Bedford Park News: Always the Captain

Bedford Park News: Always the Captain: Always the Captain Jeter on Season: It’s not about me Derek Tried to Focus on Yanks’ Season Rather than Retirement By Rich...

Always the Captain

Always the Captain

Jeter on Season: It’s not about me

Derek Tried to Focus on Yanks’ Season Rather than Retirement

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 20- Derek Jeter will be missed by the New York Yankees and their fans when his wonderful career concludes this season. Others will also miss his presence, including members of the media. And there are many reasons why the media will miss Jeter.

Derek Jeter was not a friend to the dozens who followed and chronicled his career on the field the past 20 years, rather we referred to Jeter as the professional who answered every question and never ducked an issue. He appreciated this end of the baseball business, and that was displayed again Wednesday at his retirement press conference down in Tampa Florida.

This was the start of Jeter’s retirement press tour. Time and time again, he will answer similar questions as he makes the final rounds around ballparks the Yankees visit. He was patient and understanding.

Then, there was this comment showing his concern to the media: “You can go off to work if you have to.” A few seconds after commenting about his retirement decision, Jeter momentarily took notice of some reporters leaving the pavilion at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Jeter once again, as he has been so accustomed to doing, did not want to be the center of attention. He was the story, and he will be this Yankees 2014 season. But, Jeter also is aware that the media has a job to do. With those words, to those few leaving the press area, Jeter was handling business.

This is spring training, about the New York Yankees quest and hopeful return to the post season in October. This day, according to Jeter, should not be about him. However, that is the side of Derek Jeter that we have all come to know. It was again, more about the Yankees and not about Derek Jeter.

His comments were to the point:

“I feel the time is right. There are other things I want to do. Physically I feel great and I look forward to playing a full season. The thing that means the most to me is to be remembered as a Yankee. Yeah, I’m emotional. It’s kind of difficult because we still have a season to play.”0

He did not laugh. Jeter did not cry. He said it was not a retirement press conference. “I have feelings,” he said.

And there have been times when we knew Derek Jeter had feelings. There have been the many times, and many more this final season when reporters await him by his dressing quarters. At the old and new Yankee Stadiums, the proper answer would always come from the Yankee captain.

Then there was this comment, so typical of what we always get to hear when Derek Jeter speaks.

“Every time the Yankees win,” he said about his favorite career moment. That had to be the toughest answer Wednesday, but one expected from Jeter. And if everything follows the Yankees illustrious history, the Yankees biggest win will come with a sixth World Series ring in the final season for Derek Jeter.

He said, “I think it would have been more of a distraction if I did not mention it,” referring to his retirement announcement on his social media Facebook page last week.

The point is, Derek Jeter has never been a distraction. He has done everything right as a New York Yankee and playing in the New York spotlight, well he handled that like a true professional.

He especially handled it right with the media. He will be missed. The good news is we get to enjoy watching Derek Jeter play one more season and like he said, baseball is fun to play.

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

Bedford Park News: Snow Doesn’t Slow Down Cops

Bedford Park News: Snow Doesn’t Slow Down Cops: Snow Doesn’t Slow Down Cops (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19- The repeated snow-storms...

Snow Doesn’t Slow Down Cops

Snow Doesn’t Slow Down Cops

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19- The repeated snow-storms have not sidelined detectives who continue to respond too and solve local homicides.

Police officers in Morrisania were called to the Forest Houses on Friday, February 15, where Darin Capeheart, 25, who suffered from spina bifida, was shot several times in the chest outside of the E. 166 Street building and died at Lincoln Hospital.

A second victim and friend of Capeheart, described by police as a 26-year old male, was shot several times in the legs and buttocks and survived.

Just six days later police charged Bronxites Salim Wilson, 22, the suspected trigger-man and his accomplice Julio Velasquez, 20. Both men were charged with murder and attempted murder and Velasquez was also charged with possession of a weapon.

