Mount Eden News: Farewell Mo

Mount Eden News: Farewell Mo: Fans Say Goodbye to the Last Sports Hero By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 27- The tears in Mariano Rivera's eye...

Farewell Mo

Fans Say Goodbye to the Last Sports Hero

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 27- The tears in Mariano Rivera's eyes said it all- an era was coming to an end. The greatest closer of all time, known for his cool, professional way of getting the job done, finally broke down as his time at Yankee Stadium came to an end.

Although the game against the Tampa Bay Rays was meaningless for the Yankees, as they were eliminated from post-season play one day earlier, the emotions of everyone in the park were stirred by the entrance of Mariano Rivera with one out in the eighth. He received a prolonged and deserved standing ovation before he threw his first pitch. He retired both batters he faced to end the inning.

To the delight of the capacity crowd, he returned to the mound for the ninth inning. After retiring the first two batters, his long-time teammates and friends, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, walked to the mound to escort him from the game.

Rivera, overcome with emotion, hugged Pettitte and broke down into sobs. 

After the game, Rivera exclaimed, “The emotions bombarded me. The fans, the opposing team, everyone on their feet. It has no price.” 

Pettitte called it, “A moment I’ll never forget.” 

The Rays had left the dugout and all were on their feet applauding as were the police officers on the field and the fans in the stands. Many, in addition to Rivera, were in tears.

After the last out of the inning was made, Andy Pettitte’s name was chanted by the fans. The Rays remained in their dugout and urged the retiring left-hander to come on the field. Another standing ovation was given and responded to by Pettitte before the game could continue.

The loss was far less important to the fans than their opportunity to bid a loving farewell to two great Yankees. 

Jeter is now the lone member of the famous Core Four, but with Mo’s retirement it feels that the era is gone now. Rivera’s humbleness and sense of team seems quaint by today’s standards. The last great sports hero who gave his best for the team and not for the dollar or for his own self-importance. A man of class leaving a world of overhyped, over paid superstars. 

As proof one need not look any further than the fans. They stayed long after the final out. They stayed as Mo sat in the dugout trying to take it all in one last time. And they cheered one last time as the greatest and possibly the one last true sports hero and role model tipped his cap one last time and exited Yankee Stadium. 

Mount Eden News: Fat Lady Sang Loud For Yanks’ Playoff Dreams

Mount Eden News: Fat Lady Sang Loud For Yanks’ Playoff Dreams: I t’s over for the Yankees and it was a matter of when By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 26- There was that buzz...

Fat Lady Sang Loud For Yanks’ Playoff Dreams

It’s over for the Yankees and it was a matter of when

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 26- There was that buzz in the crowd at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night. But it was more suited for a one night stand. The New York Yankees needed to win and the scoreboard numbers were all in favor of the Cleveland Indians.  Fans were not waiting for bobble heads either, as the Charlie Brown give-away bobble head this night arrived on time.

The Yankees, though, never arrived this year. It all became official in the eighth inning with Curtis Granderson at bat. The Yankees were trying to rally against Tampa Bay, but it did not matter because Cleveland would get their win over the White Sox.

The Yankees were mathematically eliminated from the post season when the Cleveland score went final. Granderson would ground out and a few of the Yankees, on the field for the top of the ninth had a few words with each other.

It was over, and for the second time in 19 years the Yankees will not be involved with playing baseball in October.

“It’s extremely disappointing and back to the drawing board,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. This had to be one of his most difficult post game press briefings with the media. There was a sense of exhaustion as well as disappointment.

However Girardi and the Yankees, as well as their fans, had to know this day was coming. They have been on the brink of elimination from a second wild card spot in the American League and if that second spot was not available elimination would have come that much sooner.

But they were a resilient group, and never quit. Despite all the injuries, and players who kept coming and going, and the lineup shuffling, the Yankees until that eighth inning saw some hope. In that eighth inning, despite again having to battle back to try and win a game, there was hope.

“We were right there,” said Girardi. “Today was probably a reality check for me.”

