Darn Yankees

How the mighty have fallen. Take the highest paid team in baseball, add an epidemic of injuries and misdeeds by these spoiled boys of summer and you have to field a team of rookies, and has beens who are no longer feared or loathed by the rest of the BB world, Broadway or anyone else. The Damn Yankees, the team you love to hate are no more. The Bombers, pounding their way to more championships than any other team in history, of any sport, are now just fizzled out sparklers, that can't bully anyone.

The once menacing NY Yankees, The Bronx Bombers  are fielding a team that could have easily been taken with volunteers  from the stands. It would be a great opportunity so now it really does make sense to bring your glove to the stadium as it seems that everyday someone is pulling a muscle, breaking a wrist, fracturing an ankle or swerving not swiveling a hip. You might get called upon to fill in. This could be a great PR stunt as your face appears on the Big Sport-a-tron 3000 screen and you are invited to "Come on down," complete with Price is Right music and Bob Barker ( is he still alive?) announcing your name. "Now playing 3rd base, Morris from Mosholu Parkway!"

They are now on track to use more players in the course of a season then any other team in history. Now there's a distinction! Despite this cast of casted characters, they are still within striking distance of first place. Rather unbelievable and a testament to the pitching even though they have an average age of 37, ancient by pitching standards or the fact that the talent in BB has diminished substantially over the last 5 years.

Things are so bad that the Love/Hate relationship with Alex Rodriguez has thawed a bit, except of course for the general manager telling him to "Shut the $%#@ up! "about his comeback. Today's report is that he might return or retire. I'm betting on the first RE as he would be leaving over $100million unless he can cut a deal. And when he returns the fans will boo roundly unless and until he hits his first home run. With a team like the current Yankees, this drama is pretty much all we have to look forward to...

Play Ball!

The Views from Here

Well another blog milestone, 5000 views in 175 posts. I'm sure this is small potatoes in the blog-o-sphere but given that this is still a new adventure for me and I am still learning the ropes I am impressed with the number. Also consider that I can't for the life of me figure out how to add more friends to my circle, so I am happy with the result to date.

Looking forward to 7500 by the end of summer, so tell your friends.

Can You Go home Again?

Tomorrow i will return to the place that was my home for the close to 20 years. As the AP and more recently as Principal of riverside elementary, i will return as a guest at the Graduation of grade 5 students. I have purposefully stayed away from the school in the hope that the new administrator would find his sea legs. Tomorrow I return to hand our a scholarship that was established in my name. It will be an honor to be back and to see some old friends.

Looking forward to a good day.

Life imitating art?

Last night I heard the news that James Galdolfini died in Rome of an apparent heart attack. He was 51!
Given his major acting credit it was inevitable that the news came with the abruptness of a mob hit.
After all he wasn't sick, was poetically in Rome, of a suspected heart attack and there were no further details.

Reporting on his death the BBC noted he was on his way to Sicily to receive an award for his depiction of an Italian, even thought he was a mafia boss, who'd strangle a man to death if he felt he had been wronged. Hey it's only business.

There surely was a love/hate aspect to my opinion of his character but by all accounts he was a good guy and fine actor.

Arrivederci Tony, I mean  James

Been there, seen that

J is taking a photo course that requires that she take photos of interesting people in interesting places. for years her go to has been NYC, especially SoHo, the Lower East Side and Washington Square Park.
With the summer and warm weather comes an influx of NYC wantabees. So our trip to Washington Sq. yesterday would be characterized as a bust.

There are the usual street performers, a group of black gymnasts/dancers/comedians who have an act that takes over the Square several times a day to banter, coax, and flip for money from visitors to the park. In addition there are the old hippies strumming and singing tunes I'd rather forget. It has come to a guy with a sign asking people to stop by and tell him your story. I guess his talent is listening.

I never thought I'd say this but after months of visiting the park it has become ho, hum.

Thank goodness the Mermaid Parade in never disappoint Coney Island is only 6 days away.

Miltides Ave. El

Throughout the Bronx there are elevated subways tracks. A lot fewer than there were in the 60's but  you can still see the train travel in the air above the streets and into the windows of those unfortunate enough to live in the shadow of the El.

