Soccer Superpowers Clash at Yankee Stadium

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(Photo by NY Yankees)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 9- Soccer fans flocked to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night to see two of the legendary European superpowers, Real Madrid of Spain and A.C. Milan of Italy, meet in a friendly match.

Prior to entering Yankee Stadium, many in the large crowd had dinner at neighborhood eateries on 161^st Street. Several distributed 4-inch commemorative soccer balls to its patrons. Dr. Cary Goodman, Executive Director of the 161 BID Business Improvement District), who spearheaded the project, commented, “We want everyone to enjoy this great soccer match. These are two great teams, representing two great soccer traditions.”

Having the opportunity to see two of the most prestigious football sides on the Yankee Stadium pitch was quite an attraction as the sellout crowd of 49,474 was the largest gathering to witness a soccer game in either Yankee Stadium.

The match between the world renowned sides was the second of the World Football Challenge matches held at the iconic sports venue in the Bronx this summer. Soccer’s premiere at the current Yankee Stadium took place on July 22, when the Chelsea F.C. and Paris St. Germain fought to a 1-1 draw. A very respectable crowd of 38,202 attended that contest.

Excitement grew as the day of the second game drew nearer. The two sides have been among the most prominent world football squads in history. Milan, now in its third century of existence, is one of the most decorated clubs in history. The club has been an 18-time winner of Italy’s Series A. It has captured the European Cup/UEFA Champions League Title in seven years, 1963, ‘69, ‘89, ‘90, ‘94, 2003 and ‘07.

Real holds a record nine wins of the European Cup beginning with five consecutive titles from 1956-60, ’66, ’98, 2000 and ’02. Within Spain, Real has been victorious a record 32 times. The club’s most recent season, 2011-12 was a banner year. It set marks for points, 100, goals scored, 121, difference in goals scored, +89, away wins, 16, and total wins (32).

The contest proved to be extremely one-sided to the delight of most of those in attendance as Real was victorious, 5-1. Although billed as a “friendly,” individual and club pride are always factors when professional athletes are in action.

One of the greatest current superstars of the sport, Christian Ronaldo, lived up to expectations as he scored two goals, During the 2011-12 season, the Portuguese forward scored 46 goals in 37 games in La Liga in Spain and netted 12 in 13 other appearances. Ronaldo remains the most costly transfer in world football history as Real Madrid paid $130 million to Manchester United to obtain his services.

The 27-year old received a standing ovation from the full house when he was removed from the contest with 10 minutes left. When asked why Ronaldo was given so many minutes, Madrid’s manager, Jose Morinho, replied, “It’s a historical stadium, a historical opponent, a full stadium. Christian is part of the show, what the people want to see.”

Another Real Madrid player in the spotlight was Kaká. The talented Brazilian assisted on two goals in the second half. The 30-year old was rumored to be returning to his previous club, Milan, for the new season. Marinho forthrightly expressed his opinion, “I’m happy to keep him and happy to sell if he wants to go. He’s a great player. My arms are open if he wants to stay.” To clubs interested in purchasing the services of Kaká, he warned, “If you want to buy a diamond, you have to pay.”

The nine games of the Herbalife World Football Challenge were played not only to heighten interest in soccer within the United States nor to fill the coffers of each club, but also to prepare each club for the fast approaching new season. Madrid open its season on August 18 and Milan opens on August 26.

Cops Hunt Arsonists

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 8- Police are asking for the public’s help in trying to catch a gang of arsonists.

Cops released surveillance video of one of five suspects wanted in connection with an arson at a construction site. Investigators say that at around 8:52 p.m. on August 5, the group entered the rear of 3701 Jerome Avenue and set fire to a hut on the construction site. 

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. he public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Bird Brained Subway ‘Gunman’

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 8- Police nabbed a real bird brain near the Westchester Square Station when a suspect tried to sneak on the subway with a “gun.”

At around 4:30 p.m. on August 7, police were conducting bag screenings at the Westschester Square Subway Station on the Number 6 line. Officers observed a man with appeared to be a handgun in his front pocket.

Sergeant Reinaldo Colon and Police Officer Rafael Baez followed the suspect out of the station and stopped him on the corner East Tremont and Westchester Square. Cops found the suspect to be in possession of a BB gun, which looked very much like a 9mm handgun. 

Police arrested 25-year-old Alexis Santillan of Pelham Bay and charged him with criminal possession of a weapon.

