightly expressed his opinion, “I’m happy to keep him and happy to sell if he wants to go. He’s a great player. My arms are open if he wants to stay.” To clubs interested in purchasing the services of Kaká, he warned, “If you want to buy a diamond, you have to pay.”

The nine games of the Herbalife World Football Challenge were played not only to heighten interest in soccer within the United States nor to fill the coffers of each club, but also to prepare each club for the fast approaching new season. Madrid open its season on August 18 and Milan opens on August 26.

Leaders Want Residents to Have Say in Bridge Project

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 9- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Comptroller John Liu and City Council Transportation Committee Chairman James Vacca, together with the City Island Civic Association, are calling on the City’s Department of Transportation to begin the formal public input process regarding the scheduled construction of the new City Island Bridge, slated for next year, through ULURP as soon as possible.

Specifically, they noted that the bridge construction is required to undergo a ULURP review through the Department of City Planning, as stated in the DOT’s own document released in March 2007.

Borough President Diaz, Comptroller Liu and Council Member Vacca demanded that the DOT begin the ULURP process as soon as possible—prior to the construction of the new bridge. The ULURP process requires public hearings by both the local Community Board and the Borough President’s Office, offering the people of City Island and, in fact, the entire Bronx, a chance to weigh in on this proposed construction project.

“The people of City Island have the right to voice their concerns or support for the construction of a new City Island Bridge through the ULURP process. This is a requirement of this project, and the DOT admits just that in its own document, which my office confirmed last week. The DOT should begin the ULURP process immediately, so that City Island residents have their chance to speak out on this proposal prior to the construction of the bridge next year,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“The Mayor has long taken a ‘my way or the highway’ approach to governing, which now seems to have extended to bridges,” said City Comptroller John Liu. “By circumventing the formal public review process, the Mayor has once again demonstrated his complete disregard for the City Charter which requires that the City provide community members and elected officials an opportunity to comment on land use matters. The City should not only hold public hearings on the City Island bridge proposal but also explain to taxpayers why the cost of this capital project has ballooned by more than $100 million.”

“If the Department of Transportation’s own documents show the need for a ULURP action in order to replace the City Island Bridge, that process must begin before construction starts on the bridge, not after,” said Council Member James Vacca, who represents City Island and is also Chair of the Council Transportation Committee. “DOT should not treat the ULURP process as a foregone conclusion, when City Islanders and myself have expressed real concerns with the design and cost of this bridge. The ULURP process should begin immediately, with transparency and collaboration with the residents and businesses of City Island, before a single shovel hits the ground.”

“The fusion of the City Island community and our Bronx Borough President shows how local government can serve its purpose by actually helping the people. Hopefully, the people that sit in their ivory towers will hear this, and we will have our chance to be heard,” said Bill Stanton, president of the City Island Civic Association.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cops Hunt Arsonists

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cops Hunt Arsonists: BRONX, NEW YORK, August 8- Police are asking for the public’s help in trying to catch a gang of arsonists . Cops released surveilla...

Cops Hunt Arsonists

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 8- Police are asking for the public’s help in trying to catch a gang of arsonists.

Cops released surveillance video of one of five suspects wanted in connection with an arson at a construction site. Investigators say that at around 8:52 p.m. on August 5, the group entered the rear of 3701 Jerome Avenue and set fire to a hut on the construction site. 

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. he public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bird Brained Subway ‘Gunman’

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bird Brained Subway ‘Gunman’: BRONX, NEW YORK, August 8- Police nabbed a real bird brain near the Westchester Square Station when a suspect tried to sneak on the s...

Bird Brained Subway ‘Gunman’

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 8- Police nabbed a real bird brain near the Westchester Square Station when a suspect tried to sneak on the subway with a “gun.”

At around 4:30 p.m. on August 7, police were conducting bag screenings at the Westschester Square Subway Station on the Number 6 line. Officers observed a man with appeared to be a handgun in his front pocket.

Sergeant Reinaldo Colon and Police Officer Rafael Baez followed the suspect out of the station and stopped him on the corner East Tremont and Westchester Square. Cops found the suspect to be in possession of a BB gun, which looked very much like a 9mm handgun. 

Police arrested 25-year-old Alexis Santillan of Pelham Bay and charged him with criminal possession of a weapon.

Alice in Wonderland

Wakefield Area News

By Mary V. Lauro

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 8- In a recent editorial, the Daily News suggested that all Member Items be eliminated. We tend to agree. In many cases they are a waste of our money. They are sometimes used, as reported in the case of Councilman Larry Seabrook, to fatten the politician's wallet or reward his friends and relatives or, as is often the case, to buy the good will of a community in order to garner its votes at election time. It is only rarely that a politician will act without self-interest. When he does, he becomes a statesman.

What is a member item? It is an amount of money which an assemblyman, senator or councilperson is able to include in that year's budget for use by a favored group. The favored group must apply and frequently has to jump through hoops before the grant is appropriated. Thus the Bronx Business Alliance (BBA) under the leadership of Margaret Arrighi (CEO) and Kathy Zamachanski (consultant) received beaucoup funds from Albany and the City Council.

As we already reported, in previous columns, Arrighi had contempt for any interference in her alleged schemes. When she decided, and stated in a letter, that the best thing that could happen to White Plains Road was the construction of a 70-unit supportive housing for HIV/AIDs patients on White Plains Road opposite the Food Town Supermarket, it was time to look at corporation papers and By-laws. We found the By-laws were a pastiche of some old merchants association By-laws and the opening clauses of By-laws of the very people who were going to build that 70-unit HIV/AIDs housing! How enormously strange, would you not say?

One of the opening clauses of the By-laws said the corporation had no members which is at it should be, but in later clauses it speaks of members. Indeed, it states that the members of the Board of Directors are chosen on a yearly basis by the members of the organization at the January meeting! Plainly, this whole operation was illicit, yet it was receiving thousands of dollars from various government sources.

John Bonizio and this writer tried to rewrite those By-laws for which consent of the existing BoD was needed. Because Arrighi insisted on retaining Board members who never appeared at meetings, it was not possible to legalize the operation. John Bonizio, a very able and trustworthy person resigned in a year's time.

At this point, I inherited the position of President of the BoD of an illicit operation. Since Senator Klein was one of the main sources of funding for the BBA, I turned to him for assistance in legalizing the operation. Unfortunately, I had to deal with his assistant, John Doyle who, at first saw nothing wrong with the By-Laws which he had obviously not read. When sent to him again at a later date, he insisted that Senator Klein's office did not deal with internal affairs of organization as if Klein's funding a member item of $200,000 was not dealing with internal affairs. Furthermore, at this time, which was during the Woodlawn fracas, Doyle had requested and received a copy of the Woodlawn By-laws which he said was to assist them in becoming a 501C3 organization. He did not consider that as interfering with internal affairs. Did he not know that corporation papers, not By-laws, determine 501C3 eligibility? The point here is that if proper attention had been given, BBA might still exist.

I resigned one day before Arrighi. The BBA is no more. But, I cannot end without pointing out that Arrighi suffered greatly when Governor Patterson froze all member items in the 2009 budget. Arrighi went without pay for two and half years. Her house went into foreclosure. And her health deteriorated.