Celebrate the Bronx

Celebrate the Bronx

BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bronx Week 2015 on Sunday, hosting a celebration of the “Best of the Bronx” with a street festival at the Bronx General Post Office on Grand Concourse and East 149th Street.

“I always look forward to this time of the year, when we celebrate everything that is great about The Bronx,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We kick things off with this great street fair on Sunday, holding 10 days’ worth of amazing and fun events for the whole family throughout the borough, all culminating with the Walk of Fame inductions and parade.”

A full calendar of events is available at www.ilovethebronx.com.

“Bronx Week is the opportunity to showcase the Best of The Bronx,” said Bronx Tourism Council Executive Director Olga Luz Tirado. “There is a lot to celebrate -- tourism, overall, is up in the borough. Our attractions are reporting a substantial increase in visitors. We are enjoying increased positive coverage from media. It's a great time to be in The Bronx right now.”

“Bronx Week is a time to celebrate our businesses, big and small, that provide much needed jobs to our community as well as a time to honor veterans, seniors, youth, volunteers and our hometown greats,” said Marlene Cintron, president of The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

“As a new member to the community, we are excited to be a part of our first Bronx Week and to host the first event with Borough President Ruben Diaz at this iconic site,” said Christine Nebiar, marketing director for Youngwoo & Associates, LLC, who is sponsoring the kick-off event alongside The Bristol Group. “The Bronx has so much to celebrate and we are thrilled to invite New Yorkers to experience the borough at its best. The historic Bronx Post office will transform into a center of culture, community, and commerce and we hope to feature the great talents in food, art, music, and business.”

This year, four new individuals will be inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame. They are actor and activist Malik Yoba; National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes; and actress, author and television commentator Stacey Dash. Longtime borough business leader, philanthropist and the founder of Delicioso Coco Helado, Alfredo Thiebaud will also be posthumously inducted in to the Bronx Walk of Fame.

Bronx Week 2015 is made possible thanks to the support of the Montefiore Medical Center, the principal sponsors of this year’s events.

"Montefiore is proud to support Bronx Week,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO of Montefiore Health System. “Bronx Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate our strengths and the progress we are making to improve our communities. It’s a chance to highlight how healthcare providers like Montefiore, community based organizations and elected officials are joining forces to ensure Bronx residents have the tools and access they need for optimal health and wellness. Working together, the future of our borough is bright.”

Other Bronx Week 2015 sponsors include Care Connect, United HealthCare Community Plan, Healthfirst, HealthPlus Amerigroup, CenterLight Healthcare, conEdison, Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Cablevision, WellCare, Affinity Health Plan, AT&T, News 12, Domino’s, Bronxnet, Delicioso Coco Helado, Bronx Design Group, Emblem, Jewish Home LifeCare, Millennium Medical Staffing, and VNSNY.

#BronxWeek #BronxBoroughPresident #Malik Yoba #Stacey Dash #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *: A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record * Another Record Home Run Does Not Mean It’s All Good for A-Rod By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- The 6...

A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *

A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *

Another Record Home Run Does Not Mean It’s All Good for A-Rod

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- The 661st career home run that Alex Rodriguez hit to the left-center field Thursday night at Yankee Stadium surpassing Willie Mays for sole possession of fourth place on baseball’s all-time list may mean something for the record books. It does not mean that Yankees management will budge and give A-Rod the millions that were a part of his lucrative contract.

And it certainly does not mean that the home run, unless you are sympathetic to A-Rod, is a legitimate milestone. 

And despite an overall love fest from Yankee fans that has returned, there are still some who will not stand up and cheer as they did in the Bronx after the so-called historic home run. There are those who will not forgive and forget that Alex Rodriguez did it the wrong way. Then there are those who will forgive, because Rodriguez paid his dues by sitting out all of last year due to a suspension for violating baseball’s anti drug policies.

