Thursday, March 30, 2023

Opening Day: Yanks, Cole Cruise Past Giants, While Mets Bullpen Delivers Win In Miami

 

Gerrit Cole during his dominant outing against the Giants. @Yankees on Twitter.

Opening Day was a big one for the New York baseball teams, as the Yankees shut out the San Francisco Giants, 5-0, at Yankee Stadium, and the Mets pulled out a 5-3 win over the Marlins in Miami.

YANKEES 5, GIANTS 0:

The Yankees season started with a bang as Aaron Judge, in his first game as team Captain, launched a solo home run to center field in the first inning off Giants starter Logan Webb.

This was quite the debut for Judge, who hit an American League and Yankees franchise record 62 home runs last season, and the Bronx Bombers rewarded him with a nine-year, $360 million contract.

Then, in the fourth, Gleyber Torres hit a two-run blast to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who looked as good as ever in this one.

Cole threw six shutout innings, in which he struck out 11, and scattered three hits and two walks.

The bullpen had a great day, as Wandy Peralta threw 2/3 of an innings, Jonathan Loaisiga came on to get the final out of the seventh, and Rob Marinaccio threw two shutout innings, in which he struck out three, did not allow a hit, and surrendered one walk.


The Mets lined up on the baseline before the first pitch. @Mets.


METS 5, MARLINS 3:

This one featured a battle between two of the best starting pitchers in baseball, Max Scherzer of the Mets and reigning National Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins.

It lived up to the hype for the first five innings, as the Mets were only able to scrape across one run, on a Brandon Nimmo sacrifice fly in the third inning to make it 1-0.

In the sixth, the Mets rallied, as Francisco Lindor got an RBI on a sacrifice fly to bring in Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil got an RBI single to open up a 3-0 lead.

Miami responded in the bottom half of the sixth against Scherzer, as Luis Arraez, who won the American League batting title with Minnesota last season, got an RBI double to make it 3-1 Mets.

Garrett Cooper then crushed one to right-center field for a two-run homer to tie it up at three.

In the seventh, Nimmo was at it again, as he got a two-run double off Miami reliever Tanner Scott to make it 5-3 Mets. That gave the Mets center fielder a three-RBI day.

That enabled Scherzer to earn the win, which he did, and his final line was: 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs (all earned, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts.

The Mets bullpen, which will be without closer Edwin Diaz, had a debut that is sure to calm any fears about how they'll be without him.

Drew Smith pitched a scoreless seventh, working around a hit and striking out two. Newly-acquired left-hander Brooks Raley pitched a perfect eighth, while also getting two strikeouts. David Robertson, the former Yankee who spent last season with the Cubs and Phillies, saved it with a perfect ninth inning, and he also notched two strikeouts.

Yankees Opening Day Roster & Final Transactions Before First Pitch

Yankee Stadium's famous facade. Photo by Jason Schott.

 

The Yankees released their roster on Thursday morning ahead of Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants this afternoon at Yankee Stadium, with the first pitch at 1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

New Baseball Books To Usher In The Season

 

Photo by Jason Schott.


The baseball season opens on Thursday, with the Yankees hosting the San Francisco Giants, and the Mets taking on the Marlins in Miami.

Yankees Opening Day: What You Need To Know


Yankee Stadium is ready. @Yankees.


Opening Day in Major League Baseball is tomorrow, Thursday, March 30, and the Yankees will be taking on the San Francisco Giants at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Books: "Carmageddon" By Daniel Knowles



Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse And What To Do About It

By Daniel Knowles

Abrams Press; hardcover, 256 pages; $28.00; available today, Tuesday, March 28th

Daniel Knowles is the Midwest correspondent for the Economist, and lives in Chicago. Prior to this, he worked as the paper's Mumbai and Nairobi bureau chiefs, as well as a reporter in the Washington, DC, bureau and in London. He has covered stories ranging from the wars in South Sudan and Afghanistan to the drug trade in Colombia, but his preference is to write about cities, transportation, and social transformation.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Volpe (No Surprise) Wins Dawson Award As Best Rookie In Yankees Camp

 

Anthony Volpe receiving a watch along with the James P. Dawson Award on Monday from MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. @Yankees.

One day after he was named the Yankees Opening Day starting shortstop, Anthony Vople was honored with the James P. Dawson Award for being the most outstanding rookie in spring training. He received a watch from Betteridge Jewelers in conjuntion with the award.