And it will be a reality check for the New York Yankees. Not playing baseball in October, and with no playoff baseball in the Bronx, well that does not sound right. Indeed, the reality all along was this Yankees team had limited chances for an October post season with 28 stints of disabling 21 different players. That was not supposed to happen to a team with an opening day Major league baseball high payroll of $230 million.

The Rays don’t feel sorry for the Yankees. Most teams never do when the Yankees fail to succeed and Girardi said all season, no team will feel sorry for the walking wounded Yankees. All teams have their share of injuries, but the general manager Brian Cashman went wherever he could to bring in reinforcements.

The veterans Cashman acquired at a reasonable price worked for a limited period of time. Lyle Overbay had a comeback season, a surprise pickup, and David Wells did his part as another key acquisition. Many more came along for the ride with hopes that Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, and even Alex Rodriguez would return.

The Yankees started strong and had a brief hold on first place. Then the comeback and making things interesting, and earlier this month trailed the wild card spot by one game as they went up to Boston. That three-game sweep by the Red Sox led to the bad September, losing eight of their last 11 games.

“Just a tough way to end things here, not making the postseason,” commented Phil Hughes who started and in all probability lost his last game as a Yankee. Hughes (4-14) pitched two innings, allowed three runs. He tossed less than 5.0 innings in each of his last five starts.

Hughes was only part of the issue. If the Yankees want to see October baseball next year, the pitching staff has to do it down the stretch. At one point, before that series up in Boston, it appeared the pitching and hitting was coming together.

The Yankees never gave up on Girardi, it all fell apart at the wrong time.

“It’s a really sad feeling,” said Robinson Cano. “The fun part of this game is playoffs. I’m really sad right now. And it’s going to stick in my head, in my mind, until next season.”

That is, if there is a next season in New York for Cano who will be seeking a six figure contract. And the Yankees hierarchy has not seemed very interested in investing in these long term mega contracts due partly to how they have appeared to have not got the best of that big deal from A-Rod.

It did not work for the 2013 New York Yankees. And there is a lot of work to be done in order to be a part of October baseball again. They won’t be one of ten teams that will move on in October this time around. Again teams, like the Rays won’t feel sorry for the Yankees.

“Eliminating a team like the Yankees who played us tough all year is a good thing,” said the Rays’ Evan Longoria after his second multi-career home run game  of the season and 13th of his career.

Out before the post season starts, and a final game at Yankee Stadium for Mariano Rivera Thursday night was not supposed to be that way, but it is.

In a quiet and otherwise quiet Yankees clubhouse, without many players available to talk, Rivera said, “I’ll be there for the fans, they deserve it. But it don’t mean  anything.  I’m not used to pitching for something that doesn’t mean anything. I wanted to pitch for something that means something.”

Rivera could get some playing time in center field at his final game in the Bronx. Andy Pettitte, another of the retiring ‘Core Four” of those Yankees championship teams that played in October, could toss an inning. Because now the games have no meaning, and the final four games are being played for pride.

In the distance from those fans that remained, a fainted chant of “Let’s Go Yankees” could be heard before Ichiro Suziki got on base with a single, pinch hitting for Alex Rodriguez in that eighth inning.

For the Yankees the chants of “Let’s go” will not be heard again until next April. Then we should know better, if and when pennant baseball will be played in the Bronx again.

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

Mount Eden News: Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Mount Eden News: Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying: Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show ...

Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show that the city is on pace to have the lowest murder rate in the last 50 years, but that offers little comfort to family members of those killed or wounded by the almost daily, random street violence.

Detectives are still hunting the gunman who shot and killed Raymond Hernandez, 22, who was shot in the hallway of 2860 Grand Concourse on July 15.

On August 3, officers from the 46th Precinct reported a person shot and killed at 2377 Creston Avenue. Police were looking for two black males seen fleeing the scene.

Kahleed Adams had returned to the ruff and tumble streets of Fordham Heights where he was shot in the buttocks a week earlier. At 12:30 a.m. on August 19, he was approached by a group of men at E. 184 Street and Morris Avenue, when someone opened fire, striking Adams in the head.

Despite being in full view of an NYPD surveillance camera, installed after Adams was shot the first time, detectives continue to hunt for the young man's killer.