PEDs to many meant nothing when he rounded the bases with a big smile after the home run. And the next milestone, surpassing Babe Ruth, all of a sudden seems that more probable, but there is that question of accepting every home run hit now as being a part of the record book.

The question of accepting these home runs as a part of the record book will always be a subject of debate. Whether or not Alex Rodriguez has been accepted overall by baseball fans, or for that matter sports fans, who view records as importance is also something that will continue to be a subject of discussion.

The Yankees apparently are not making the home run milestones an important priority. They are happy to have A-Rod back in the lineup, and they should be because this early season comeback has seen him produce runs for a team that had serious issues doing that last season. He has quietly been doing the job and to the Yankees hierarchy, an Alex Rodriguez home run means more towards winning than achieving another milestone, or surpassing Willie Mays or Babe Ruth.

“It’s been a long time since I had a curtain call,” Rodriguez said about the fans in his post game meeting with the media. And there may be more curtain calls for A-Rod in the Bronx if he continues to hit home runs. Because this Yankees team has been hitting the long ball in the Bronx, and because fans will cheer for any type of runs that cross home plate, they will have reason to cheer. 

And if it is Alex Rodriguez, and in their ballpark, they will cheer. The Yankees though are having a different approach. Post game media notes did not highlight the milestone home run, and what should have been a headline was highlighted as number three after the important facts of Yankees wins in their last 20 games and the season series record of 2-2 against the Baltimore Orioles.   

Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds, they are next after Ruth. A-Rod may not be around that long enough to surpass them, but you can never tell how much longer or how many more home runs he can produce. And take into consideration, and we can assume this is true, for the first time Alex Rodriguez is hitting home runs out of the ballpark without the assistance of Ped’s.

So there is that room for forgiveness, at least from the perspective of fans who are paying big bucks to see A-Rod hit legitimate home runs in the Bronx.

"When you're productive, you re-earn their respect and they pull for you," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about the fans. "That's the bottom line as players, not just in our sport but in all sports. They want to see their players successful. It really came down to how productive he was going to be, that really determined how he was going to be received. So far he's done a really good job."

And A-Rod overall has been doing the job. It started in spring training by giving the right answers to the media. The proper approach to the answers has continued to be acceptable enough to pass a damage control class.

Consider that Alex Rodriguez praised Mays, the man he surpassed. That he mentioned  how proud his late father would have been to see the milestone home run. And he mentioned how important it was to be playing baseball again after sitting out the last year. There was no mention again of rehashing the events, and A-Rod quickly got around the question of the possible battle of his employers not paying the millions that were specified in the contract of surpassing Mays, Ruth, or beyond.

No, that battle may be left for another time as the Yankees continue go about their business of winning games, and doing that with a healthy Alex Rodriguez in their lineup.

Rodriguez said about the fans reacting to the milestone home run: “I thought the reaction was incredible. It was very humbling. We have the greatest fans in the world. They treated me really good all year and it’s fueling the way I’m playing. I’ve said it all along, the league, the Yankees the fans, nobody owes me anything. I’m so grateful to be playing baseball and I’m thankful to everyone.”        

The question though lingers and it should: Does home run 661, and more to come be a part of the record books? Those who consider cheating attributed to a majority of those home runs will say they don’t count. Then there are those who say it doesn’t matter, but it should. An admission of guilt after battling the denial of using PEDs is evidence that those home runs are fiction. 

In the end the home runs go in the record book. The Yankees as a team won’t have an opinion either way if A-Rod adds to his career home run total. To them that means production coming from a spot in their lineup that was going to be a hit or a miss.

To the Yankees hierarchy, well that is another dilemma and the drama will continue.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitter@Ring786 

#ARod #Homerun #PED #Yankees #Sports #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): A‐Rod’s 661st A‐Bomb Tops Mark of Willie Mays

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): A‐Rod’s 661st A‐Bomb Tops Mark of Willie Mays: A‐Rod’s 661st A‐Bomb Tops Mark of Willie Mays  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- With the retirement of Derek Jeter much of ...