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Yankees, In A Surprise Move, Name Anthony Volpe Their Starting Shortstop

The Yankees posted a video of Manager Aaron Boone telling Anthony Volpe he made the team on Twitter. to announce the big move. @Yankees.


The Yankees made a major statement about the status of their ballclub four days before the season opener, as they named Anthony Volpe their starting shortstop.

Books: "A Mystery of Mysteries" On The Death and Life Of Edgar Allan Poe



 A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe

By Mark Dawidziak

St. Martin's Press; hardcover; $28.99

Mark Dawidziak is an internationally recognized Mark Twain scholar, and the author or editor of about 25 books, including The Columbo Phile, The Night Stalker Companion, and Everything I Need to Know I Learned in the Twilight Zone. He spent 43 years as a television, film, and theater critic at the Akron Beacon Journal and the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Friday, March 24, 2023

New Culinary & Dining Options At Citi Field For Mets 2023 Season

 

Citi Field's new center field scoreboard. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Mets held their "New In 23" Event at Citi Field on Thursday, and they unveiled upgrades to the ballpark, including the new scoreboard in center field, and something the ballpark has always been known for, the delicious dining options fans can enjoy.

The Mets highly-anticipated season opens on the road, and the home opener is on Thursday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. against the Miami Marlins.

CITI FIELD BALLPARK DINING:

Caesars Sportsbook at the Metro Grille is located in the left field corner of the Excelsior Level. It features a welcoming dining and hospitality experience for all guests. The new a la carte menu offerings include an array of fresh seafood options, brick oven pies, burgers, sandwiches, and more.  

Chop House is brought to you by America's most celebrated butcher, Pat LaFrieda and his four generations of family tradition. New menu highlights for this season include Berkshire Pork Chop, NY Strip Steak, Filet Mignon, and Surf & Turf. It is located in the Delta Sky360 Club on the Delta Level.

Cadillac Club at Payson's. Provided by New York Mets.


Cadillac Club at Payson's is a first of its kind exclusive speakeasy membership club to Citi Field, in honor of the Mets first owner, Joan Whitney Payson. It will be located inches away from the warning track in right field, and it will be a hideaway club that will provide fans with a trendy, intimate and up-close space for those looking for a unique ballpark experience.

The members-only space will have a private bar with sightlines to the field and elevated dining options. It is a controlled-climate club that also features premium lounge style seating, personal flat screen monitors, in-seat storage, personal beverage coolers, an in-stadium concierge, and unique Cadillac touches and finishes throughout.

It is limited to 25-30 members, and since there are only 100 seats in the club, the exclusive membership to the Cadillac Club at Payson's includes assigned seats for every Mets home game, complimentary parking and complimentary food, soft drinks, beer, and wine. Members can also access a private bar for cocktails. Click here for our article from when it was unveiled on Tuesday)

CITI FIELD CULINARY CHOICES: (Name, location, offerings)

BEYOND NIGHTLIFE SUSHI - Field Level - World's Fare Market & Delta Level - In Seat Menu

Sushi - Rainbow Roll, Sunset Roll, California Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Salmon Avocado Roll & Nigiri

Sushi Burrito - Spicy Salmon, Masago Spicy Tuna, Avocado & Cucumber Wrapped in Soy Paper

SUNNY'S ALL-AMERICAN KITCHEN - Field Level - Section 101 & Delta Level - Delta Sky360 Club (Nacho Skins Only)

Sunny's Nacho Skins. Photo by Jason Schott.


Sunny's Nacho Skins - Hollowed & Fried Potato Halves Filled with Tomato-Stewed Shredded Chicken, Black Beans & Bacon, Topped with Scallions, Sour Cream, Nacho Sauce and Pickled Jalapeno Slices.

Sunny's Famous Mac and Cheese - Elbows baked in a Creamy Blend of Spices and Cheeses. Topped the Way Mom Used to with Big Boulder Croutons.

Sunny's Campfire Parfaits - Chilled Layers of Toasted Marshmallows, Creamy Marshmallow Spread, Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse, Salted Dulce de Leche & Crumbled Cinnamon Graham Crackers.