But the most blood-spilling, effecting the most people are the random acts of violence that often go unreported. Information can now be found on social media websites as the community seems to be trying to keep itself informed, but rumors continue to be almost as big a problem as the violence itself.

Officers from the 52nd Precinct responded to calls of a person stabbed at 12:10 a.m. on August 3. The victim was reportedly stabbed at the intersection of Morris Avenue and E. Kingsbridge Road. Police were looking for a black male wearing a white and gray shirt and dark jeans. 

At 7 p.m. on August 4, a livery taxi driver was stabbed in the chest an neck as he sat behind the wheel at Bainbridge Avenue and E. Fordham Road. An unidentified resident of the block reportedly tossed a large rock at the car, causing the suspect to flee the stolen car.

Police reportedly discovered Luis Ferrierra, 22, hiding in a backyard. He has since been charged with felony assault and robbery--his eighth arrest for 2013.

When asked about the member of the community tossing the rock, one resident responded, "This area is flooded with crack and crime and I think the residents are fed up with it already." 

Residents near PS 8 at Mosholu Parkway South and Bainbridge Avenue reported hearing shots during the night of Friday, August 9.. Residents awoke the following morning to discover a bloody park bench. So far the incident remains a mystery.

At just before 11 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, a person was reported shot at E. Gun Hill Road and Decatur Avenue. However, this incident could not be confirmed.

Police say it was a drug dealer who shot a potential customer on August 13, outside of 2685 Valentine Avenue in Bedford Park. The 31-year old victim was shot in the left hand and right thigh and was treated and released from Jacobi Hospital.

That gunman was described as a male wearing a white shirt and blue hat.

On August 15, Yonkers police were apparently in pursuit of a vehicle that crashed as it exited the Major Deegan near the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course, the armed suspect reportedly fired at least one shot at pursuing officers before making an escape into the woods.

On August 16 three people were shot over the period of two-hours. At 12:15 a.m. a victim was discovered inside of a building at 2725 Webb Avenue. The 19-year old victim had been shot in the hand and leg and was expected to survive.

Residents of the Fordham Manor block that intersects with W. Kingsbridge Road don't even flinch when they hear gunshots anymore. The block has had two other recent shooting's. A 51-year old man was shot in the arm back in April and two men were shot outside of a bodega on July 28.

Police were still looking for the gunman in the July 28 case, described as wearing all red and carrying a black plastic bag.

Forty-five minutes later officer's from the 46th Precinct in Fordham were called to another 24-hour deli at 375 E. 188 Street. The victim in that shooting was transported by a civilian vehicle to Jacobi Hospital and was also recovering.

At just before 2 a.m., a man was wounded outside of 2258 Grand Avenue in University Heights. The 25-year old victim suffered a gunshot to the right leg and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was treated and released.

EMS reported the transport of a stabbing victim from the intersection of the Grand Concourse and E. 197 Street at just before 10 p.m. on August 17.

At some time after 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 18, a man was shot in the leg outside of 275 E. Gun Hill Road. The unidentified victim was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Police were reportedly looking for two male Hispanics who fled the scene.

Recently police did announce an arrest in the May 29 shooting of Alex Rodriguez, who was shot in the head at the intersection of E. 184 Street and Tiebout Avenue in Fordham Heights. Rodriguez died after being taken off life support.

Jamie DeJesus has been charged with manslaughter in the case.

Outspoken Bedford Park resident Ron James Sorenson who was shot as a young man as he drove a livery taxi in the South Bronx back in the late 1960's, recently stated about the judge's recent decision to re-evaluate the NYPD's stop-and-frisk, offering, "None of these people who are against stop-and-frisk have ever been shot. I have and I think the practice saves lives."

Despite the recent surge in killing, NYPD statistics show murder is down over the same time period as last year. So far this year there were 42 homicides in the Bronx, compared with 68 last year.

Community Board # 7 is still in a transition as it's new District Manager Socrates Caba and Chairperson Adaline Walker-Santiago are in the process of taking over the day to day operations of the board. But a blind man can see they have their work cut out for them.

Anyone with any information on any violent crime are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS.