Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame: Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 20- Although the rain on Sunday afternoon postponed the baseball...

Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame

Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 20- Although the rain on Sunday afternoon postponed the baseball game between the Yankees and Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, it did not dampen enthusiasm nor cancel the festivities several blocks east on the Grand Concourse, where the annual Bronx Walk of Fame ceremony was held. Three new Bronx idols were honored by having their names added to street signs posted along the Grand Concourse in the 161^st Street area.

Each of the three follows other notable sons and daughters of the Bronx whose lives and careers added prestige to the borough. Miguel Angel Amadeo, a distinguished Latino musician and composer, is the senior of the three at 79 years of age. Amadeo was born in Puerto Rico, but has lived in the Bronx since 1948.

His record shop plus, Casa Amadeo, located at 786 Prospect Avenue, is a historical landmark. Originally opened by Victoria Hernandez, sister of the legendary Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernandez, the store was the first record shop owned by a Puerto Rican in New York.

Amadeo was the composer of many musical numbers during his lengthy musical career. To the audience at the ceremony, he said, “What brought me here today was “Give it to Me When I’m Alive” by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. He sang the popular tune and was joined by many in the audience.

The composer spoke happily of the future, “I’m 79 years old and I don’t intend to retire. I’ve been in the music business 61 years. I hope in the future I will be doing what I’m doing now.”

Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. also introduced one of his predecessors, Robert Abrams. The long-time and respected public official was the Bronx BP from 1970-9. Prior to holding the borough-wide office, Abrams represented a Bronx district in the New York State Assembly from 1966-9.

After his decade as Bronx BP, Abrams was elected to the statewide office of New York State Attorney General in 1979. He retained that office until retiring in 1993. Governor David Patterson named the Justice Building in Albany in honor of Abrams in 2009. After his retirement from elective office, he joined the law firm of Strook, Strook and Lavan.

The only female and the youngest of the trio is famed actress Ellen Barkin. She was born to a working class couple in the mid-1950’s. Aware of her future career early in life, Barkin graduated from the High School of Performing Arts. She majored in history and drama at Hunter College. She went the rounds of auditions after attending Actor’s Studio.

Her acting ability was recognized on stage and screen. She earned a Tony Award for her first Broadway appearance, “The Normal Heart” in 2011. She was a nominee and award winner for motion pictures and TV shows on numerous occasions.

Diaz introduced her as a world famous ambassador for the Bronx, “What’s special for me is when you look at her Twitter page [followed by nearly 150,000] it says Bronx girl. Everywhere she goes in the world she has Bronx on her lips.”

Speaking in the Bronx Supreme Court, where the introductory section of the ceremony was held, the experienced actress drew a big laugh when she said, “The last time I was in this building was when I bailed my grandmother out after she was arrested for running an illegal poker game.” She closed with heart-felt words regarding her place of birth, “I will be a Bronx girl until the day I die.”

Everyone then went outside in the rain to watch the three honorees unveil their street signs. All three appeared excited, extremely happy and in very good humor to be recognized in the Bronx.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Week Parade, Music Festival

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Week Parade, Music Festival: BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- It may have rained, enough to cancel the Yankee game, but it didn't rain hard enough to damper the s...

Bronx Week Parade, Music Festival

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- It may have rained, enough to cancel the Yankee game, but it didn't rain hard enough to damper the spirits enough to cancel the Bronx Week Parade, Food and Music Festival today on Mosholu Parkway. 

While some people and a few elected officials stayed away in drier places, there still were over 1,000 proud Bronxites who marched in the Bronx Week Parade on Mosholu Parkway, and then enjoyed the Food and Music Festival. The Parade was co-hosted by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and NY 1 Bronx reporter Dean Meminger.

The Bronx Week Parade started off with the NYPD and NYFD, then came the marchers as the three Bronx Walk of Fame honorees arrived at the viewing stand. Famous actress Ellen Barkin, former NY State Attorney General and Bronx BP Robert Abrams, and musician Miguel Angel Amadeo then went onto the stage to watch the rest of the Bronx Week Parade.  

As was the case in last years, parade the theme again this year was all about the children and their future. 

Parade highlights - The "Dynamic Duo" of BP Diaz and NY 1 reporter Dean Meminger, The Bronx Young Democrats, The fact that this event started under then Bronx BP Robert Abrams as "Bronx Day", Councilman Joel Rivera's Chief of staff marching four different times in the parade as was noted by BP Diaz, and of course the hundreds of children marching and performing.

Yanks rained out

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 19- For the first time during the 2013 season, a game at Yankee Stadium was postponed because of inclement weather. An early morning rain that was expected to continue throughout the day caused the postponement of the final game of the current Yankees homestand.

The rare pitching matchup scheduled for Sunday afternoon appeared fully capable of providing excitement for the attending fans. C.C. Sabathia (A.L.-2007) and R.A. Dickey(N.L.-2012), would have been the fifth combo of starting former Cy Young Award winners in a contest at the current Yankee Stadium Sabathia faced a former Cy Young recipient, “King” Felix Hernandez of the Mariners in his last start five days ago. Dickey would have been the 11th Cy Young Award winner to start against Sabathia.

The Blue Jays, losers of their last nine games at Yankee Stadium, were glad to be returning home to Toronto. They will face Tampa on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Yankees will travel to Baltimore for a three game series that will begin on Monday night. Sabathia will be in the starting role on Monday.

A make-up date for the washed-out contest was not announced, but will most likely occur in the late summer as the Blue Jays return to the Bronx for a three game set on August 20-22.

