A little bit of rain on June 4 wasn’t going to wash away the ear-to-ear smile of former St. John’s University, Jamaica, basketball coach Lou Carnesecca. St. John’s hosted the third-ever bi-annual Lou Carnesecca Golf Classic at the North Hempstead Country Club, Port Washington, L.I. Though the start of the golf outing was delayed one […]
Author: Jim Mancari
For God, Country and Baseball
When we think of Lawrence Peter Berra, it’s always about baseball first. “Yogi” is of course revered as an American and baseball icon of the 20th century. A Roman Catholic, born in St. Louis, Mo., the immortal catcher holds the all-time record for World Series appearances (21) and rings (13). He also coined the peculiar […]
Former Yankee Belts Blast Against Booze
All is quiet at the Tepedino household in Hauppauge, L.I., at 3 a.m. in late November 1971. But amidst the drone of crickets chirping outside, another sound echoes from the kitchen: ice cubes ricocheting back and forth against the inside walls of a stainless steel cocktail shaker. Frank Tepedino, a professional baseball player, has gotten […]
The Makings of an Inspirational Coach
After a stellar 40-year basketball coaching career for the current University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla., head basketball coach, Jim Larranaga, it’s all coming back to where it started. The Archbishop Molloy, Briarwood, graduate was inducted May 17 into the CHSAA Hall of Fame at the 27th annual CHSAA Golf Outing and Hall of Fame […]
Safety Rules the Ping of the Bat
In most sports, the amateur game in college is often similar to the same sport at the professional level. Hockey is still played on ice, football players all wear the same pads and the objective of putting the basketball into the hoop is the same on either a collegiate or professional court. But in baseball, […]
The Fruit of St. Francis
The accolades continue to pile up for current Msgr. McClancy M.H.S., East Elmhurst, head basketball coach Don Kent. Kent was inducted April 28 into his alma mater’s, St. Francis Prep, Hall of Fame at the school’s alumni spring reunion. He joins the other 71 members to receive the prestigious honor, including NFL coaching legend Vince […]
Old-Timers Still Talk Good Game of Hoops
As the saying goes, “You’re only as old as you feel.” At least for one night, the members of the Basketball Old-Timers of America must have felt like young boys – reminiscing about their playing, coaching or even officiating days in Brooklyn and Queens. Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope, hosted the 73rd annual Old-Timers reunion […]
MLB Annuity Plan Affects Local Pitcher
April 21 marked the one-year anniversary of Major League Baseball’s agreement on a new plan to pay life annuities to men who weren’t originally eligible to receive pensions. After years of waiting, hundreds of former players who didn’t qualify for any retirement benefits were finally rewarded by the league for their contributions to the national […]
CHSFL Shines as a League of Its Own
Though it’s now baseball season, football is quickly becoming America’s new pastime. We are lucky here in N.Y.C. to have some of the state’s top high school programs right in our own backyard. The Catholic High School Football League (CHSFL) of Metropolitan New York isn’t your average high school league. With teams spanning from New […]
Molloy Grad Hopes to ‘Gaine’ Spot in B’klyn
The New Jersey Nets will be moving to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 NBA season, and a local product hopes to join them. Former Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood, standout guard Sundiata Gaines has spent the entire season with the Nets coming off the bench. The 25-year-old will be a free agent following this season, and he […]