Wakefield News: Hope for Pope to Visit Here

Wakefield News: Hope for Pope to Visit Here: Hope for Pope to Visit Here Invitation for Pope Francis to Visit Yankee Stadium #PopeFrancis #Vatican #YankeeStadium #Bronxnews ...

Hope for Pope to Visit Here

Hope for Pope to Visit Here

Invitation for Pope Francis to Visit Yankee Stadium

#PopeFrancis #Vatican #YankeeStadium #Bronxnews

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19- Once the Vatican announced the upcoming United States visit of Pope Francis would include New York City, many Bronx residents and public officials hoped the current Pope would follow in the footsteps of three of his predecessors by celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium. 

As Pope Francis is scheduled to visit New York City in September and 2015 is the 50^th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s Mass at Yankee Stadium, Dr. Cary Goodman, the Executive Director of the 161^st Street Business Improvement District (161 BID), recognized how appropriate it would be for Pope Francis to celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium and tried to garner support of public figures to approve an invitation to the new pope, elected less than two years ago.

The highly knowledgeable and pro-active Goodman explained, “I knew there was a rich history of popes coming to Yankee Stadium. Thus, I wrote a letter to Cardinal Dolan making that suggestion. I checked with the Yankees who were favorable.” Goodman next emailed elected officials who have an ex-officio relationship with the 161 BID, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, whose district includes Yankee Stadium. 

The above elected officials signed a newspaper ad, sponsored by the 161 BID, which includes the following words that certainly reflect the opinion of Goodman toward the iconic ballpark in his district, “A Mass at Yankee Stadium will help lift the spirits of our citizens and offer a vision of hope. Yankee Stadium is the Bronx’s great cathedral and the largest stadium in our city, a global icon befitting your ministry.”

Another reason that Pope Francis would be so appropriate a fit coming to Yankee Stadium is that he is the first pope born in the Americas, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and the majority of the Bronx’s residents are Latino. It should also be noted Pope Francis is 78 years of age and there is no guarantee that he will again travel to New York City.

U.S. Congressman Jose Serrano was the elected official and a signatory to the invitation that best understands the importance of a visit by Pope Francis to the Bronx. Serrano is a Latino who was born in Puerto Rico, a Roman Catholic, a true baseball and Yankees fan who does not attend Yankee Stadium for photo ops at ceremonies but to watch ballgames, and an experienced Congressman representing the people of the South Bronx since 1990.

The veteran Rep. commented, “We would be honored to host Pope Francis in the Bronx, the only borough in New York City with a majority Latino population that represents the diversity of our City and our nation. I hope his Holiness accepts our invitation to grace us with his presence and inspire us with his words. As the first Latin American Pope, his visit would be a historic and momentous occasion that would remain with us for generations to come.

Hopefully, with the support of the mayor and the approval of the Vatican, there will be another special day at Yankee Stadium in September.

The history of religious figures appearing and religious events taking place at Yankee Stadium are not limited to the recent past or to the Catholic faith. 

In May of 1927, four years after the Yankees played their first game at Yankee Stadium, there was a function of the Holy Name Society at which Cardinal Hayes addressed the gathering. Interestingly, a Catholic high school named for Hayes is now located only a few blocks from Yankee Stadium.

One year after Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, a United Jewish Appeal benefit that was headlined by notable performers George Burns & Gracie Allen and Jack Benny was held to benefit the oppressed German Jews.

In 1957, the Rev. Billy Graham, then in his 30’s, preached at Yankee Stadium during the era when he was becoming a very popular evangelist.

Less than two months after Graham’s appearance, Cardinal Spellman celebrated Mass at the ballpark.

The following year, 1958, the largest crowd in the history of the Stadium, 123,707, attended a convention of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Days after the close of the 1965 baseball season, Pope Paul VI, the first pope to visit the United States, celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium although he was only in New York one day.

