Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Win for Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl Ends the ...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Win for Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl Ends the ...: Win for Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl Ends the Fracture #PennState By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 30- The second largest c...

Win for Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl Ends the Fracture

Win for Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl Ends the Fracture

#PennState

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 30- The second largest crowd to watch a football game at the new Yankee Stadium speaks volumes for the future of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and possibly for more major college games in the Bronx. Penn State could be a part of that plan and more importantly their bowl game win over Boston College repaired the fractures of a wounded football program.

It has been a difficult period for the Nittany Lions and their fans. The NCAA leveled severe sanctions after a much profiled sex abuse scandal dominated the headlines over football, and this was their first bowl game appearance in two years. Many said the football program should have been banned, but that would not have been fair play for the many and outstanding student athletes that come and go.

That is all in the past. A championship atmosphere and playing on a field where champions have had more than one memorable moment can immediately be the best remedy for damage control. But the significance and triumphant moment of this win was still overshadowed by the scandal.

The question was asked Saturday night to the victorious and first year coach James Franklin: “You were going to being back Penn State football to its former glory?”

“I think we’ve been fractured,” Franklin commented. “We’ve been fractured in the last probably three years. But I think experiences and games like this has restored the hope. I believe when Penn State is together we’re all pulling the rope in the same direction. Doing what’s best for the students, doing what’s best for the players, doing what’s best for the community as a whole, then the sky is very high at Penn State.”

That overtime touchdown pass to Kyle Carter from Christian Hackenberg, and the game winning extra point that Sam Ficken kicked was best for all because Penn State and their community came together in the Bronx Saturday evening with their 31-30 win.

Ficken, a senior, sent the game into overtime with 20 seconds left to play with a 45-yard field goal that went into Monument Park, a home of memories for the illustrious ballplayers and dignitaries who signify the old and new Yankee Stadium as an iconic ballpark.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better ending for my career,” he said. “It’s a storybook ending, really. I couldn’t have written a better way to go. This team has worked so hard and fought so hard. And to say we went to a bowl, first of all, and then won that bowl. It’s just really incredible.”

Incredible as it sounds, it is the reality that a damaged and tarnished Penn State program got the win they needed to be respectable again. The Pinstripe Bowl may not be a major bowl game though the Nittany Lions certainly made it look like one.

Ficken used the locker of retired captain Derek Jeter in the Yankees clubhouse. He said that was emotional and also an inspiration to get this win. The inspiration to get a win that meant so much for this Penn State football program.

“It was a football stadium tonight and an awesome one,” Franklin said when asked about playing in a baseball stadium and the game ending with an extra point that went his way.

For the victorious Nittany Lions, that jog to greet their loyal supporters in the outfield and reaching to touch them over the Yankees dugout, well that was eliminating pain of the past few years.

Hackenberg threw four touchdown passes. Seven seniors and 31 freshmen he played with were reminded of the great culture their football program had over the years. A scandal that will also be recounted time and time again may never be healed.

But one kick on a December night in the Bronx possibly ended the fracture for the Penn State football program. 

Comment: Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com   Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitter@ring786   www,newyorksportsexaminer.com 

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Manhattan Wins Battle of the Bronx over Fordham

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Manhattan Wins Battle of the Bronx over Fordham: Manhattan Wins Battle of the Bronx over Fordham  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 30- The men’s basketball version of the “Bat...

Manhattan Wins Battle of the Bronx over Fordham

Manhattan Wins Battle of the Bronx over Fordham 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 30- The men’s basketball version of the “Battle of the Bronx” between the Fordham Rams (3-6) and the Manhattan Jaspers (4-7) was held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn last Monday night. It was only the second game of the 107 played between the two inter-borough rivals that were contested outside of the Bronx. In 2001, the rivals competed in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. 

Fordham dominated the early minutes of the contest, leading 10-0 at 15:39. A three-pointer by Antwoine Anderson at 13:44 gave Fordham its largest lead of the game, 16-4. That high point for the Rams ended quickly as the Jaspers, on an 18-4 scoring run, took their first lead of the game, 22-20, at 6:40. Manhattan increased its advantage to 30-25 as the first half ended.