CHEF MARC MURPHY'S PORCHETTA SANDWICH SHOP - Field Level - Section 105

Italian Salsa Verde - Fresh Basil, Parsley, Minced Garlic, Capers, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Chili Flakes served with Homemade Chips

Murphy's Famous Chicken Burger - Chicken Patty, Porchetta, Provolone, Dijonnaise served with Homemade Chips

PATSY'S PIZZERIA - Field Level - Taste of the City; Delta Level - Delta Sky360 Club; Excelsior Level - Piazza 31 Club; Promenade Level - Food Court Behind Home Plate

Patsy's Original Cheese pizza. Photo by Jason Schott.


Original Cheese - Fresh pizza dough, whole milk mozzarella, pizza sauce

Pepperoni - Fresh pizza dough, whole milk mozzarella, pizza sauce, pepperoni

PAT LaFRIEDA MEAT PURVEYORS - Promenade Level - Food Court Behind Home Plate (Sliced Rib Eye Only available at the portable)

Sliced Rib Eye - Caramelized Onions, American Cheese & LaFrieda Steak Sauce on a Toasted Baguette

Home Field Double - Two 4oz. Pat LaFrieda Burgers, American Cheese, Caramelized Onions & LaFrieda Steak Sauce

Loaded Fry - Crispy Seasoned Waffle Fries with Melted Pepper Jack Cheese & Crispy Pat LaFrieda Bacon

FUKU - Field Level - Section 130 & Delta Level - Delta Sky360 Club

Fuku's Spicy Fried Chicken Sando. Photo by Jason Schott.


Spicy Fried Chicken Sando - Crispy Habanero Brined Chicken Breast, Pickles, Fuku Mayo on a Martin's Potato Roll

SWEET CHICK - Field Level - Section 102

Sweet Chili Fried Chicken Sandwich - Shredded Lettuce, Pickled Carrots, Citrus Lime Aioli

Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich - Waffle Cookies + Maple Ice Cream Dipped in Dark Chocolate & Topped with Sprinkles and Pretzel Bits

PIG BEACH BBQ - Field Level - Section 135

Brisket Sandwich - Pickles, Crispy Onions & Classic Red BBQ Sauce

Patty Melt - Double Beef Patty, American Cheese, Bacon Cherry Pepper Jam, Pickles & Secret Sauce on Grilled Marble Rye Bread

TAKUMI TACO - Hudson Whiskey NY Club

Takumi Taco's offerings, described below. Photo by Jason Schott.


Spicy Tuna Taco - Sushi Grade Tuna, Jicama, Cucumber, Avocado, Spicy Mayo, Radish, Sesame Seeds, Crispy Gyoza Shell 

Chicken Tinga Taco - Slow Braised Chicken Breast, Tomato-Chipotle Sauce, Cilantro & Onion, Cotija Cheese, Crispy Gyoza Shell

EMPANADA MAMA - Promenade Level - Hudson Whiskey NY Club

Mac N' Cheese Wheat Flower Empanada - Macaroni & Bechemel Cream with a Blend of Cheddar & Mozzarella Cheeses

Cheeseburger Wheat Flour Empanada - Minced Ground Beef, Slowly Cooked in Natural Herbs & Melted Cheddar Cheese

EMMA'S TORCH - Promenade Level - Hudson Whiskey NY Club

The offerings from Emma's Torch, described below. Photo by Jason Schott.


Tamarind Barbecue Wings - Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce

Black-Eyed Pea Hummus Wrap - Lettuce, Cucumber, Carrot, Radish, Pickled Chili

JACOB'S PICKLES - Field Level - Home Plate Market & Excelsior Level - Grab + Go Market Behind Section 337

Fried Chicken Sandwich - Glazed Donut, Honey BBQ Sauce

Fried Oreos - Vanilla Icing

POP UP BAGELS - Suites

Pizza Bagels - Sliced Everything Bagel topped with Our Signature Sauce and Melted Mozzarella Cheese

SUNDAE DONUTS - Promenade Level - Hudson Whiskey NY Club

Cookies & Blue Cream - Blue Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Donuts & Oreo Crumbles

Oreo Donut - Glazed Ring Donut, Chocolate Icing, Topped with Oreos & Blue and Orange Drizzle 

TANG - Field Level - Taste of Queens - Taste of the City

Bulgogi Rice Cup. Photo by Jason Schott.


