Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Football Invades Yankee Stadium

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Football Invades Yankee Stadium: Football Invades Yankee Stadium (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 10- The first of three coll...

Football Invades Yankee Stadium

Football Invades Yankee Stadium

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 10- The first of three college football games scheduled to be played in Yankee Stadium during the remaining days of 2014 took place on Saturday afternoon, November 8. The Black Knights of Army (3-6) and the University of Connecticut Huskies (2-7, 1-4) met on the gridiron at the baseball cathedral on 161^st Street. 

The first big event at Yankee Stadium since Derek Jeter’s final game in the Bronx on September 25 drew tens of thousands to the neighborhood for the weekend festivities. Both sides of River Ave. were filled with spectators watching a large contingent of West Point Cadets march from 153^rd Street to the ballpark’s entrance. As always, the 161^st Business Improvement District (161 BID) led by its executive director Cary Goodman provided a warm welcome to visitors, whether attending the game or not. Youth Ambassadors of the local organization distributed maps of the area and local restaurants and sports bars gave free souvenir footballs to its patrons. 

The 27,453 fans inside the stadium were entertained by the West Point Band and Glee Club and a demonstration by the West Point Parachute Team before the contest and heard a stirring rendition of God Bless America sung by Master Sgt. Mary Kay Messenger at the conclusion of the third quarter. They also were treated to an exciting football contest whose result was not decided until the final minute of action.

Both teams began the game with disappointing identical win/loss marks, 2-6, under their first year coaches, Bob Diaco at Connecticut and Jeff Monken at Army. Army took a 14-0 lead with two short runs after lengthy drives. Quarterback Angel Santiago began its successful game-long ground attack with a two-yard touchdown run with 1:53 remaining in the first quarter. Coach Diaco of the Huskies felt the game changed at that point, “At 14-0, the game changed. The opportunities for the opposition became too few.”

At 8:39 of the second quarter, Joe Walker ran the ball across the goal line for the Black Knights.  

Santiago only threw three passes, two completed, for Army, but had a net gain of 97 yards on 25 carries. His second touchdown was scored on a 1 yard rush in the fourth quarter. 

Walker scored a second touchdown on a two-yard rush in the third. 

The third touchdown for the Huskies with 2:08 left in the contest brought the score to 28-21. The Connecticut kicker made an on-side kick that was recovered by the Huskies on their own 48. UConn quarterback Chandler Whitmer led the drive to the Army 6. On the drive, he carried three times for a total of 43 yards himself. 

The Huskies were six yards away from tying the game when Whitmer’s last pass was intercepted by Chris Carnegie on the Army 1 and carried 99 yards for the final score of the game with 28 seconds remaining.

Army coach Monken praised the junior for his second interception of the game, “I can’t say enough for the play by Chris Carnegie. It was  a huge play for the team.”

Coach Diaco did not feel the one play was the cause for his team’s loss, “That play did not lose the game. There were too many errors on offense. We didn’t execute well enough; we didn’t play well enough.”

On November 22, college football will return to Yankee Stadium as Leigh and Lafayette will compete in their 150^th game, the longest rivalry in college football history.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Enough of the A-Rod Circus

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Enough of the A-Rod Circus: Enough of the A-Rod Circus By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned to town. T...

Enough of the A-Rod Circus

Enough of the A-Rod Circus

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned to town. The A-Rod drama was not expected until February in Tampa Florida when the New York Yankees assemble for spring training, but we should not be shocked that he admitted the truth, under oath to a DEA investigator about using PED’s.

It is typical Alex Rodriguez territory to be in this position. And it has spread to the New York airwaves as two popular talk show hosts got involved in who was credible when asking A-Rod ro tell the truth last November. Rodriguez on one show said he never took PED’s and we didn’t believe the fraud then.

That is why it came as no shock Wednesday when a Miami Herald report said that A-Rod told the truth. After all this has always been the Alex Rodriguez saga of not telling the truth. And if he did not have the appropriate millions to have proper representation he may have had to tell the truth.

Should we forgive Alex Rodriguez? Some will say yes because his year-long suspension from Major League Baseball was served. The Yankees await the A-Rod arrival and continued circus in February and the drama will continue. It does not have to continue if the Yankees decide to eat up a remaining three-years and $61 million that remains on a contract that should have never been granted.

That was then. The Yankees upper brass, those who were dragged into the A-Rod legal battle and the circus, will have a way with dealing with this latest report. They wish it would all go away, however their fraud of a player is around for the duration. All they can do is hope that Rodriguez is healthy and will offer some type of offense to a lineup that could not score runs this past season.