The five-point advantage grew quickly to a game-high of 22 for the Jaspers after they outscored the Rams 22-5 after 7:45 of play in the second half. Manhattan’s domination of the game between Fordham’s lead of 12 and Manhattan’s lead of 22, a 48-14 scoring run, determined the outcome of the game. This one-sided play was followed by a 23-10 run by the Rams to lower the Manhattan lead to single digits, 62-53, but the run was too little and too late to prevent Manhattan from capturing the contest, 71-57.

Steve Masiello, the coach of the Jaspers commented about his team’s comeback, “I thought Fordham was very well-prepared. We kept our poise. That’s a credit to our seniors. We got back to our defensive mindset. The press for us is really critical. They just chipped away. We knew we could get a run.”

Fordham’s coach Tim Pecora assessed what he believed were the reasons for his team’s loss, “The tougher team will win this game and they did. We didn’t make the effort plays in the second half and they did. Their three veterans stepped up and did the job. To come out and shoot 48 percent of free throws is challenging.” 

Three Manhattan upperclassmen who are averaging in double figures in scoring did so again on Monday. It was the second straight contest that Richards netted four for six from beyond the arc. The four three-pointers on six attempts raised Shane Richards’ school record to 170. Bronx native Ashton Pankey scored 12.

Emmy Andujar was voted as the recipient of the Mike Cohen MVP Award as the best player of the game by sportswriters covering the game. Andujar led the victorious team in scoring with 14 and rebounds with eight. Masiello praised him highly, “I thought he made some really good plays from a leadership standpoint. This kid is what college basketball is all about. This kid is a coach’s dream.” 

The award is given to honor a man who only lived 45 years and passed away 26 years ago but deserves to be remembered for the work he did to encourage and aid others including his decade of service as Manhattan’s Sports Information Director.

The Jaspers now lead the series that began during the 19911-12 season, 56-51.

Fordham returns to the Rose Hill Gym for its next three games, December 28, December 31 and January 4. Manhattan travels to Buffalo for two road games before returning to the Draddy Gym on January 7.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Words Kill

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Words Kill: Words Kill City Mourns 2 Cops Executed #WenuanLiu #RafaelRamos #NYPD By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22- The month-long protest...

Words Kill

Words Kill

City Mourns 2 Cops Executed

#WenuanLiu #RafaelRamos #NYPD

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22- The month-long protests against the use of excessive force by members of the NYPD has apparently been put on hold-- as two of New York's Finest were shot dead execution-style on the street's of Brooklyn.

Patrolman Wenuan Liu and Rafael Ramos were shot dead as they sat in their patrol car on Saturday, December 20. Gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, would use the same gun to take his own life.

The following day the family of Eric Garner joined Reverend Al Sharpton in denouncing the use of violence against police officers.

Meanwhile, the NYPD has ended lone foot patrols of officers and the NYPD's Auxiliary force who patrol without weapons, has been discontinued until further notice. Officers across the nation have been put on a heightened alert. 

In reaction to the latest turn of events, Congressman Peter King told Fox News, "This is an absolute tragedy what occurred in New York, and it's really time for our national leaders, the president, it's time for the mayor of New York and really for many in the media to stop the cop bashing."

Rockland County Executive and former commander of the 47th Precinct detective squad Ed Day, stated, "To know that these brave men were murdered in cold blood should sicken us all... the cowardly act of senseless violence underscores the dangers faced by law enforcement every day."

Despite a pair of officers being assaulted on the Brooklyn Bridge on December 13, police gave Bronx protesters two extra minutes for a seven minute die-in outside the office of Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson's office on December 18.

Police Benevolent President Pat Lynch has publicly blamed Mayor Bill de Blasio for the deaths of the two officers and an online campaign reportedly has 50,000 signatures calling for the mayor's resignation.

Rumblings within the police union are even calling for ending all but the most urgent arrests made by officers. 

Meanwhile, police have announced a fourth arrest of individuals involved in the Brooklyn Bridge disturbance.   

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Garden Train Show

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Garden Train Show: Children of all Ages Enjoy Train Show Photos by Dan Gesslein Nothing says the holidays like a train circling a Christmas tree. But what...