Tina Charles (Photos by Stephen Slade (left) and Sphilbrick (right))

St. Gabriel’s, CK Bball Star Reaches Olympics (with audio)

St. Gabriel’s parish, East Elmhurst, boasts three famous CYO basketball alumni. Speedy Claxton played eight years in the NBA, while Derrick Phelps starred at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, before playing in the pro ranks. The third alumna, Tina Charles, is currently suiting up for the U.S. Women’s Basketball Olympics team. The Jamaica […]

Jim Mancari

Olympic Rower Thrives On Family Support

Row, row, row your boat…all the way to London. That’s what first-time U.S. Olympic rower Meghan Musnicki will be doing — but more figuratively than literally. Musnicki, 29, will represent her country in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games held in London and will compete in the Women’s Eight rowing competition. The Unites States is the […]

Jim Mancari

St. John’s Basketball Star Heading to NBA

At just 19 years old, former St. John’s University, Jamaica, standout small forward Moe Harkless will live out his dream of playing professional basketball. The Queens native, who spent three years at Forest Hills H.S., was selected 15th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2012 NBA Draft, held June 28 at the Prudential Center, […]

Jim Mancari

Tablet All-Stars for H.S. Baseball, Softball

With another season of Brooklyn/Queens CHSAA baseball in the books, here’s a look at The Tablet’s 2012 All-Star team. Special thanks to the league’s coaches for providing nominations. Each team features five infielders, four outfielders, two catchers and four pitchers. Baseball First Team Infielders Nelson Lopez, Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope — Junior, .391 batting average, […]

Jim Mancari

CYO Golf Classic Attracts Record Crowd

Temperatures sweltered near 100 degrees on June 21 at the North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, L.I. But the intense heat was overshadowed by the generous giving spirit of the many youth sports supporters in the Diocese of Brooklyn. The Brooklyn/Queens CYO hosted its third annual Golf Classic at the North Hills links. This year, […]

Like Father, Like Son In the Franco Family

The game of baseball has been uniting father and son since the game’s inception in 1846. This past Father’s Day, June 18, scores of young ballplayers expressed their gratitude to their dads for sharing a mutual love of America’s pastime. One of those ballplayers was J.J. Franco, the son of long-time New York Mets lefty […]

Jim Mancari

Carnesecca Golf Classic Continues SJU Tradition

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 […]

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 […]

Jim Mancari

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 […]

Jim Mancari

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 […]