They hope their fraud will be able to handle a plan at third or first base, or play a regular role in the lineup as the designated hitter, and to that there is no certainty. The Yankees are not getting younger with a damaged A-Rod in their everyday lineup but they may have no other choice to put him on the field as much as possible.

Getting back to the Alex Rodriguez image of being damaged is another issue. The Yankees as an organization have to play two sides with the damage control and continue dealing with the circus. Opposing players, at least those who did not experiment with Ped’s, will go with the flow and not make A-Rod a public issue.

Then there are the fans, many who will continue to boo when A-Rod takes the field again. Rodriguez to them will be a hero if he becomes a legitimate hitter again without the use of a steroid support system. Rodriguez may never be the same hitter he was without that support system and also take into account he has had limited playing time the past two years.

So where do we go from here? The gut feeling is, and a general consensus: Enough is enough of this A-Rod circus. Yes he served the penalty and was off the field as his Yankees teammates failed to make the postseason a second straight year. The steroid era, according to what has been determined, is over in the game of baseball. But as long as Alex Rodriguez is around the discussion may never end.

Because Alex Rodriguez, who many consider to be a fraud, is around the game again. Each time he resurfaces the talk about steroids and Ped’s will not go away. Even if the master of deception admitted his guilt to the authorities, he will never be considered that legitimate and talented ballplayer that had a quest to be the first to hit 800 career home runs.

Alex Rodriguez never played the game on an even level playing field. The circus is back in town and now that we are aware of his admission there is more reason not to grant him a chance for respect.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens: Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 6- The NYPD is asking the public's help in ident...

Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 6- The NYPD is asking the public's help in identifying a young tough who has terrorized young women and teens, stealing cell phones and other valuables.

Police officials say the suspect is wanted in connection with at least seven thefts and four attempts in the Allerton, Williamsbridge and Baychester sections of the Bronx.

On October 28, investigators announced that the latest one-man crime spree began on September 25, when the thug stole a cell phone from a 12-year-old girl outside of 1500 Bronxwood Avenue in the Allerton Section.

At 3 p.m. on October 1, a 16-year-old female was robbed of a phone at Bronxwood Avenue and Duncan Street.

At 4 p.m. on October 3, the same individual robbed a 14-year-old female of a phone at Paulding Avenue and East 216 Street in Williamsbridge.

On October 6, a 14-year-old female reported being robbed of a cell phone at 3:45 p.m. at Paulding Avenue and East 211 Street.

Cops say he struck twice on October 7, when he attempted to steal property from a 17-year-old female at 5:35 p.m. at the corner of Barnes Avenue and Boston Road in the Allerton section.

The creep was successful when he stole the phone of a 29-year-old woman a short time later at Barnes Avenue and Tilden Street.

Taking a week off as police beefed up patrols in the 47th and 49th Precincts, the assailant struck again at 8:15 p.m. on October 14, when he stole the phone of a 17-year-old female outside of 881 East Gun Hill Road.

On October 21 at 4 p.m. he attempted to rob the cell phone of a 13 year-old girl at Bartholdi Street and Capuchin Way.

A 15-year-old girl reported the suspect attempted to rob her at 3:30 p.m. on October 23 in front of 3660 Bronxwood Avenue.

A short time later a 23-year-old woman reported an attempted robbery of a phone at Paulding Avenue and East 212 Street.

In the latest incident that took place at 8:30 p.m. on October 26, a 16-year-old female was robbed of a phone at the intersection of East Gun Hill Road and Lurting Avenue.

Police say that in each of the incidents the bandit simulates a gun or knife before stealing his victims property and fleeing. All of the victims were left unharmed.

The thug is described as a black male in his teens. Detectives from the Bronx Robbery Squad continue to re-visit prior locations of incidents in an attempt to acquire a photo of the suspect from area surveillance video.

Officials at Police Plaza say the thug is not the same teen who was captured by surveillance video and was recently placed on an NYPD wanted flyer after recently stealing a cell phone from a victim in confines of the 52nd Precinct.

Police recommend that individuals keep all jewelry concealed, refrain from walking alone whenever possible and  keep cell phones and other electronic devices in a front, inside pocket of a jacket.

Anyone with any information on either suspect is asked to call Crime Stopper's at (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.  

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Is your church closing?

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Is your church closing?: Riverdale Report By Robert Press UnderSouled Local Church Closings The Archdiocese of New York has announced that as of August 1, 2015, 11...