A‐Rod’s 661st A‐Bomb Tops Mark of Willie Mays

A‐Rod’s 661st A‐Bomb Tops Mark of Willie Mays 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- With the retirement of Derek Jeter much of the excitement at ballgames at Yankee Stadium has greatly lessened this season. The fans, of course, attend to root for a Yankees victory. After missing all but 44 games in 2013 after recovering from hip surgery and the entire 2014 season due to his suspension by MLB, Alex Rodriguez has returned to the Yankees with strong support from its fan base.

On Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on April 6, Rodriguez received the loudest cheers during the player introductions. That day set the tone for A‐Rod’s acceptance by Yankees fans.

Since that first day of the 2015 season, Rodriguez is no longer subject to a daily dose of jeers regardless of the opinions of sportswriters and TV commentators.

Rodriguez tied Willie Mays for fourth place in the career home run rankings on Friday, May 1, at Fenway Park by hitting his 660th homer. Both Rodriguez and fans in the Bronx were disappointed that the milestone home run was not hit at Yankee Stadium, but realized that more special days were to come.

The Yankees returned to the Bronx after their most recent road trip on Thursday, May 7, to begin a four game home stand against the Orioles, who had completed a two game series with the Mets at Citi Field one day earlier.

In the first inning of Thursday’s game, Rodriguez drove in the first run of the Yanks with a sacrifice fly to deep center field that scored Jacoby Ellsbury from third base to tie the score at 1.

What Yankee fans had been looking forward to seeing took place in the third inning with two out. Rodriguez belted a 1‐1 pitch from Baltimore starter Chris Tillman over the fence in left for his 661st home run. The four‐bagger broke the tie with Mays, one day after the former Giant and Met celebrated his 84th birthday, and gave him the sole fourth place ranking in home runs behind only Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds.

The Oriole right‐hander has been an easy mark for Rodriguez. The home run was his sixth hit in 11 at bats off Tillman. Four of the hits were homers and his runs batted in now number 9.

The solo home run broke the tied score to give the Yanks a 3‐2 advantage. The extended ovation from the fans brought Rodriguez out of the dugout for a short and rare curtain call.

Rodriguez spoke with embarrassment of the surprising tribute from the fans, “One year ago, I never thought I would get one again. It’s been a long time. I was a little embarrassed. It was a little awkward. I tried to do it as fast as I could. I didn’t want it to get in the way. I wanted the game to continue.”

The controversial superstar discussed his gratitude toward the fans with emotion, “They [fans] treated me so good all year long. I would want to go out and thank every fan.”

#ARod #Homerun #WillieMays #Yankees #Sports #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Batter Up for Bronx Native

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Batter Up for Bronx Native: Batter Up for Bronx Native  Columbus High Alum Waiting to Hit for the Mets By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 7- Johnny Monell got the c...

Batter Up for Bronx Native

Batter Up for Bronx Native 

Columbus High Alum Waiting to Hit for the Mets

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 7- Johnny Monell got the call Monday in Albuquerque on an unscheduled off day for the Las Vegas 51’s, the New York Mets Triple-A affiliate of the Pacific Coast League. The off day was the result of a rare rain out in the southwest. The call was one he has been awaiting and iIt was was time to come home. 

The Mets needing some punch off the bench, and for another left handed bat, decided it was time for the 29-year old native of the Bronx to get some more big league experience. He has had that cup of coffee the past few years, the term used for a player that gets limited time with the big club. Late in the 2013 season, Monel played eight games with the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants, as is the case with the Mets, were stocked with talent in the catching department. Manager Bruce Bochy said, Monell had the hands of a catcher and was impressed with his bat speed at the plate. But, as is the case in baseball there are so many jobs and sometimes the frustration grows.