Bulgogi Rice Cup - A Citi Field Exclusive - Marinated Beef Sirloin with Sauteed Cabbage & Salad Over Rice

FRESCO'S GRAND CANTINA - Field Level - Taste of Queens - Taste of the City

Ropa Vieja Quesadilla - Cuban Style Shredded Beef with our Four Cheese Cantina Blend in a Crispy Flour Tortilla. Served with Chipotle Mayo & Sour Cream

Churro Nachos - Fresh Corn Tortilla Chips Sprinkled with a Cinnamon Sugar Blend. Topped with Dulce de Leche, Vanilla Syrup, Powdered Sugar & Whipped Cream

THE NOURISH SPOT Field Level - Taste of Queens - Taste of the City

Berry Banana Slammer - Strawberry, Blueberry, Banana, Coconut Cream, Almond Milk

CHIDDY'S CHEESE STEAKS - Excelsior Level - Coca-Cola Food Truck

Chiddy's Signature. Photo by Jason Schott.


Chiddy's Signature - Steak, Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms, Provolone & Whiz

JACQUES TORRES - Available at select stands throughout the ballpark

Jacques' Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

Milk Chocolate Cheerios

Mr. Met Black & White Chocolate Bar



Books: "The Woman Beyond The Sea" By Sarit Yishai-Levi


The Woman Beyond The Sea

By Sarit Yishai-Levi, translated by Gilah Kahn-Hoffmann

Amazon Crossing; paperback, $16.99: Kindle, $4.99

Sarit Yishai-Levi is a renowned Israeli journalist and author. Her first novel, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, was published in 2016, and it immediately became a bestseller and earned critical acclaim. The novel sold hundreds of thousands of copies in Israel, was translated into 17 languages, and was adapted into a television series that won the Israeli TV award for best drama series, and then became a Netflix hit. 

Mets Have Many Festivities For Amazin' Day Tomorrow

Provided by New York Mets.

 

For the first time ever, the Mets will be celebrating Amazin' Day TOMORROW, Saturday, March 25, across New York City. 

All you have to do is wear your Mets hat or any Mets gear to be granted access to several events at iconic New York institutions, community-focused events, and giveaways throughout the day. Click here to see detailed information on the Amazin' Day website to find out how you can partake in the festivities.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Yankee Stadium New Dining Options For The 2023 Season

A hint of all you can find at Yankee Stadium this season. All photos by Jason Schott.

 

The Yankees unveiled the new dining and drinks options for the 2023 season on Wednesday morning at Yankee Stadium, ahead of Opening Day next Thursday, March 30 against the San Francisco Giants.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Mets Unveil The Cadilac Club at Payson's (Shhh, It's A Speakeasy)

 

The Cadillac Club at Payson's. All photos provided by the New York Mets.

The Mets on Tuesday unveiled The Cadillac Club at Payson's, a first of its kind exclusive speakeasy membership club to Citi Field, in honor of the Mets first owner, Joan Whitney Payson.

St. John's Brings In Head Coach Rick Pitino In Bid To Restore Glory To Program

 

@StJohnsBball.

St. John's named Rick Pitino as their new head coach on Monday night, in a widely expected move to restore the program to its landmark status in college basketball.

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Top Yankees Prospects Dominguez & Warren Win Kevin Lawn Awards

 

Jasson Dominguez & Will Warren with their Kevin Lawn Awards on Sunday. @Yankees.


The Yankees announced that two of their highly-touted prospects were winners of the 2022 Kevin Long Awards. Outfielder Jasson Dominguez was honored as the minor league Position Player of the Year, and right-handed pitcher Will Warren was named the minor league Pitcher of the Year.

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Mets To Hold First Amazin' Day Across NYC On Saturday



For the first time ever, the Mets will be celebrating Amazin' Day on Saturday, March 25, across New York City. 

All you have to do is wear your Mets hat or any Mets gear to be granted access to several events at iconic New York institutions, community-focused events, and giveaways throughout the day.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Mets Saw Visions Of What 2023 Season Could Be In One Fateful Day

 

Edwin Diaz in action for Puerto Rico earlier this week. @Mets on Twitter.


Wednesday, March 15, 2023 will turn out to be one of the most consequential days in Mets history, as they saw two distinct visions of what their upcoming season could be, and frankly, their long-term future.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Books: New Novels From Sophie Haydock & Christopher Bollen


 

The Flames

By Sophie Haydock

The Overlook Press; hardcover, 464 pages; $28.00; available today, Tuesday, March 14th

Sophie Haydock is an award-winning author based in East London, and The Flames is her debut novel. Trained as a journalist at City University, London, she has worked at the Sunday Times Magazine, Tatler, and BBC Three, and written for the Financial Times and the Guardian Weekend magazine. Haydock has also worked for the Arts Council Royal Academy, and Sotheby's. She also works for the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award and is associate director of the Word Factory literary organization. 

