Bedford Park News: NYCFC Loses First Match in its History

Bedford Park News: NYCFC Loses First Match in its History: NYCFC Loses First Match in its History  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 30- The NYCFC (1‐1‐2) lost its first match in ...

NYCFC Loses First Match in its History

NYCFC Loses First Match in its History 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 30- The NYCFC (1‐1‐2) lost its first match in its history at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night. Sporting Kansas City (1‐1‐2) was the victor by a score of 1‐0. The win was the first of the season for the visitors, and the seventh time they have handed its first defeat to a club in its new venue.

The match sold out with a crowd of 27,545 who attended the second match of the home club in the iconic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Although the home opener drew in excess of 43,000, the seating allocated for NYCFC matches was approximately 27,000. 

New York area native Chris Wingert praised the loyalty of the club’s supporters, “It was really impressive for how many people came to watch us.” The Manhattan resident spoke of his trip to the Bronx, “I took the subway. It was a nightmare. I don’t know it well enough yet.”

The only goal of the match was scored at the 12 minute mark in the first half on a throw‐in by Matt Besler, a veteran of 25 Caps for the USMNT, which was knocked into the goal on a header by KC defenseman Ike Opara, his second goal of the new season. NYCFC coach Jason Kreis described the most crucial moment of the match, “We put our tallest guy on him, but Opara just beat him to the ball.” 

NYC defenseman Chris Wingert, who has started all four matches, admitted, “It was frustrating to give up a goal on a throw‐in.”

Kreis spoke of the difference of how his club fared in each half of the contest, “In the second half, they did everything they could to get the tying goal. I don’t know why it takes a whole half.” He believes the club should start with more energy from the opening moment of a match, especially in a home contest.

A disappointment to the club and the fans was the absence of Spanish superstar David Villa. After suffering an ankle injury earlier in the year, Villa missed his first contest of the season. Kreis described the situation to reporters after the contest, “Yesterday we took him [Villa] out early to the training center. We quickly decided it wasn’t going to work. He’s managed through the pain and swelling for the past three weeks.” The coach believes the bye week will allow Villa to return to action for the next NYCFC match against the Philadelphia Union on April 11.

Kreis did not believe that the absence of Villa or forward Adam Nemec, who had started the first three matches, and was representing Slovakia on the weekend, made the difference in the result of the match.

The NYCFC coach was also pleased with the three substitutes (Tony Taylor, Kwadwo Poku and Thomas McNamara) who saw action, “All three substitutions were good. I was really proud of the effort the guys put in.”

Kreis uttered a mixed summary of his club to this point in its first season, “We need to improve in all phases, [but] there are still signs that I can say we’re going to be a good team.”

The next two NYCFC matches are a home and home with the Philadelphia Union. After a road match in Philadelphia on April 11, NYCFC will return to Yankee Stadium on April 16 to face the same opponent.

#NYCFC #Soccer #YankeeStadium #Bronxnews

Bedford Park News: Only Lap Dogs Allowed?

Bedford Park News: Only Lap Dogs Allowed?: Only Lap Dogs Allowed? Organizers block reporters who ask questions on stealth homeless Riverdale Report By Robert Press BR...

Only Lap Dogs Allowed?

Only Lap Dogs Allowed?

Organizers block reporters who ask questions on stealth homeless

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 26- Last week, the Riverdale Press reported a so called exclusive on the vacant former Montefiore Medical Center site. I call it a So-Called exclusive, because the Riverdale elected officials chose not to ask this newspaper columnist to the meeting even though I have lived in Riverdale for over 35 years.

Could it have been my reporting on the next Bronx Democratic County Leader, my reporting on the new leadership in the state senate, or perhaps commentary of a sister newspaper the City News? So Riverdale Press it was not an exclusive, just payback for honest reporting. You of all newspapers should know that from the last two Democratic primaries, but then again your reporting was not always honest. By the way the editor of the other so called Riverdale newspaper was invited so you scooped him and not me.

Let’s go over the facts. There is no way that a 14-story luxury building will be built on the former medical center site. The community will want to lower it to 8 – 10 stories at most, which will not be profitable for Simone Developers the owner of the site. Quite frankly the site may have to be broken down into the parcels it originally started from, and then be constructed on individually. As you know the elected officials were wrong before on this site.

Speaking of our elected officials, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz was at the Riverdale Y last week with a check for $125,000 for the first 'Barrier Free Playground' in the Northwest Bronx. This will be the first all accessible playground to all children including those with special needs. This comes on top of a grant to the Y by Senator Klein to repair the entrance to the Y.

It seems that our photo last week of a Coalition for Homeless van parked in front of a rent-stabilized building in Riverdale has gotten some responses. Last week’s article (an exclusive) seems to be even more important now that Mayor Bill deBlasio has been robo-calling landlords offering a One-Thousand dollar bonus to landlords who will house the homeless. More in upcoming columns.

The March 30^th meeting of the Community Board 8 Land Use meeting has five items on the agenda. Items 2 and 5 in the Fieldston Special Nature Area District, and both have to do with a change of windows or sash. Item 1 concerns the new fitness center at the West 230^th Street and Broadway mall. Items 3 and 4 concern new buildings in Kingsbridge Heights. Item 3 is a discussion about a new proposal for the 3469 Cannon Place site by a new developer. Item 4 is about a 421-A application for a newly constructed 6 story 52 unit building at 3507 Fort Independence Street. There is however no mention of any proposal for the Riverdale/Oxford Avenue former Montefiore Medical Center site.

Lastly, don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for the weekly listing of upcoming events at Wave Hill, more on what you may read in this column, and the many photos of the events that are covered.

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.  

#Riverdale #Homeless #Montefiore #Bronxnews

Bedford Park News: Fire Bug Torches Cars

Bedford Park News: Fire Bug Torches Cars: Fire Bug Torches Cars By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 25- The fire marshal and the NYPD are currently looking for the p...

Fire Bug Torches Cars

Fire Bug Torches Cars

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 25- The fire marshal and the NYPD are currently looking for the person or persons who set fire to some curbside garbage that destroyed to vehicles in Norwood.

Authorities could provide few details before the police reports have been filed, but officials say both incidents took place on opposite ends of Hull Avenue, between East 209 Street and East Gun Hill Road, between 1:30 and 2 a.m. on March 19.

A mattress was set on fire at the curb where an older model black BMW caught fire outside of 3307 Hull Avenue. A red Honda Ridgeline SUV caught fire minutes later outside of 3349 Hull Avenue, after bags of garbage were torched.

Both vehicles suffered extensive damage to the passenger sides and undercarriages of both vehicles and both will likely be a total loss.

One victim was too distraught at the loss of her car to speak, but one resident of the block remarked, "I knew about this one, but now I see there's two. You never use to have this sort of thing happen here."

Fire marshals continue to investigate the cause of the fire and who set it, while the NYPD is reportedly checking surveillance video in the area.

#NYPD #Arson #Firebug #Norwood #Bronxnews

Bedford Park News: Shots ring out on St. Paddy’s Day

Bedford Park News: Shots ring out on St. Paddy’s Day: Shots ring out on St. Paddy’s Day By Aaron Carnegie BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 20-  At around 10 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, four shots ...