Enough of the A-Rod Circus

Enough of the A-Rod Circus

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned to town. The A-Rod drama was not expected until February in Tampa Florida when the New York Yankees assemble for spring training, but we should not be shocked that he admitted the truth, under oath to a DEA investigator about using PED’s.

It is typical Alex Rodriguez territory to be in this position. And it has spread to the New York airwaves as two popular talk show hosts got involved in who was credible when asking A-Rod ro tell the truth last November. Rodriguez on one show said he never took PED’s and we didn’t believe the fraud then.

That is why it came as no shock Wednesday when a Miami Herald report said that A-Rod told the truth. After all this has always been the Alex Rodriguez saga of not telling the truth. And if he did not have the appropriate millions to have proper representation he may have had to tell the truth.

Should we forgive Alex Rodriguez? Some will say yes because his year-long suspension from Major League Baseball was served. The Yankees await the A-Rod arrival and continued circus in February and the drama will continue. It does not have to continue if the Yankees decide to eat up a remaining three-years and $61 million that remains on a contract that should have never been granted.

That was then. The Yankees upper brass, those who were dragged into the A-Rod legal battle and the circus, will have a way with dealing with this latest report. They wish it would all go away, however their fraud of a player is around for the duration. All they can do is hope that Rodriguez is healthy and will offer some type of offense to a lineup that could not score runs this past season.

They hope their fraud will be able to handle a plan at third or first base, or play a regular role in the lineup as the designated hitter, and to that there is no certainty. The Yankees are not getting younger with a damaged A-Rod in their everyday lineup but they may have no other choice to put him on the field as much as possible.

Getting back to the Alex Rodriguez image of being damaged is another issue. The Yankees as an organization have to play two sides with the damage control and continue dealing with the circus. Opposing players, at least those who did not experiment with Ped’s, will go with the flow and not make A-Rod a public issue.

Then there are the fans, many who will continue to boo when A-Rod takes the field again. Rodriguez to them will be a hero if he becomes a legitimate hitter again without the use of a steroid support system. Rodriguez may never be the same hitter he was without that support system and also take into account he has had limited playing time the past two years.

So where do we go from here? The gut feeling is, and a general consensus: Enough is enough of this A-Rod circus. Yes he served the penalty and was off the field as his Yankees teammates failed to make the postseason a second straight year. The steroid era, according to what has been determined, is over in the game of baseball. But as long as Alex Rodriguez is around the discussion may never end.

Because Alex Rodriguez, who many consider to be a fraud, is around the game again. Each time he resurfaces the talk about steroids and Ped’s will not go away. Even if the master of deception admitted his guilt to the authorities, he will never be considered that legitimate and talented ballplayer that had a quest to be the first to hit 800 career home runs.

Alex Rodriguez never played the game on an even level playing field. The circus is back in town and now that we are aware of his admission there is more reason not to grant him a chance for respect.

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

Baychester News: Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

Baychester News: Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens: Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 6- The NYPD is asking the public's he...

Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

Cell Phone Thief Targets Young Women, Teens

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 6- The NYPD is asking the public's help in identifying a young tough who has terrorized young women and teens, stealing cell phones and other valuables.

Police officials say the suspect is wanted in connection with at least seven thefts and four attempts in the Allerton, Williamsbridge and Baychester sections of the Bronx.

On October 28, investigators announced that the latest one-man crime spree began on September 25, when the thug stole a cell phone from a 12-year-old girl outside of 1500 Bronxwood Avenue in the Allerton Section.

At 3 p.m. on October 1, a 16-year-old female was robbed of a phone at Bronxwood Avenue and Duncan Street.

At 4 p.m. on October 3, the same individual robbed a 14-year-old female of a phone at Paulding Avenue and East 216 Street in Williamsbridge.

On October 6, a 14-year-old female reported being robbed of a cell phone at 3:45 p.m. at Paulding Avenue and East 211 Street.

Cops say he struck twice on October 7, when he attempted to steal property from a 17-year-old female at 5:35 p.m. at the corner of Barnes Avenue and Boston Road in the Allerton section.

The creep was successful when he stole the phone of a 29-year-old woman a short time later at Barnes Avenue and Tilden Street.

Taking a week off as police beefed up patrols in the 47th and 49th Precincts, the assailant struck again at 8:15 p.m. on October 14, when he stole the phone of a 17-year-old female outside of 881 East Gun Hill Road.