BP Diaz Backs Naomi

 

(Photo by Robert Press)

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 7- Our headline refers to the majority of the people in the Bronx who have been redistricted into one, two, or even three different districts than last year. 

 

We saw this in the congressional race where Congressman Eliot Engel gave up a portion of the West Bronx only to pick up a portion of the East Bronx. In the State Senate the musical chairs continued as Senator Espaillat gave up his Bronx area to Senator Klein. Senator Gustavo Rivera picked up an area to the south while giving up the northern part of his district. 

We saw this also happen in the State Assembly as some areas of assembly districts were cut out while parts of other districts were picked up. So the result was, as we told you in previous columns, there were some people who will have a new Assembly district, new State Senate district, or new Congressional district. Others will have two new districts, and then there are those who will have three new districts. By the way hearings for the redistricting of the City Council districts begins on Monday August 13th in Brooklyn, with the only Bronx hearing on Thursday August 23rd from 5 – 9 p.m. in the Lehman College East Dining Room (of the Music building). Lehman College is located at 150 Bedford Park Blvd., the Bedford Park Blvd stop on the #4 train, or by various bus routes.

We stopped by the Bronx County Building for the endorsement by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. of 80th A.D. Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera this past Monday. Those rumors about Diaz Jr. seeking citywide office in 2013 may be true as he first spoke of the shootings of 6 people in a SIKH Temple in Southern Wisconsin mentioning his sorrow of knowing of the tragedy, and of the large Sikh population in Queens. Diaz then went into why he was endorsing Assemblywoman Rivera stating that she is the driving force behind raising the state minimum wage. 

Diaz Jr. along with Councilman G. Oliver Koppell were the forces in getting the city council to finally pass a Living Wage Bill (even though it was severely watered down by the Speaker of the Council). Diaz added that it was Assemblywoman Rivera who got barriers put up on the Bronx River Parkway by the fatal accident scene recently. 

After Diaz's endorsement Assemblywoman Rivera said “It is an honor to receive the endorsement of my dear friend and colleague.” She then continued about her work in Albany, and said that she wanted to run on her record. She took a few questions, and I asked since she wanted to run on her record “Would you participate in debates this year.” Assemblywoman Rivera tried skirting my question, where as I repeated “would you participate in debates this year.” After again trying not to answer if she would or not debate her opponents she went on to another question.

While the court challenges are still going on as to the September Primary candidates for local office we hope to have the results by next weeks column of just who is on the ballot and for what office. You can check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for the latest updates on the candidates, and other items that may have come in after our deadline.

 

Lastly The Committee of 100 Democrats will be hosting their 8th Annual Free Community Barbecue on August 25th from 12 – 6 p.m. We will have the exact details in next weeks column.

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com. Or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.



Parolee Charged in Boston Road Crash

(Photos by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 6- Cops say a recently released parolee was evading arrest when his stolen vehicle slammed head-on into a car carrying two nursing home employees headed to work. One victim has suffered severe head trauma and remains in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital.

Pelham Manor police were in pursuit of a stolen 2001 Dodge Durango, when the SUV slammed into a green Saturn sedan at 6:15 a.m., on August 5, at Boston Road and Marolla Place in the Baychester section.

A witness at the scene stated, "They were being chased by the police when they crashed, it sounded like a bomb went off."

A man and woman were pulled from the stolen SUV, the woman was apparently taken to the 47th Precinct for questioning. The man was taken away in handcuffs and was taken to Jacobi Hospital, where he was handcuffed to the bed until he was given a court-ordered sobriety check. After several hours at the hospital the suspect was arrested and taken to the 47th Precinct for processing.

Police say ex-con Daniel Straker, 37, of the Bronx, has seven prior arrests for assault, drug and weapons possession. One police source stated that Straker had just been released for a 2009 menacing and assault conviction and had a suspended drivers license at the time of the crash.

One published report also stated that Straker had been released on June 1st and had not reported to his parole officer as required.

Published reports say Valerie Eubanks, 62, and Shirley Scott, 53, both of the Bronx, both worked in the kitchen of the Bay Park Center for Nursing and Rehab on Co-op City Boulevard.

Published reports also say that Scott suffered swelling on the brain as well as serious leg injuries in the crash and remains in critical condition. Eubanks suffered multiple fractures in her arms, rib and hip and both are recovering at Jacobi Hospital.

Straker has been charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated vehicular assault and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Additional charges are expected.   