“I’m here to do my job and help the team,” Monell commented Wednesday evening after the Mets 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field. “It means a lot. I’m just being the ballplayer I am, and control what I can control and be the best that I can.” And that’s exactly what a payer with 27 days of big league experience has to do, that is control what is front  and go about everyday business.

Mets manager Terry Collins saw the attributes that Monell brought to the table. When the Christopher Columbus High School all-star was signed to a minor league free agent deal in November, Monell came to camp down in Port St. Lucie prepared to have a role with the team. He hit .340, with three doubles and four home runs and had nine RBI in 27 spring games.

The impressive numbers left an impression as the Mets headed north for the start of a long season. The Mets, with two catchers sure to make the roster, and with rookie Kevin Plawecki ready to assume a role, had no choice to keep Monell in the organization. Then the injury to Travis d’Arnaud, a fracture to the little finger of the right hand, created an opening. Three catchers now occupy the Mets roster along with Anthony Recker.

During the exit meeting when the Mets broke camp, Collins and coach Bob Geren told Monell to stay sharp and get ready for the call when needed. They saw what many in the Bronx got to learn when Monell played on the fields and was pounding the ball over the fence during his playing days at Columbus.

He may get a start or two soon. If not, Monell will come off the bench and there is every reason to believe that the Mets will retain three catchers when d’Arnaud returns from the disabled list as soon as next week. D’Arnaud has also become a good teammate as catchers are that rare breed in baseball that always stick together.

To that, he says, “I think it’s very beneficial to have different mindsets as far as the staff we have here to express our thoughts as far as scouring reports go. We talk a lot among us with Travis. Each one of us has a job to do up here. Plawecki is up here now and he’s doing the job.”

“I’m happy to be here. It means a lot to put the jersey on to respect that honor, to come to work every day in the city that I was born in and raised in. I did everything here I was raised in in the inner city parks to the big stage here. Means a lot. I’m not going to get caught up in the  moment.”

“He has a lot of respect for the game and worked real hard during the spring,” Carlos Torres said the Mets reliable pitcher out of the bullen. And d’Arnaud seems to have no issue with having another catcher on the roster.   

He is just trying to help the team win and take it from there. When Collins makes out the lineup Monell is ready for the challenge. And if he gets the call to come off the bench, that challenge will also be accepted, though there was an awkward moment that he was a part of Wednesday evening in the Mets half of the sixth inning.

Jacob deGrom was cruising along on the mound for the Mets. After Dilson Herrera hit a two-run homer that was challenged by Orioles manager Buck Showalter, that gave New York a four-run lead, Collins asked Monell to get a bat and make his New York Mets debut off the bench. Except, deGrom was not removed after the Mets got a cushion and Monell went to the batters box.

Collins was awaiting a decision of the home run ball that went under review. But deGrom was staying in the game and Monell never got to take his bat. He was in the batter’s box and never announced. Showalter asked for a discussion to clarify a rule. An awkward moment, even for a kid from the Bronx who saw more than one over the years on the various fields where he played on.         

“No idea about the Showalter call,” he said.  I wasn’t sure. I was awaiting for my name to  be announced in the box. I felt great... I was ready. I knew i was going in to hit. Terry came out to see about Herrera.” But the opportunity never came and Monell was ready because he knew Orioles hurler Brad Brach, a former teammate when he was in the Baltimore minor league system in 2013.

So the days of preparing and staying in shape have paid off. Winter ball in Puerto Rico kept Monell busy and talking to his father, Johnny, who played for the Mets Tidewater Triple A Team in 1990, also was an incentive to get where he is today.

Perhaps that first bat as a New York Met at Citi Field will come soon. For the time being Johnny Monell is happy to be home, and getting a taste of the big leagues again as the Mets hit the road the next week with games at Philadelphia and Chicago.

Comment Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com   Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso   Twitter@Ring786

#JohnnyMonell #Mets #Baltimore #Bronxnews