Books: "Our Best Intentions" By Vibhuti Jain


Our Best Intentions

By Vibhuti Jain

William Morrow; hardcover, 352 pages; $27.99; available today, Tuesday, March 14th

Vibhuti "Vib" Jain's first novel is Our Best Intentions, which focuses on an immigrant family caught in the middle of a criminal investigation. She works in international finance development in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she lives with her husband. Jain began her career as a corporate lawyer here in New York City, after she earned degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School. 

Jain found the inspiration for this story from her own experiences growing up in a place like the fictional town in the book, and as an Indian-American, she shares the identity of the main character, Angie. Jain explores the roles race and class play in the forming of a community, as she has witnessed in her own life.

Babur "Bobby" Singh is a single parent and owner of a fledgling Uber business, "Move with Bobby," and he remains ever hopeful about ascending the ladder of American success. He lives in an affluent suburb of New York with his daughter, Angie, an introverted teenager who is uncomfortable in her own skin unless she is swimming. 

While on her summer break, Angie is walking home from training at the high school pool when she finds one of her classmates, Henry McCleary, who comes from a wealthy, prominent family, stabbed on  the football field. 

Understandably, the incident sends shock waves through the community, and jarring truths about the lengths to which families will go to protect themselves are exposed. 

The focus of the police investigation becomes Chiara Thompkins, a runaway Black girl who disappears after the stabbing and, as it's later revealed, was not properly enrolled in the public high school. 

As the torn is torn apart, Angie must navigate conflicting narratives and wrestle with her own moral culpability. Meanwhile, Babur's efforts to shield Angie and protect his hard-earned work at assimilating overshadow his ability to see right from wrong.

Our Best Intentions is told from multiple perspectives, which works perfectly for such a deeply-layered story. The suspense derives from Babur and Angie, a father and daughter who are re-examining their familial bonds and place in the community. In addition to being an intimate portrait of an immigrant family, there is an exploration of how easily friendships, careers, communities, and individual lives can unravel when privilege and racial bias are exposed.

AUTHOR APPEARANCE In BROOKLYN: Vibhuti Jain will be appearing, in conversation with Manish Dayal, on Thursday, March 30th, from 7:00-9:00 P.M., at POWERHOUSE Arena in DUMBO (28 Adams Street, at the corner of Adams and Water Street @ the Archway. For more information, click here.




Sunday, March 12, 2023

A-10 Tournament Day 5: VCU & Their Tenacious D Outlast Dayton To Claim Title

 

VCU was proclaimed champions at the entrance to Barclays Center. Photo by Jason Schott.


VCU turned it up on the defensive end, as they held Dayton to 20 points in the second half, to walk away with a 68-56 win in the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament Final on Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

A-10 Tournament Day 4: VCU Slips By Saint Louis & Dayton Downs Fordham

Fans watch the VCU band perform under the obelisk outside Barclays Center on Saturday morning. Photo by Jason Schott.

 

In the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center, VCU beat Saint Louis, 90-78, while Dayton outlasted Fordham, 78-68. VCU will meet Dayton in the Final on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 P.M.

VCU 90, Saint Louis 78: The top seen in this tournament, VCU, led this from the start over No. 4 Saint Louis, and they had a 44-39 lead at halftime.

The Rams thoroughly took it over when they opened the second half with a 14-2 run to open up a 58-41 lead when Jayden Nunn hit a jumper at the 16:51 mark. Their lead would expand as high as 25 points, at 80-55, when Jalen DeLoach got a layup with  6:08 remaining.

VCU was led by Nunn, who had 18 points on 7-9 from the field, including 3-3 from behind the arc, with three rebounds and an assist. Brandon Johns, Jr., had 16 points on 6-9 shooting, with nine rebounds, and three assists. Adrian Baldwin, Jr., had 13 points (5-11 FG, 1-3 on three-pointers), with six assists and five rebounds.

Saint Louis was led by Javon Pickett, who had 18 points on 7-12 shooting, including 1-2 on threes, with three rebounds and an assist. Javonte Perkins had 13 points (4-7 FG, 3-4 threes), with a rebound and an assist.

Dayton's Toumani Camara blocking Fordham's Will Richardson on a layup at the basket in the second half. Photo by Jason Schott.

