BRONX NEWS: Booze vs. Baseball: #Sabathia checks into rehab

BRONX NEWS: Booze vs. Baseball: #Sabathia checks into rehab: Booze vs. Baseball: #Sabathia checks into rehab It’ about #CC Sabathia now and not baseball By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX ...

Booze vs. Baseball: #Sabathia checks into rehab

Booze vs. Baseball: #Sabathia checks into rehab

It’ about #CC Sabathia now and not baseball

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- This is not about baseball when it comes to the situation regarding Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia. 

Of course it is about the person, his family, and hopes that this talented and giving athlete will recover from his battle of alcohol abuse. As Sabathia said, “I don’t want to run and hide,” and that speaks volumes.

Because we as a society tend to bypass that the world of sports called “fun and games” is supposed to be a diversion of the everyday difficulties, the latest setback to CC Sabathia does hold significance. And as much as Sabathia’s teammates look to continue their season tomorrow night in the Bronx with an elimination baseball game, what is more important is Sabathia is in rehab and will recover.

The game or the individual?  For Sabathia, obvious the game means nothing at this point and for that there can only be hope that this shocking revelation of alcohol abuse will be overcome and lead to continued success for CC Sabathia.

This is not about baseball. And it has nothing to do with rooting against the Yankees and the anti Yankees fans, as they said on social media, “Good for the Yankees. Good it was them and not us.” No, the proper attitude at this point is that CC Sabathia gets through this and overcomes the adversity.

From a baseball perspective, and for the Yankees and their loyal fans, this one stings. If the Yankees advance in their Al wild card elimination game against the Houston Astros tomorrow night in the Bronx, Sabathia was in the plan to get the start in game two of the ALDS. He has been pitching like the ace again in his past four starts with an improved and well structured knee brace.

And through all of this, as we know now, Sabathia has been battling a bigger fight with his addiction to alcohol. In that Yankees locker room playoff spot celebration this past Thursday night, Sabathia was the first to speak. He was one of the first to pour the bubbly over the heads of jubilant teammates, the first to have a sip of one or more beers that were a part of the entire post game victory party.

But that is always a part of a Major League Baseball team victory celebration, the bubbly and the beer, except this revelation by Sabathia Monday afternoon brings up a question. Coincidence, or was CC Sabathia during a time of his addiction out of line? That is a matter of Sabathia answering for himself, and for the time being he only asks that we all respect the privacy of himself, and his family as Sabathia’s biggest victory is yet to come.

Overcoming his addiction is far more important right now than throwing a shutout on the mound or helping lead his team to another championship.

“We will miss him of course but this is more important,” GM Brian Cashman said to the media Monday afternoon. There was concern etched on his face and it had nothing to do with a big game against the Astros Tuesday night.

We forget that the manager, Joe Girardi has to deal with more adversity. Never mind the significance of that game tomorrow night or that Sabathia would not be available for the postseason should the Yankees advance. Girardi has a challenge ahead, but CC Sabathia has a bigger one.

“He came to me before the game yesterday and said he needed help,” Girardi said. Those words were coming from a pitcher with a multi million dollar contract who was crying for help, and not about an important game. Girardi knew it was more important than Sabathia once again trying to become the ace if this postseason has a long life.

But it is the life after baseball for CC Sabathia, and not the goal of winning another championship now for the New York Yankees. As difficult as that may sound, it is that old and same story about these mega million ballplayers fighting the same demons that are an unfortunate part of society.

“Give him credit,” Girardi said. “I give him like I said a lot of courage to step up when he did. He knew his family and his children were first. When he came in yesterday I was no longer a manager. I wanted to make sure the first core of action was taken.”

That was yesterday as the Yankees finished their season on a losing note. This was the last thing Girardi or his team wanted to hear, but those who have been through the adversity of a friend, family member or colleague dealing with this addiction can understand the emotions that are going on with Girardi and the Yankees.

They are a family, as every baseball team seems to know through February until the games are over.

“I love baseball and I love my teammates,” Sabathia said in a statement. “And I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series.”   Now that push will be for the full recovery of CC Sabathia.

Girardi said, “We have a wonderful clubhouse. Everyone loves CC like a brother. We call ourselves a family. Players have other distractions… I tell players to deal with them and CC did.” And he said, CC has always been a competitor as we are all aware. 

Yes this is another distraction for the Yankees, in a season of many. More so a baseball game tomorrow night does not seem as important and the consensus is those teammates of Sabathia have a similar feeling.

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

#CCSabathia #Rehab #Yankees #Bronx #New York #Bronx News

BRONX NEWS: Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting

BRONX NEWS: Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting: Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting Few Fears Calmed By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Few fears were eased during l...

Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting

Nabe on Edge Following #Legionnaires Meeting

Few Fears Calmed

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Few fears were eased during last week’s emergency meeting on the outbreak of Legionnaires in Morris Park which has claimed one life. In fact the revelation that the infected towers were cleaned after the South Bronx outbreak and apparently had the bacteria now has many concerned.