During America’s Bicentennial year, 1976, the Rev. Myung Moon sponsored a “God Bless America Festival” in the renovated ballpark. 

On October 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass for World Justice and Peace.

In response to the horrific terrorist attacks upon the United States, a non-denominational “Prayer for America” was held 12 days after the September 11 attacks.

The most recent Pope, Benedict XVI, to visit Yankee Stadium offered a Solemn Pontifical Mass marking the Bicentennial of the Archdiocese of New York on April 20, 2008, the final year of the original Yankee Stadium.

One year later, almost to the day, the first non-baseball event in the newly constructed Yankee Stadium was held. The extremely popular Joel and Victoria Osteen drew a crowd of nearly 35,000 for a “Night of Hope.”

Five years later, the couple returned to Yankee Stadium for a sold-out and uplifting evening gathering.

Wakefield News: Fordham Salutes 40th Anniversary

Wakefield News: Fordham Salutes 40th Anniversary: Fordham Salutes 40th Anniversary of Holiday Festival Champs  #Fordham #Rams #40thAnniversary #Basketball #Bronxnews By Howard G...

Fordham Salutes 40th Anniversary

Fordham Salutes 40th Anniversary of Holiday Festival Champs 

#Fordham #Rams #40thAnniversary #Basketball #Bronxnews

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19- Sunday afternoon’s Alumni Day at Fordham University was a special celebration of a great accomplishment of Fordham’s men’s basketball team. The Rams captured the title of the ECAC Holiday Festival Tournament of December 1974. The annual tourney played at Madison Square Garden during the final days of each calendar year usually featured several local colleges as well as ranked teams from throughout the nation.

Hal Wissel was in his fourth season as head coach of the Rams. In 1971, Wissel, after four seasons as head coach of Lafayette, replaced Richard “Digger” Phelps as coach of the Rams after the latter left Fordham for the coaching spot at Notre Dame. Phelps had led Fordham to a 26-3 mark and a place in the NCAA Tournament in his only year at the university. The Rams were 18-9 and were invited to the NIT in Wissel’s first season at the helm.

Although the 1974-5 Rams finished the season with a record below .500 (12-13), they did not travel an easy road nor was the season without highlights. The Rams played six opponents ranked in the top 16 nationally, four within the top 10. Their 1-5 record against these difficult opponents skewed what otherwise would have been a winning season. Speaking about the season’s schedule, Wissel explained, “[Freshman coach] P. J. [who also attended the reunion] was responsible for making the schedule.”

The day after Christmas of that season began a happy week for the Rams at the “Mecca of Basketball” in Manhattan. The first contest of the ECAC Holiday Festival was also the annual “Battle of the Bronx” against heavily favored Manhattan College. Fordham defeated the Jaspers, 82-70. Two days later, the Rams moved on to face the St. Joseph’s Hawks, their current opponent in an Atlantic-10 contest on Sunday of this ceremony. Similar to the 2015 game, Fordham crushed the Hawks, 93-66, on December 28, 1974. Wissel recalled one newspaper headline after that Fordham victory, “Rams Win Leads Them to Slaughter.”

Southern California, #5 ranked in the nation, crossed the country to take part in the 24th year of what at that time was one of the most prestigious tournaments in college hoops. Wissel remembered that tough opponent, “They had several seven footers and six on the roster went to the NBA.”

To the surprise of most observers the Rams easily defeated the visitors from California by 17 points, 83-66. Brown, named the MVP of the tourney, scored 25 and grabbed 14 rebounds in the tournament finale against California. Kevin Fallon, a 1976 graduate, was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

At Sunday’s post-game reception, Brown reminisced about that special day, “Forty years ago, we did something that was a team effort. That’s the Fordham way.”

During this year’s Holiday Festival, two months ago, Brown was presented with an ECAC Special Achievement Award. Brown, the 17th leading scorer with 1,233 points and 7th leading rebounder with 807 was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. Brown is still happily connected to Fordham as a member of its Board of Trustees.