Dayton 78, Fordham 68: This battle between second-seeded Dayton and Fordham, the third seed upstart from The Bronx, had the most intense atmosphere of the tournament, with 10,156 fans rocking the Barclays Center. A lion's share of those fans were in the maroon of Fordham hoping they would keep their miracle season going.

Fordham guard Will Richardson being introduced at a raucous Barclays Center. Photo by Jason Schott.


Dayton dominated the first half, powered by 13 points from Toumani Camara, but Fordham fought to stay in it, backed by 14 from Khalid Moore, to keep it a three-point Dayton lead, 36-33, at halftime.

Fordham came out strong in the second half, when a Will Richardson jumper gave them a 46-45 lead at the 14:17 mark.

Dayton took the lead right back, and never relinquished it, eventually putting the game away with a 9-0 run to make it 68-58 on a Mustapha Amzil three-pointer with 3:38 remaining.

Dayton was led by Camara, who had 28 points on a near-perfect 12-13 from the field, with seven rebounds and three assists. DaRon Holmes II had 20 points on 7-11 shooting, with six rebounds and two assists. Malachi Smith had 11 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 on threes), with seven assists and a rebound.

Fordham was led by Moore, who had 24 points on 9-16 from the field, including 3-6 from behind the arc, with seven rebounds and an assist. Richardson had 16 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 on threes), with two rebounds and an assist. Rostyslav Novitskyi had 13 points  (5-9 FG), three rebounds, and an assist.

Darius Quisenberry, a senior guard who led Fordham with 22 points in their win over La Salle in the quarterfinals, was hobbled by a shoulder injury in the second half, which held him to just eight points on 3-12 shooting, including 1-9 on three-pointers, with five assists, three rebounds, and two steals in 37 minutes.

Fordham Head Coach Keith Urgo said of Quisenberry in his postgame press conference, "That kid's" before composing himself, "we'll be forever grateful for that. He's a man both on and off the court. He carried himself with such great character. He fit at Fordham and he bleeds - bleeds - the name on the front of the jersey and, you know every day he would come in and work harder. He was an unbelievable example for guys like Will Richardson. He doesn't care what he looks like, he just comes out and he plays so hard, diving all over the floor. We know how much pain he was in, he just kept playing as hard. He didn't have his best night offensively, but he never stops playing. You never need to worry about whether or not that kid is going to leave every ounce of energy that he can possibly muster up on the court, and again, that's just a testament to the type of character he is, the type of competitor he is, and we will be forever grateful for what he's brought to our program."

Dayton Head Coach Anthony Grant said of his team's win in his postgame press conference, "I think the first thing is, my hat's off to the Fordham group, their staff, the coaches, players, a heck of a run all year long. I told them the first time that we played them, I told Coach (Keith) Urgo, that what he was doing with his group was special. Those guys went out and had a great year. The atmosphere today, you know, that's A-10 basketball what you saw out there today, that's what it's all about. Our guys showed unbelievable toughness, a level of grit that you've got to have in March, and we understood that we had to make plays on the offensive end with the ways they were mixing up their defenses. It was more about making plays, and we needed to be able to defend at a high level and rebound the ball at a high level. Down the stretch, the last 12 minutes or so, our defense went to another level, so I'm extremely proud of our group to be able to get to this point."

Urgo said of the game and the atmosphere, "I want to thank Rose Thrill, and what an unbelievable experience they created here in Brooklyn and the wonderful Fordham alumni and fans that we had here. The energy in the building was fantastic and we are incredibly grateful for all the love and support we've seen over the last several months, but specifically the last couple of days.

"I want to congratulate Coach Grant and his staff - they've done an amazing job throughout the year. I find it funny that people don't realize how difficult their year was, and to do what they've done and be able to hold their program together like that, through all the adversity and injuries and everything they've gone through. That team is one hell of a basketball team and their kids showed up and played really hard.

"As far as we're concerned, I mean, our goal is to always be the best team we can be by the end of the year, and there is absolutely no doubt that our program reached that potential."

Fordham finished the season with an overall record of 25-8, which includes a 1-1 record in this tournament and a 12-6 A-10 regular season record. In reference to Urgo calling it "Rose Thrill," their legendary home court, Rose Hill, took on that nickname as they lost just two games there all season, one of which was to Dayton on January 10, when they lost 82-58.

Later in the press conference, Urgo made a bold declaration, "We're a winning program, haven't had a losing season in two years now, so there's expectations of winning now...These guys expect to come back and do something really special. I don't think they're looking at anything but getting better each and every time they go out on the floor...They'll come back and they'll be ready to go. This isn't just a one-hit wonder."