Itchin' to Stay Pitchin'

Phelps and Cano lead the way in Yankees win over Blue Jays

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 19- David Phelps came out of the New York Yankees bullpen and put into a temporary starting role for the injured Ivan Nova. Manager Joe Girardi, who has depended on various replacements because of the walking wounded in pinstripes, may want to retain Phelps as a starter after his latest outing Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.

Phelps, in his fourth start for the injured Nova, struck out eight and threw a season-high seven innings as the Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 at Yankee Stadium, their ninth straight win over the struggling Jays in the Bronx. New York goes for a sweep of the three-game series Sunday afternoon with left hander CC Sabathia (4-3) getting the start

Phelps, (2-2) earned his first win as a starter this season. He was dominant and Toronto had trouble getting runs home. That started in the first inning when the right hander picked off Jose Bautista at second and struck out J.P. Arencibia to conclude an inning that appeared to be trouble.

And in the third inning, Phelps with runners on first and second induced Melky Cabrera to ground into a double play with no score in the game. Simply put, the Blue Jays could not mount a rally, and Phlelps continued to make a statement to his manager.

“He’s faced two tough lineups his last two starts, that’s not easy to do,” commented Girardi. He was referring to Phelps’ last outing at Cleveland on Monday, the Yankees’ game one loss of two where Phelps allowed one-run in 6.2 innings in a 1-0 loss.

Girardi added, about his replacement starter, important also because of Andy Pettitte put on the 15-day disabled list, “It’s not easy to do. He continues to make strides. We always envisioned him as a starter. We like what he is doing.”

And, there is every reason to envision Phelps staying around. Nova is not expected back anytime soon. The Yankees bullpen would benefit with the addition again of Phelps, but seems to be doing fine having had a stretch of 28.0 consecutive scoreless innings snapped Wednesday night in a loss to Seattle.

“I was making pitches when I needed to, “said Phelps. “I was all over the place today." Besides giving up six hits, he walked three. He added, “I will do everything I can to stay here and help this team win.”

He alluded to a Yankees team that has been hindered with injuries, and with viable replacements that have been doing the job, which is good enough for their ninth win in their last 12 games and first place in the American League East.

“A lot have picked us to be last, but this has been a group effort in this clubhouse,” he said. “I would like to continue to be a part of this here.”

The Yankees used the long ball again. Robinson Cano recorded his 12th career multi-home run game and Travis Hafner homered in his first game since Monday at Cleveland after missing the last five games with right shoulder inflammation.

“He makes everyone that much better,” commented Girardi about Cano who hit his 11th and 12th home runs in the third and fifth innings off losing pitcher Brandon Morrow (1-3). Both were hit with one-on and two-out.

It was the second loss in two starts this season for Morrow against the Yankees. On April 19 at the Rogers Centre up in Toronto, the Yankees tagged him for seven runs and nine hits in a 9-4 loss. This time it was Cano who did the damage.

Enough damage for Morrow to say, “New York’s Robinson Cano, he was the whole ballgame.”

Cano, ahead of his home run pace of last year commented, “That was a good game.” Yes it was for him, and the injury free second baseman was asked about taking a leadership role with the younger guys filling the void.

“That’s not the kind of thing in my mind right now. Right now the focus is just to win games.” And the way Cano is hitting the long ball and with Phelps filling the void as well, the Yankees could be winning a lot more ballgames.

Comment: Rich Mancuso- Ring786@aol.com

Ain't That a Pitch!

Yankees Hurlers Shut Out Blue Jays, 5-0

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 18- The Yankees remained on top of the American League East standings after shutting out the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-0 in game #1 of a three-game weekend series. The outstanding performance of starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was especially reassuring to Yankees fans as approximately one hour before the game began it was announced that veteran starting pitcher Andy Pettitte was being placed on the 15 day disabled list. Pettitte is the 13th Yankees player who has been on the DL this year.

Kuroda has been the most impressive of the Yankees starting rotation. The win on Friday night raised his record to 6-2. His ERA has fallen to a season low of 1.99. The native of Japan kept his opponent scoreless for the second time this year. Kuroda retired 23 of the 26 batters he faced, 16 of the final 17. He gave up only two hits and one walk in eight innings. Rookie Preston Claiborne completed the shutout by blanking the Blue Jays in the ninth although he did yield two hits. Claiborne has not given up a run in eight innings of relief in 2013. Coincidently, on the 15th anniversary of the perfect game pitched by David Wells, excellent pitching was the story for the Yankees.

Yankee manager Joe Girardi, obviously, expressed high praise for his starter, “He [Kuroda] was just really, really good. He had a very good fastball, a very good slider and a very good split. It’s nice whenever you don’t have to use your bullpen. He continues to impress us.”

Kuroda realized his pitches were effective early in the game, “Early in the first inning when I struck out [Edwin] Encarnación and [Jose] Bautista, I knew I was in a good position.” After surrendering a lead-off double to former Yankee Melky Cabrera, Kuroda fanned the next two batters.

The Yankees scored what proved to be the winning run after the first three batters in the game. Brett Gardner tripled off starter Mark Buehrle. Jayson Nix drew a base on balls. Robinson Cano’s ground out to second drove in the first tally of the game.

Yankee third sacker David Adams, playing in his third big league game, was successful at the plate. With a single and a double, he recorded his first multi-hit game. The last Yankee player to hit in each of his first three contests was Shelley Duncan in 2007. Adams scored his first runs in the majors after each of his hits. The young player said, “I’m blessed to be here. On days like this this [Yankee wins], it’s awesome.” Adams recognizes his role on the team, “I’m just trying to do my job, take some pressure off the big guys.”

David Phelps (1-2) will start for New York on Saturday afternoon against Brandon Morrow (1-2).