On October 21 at 4 p.m. he attempted to rob the cell phone of a 13 year-old girl at Bartholdi Street and Capuchin Way.

A 15-year-old girl reported the suspect attempted to rob her at 3:30 p.m. on October 23 in front of 3660 Bronxwood Avenue.

A short time later a 23-year-old woman reported an attempted robbery of a phone at Paulding Avenue and East 212 Street.

In the latest incident that took place at 8:30 p.m. on October 26, a 16-year-old female was robbed of a phone at the intersection of East Gun Hill Road and Lurting Avenue.

Police say that in each of the incidents the bandit simulates a gun or knife before stealing his victims property and fleeing. All of the victims were left unharmed.

The thug is described as a black male in his teens. Detectives from the Bronx Robbery Squad continue to re-visit prior locations of incidents in an attempt to acquire a photo of the suspect from area surveillance video.

Officials at Police Plaza say the thug is not the same teen who was captured by surveillance video and was recently placed on an NYPD wanted flyer after recently stealing a cell phone from a victim in confines of the 52nd Precinct.

Police recommend that individuals keep all jewelry concealed, refrain from walking alone whenever possible and  keep cell phones and other electronic devices in a front, inside pocket of a jacket.

Anyone with any information on either suspect is asked to call Crime Stopper's at (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.  

Baychester News: Is your church closing?

Baychester News: Is your church closing?: UnderSouled Local Church Closings Riverdale Report By Robert Press The Archdiocese of New York has announced that as of Augu...

Is your church closing?

UnderSouled

Local Church Closings

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

The Archdiocese of New York has announced that as of August 1, 2015, 115 of its churches will close and/or be merged into other local churches. This move is being done citywide and in lower and upper Westchester County. 

As for the Bronx 20 church's are effected. 10 will close or be merged in to 10 other nearby parishes.

The following parishes will merge. The designated parish church is identified with an asterisk (*) in the column on the left. As of August 1, 2015, although remaining a church which may be used on special occasions, Masses and the sacraments will no longer be celebrated on a regular weekly basis at the church on the right.

Bronx County

1. *Saint John                                     Visitation

 3021 Kingsbridge Avenue            160 Van Cortlandt Park South

 Bronx, New York 10463                Bronx, New York 10467

_____________________

2. *Saint Brendan                             Saint Ann

 333 East 206 Street                       3519 Bainbridge Avenue

 Bronx, New York 10467              Bronx, New York 10467

___________________  

3. *Saint Anselm                               Saint Roch

 685 Tinton Avenue                         525 Wales Avenue

 Bronx, New York 10455              Bronx, New York 10455 

____________________

4. *Saint Rita of Cascia                     Saint Pius V

 448 College Avenue                        420 East 145 Street

 Bronx, New York 10451                Bronx, New York 10454

____________________

5. *Holy Family                                 Saint John Vianney

 2158 Watson Avenue                      715 Castle Hill Avenue

 Bronx, New York 10472                Bronx, New York 10473

____________________

6. *Holy Rosary                                Nativity of the Blessed Lady

 1510 Adee Avenue                          1531 East 233 Street

 Bronx, New York 10469                Bronx, New York 10466

Bronx merging church's * denotes home church only.

Parish Church

1. *Saint Margaret of Cortona            Saint Gabriel

 6000 Riverdale Avenue                     3250 Arlington Avenue

 Bronx, New York 10471                    Bronx, New York 10463

______________________________________________________________

2. *Saint Jerome                                     Saint Luke

 230 Alexander Avenue                       623 138th Street

 Bronx, New York 10454                     Bronx, New York 10454

______________________________________________________________

3. *Holy Family                                       Blessed Sacrament

 2158 Watson Avenue                           1170 Beach Avenue

Bronx, New York 10472                      Bronx, New York 10472

______________________________________________________________

4. *Our Lady of the Assumption           Saint Mary Star of the Sea

 1634 Mahan Avenue                                595 Minneford Avenue

 Bronx, New York 10461                         Bronx, New York 10464

Locally St. Gabriel's Church located at 3250 Arlington Avenue will be merged into St. Margret's Church located at 6000 Riverdale Avenue. Visitation Church located at 160 Van Cortlandt Park South will be merged into St. Johns Church located at 3021 Kingsbridge Avenue. St. Ann's Church located at 3519 Bainbridge Avenue will be merged into St. Brendan Church located at 333 East 206th Street.

