Friday, September 7, 2012
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): BP Calls on Community to Stand Up to Gun Violence
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): BP Calls on Community to Stand Up to Gun Violence: By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, September 7- As police release surveillance video of the men suspected of wounding an in...
BP Calls on Community to Stand Up to Gun Violence
By Dan Gesslein
BRONX, NEW YORK, September 7- As police release surveillance video of the men suspected of wounding an infant with a stray bullet, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. is calling on all Bronxites to stop the violence.
In a statement, the BP is calling on residents in all Bronx communities to be a part of his “Peace in our Streets” initiative on September 22.
“Please volunteer your time and work with us to take as many illegal guns off of our streets by helping provide information to fellow Bronxites about ways they can make their neighborhoods safer,” Diaz said. “I also urge all Bronxites with knowledge of illegal guns in their community to call 866-GUN-STOP to anonymously report those guns to the police.”
The BP’s plea comes in the wake of two high-profile acts of gun violence. On Tuesday, Lamin Sillah, a 28-year-old immigrant from Gambia, was shot and killed when two men tried to rob the gas station he worked at.
The following day, two-month-old Trayvon Bunson was grazed by a bullet while sitting in his stroller in Hunts Point. Cops say the infant was hit in the shoulder when the gunmen opened fire on their intended target. Investigators released surveillance video of the suspected gunmen fleeing the scene.
"I speak for all Bronxites as we keep Lamin Sellah in our prayers and hope for little Trayvon Bunson's quick recovery,” Diaz said.
"Ending gun violence has been a top priority of mine and I know it is a national problem. Unfortunately, despite our good work, too many firearms end up in the wrong hands both through legal and illegal means. We must all unite in putting an end to this senseless act of violence so we can better prevent these crimes and protect innocent people across our city and nation,” the borough president concluded.
Book details life with The Boss, the Yankees
Ray Negron’s “Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers”
By Howard Goldin
A very interesting story of the major baseball personalities that dominated the headlines during the years of George Steinbrenner’s ownership of the New York Yankees was written by Ray Negron and Sally Cook. Negron, now a community adviser with the organization, began as the team’s batboy in 1973 through highly unexpected circumstances.
Negron offers the reader that strange story and many others that explain many of the events of his life and how those events affected his growth into adulthood. Unlike other volumes of Steinbrenner’s Yankees that were written by sportswriters or historians, this book is a first-person account written by someone who heard the words quoted and witnessed the events described. Negron includes himself in the events in which he was a part, but he does not narcissistically put himself front and center in place of those who were at the center of the story.
The gamut of emotions of the personalities in the story range widely from the heartbreak after the plane crash and death of catcher Thurman Munson and the illness and death of Bobby Murcer to the humor displayed between the players on the Yankees. Thus, the reader is able to experience these same emotions as the pages turn.
Negron, the author of several best-selling children’s books, has written his first adult volume. The similarities between his newest book and earlier children’s stories outweigh the necessary differences in vocabulary. All focus on the New York Yankees under the ownership of Steinbrenner and life in the inner city for youngsters like Negron in the 1970s and many children in the 21st century. All are intended to be uplifting, to give the readers hope and to encourage the best in all who read his words, whether adult or child.
Negron pictures the book’s characters in a positive light, but that only reflects his mindset. He sees them as human beings, decent at heart but neither saints nor devils. The stories told in the book allows the reader to better understand these Yankees as people rather than as automatons whose only importance is the statistics they compile during their playing careers. Anyone personally familiar with the personalities in the book or the events described will recognize that the affection of the author does not negate the truthfulness of the story.
Negron’s life experiences with George Steinbrenner and the stories he has learned of many others whose lives have been touched in a very positive manner by the late owner of the Yankees are the reason why Negron’s volume is truly a tribute to the life of George M. Steinbrenner.
You don’t have to be a Yankees rooter or a baseball fan to enjoy or be moved by this volume as it is a human story, but being such a fan will certainly increase your involvement.
The publishing company has already scheduled many book signings for the author. Negron insisted that the first be held in the borough that is the home of the Yankees. Thus, Negron will begin his book tour at Barnes & Noble in Co-Op City on Wednesday, September 5.
Another important project that Negron has devoted his energies and talents to in the past few years will come to fruition at Christmas. Negron has produced an animated film “Henry & Me” in which many stars of the entertainment and sports worlds provided the voices of the characters of the film. The film shows the manner in which Yankees of the past and present provide hope to a young boy who is seriously ill.
Book Information:
Title: Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers Publisher: Liveright/Norton
ISBN: 978-0-87140-461-9 Pages: 288 Price: $25.95
Three former Mustangs go pro!
Bandoumel, Nared, and Dezouvre to play in Europe
By Gary Axelbank
BRONX, NEW YORK, September 7- Three Monroe Mustangs greats have signed on to continue their careers as professional basketball players in Europe.
Djim Bandoumel will be playing for Forca Lleida in Spain, Tyrone Nared will be in Germany with the UBC Tigers Hannover, and Randy Dezouvre has signed with BC Aarhus in Denmark. All three played together on Monroe's 2010 national tournament team before continuing their college careers in the NCAA.
“These players embody the opportunity that is Monroe Mustangs basketball,” said Coach Jeff Brustad of his team that is one of only eight to have participated in three consecutive NJCAA national tournaments in the last 22 years. “Many young athletes have dreams of playing professional ball and don't know how to realize them. But Djim, Ty, and Randy showed that it can be done if they start out as Mustangs.”
Bandoumel, a 6 foot 8 French Canadian, was a strong inside player and shot blocker who emerged as a team leader at Monroe. In his sophomore year, Djim averaged 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game and helped lead the Mustangs to a 29-8 overall record, Region 15 and District III titles, and a seventh-place finish at the national tournament.
He then went on to star at the University of Idaho, averaging 7.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg in his two years there.
The 6 foot 6 Nared, who hails from Woonsocket Rhode Island, made a name for himself with a 2010 playoff run that culminated in a remarkable post season performance and an exclamation point in the final game of the national tournament when he banged home five three-pointers to propel Monroe to victory. It was a stunning moment for a big, front-line player.
At the University of Oregon he also showed flashes of brilliance, even making ESPN's top-ten highlights of the day for his trademark put-back dunk, which was the first-ever dunk on opening night of the Matthew Knight Arena. Nared also got UO's first-ever block and three-pointer in their new home.
At Monroe the 6 foot 4 Dezouvre showed flashes of brilliance, emerging as a vital cog on that 2009-10 Mustang team, averaging 11.1 ppg, 5.24 rpg, and shooting 70.6% from the free throw line. But it was in the national tournament that Dezouvre really proved his mettle, providing dynamic hustle and a never-say-die approach that inspired his team. He averaged 13.5 ppg, 3.75 rpg, and shot 84.6 percent from the charity stripe in the nationals.
He also starred for Iona where the Montreal native became known for making big plays at big times.
Dezouvre will be playing in BC Aarhus, which is Denmark's second largest city. Aarhus competes in Denmark's Ligaen, the country's top division. He is the lone North American on the roster for the upcoming season.
“Each of these three were great players for Monroe. They were good students and solid citizens who were not afraid to put their work in. Now they're reaping the rewards of all that work,” said Coach Brustad. “We are proud of them and proud of our basketball program for giving them the foundation to make their hoop dreams come true.”
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Second Homicide at Parkchester Building this Summe...
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Second Homicide at Parkchester Building this Summe...: (Homicide detectives return once again to Unionport Road.--Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, Septem...
Second Homicide at Parkchester Building this Summer
(Homicide detectives return once again to Unionport Road.--Photo by David Greene)
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- Police are looking for the gunman who shot and killed a Parkchester man, the second killing in the building since June.
Few details were available, but according to the NYPD, a still-unidentified 23-year old man was discovered by a friend inside a first-floor apartment at 1553 Unionport Road, at 2:51 p.m., on Friday, August 31.
Police are withholding the name of the victim pending notification of family members, but did state that the victim had lived in the apartment.
The victim was discovered with a single gunshot wound to the head.
The building was the site of a shooting back on June 22, where one man was killed and another wounded, police at the time described that killing as a, "drug related robbery."
Detectives continue to investigate, but could not immediately say if the two shootings were related.
A friend of the victim vowed, "This isn't the last you've heard of this."
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Three Autos Destroyed by Falling Tree at the Bronx...
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Three Autos Destroyed by Falling Tree at the Bronx...: (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- A large size tree came crashing down at the Bro...
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