Bravest Beat Finest in Tennis Tourney

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 6- The burning ambition of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) carried them to victory over the New York City Police Department (NYPD) — defending champions of the last six year’s EmblemHealth Bronx Open. All eyes watched the much anticipated rematch at the seventh annual battle of the badges, which took place on the tennis courts of Crotona Park, the Bronx, on Saturday, August 4th.

The FDNY vs. NYPD tournament was free and served as the kick-off to the EmblemHealth Bronx Open, a USTA Pro Circuit event, which runs from August 5 - 12 at Crotona Park. This is the 20^th year of the tournament operated by New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL), which provides after school and summer tennis and educational programs for more than 75,000 New York City youth.

In addition to being the finest and bravest on the New York City streets, the police and fire departments also boast a number of outstanding tennis players who look forward to this annual competition.

The tournament took place on Saturday morning prior to the start of the EmblemHealth Bronx Open qualifying event. EmblemHealth made a contribution of $2,500 to both the FDNY and NYPD education scholarship funds, and the winning team was awarded a trophy.  Each player received a miniature trophy.

The NYPD Color Guard and the FDNY Bagpipers performed at the official opening ceremony of the tournament at 10 am.

The EmblemHealth Bronx Open features 32 of the top women players in the world. Players vie for the $50,000 in prize money in singles and doubles at the final USTA Pro Circuit Event prior to the US Open. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL).

"It’s great to help make professional tennis available to community residents, especially young people, while supporting an event that benefits the NYJTL,” commented Frank J. Branchini, President and Chief Operating Officer, EmblemHealth. “We’re also pleased to support education funds that assist the FDNY and NYPD and their families.”

The EmblemHealth Bronx Open is played on the same hard court surface as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open.

General admission is free Sunday, August 5 through Saturday, August 11. General Admission tickets for the Women’s Final on Sunday, August 12 are $10, and box seats are $25.  Admission is free daily for all children 12 and under. 

NYJTL provides FREE tennis lessons daily from 5 - 7 pm for children 6 to 18 years of age. Refreshments will be sold on-site, and there is free supervised parking.

For more information on the week-long tournament, visit www.nyjtl.org.

Yanks Rub Out Mariners

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 6- The Yankees captured the rubber game of the weekend series over Seattle with a 6-2 win on Sunday afternoon. It was the eighth time in the last 10 occasions that the Yankees successfully rebounded from a shutout loss with a victory.

Unlike the previous day’s contest, the game on Sunday hardly featured a pitching masterpiece. Both starters pitched five innings. Mariners’ starter Hisashi Iwamura gave up four runs on seven hits, two walks and a hit batsman. The Yankees scored a single run in four of his five innings on the mound.

The run in the fifth was scored on a solo home run by Raúl Ibañez, the homer was his 14^th of 2012 and the major league leading 168^th for the Yanks. The team is currently on pace to shatter its single season mark of 244, set in 2009.

In the following frame, Ibañez came to bat with two out and the bases loaded. The veteran drove in two runners with a single.

In addition to Ibañez, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Chris Stewart each twice hit successfully.

Jeter raised his career hit total to 3,228, 24 hits below Napoleon Lajoie. He scored his 1,830^th run in the first, which tied him with Frank Robinson for 14^th place.

Cano has hit safely in 33 of his last 27 games. He and Jeter began the game with identical team leading batting averages of 

.313.

Suzuki’s double in the seventh raised his consecutive game hitting streak to 12. He also tied Don Slaught for the longest hitting streak at the start of a Yankee career. It also is the longest Yankees hitting streak in which a player had exactly one hit in each game.

Freddy Garcia pitched the requisite five innings to qualify for the win. The victory ended his three-game losing streak. The 35-year-old hurler recorded his 150^th career win, a high for pitchers born in Venezuela. Garcia ranks 12^th in wins for all pitchers who were born in Latin America. 

Of the accomplishment, Joe Girardi remarked, “It just goes to show how consistent he’s been.”

Garcia gave up five hits and two runs I his five frames. Girardi was quite pleased, “Freddy’s going to give you everything he’s got every time he goes out. That’s just what Freddy does. He keeps us in every game.”

The bullpen easily carried the remaining four innings, allowing only one baserunner in four innings.

The Yanks now embark on a seven game road trip, four games in Detroit and then three in Toronto. Girardi looked forward with hope, “We won a series leaving. Hopefully, this will get us on a good streak.”