Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Don Mattingly Returns to Yankee Stadium

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Don Mattingly Returns to Yankee Stadium: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 19- Former Yankee icon Don Mattingly returned to Yankee Stadium on June 18, as skipper of the L.A...

Don Mattingly Returns to Yankee Stadium

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 19- Former Yankee icon Don Mattingly returned to Yankee Stadium on June 18, as skipper of the L.A. Dodgers. Although the Yankees and Dodgers had met for a MLB record 11 times in World Series play Tuesday’s scheduled game was the first time the two teams were to meet in a regular season contest at the legendary ballpark in the Bronx.

The beleaguered manager, whose club is in last place in the National League West, spoke of his current situation, “It’s not fun. It’s not something you want to go through.”

The manager, subject of many rumors that he will soon be fired, talked of his desire to continue in his present position, “I want to do a great job for this organization. I like where I’m at.” He also expressed his desire to keep managing regardless of what the future holds, “Honestly, I feel I can manage anywhere. I like the challenge.”

On a more upbeat note, Mattingly discussed his great, young players, Yasiel Puig, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershw, “That’s like looking into the future.”

The Dodger field chieftain remarked upon his 2008 opportunity to manage the team in the Bronx that he had played on for 14 seasons and coached for an additional four years, “I felt like it [not obtaining the managerial position] was a blessing. It would have been really hard to do the job [with the family problems]. It brought me to L.A. [as a coach with Joe Torre]. The experience was really great to me.”

In his lengthy talk with reporters, Mattingly reminisced about his debut at Yankee Stadium, “My fondest memory was the first day I was called up.”

His relationship began several years before that day in 1982. Mattingly was drafted in the 19^th round of the 1979 MLB First Year Player Draft. After nearly three years in the minors, he was called up in late 1982. The first sacker played outstandingly for 14 seasons in pinstripes until he retired because of back problems after the 1995 season.

During his career, the small-town, soft spoken man with a laid back personality became a special fan favorite. That circumstance is still something Mattingly doesn’t fully grasp, “I don’t quite understand the relationship. I only just played and they [the fans] seemed to appreciate it,”

Mattingly and the fans were disappointed that the long-awaited contest was postponed by rain. The two games will be played in a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Faithful Flock to Feast

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Faithful Flock to Feast: Photos by Gary Quintal The faithful came out on Father’s Day to celebrate the procession during the Feast of St. Anthony. Believers walked ...

Faithful Flock to Feast

Photos by Gary Quintal

The faithful came out on Father’s Day to celebrate the procession during the Feast of St. Anthony. Believers walked the parade route of Arthur Avenue.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Slow Down Near Schools

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Slow Down Near Schools: Pol Sets up Speed Cameras BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 17- Senator Jeff Klein joined New York City Department of Transportation Commissio...

Slow Down Near Schools

Pol Sets up Speed Cameras

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 17- Senator Jeff Klein joined New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and PS 81 parents to release new statistics demonstrating a pattern of dangerous speeding near PS 81, an elementary school in Riverdale. 

To combat the danger posed by this consistent speeding, Senator Klein has introduced legislation in the Senate that would authorize the use of speed cameras in New York City school zones where dangerous speeding is most prevalent. The legislation, S.4459A/A.4327A, is being considered in both the Assembly and the Senate in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session.

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeff Klein said, "The results are clear: speeding on Riverdale Avenue is a real threat to the safety of students, teachers and members of the Riverdale community. But that doesn’t need to continue. Research shows that when people know they might be caught, they slow down. That’s critically important in school zones, where even five miles per hour can make the difference between life and death for a child. I’m pleased to stand here with Commissioner Sadik-Khan today so that we can encourage my legislative colleagues to approve the use of these speed cameras right away.”

“There is no passing grade for people speeding near our schools and putting our children’s lives in danger,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “We need to bring the rampant speeding that occurs near our schools every day to a screeching halt, and I join Senator Klein and call on his colleagues in Albany to move full speed ahead on this life-saving legislation."

New York City’s Department of Transportation released a traffic safety report in March, detailing speeding rates in school zones across New York City. Results indicated that PS 81 in Riverdale experienced the most speeding in the Bronx with 96 percent of vehicles driving above the speed limit. With this information, Senator Klein commissioned follow-up testing at PS 81.

PS 81 PA Co-President, Amy Moore, said, “I am thankful to Senator Klein for bringing attention to speeding around our school – an issue of deep concern to many of the parents here. The statistics are shocking. On any given day, more than 50 percent of vehicles passing our school are moving at very dangerous speeds. Anything that we can do to reduce car speeds around our schools – where children are frequently coming and going – must be considered, and I applaud Senator Klein for bringing this concern to our community and to Albany."

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Breaking Ground on New Mall

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Breaking Ground on New Mall: BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 17- New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. announced...