Wissel left Fordham after the 1975-76 season because his teams had records beneath .500. Wissel recognizes that attending a college or university is to prepare the student to successfully travel through the remainder of his/her lifetime. He explained on Sunday, “We did it the right way. We graduated our student-athletes. There were no under the table payments.”

Tom Pecora, Fordham’s current men’s basketball coach, follows the same ethical principles as his predecessor when he tells recruits to Fordham, “It’s not for four years it’s for forty.”

In addition to his many years of success as a college coach where his teams amassed more than 300 wins, Wissel worked in the NBA for 18 years. He held position as assistant coach, scout and an administrator for the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks.

Also present on Sunday was Bob Wolff, the legendary broadcaster of that well remembered tournament. Wolff, 94, has been broadcasting for 75 years, the longest career in history. Wolff achieved the mark for longevity because of his outstanding ability. He is one of only two broadcasters, along with Curt Gowdy, who has been enshrined in the Basketball and Baseball Halls of Fame.

The salute to the Fordham alumni included a special half-time program and a post-game reception. Both, as many other special athletic ceremonies were classily arranged by Associate Athletic Director Julio Diaz. The hard-working and humble administrator when complimented for his work in arranging this reunion tried to reflect the credit to Coach Wissel.

Wakefield News: Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light

Wakefield News: Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light: Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light Vicious stabbing leads to life changing event #NYPD #DA #Crackheads #Bronxnews BRONX,...

Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light

Repeat Felon has Crack Heads See the Light

Vicious stabbing leads to life changing event

#NYPD #DA #Crackheads #Bronxnews

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 12- District Attorney Robert Johnson announced the sentencing of a repeat violent felon, Octavio Rivera, to 17 years behind bars, following a conviction that arose from a dispute over drugs and money.

Walter Romaine wanted to smoke some crack, but he did not want to smoke it alone. So he asked his friend Flossey Samuels to come along to his apartment on Creston Avenue the morning of August 2, 2012.            But they were followed by Rivera – who proceeded to demand Walter’s cash and phone – and when he got it, struck out with a knife.

Flossey, terrified but in control, managed to call 911 for the critically injured Walter Romaine, who, slashed in the face and ear, and stabbed in the chest, would require surgery to repair a punctured lung and torn aorta.

In August of last year Rivera was convicted by a jury of assault in the first degree, a Class B violent felony, as well as criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor. 

Before Justice Dominic R. Massaro, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison with five years post-release supervision, after being adjudged a predicate violent felon, a provision of the New York State Criminal Law by which defendants who have been convicted of previous qualifying violent felonies are given tougher sentences than they would normally have gotten. 

This was Rivera’s second violent felony in a prolific life of crime. At age 38, Rivera has spent more time in prison than out during his adult life for a laundry list of crimes, more than two dozen cases adjudicated in the Bronx alone, most involving the criminal possession and sale of drugs, but also including a half-dozen felonies including grand larceny, robbery, harassment, assault and criminal trespass.

But the story does not end there. Although Rivera will be spending the nearly two decades behind bars, Flossey Samuels and Walter Romaine’s stories involve recovery and success.

Flossey, now age 44, admits she was a lifelong drug addict who at times turned to prostitution to feed her habit. After this horrific 2012 incident and drug arrests in 2012 and 2013, she accepted plea agreements that saw her enter TASC, an alternative treatment program for drug offenders. And it worked. Clean of drugs for a year and a half now, she has made a remarkable comeback, making progress on getting her younger children back, working toward her GED, and newly engaged to be married.

Walter Romaine, although still coping with lingering injuries from the horrific attack, also entered drug treatment with equal success. The 39-year-old continues his drug-free progress and is working with a food services company.

Wakefield News: Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move ...

Wakefield News: Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move ...: Drivers Boiling Mad After Blaz Tells Them to Move It #Snow #Drivers #deBlasio By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 11-...