A-10 FINAL:

VCU vs. Dayton - 1:00 P.M., airing on CBS

Friday, March 10, 2023

St. John's Moves On From Anderson, But Maybe Another Figure Is At Fault For Team's Fall

 

Former St. John's Head Coach Mike Anderson (right) with announcer John Minko. @StJohnsBball.


Just 24 hours after St. John's lost in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals to Marquette in overtime on Thursday afternoon, they announced the firing of Head Coach Mike Anderson.

Books: On Hollywood In Honor Of Oscars Weekend

THE OSCARS IS SUNDAY NIGHT, and in anticipation of the awards, there are two books we will look at in this review that celebrate the glamour of Hollywood: Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears, by Michael Schulman; and Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamour of an Icon, by Kate Anderson Brower.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

A-10 Tournament Day 3: VCU, Saint Louis, Dayton, Fordham Roll To The Semis

 

VCU being introduced on Thursday morning before they took on Davidson. Photo by Jason Schott.

It was the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament on Thursday at Barclays Center, and the top seed, VCU, rolled to a 71-53 win over Davidson, while Saint Louis cruised to an 82-54 win over George Mason in the afternoon session.

In nighttime action, Dayton beat Saint Joseph's, 60-54, while Fordham knocked off La Salle, 69-61.

This means the top four seeds in the tournament on Saturday afternoon, with VCU taking on Saint Louis at 1:00 P.M., followed by Dayton and Fordham around 3:30.

Mets Release Promotional Schedule & Theme Nights

 

The scene during last year's Pride Night. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Mets released their 2023 promotional schedule on Wednesday, and it features plenty of bobbleheads, jerseys, and items inspired by the players and Manager Buck Showalter. 

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

A-10 Tournament Day 2: Davidson, George Mason, St. Joe's, & La Salle Move On

 

The scene during the Davidson-St. Bonaventure game that opened play on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Jason Schott.


On Wednesday afternoon, the second day of the Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament, at Barclays Center, Davidson had a solid win over St. Bonaventure, 65-54, while George Mason came back late to beat Richmond, 62-57. The night session saw a pair of upsets, as Saint Joseph's beat George Washington, 87-76, and La Salle beat Duquesne, 81-70.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

A-10 Tourney Day 1: Richmond, St. Joe's, & La Salle Win Openers

Richmond taking on UMass in the A-10 Tournament opener. Photo by Jason Schott.

 

The Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament opened at Barclays Center Tuesday morning with Richmond rolling to a 71-38 win over UMass, and then in afternoon action, Saint Joseph's outlasted Loyola Chicago, 72-67, and LaSalle had a solid win over Rhode Island, 73-56.

Books: Cookbooks Full Of Classic, Creative, & Healthy Recipes

THERE ARE FIVE NEW COOKBOOKS that would be worthy additions to your collection, full of recipes that will enlighten you to traditional recipes, creative ones where you can put your signature on dishes, and plenty of ideas for healthy meals, and they are: A Cook's Book, by Nigel Slater; Smithsonian American Table, by Lisa Kingsley, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution; The Five Elements Cookbook, by Zoey Xinyi Gong; The New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes, by Sam Sifton; and Danielle Walker's Healthy in a Hurry, by Danielle Walker.

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Books: "Love, Pamela" By The Bombshell Of The '90s

 



Love, Pamela

By Pamela Anderson

Dey Street Books; hardcover, 256 pages; $28.99

Pamela Anderson is one of those celebrities that people know immediately who you're talking about, as her name conjures images of her being on the beach on Baywatch, in the pages of Playboy, and tabloid fodder with her many relationships, most notably with rocker Tommy Lee.

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Books: "Watch the Bear" On The Brown Bears Of Alaska

 



Watch the Bear: A Half Century with the Brown Bears of Alaska

By Derek Storonov

Bison Books; paperback, 240 pages; $21.95; available today, Wednesday, March 1st

Derek Storonov  is a retired wildlife biologist and guide working out of Homer, Alaska, who has educated hundreds of students, photographers, filmmakers, scientists, and tourists about brown bears. He has written articles for Natural History magazine and produced booklets for Alaska Fish and Game, the Nature Conservancy, Alaska Audubon, among others. He has written and directed several films, including the award-winning Way of the Bear.