Investigators needed less than two days to solve the January 26 stabbing death of Leobardo Garcia, 29. Garcia was stabbed in the chest while visiting a building on Grant Avenue in the Concourse section.

Police have charged Pedro Torres, 32, with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.  

Bedford Park News: Will Gardner Stay in Pinstripes?

Bedford Park News: Will Gardner Stay in Pinstripes?: Will Gardner Stay in Pinstripes? By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 13- New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner trave...

Will Gardner Stay in Pinstripes?

Will Gardner Stay in Pinstripes?

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 13- New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner traveled from South Carolina this week for the 34th Annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner to support the AHRC New York City Foundation. 

Gardner was among several New York sports stars who were honored for their off-the-field efforts in bettering the lives of others as well as their athletic accomplishments. Among the 2014 award recipients were hurler Dillon Gee of the New York Mets, defensive specialist Anton Rolle of the New York Giants, former Knicks and Nets forward Bernard King, who was voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and former MLB pitching standouts David Cone and Jim Kaat, both currently baseball broadcasters.

These philanthropic occasions have raised more than $12 million that has been used to better the lives of approximately 15,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Each of the honorees expressed their gratitude when speaking with the press and praised Munson even though Gardner, Gee and Rolle were born after Munson had died. 

Gardner said of the award, “It’s a good honor. I’m humbled by it. It definitely means a lot.” He offered praise of Munson, “He played hard. He played the game the right way. He set an example for the younger players.”

Gardner, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has been with the organization since that day. Although in 2013 he had a batting average of 273 with a single season high in home runs and runs batted in, his name was often mentioned in trade rumors during the off-season. Gardner reacted to questions of how it affected him, “It’s hard to ignore it [a rumor]. It always follows you.”

The thought of Gardner being traded for a starting pitcher intensified when the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury as a free agent, the center fielder of the Red Sox in 2013. Gardner explained his reaction, “I felt like I did pretty well last year. I didn’t see it coming. We have the same skill set; you wonder what’s going to happen.”

Gardner put a positive face on playing with his new alter ego teammate, “Hopefully, we’ll push each other to be better. I’m sure he’ll help us win a lot of games. He makes our team better.”

As both men are center fielders, usually bat in the lead-off spot in the batting order and are known for their speed on the base paths and in the outfield, Gardner used words regarding his place on the team next year that show uncertainty, “I don’t really have any expectations of where I’ll be playing [position] or where I’ll be batting [in the order]. Until I hear otherwise, I’m planning to go to Spring Training and prepare to help this team. Until something happens, I expect to be a Yankee.”

Since last season ended, Gardner explained he was “enjoying my time at home in South Carolina with my wife and sons [ages 3 and 5].” Of the annual trek to Spring Training, he remarked, “It’s always an exciting time of the year [although] it’s tough to leave home. My goal is to be physically and mentally prepared for the season”, said Gardner. 

Gardner was enthusiastic when asked his opinion of the off-season transactions of the Yankees, “Right now, I like our chances. Every year, we get new faces and everybody gets along pretty well. I’m excited to see what these new guys can do.it reminds me of the 2008-9 off-season.”

Gardner is referring to the last season, 2008, when the Yankees failed to qualify for the playoffs, and then signed costly free agents like C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira and won the World Series title in 2009.

How Gardner will fare in 2014, whether or not he will still be a member of the Yankees and where the team will finish in the standings cannot be determined at this time. Many unexpected events can take place before October, even before April. 

On February 7, it was announced that Alex Rodriguez was withdrawing his law suit against MLB and the MLBPA. Thus, his suspension of 162 games will probably remain in effect. On February 11, Masahiro Tanaka will be holding a press conference at Yankee Stadium. Those are just the first of many unforeseen events that will take place.

Bedford Park News: Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN!

Bedford Park News: Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN!: New Mayor, Same Result: Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN! Officials blame residents for icy streets By David Greene BRONX...