The revelation came during the Health Department’s presentation on the latest outbreak to strike the Bronx. The towers in this latest outbreak had been cleaned after the South Bronx outbreak in the summer. Yet recent testing discovered the bacteria in the cooling towers throughout Morris Park and parts of Pelham Bay including Lehman High School.

So far in this cluster 13 total cases have been diagnosed with one fatality. Four people have been discharged and eight are still hospitalized

In addition to Lehman High School, the following locations also tested positive for the disease: the Chase bank at 2725 East Tremont; Calvary Hospital at 1740 Eastchester Rd.; Lehman High School at 2964 East Tremont; Bronx State Psychiatric at 1500 Waters Pl.; Einstein College at 1199 Sacket Ave., 1845 Eastchester Rd., and 1301 Morris Park Ave.

“I question the inspection process. We were told the tanks are clean and they passed inspection and here we are again,” said Councilman James Vacca. “What we need is an explanation as to how this occurs. It’s the same problem.”

“Here we are once again,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. “We need to know what’s going on.”

In Morris Park, residents are on edge. The neighborhood has been decorated for the upcoming Bronx Columbus Day Parade yet all anyone is talking about is the outbreak. The local supermarket has a sign in its window stating that it does not have a cooling tower. This is a reference to the cooling towers in large buildings where the disease has been detected.

“We need answers. This is something that is unheard of in this day and age,” said Senator Jeff Klein. “We need to make sure that we’re safe and secure.”

“Legionnaires is a very treatable disease,” said Dr. Mary Bassett.

The city Health Commissioner said they recently noticed a group of people being diagnosed with Legionnaires living in the Morris Park community. Health officials then went to inspect the cooling towers in Morris Park and discovered the cluster.

So far no other cases have discovered of people who have been diagnosed no later than September 21.

“We’re not worried about Legionnaires being in the water,” Bassett said. “Our water is completely safe.”

The Health Commissioner said the water was safe to drink and to bathe in. 

Legionnaires is present in our environment all the time. People cannot contract it from person to person. People contract the disease from water droplets or mist in which the bacteria is present. People contract the disease two to 10 days after ingesting the tainted droplets.

Right now Bassett said health officials have to wait to see if any new cases are diagnosed after the September 21st date. 

“This is a bacteria that takes time to grow and Mother Nature can’t speed that up,” Bassett said. “Because we’re better at diagnosing it we see more cases of Legionnaires Disease.”

The infected usually have compromised health systems such as the elderly, smokers and those with respiratory problems.

The latest Legionnaires outbreak comes on the heals of an outbreak in the South Bronx which claimed the lives of 12 people and infected 120. There the Opera House Hotel was determined to be the cause of the outbreak.

In January, the first outbreak of Legionnaires occurred in Co-op City. Three people have already filed lawsuits against the management company that runs Co-op City for failing to maintain the cooling towers which they claim resulted in them contracting Legionnaires. 

The outbreaks in such diverse neighborhoods have residents scratching their heads as to what is causing the outbreaks.

In August, Mayor deBasio and health officials declared an end to the outbreak after no new cases were discovered in the South Bronx.

Such pronouncements that the outbreaks were over by the mayor and health officials have led residents to question whether they were downplaying the outbreaks. 

“I told the News that we were going to get another case and another,” said Frank Belcher.

The former Riverbay board member had been trying to get more information when the first outbreak occurred in Co-op City last winter. The outspoken critic attended the town hall meeting at Maestros’ and told the News that he heard the same official line when the Co-op City outbreak occurred. Belcher, like others question whether the water towers are the source of the contamination regardless of what health officials say.

“They keep talking about water towers. It can’t be the water towers,” Belcher said. “They tell you the water coming into the building is fine and then they tell you to clean the shower heads.”

#Legionnaires #Outbreak #Morris Park #Bronx #New York #Bronx News, 

BRONX NEWS: CC Checks into Rehab

BRONX NEWS: CC Checks into Rehab: CC Checks into Rehab STATEMENT FROM CC #SABATHIA: “Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive ...

CC Checks into Rehab

CC Checks into Rehab

STATEMENT FROM CC #SABATHIA:

“Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease.

“I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.

“I want to thank the New York Yankees organization for their encouragement and understanding. Their support gives me great strength and has allowed me to move forward with this decision with a clear mind.

“As difficult as this decision is to share publicly, I don’t want to run and hide. But for now please respect my family’s need for privacy as we work through this challenge together.

“Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids — and others who may have become fans of mine over the years — to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help. I want to hold my head up high, have a full heart and be the type of person again that I can be proud of. And that’s exactly what I am going to do.

“I am looking forward to being out on the field with my team next season playing the game that brings me so much happiness.”

#CCSabathia #Rehab #Alcohol #Yankees #Bronx #New York #Sports #Bronx News

BRONX NEWS: #Fordham Wins Keep Rolling On

BRONX NEWS: #Fordham Wins Keep Rolling On: #Fordham Wins Keep Rolling On Football Opens Patriot League Slate with 35‐7 Win at Lafayette Chase Edmonds runs for 234 yards, two scores ...