Funny thing but a variation of the El is behind some pretty expensive real estate in Riverside and Greenwich CT. Today I happened to be in a house in Riverside and as I looked out the window I could see commuters on the 7:04 to Grand Central. Trains pass back and forth through this highly sought after neighborhood and people put up with the Amtrak and Acella to Boston. Trains going north and south rumble through backyards with swimming pools, and gazebos, with homes that command 1.5-3.0 million!  All for the sake of location, location, location.

Time warp

As the Italian neighborhood of Belmont continues to shrink and become less and less Italian, it is good to see that some traditions continue, even if with another ethnicity.

A few weeks ago we went on one of our usual Sunday photo shoots. Another of our many trips to Arthur Ave. This was the first neighborhood I knew as a child. Now Sundays are pretty quiet on the street with few stores opened and parking no problem. There was a time when the street was busy on Sundays, people leaving church gathered on the street to chat. Cars doubled parked as someone hopped out of the car, to get in line in one of the many pastry shops to buy dessert for the weekly Sunday family dinner. "I'll just be a minute" was the catch phrase as streets were reduced to one lane obstacle courses. Of course they were never a minute, but never mind we understood the drill and waited patiently in line for cannoli and other old world creamy goodies. White box, tied with candy cane colored string, we could hardly get through the antipasti, macaroni with meatballs, sausage, pork as we knew the miniature pastries put an exclamation point on a great tradition.

This Sunday in 2013 was quiet except for a crowd that had gathered in front of Mt. Carmel Church on 187th. There was a Mr. Softee truck camped outside, he obviously knew something special was happening. In observance of the location, the usual Softee rhythm was not playing. In the distance, coming up 187 was a procession led by alter boys, a cross held high and a priest in white robes. He was followed by a group of children, all 6-7 dressed in white, it was First Communion.
J had hit pay dirt and started to snap away. As they approached the church we saw the smiles on the faces of their young families. Infants with bows in their hair, young mothers dressed for church to be followed by clubbing. Stacked heels, short tight dresses, tattoos and lots of flower bouquets. Wonderful photos, a happy day, children in communion dresses with ice cream cones purchased from the man in the truck window, Mr. Softee. We were both softees for this scene, tradition, regardless of the language and ethnicity, continues and gives us hope despite all that goes on in the world.

I had J take a photo of a young boy in a suit standing next to his classmate in a white dress. I have another photo of a couple, the woman in white, on the same steps  taken 73 years ago. It is of  my parents posing for their wedding photo.

Where did you go Joe?

Simon and Garfunkel sang where have you gone Joe Dimaggio in their song Mrs. Robinson, back in the 60's. Word has it that Joe D never understood or liked the reference.

The same fate seems to have befallen Joe Biden. Before the 2012 election, on election night and into the early part of '13 Joe was everywhere. He spilled the beans on Obama's same sex thinking,  he seemed to have a big role in Barak's attempt to do SOMETHING about gun control. He published a book.
Well the gun thing went nowhere, and he reportedly made less than $3.00 in royalties on the book.

He has disappeared and now suffers the fate of lame duck VP's or the fictional Veep Celina Meyer (Julia Louis Dreyfus)
I also wonder if Bill and Hill told Barack to cool it with Joe, and not give him too much to do as she plans or plots her Presidential run.

Sounds a lot like the NYC story of Mike and Christine.

A Whole New Ballgame

Yesterday I went to my first baseball game at the new Yankee Stadium. Yes 3-4 years after it opened I finally got on board, bit the bullet and went to the place across the street from the stadium I knew growing up. I didn't want to lose my Bronx alumni status.

It was hard not to like this place,especially on the most beautiful day of the spring. Warm temperatures, a slight breeze and oh that green, green grass!

The drive down was classic Johnny Bronx, meant to impress the 2 passengers. Down I-95 to the Hutch to Bruckner Blvd. (the service road), to the Concourse via 138th street service road. Door to door of the parking garage bargain, 48 minutes! The garage was ready for our reservation and the $22 fee, split 3 ways.