On Sunday November 9th there will be a Veteran's Day Ceremony at 12 p.m. in the Veteran's Memorial Grove of Van Cortlandt Park. The National Anthem 'The Star Spangled Banner' will be sung in remembrance of those who fought and gave their lives so we could celebrate this Veteran's Day 2014. This Memorial Day ceremony is made possible by the Memorial Grove Restoration Group.

The latest chapter of the Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee took place last week. While some of the faces may have changed this year the answer is the same. The committee made up of Community Board 7, 8, and 12 board chairs and the local councilman and Bronx Borough President's representative keep asking why local Bronx residents can not have access to view the beautiful water in the Jerome Park Reservoir. There are two high iron metal gates that surround the reservoir with a wide interior path for DEP cars and trucks to use. The DEP says that it is due to the security of the water supply that the two high fences are needed to keep out possible saboteurs. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said it best when he told DEP Associate Commissioner Eric Landau that a bad guy can just throw what the DEP wants to keep out over the two fences easily. The DEP's answer is that the inner fence will be only 4 feet high so that the community can see the water better, but the outer higher fence must remain.

While Associate Commissioner Landau was attentive to the community he admitted that he has been with DEP for only 4 months, coming from a job in Prospect Park Brooklyn. By the way the community was sure that Associate Commissioner Landau understood that any water in the Jerome Park Reservoir is unfiltered raw water that will go to the water filtration plant. As for overruns and delays, this water filtration plant was suppose to be on line by the end of 2013. That was 3 DEP commissioners ago, and the delays continue.

This past Monday night’s Community Board 8 Land Use meeting had an update on the proposed Montefiore Medical building that was scaled down from 11 stories to 6 stories, with less medical space and a higher parking ratio. No matter what a group of local residents still say the proposal is to large for the site, and want no medical center at all. Since the meeting went on after our deadline, I will have the recap for you in next weeks column. The next full Community Board 8 meeting will be held at the Riverdale Temple located at Independence Avenue and West 246th Street, and begins at 7:30 PM. If you would like to address the board members in the gallery session on a specific topic, you can call the boards office at 718-884-3959 to place your name on the speakers list.

Lastly the 2nd Annual North Riverdale Merchants Association Street Festival on Riverdale Avenue between West 256th and West 259th Streets went off this past Sunday. I stopped by during the setup, and saw that the weather was exactly as I had said in last weeks column, sunny and 50 degrees. The only thing I forgot to mention was that there might be a little wind that day. Congrats to all who participated in the event, and I can't wait for next years North Riverdale Street Festival.

If you have any comments about this column, have an event that you would like to have covered or listed in this column or on my blog, e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com, , or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.   

Baychester News: Comic Con

Baychester News: Comic Con: Bronxites get their Geek on at Comic Con  (Photos by Robert Press & Seitu Oronde) By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOB...

Comic Con

Bronxites get their Geek on at Comic Con 

(Photos by Robert Press & Seitu Oronde)

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 16- As you can see by some of the photos there were many different attractions for the attendees.

The amount of people who attended surpassed last year, but in speaking to many people the impression was that Comic Con 2013 was a little bigger, and a little better. Since Comic Con is a mixture of comic and real action stories there will always be the many comic book sellers, as was seen at this year's event. There were celebrities in attendance, and of course the fees for autographs or photos that come with them. There seemed to be plenty of free autographs and merchandise that was also available at many of the booths. The big publishers with several spots had their artists signing free samples of various comics. Many of those in single spots were part-time artists and publishers who printed much less copies, and only had a few different items on display.

I met a Bronx based small part-time artist/publisher who said he has a full time job to support his family. His company was called Section Eight Comics which immediately drew my attention. We spoke for about a half hour as to how the name came about, and where he was located in the Bronx. I then remembered that I had seen him at Comic Con 2013, and he still had some of his work from then. I wished him well and moved on to the next booth.

I met the lovely Amanda Rivera who was poised at one booth. Amanda said that she is from the Wakefield section of the Bronx. When I told her that I was from the Bronx News she replied that she reads the paper, and can not wait to see herself in the paper. Enough said so I'll end it here so there will be room for more photos of Comic Con 2014.