A 7 block walk to the stadium next to the place where the House that Ruth built stood. On the way I pointed out BX. landmarks, the all business facade of the Bronx county Court House, The Concourse Plaza, once the home away from home of Yankees but now, not quite sure what goes on in there.
Having heard horror stories of the exorbitant prices of food in the Stadium, we stopped at a deli on 161st and for $6.50 came away with a very good sandwich, The Honeymooner. If I'm going to be in the Bronx I am going to order a sandwich named after my favorite TV show.
At the entrance we were actually greeted by attendants who were very courteous, pass baggage check and directly ahead of us was section 110 and our seats, field level first base side, Great!

But first we received, as one of the first 10,000 in the stadium, A Mariano Rivera fathead poster, not to be confused with the M. Rivera bobble head doll. An oversized sticker of Mo in action. Suitable for framing but where to hang it?

We walked around a bit and while I never did get the sausage sandwich, the aroma was very, very tempting. While the food prices were high they were not outrageous, they seem to make their money on $5 water and souvenirs, There was a time when you could not buy an official, wool Yankee hat. Now they are available at every turn, for $25-45. There are stalls and stores in every corner and the stores were crowded, even during the game. Perhaps that was the biggest difference from the old Stadium. In it you came to watch the game. You also resisted going to the bathroom during those Bronx is burning days of old. At the new place you wander, visit the displays, shop, eat, shop, spend money, repeat.  
Of the 41,000 in attendance, it was obvious that many skipped school to attend this rare day game. I am not opposed as long as it does not become a habit and there is no way that it can since all teams have cut down significantly on day games. There is nothing like seeing the field on a sun lit day, blue skies, flags flying.

The technology is awe inspiring and everything you need to know about the pitchers performance, the batters stats and some little known tidbits are all available for you to see.

The seating is comfy, and the view of the game very good from wherever you sit.
While it does resemble a baseball mall with all the bells, whistles and hawking of merchandise, hey you got to pay Alex Rodriquez, the place is pretty nice.

Also the Yankees won, the game was interesting, I only spent $5.00 in the park, sorry Alex but consider it my form of protest against your steroid use. Actually it is because I still cannot bring myself to spend close to $100 for a day at "The Big Ball Park" as Red Barber use to say.

Don't Look Back

Satchel Page, a legendary pitcher once said, Don't look back, they may be gaining on you.
Having taken up biking I feel the same way. As a kid I was never secure in my riding ability and usually stayed on the sidewalk. In those days you could do that. There were no helmets, few if any gears and baseball cards would be attached to the spokes of the tires to heighten the cool factor.

As I try to rekindle some bike skills, not that I have many, I am wearing a helmet, riding with traffic in the street and trying to get myself into (proper) gear. Today I went out at 7:15 and realized the rest of the world has more important things to do at that time, like get to work. Traveling up a road I thought was less traveled, Maple Tree Ave.,I soon encountered traffic, including large trucks, school buses and drivers impatiently accelerating to get were they are going. I could hear the size of the car, truck or bus as it approached from the rear. Hoping to just keep upright I stayed as close to the curb as possible. Mission accomplished but perhaps I'll take advantage of the day and ride once everyone is at school or work.

Ah June!

The calendar turned over and low and behold it is June. The first day of the month celebrates the birth of my daughter, who this years turned 34, YIKES! Was reminded yesterday that it is also the birthday of a dear friend and I will always remember it's the birthday of a woman who I worked with at Special Olympics and her name is June. Some things you don't forget.

It is also the month of grade school I'll always remember as I have fond memories of hanging out on the stoop with kids from the neighborhood 'til dark, around 8:45. Walks to school in June came with wonderful scents of red roses that grew wildly on the corner of Logan and Lafayette Ave. The honey suckle vines would also be in bloom and we loved taking the flower and sucking on the stem. Fro the 2-3 weeks before school let out, the nuns would get gifts of red roses wrapped in tin foil, hand picked from the neighbors gardens.

The warm weather begins to be an everyday occurrence and the flowers in the yard are fragrant and lush.

I always thought October to be my favorite month but June seems to make a strong case for Month of the Month.