1495 sports the magazine

7/31/2019 1495 Sports The Magazine

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Greetings Sports Fans:

Welcome to the First Edition o the 1495 Sports Magazine. Within these pages arewhat I hope are the best stories in sports combined with the great deeds that athletesare involved with in the community.

Tat is the goal o 1495 Sports, to bring the best in both community related and recapin the world o sports and it has been a dream come true or me personally to see boththe magazine and the website grow.

Te site which can be seen by typing 1495 Sports.com and will be providing not onlythese great stories, but will also have live scoring updates, as well as recaps and liveupdates rom WWE programming.

It has been a dream o mine to have my own brand in the world o sports, and I amvery thankul to Brad Kurtzbergand Dexter Henryor their invaluable contributionto both the site and the magazine thus ar.

I this is your frst or 100th experience with 1495 Sports, I hope that you have enjoyedwhat you have seen thus ar. Looking orward to growing 1495 Sports with you theans, and as always stay tuned!

Sincerely,Stacy Podelski

Stacy PodelskiCoordinator/Owner1495 Sports

www.1495Sports.com

Athletes In Your Community CoverCollage Made by: Stacy Podelski

Top Right: Tom Seaver during the Citi Veterans Day Ceremony

Top Lef: Martin Biron & Dan Girardi in the Garden o Dreams Scavenger Hunt at the Museum o Natural

History

Bottom Right: Mr. Met and Daniel Murphy helping the students o PS 12 pack ood or City Harvest

Bottom Lef: Jake Ballard &Kari Miller at the Citi Kids Program

Center: Sasha Cohen skating in the inagrual Citi Pond Kids program

All Photos taken by : Stacy Podelski


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Table Of Contents

*Rangers Look Ahead After Tough End to Rewarding SeasonBy: Brad Kurtzberg

*Athletes In Your Community:Mets Alumni Give City Harvest a Helping HandBy: Dexter Henry*1495 Sports Photo Gallery: Sights from Citi FieldBy: Stacy Podelski

*1495 Sports Jets Quotes from Day Two of Jets Mini-CampBy: Stacy Podelski

*1495 Sports Chat: Art ShamskyBy: Stacy Podelski

*Giants Take Care of Business at Mini-CampBy: Brad Kurtzberg

* United Way Celebrates 125 Years with annual Day of ActionBy: Stacy Podelski

*Starting Pitching Key to Yankees Resurgence

By: Brad Kurtzberg

The Magazine


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Rangers Look Ahead After ToughEnd to Rewarding SeasonBy: Brad Kurtzberg

Even now, more than a week aer their sea-n ended, the Rangers loss to the New Jerseyevils in the Eastern Conerence Finals stillings. Watching the Devils play or the Stan-y Cup against the Los Angeles Kings hurtsecause the Rangers and their ans realize howose they were to reaching that goal them-lves.

time, ans will realize that 2011-12 was aason o accomplishment or the Blueshirts.was the rst time the Rangers reached theird round o the playofs since 1997 and the

rst time they were the top seed in the Easternonerence since their Stanley Cup year o994.

Tis Rangers team showed guts and determi-

ation throughout the season. Tis was a teamat completely bought in to John ortorellasstem and it clearly paid dividends. Teangers played strong team deense, sacricedeir bodies to block shots and relied on the

oaltending oHenrik Lundqvist and justnough ofense to win hockey games.

love our jam, I love our [guts], Rangers

ead coachJohn Tortorella

told reporters justeore the team le the clubs practice acilityr the last time. I really like what we have

ere. I dont think it will be the same. Teresways changes. But what our group has devel-ped in their identity, their mindset, I thinkowed. Again, we dont get it done, but I just

ke the way they handled themselves.

I love our jam, I love our [guts], Tortorella treporters just before the team left the clubs ptice facility for the last time. I really like whahave here. I dont think it will be the same. Thalways changes. But what our group has devein their identity, their mindset, I think showedAgain, we dont get it done, but I just like thethey handled themselves.

Were still a young club and we still have quite a bit tolearn as ar as the desperation when you get to this thiround. You hear it so much, and I wont accept it. Youknow, you won a couple o rounds. You got into the th

round. Tat isnt good enough. We still have to nd a wto win another round and get there.

As they enter a pivotal of-season, here is a look at issuthe Rangers need to address to return to contention oStanley Cup in 2012-13.

1) Te Rangers need more goal scoring. Te lack oscoring depth cost them in the series against the Devi

and made both the Ottawa and Washington series clothan they should have been. Tere is no doubt that thRangers should be players in ree agency as they do hasome cap room to play with. Zach Parise heads a airlystrong class o ree agents and would be a great additio(and a subtraction rom the Devils). It is also possibleRangers will re-start trade talks with Columbus and tto acquire Rick Nash. Both Nash and Parise are in theprimes, but expect the Blue Jackets to ask a pretty pen

or Nash and it may still be more than the Rangers arelooking to pay. Te act that Marian Gaborikwill havsurgery and will probably miss the early part o the sedoesnt help the scoring problem, but it is more importo have Gaborik ready or the stretch drive and the plaofs than to have him or all 82 games. I they dont trahim, the Rangers need Brandon Dubinskyto bounceback and provide more ofense. Having Chris Kreidea ull season will help, but dont expect Kreider to be a

instant 30 goal scorer as a rookie.


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2) Deensive depth must also be added. TeRangers top our deensemen are as good as anygroup in the league but over the course o theDevils series, the act that Ryan McDonagh,

Dan Girardi,Marc Staal and Michael Del Zottoplayed so many minutes every game took its toll

on the Rangers. Getting Michael Sauer back andhealthy would help, but it remains questionablewhen or i Sauer will be able to return rom hisconcussion that kept him out o action since De-cember. Te Rangers dont need any stars here,but having a third pairing on the blue line thatorts eels comortable playing more than veminutes per game in the playos is a necessity.Reducing the ice time o the big our would make

them more eective when they are in the game.Rookie Tim Erixon may play be ready to helpsolve this problem next season.

3) Backup goalie Martin Birons contract isup and the Rangers need to gure out whetherto bring the veteran netminder back or anotheryear, or nd someone else to play behind Lun-dqvist. Biron will turn 32 this summer. He isgreat in the clubhouse and capable o startingor a ew games i Lundqvist goes down, with-out hurting the club. Biron can give the Rangers20-25 quality starts and keep Lundqvist sharpenough or the playos, so bringing him backmakes sense i Glen Sather can agree to termswith him. Otherwise, the Rangers need to bringin a relatively inexpensive and reliable backup.

Were still a young club and we stillhave quite a bit to learn as far as thedesperation when you get to this thir

round. You hear it so much, and I woaccept it. You know, you won a couplof rounds. You got into the third rounThat isnt good enough. We still havefnd a way to win another round and there. John Tortorella

4) Te Rangers need to address their own reeagents and role players. Ruslan Fedotenkos contract is up. He has proven to be a valuable roleplayer, knows ortorellas system well and is apositive inuence in the locker room. BrandonPrust adds size and muscle and is also an unre-stricted ree agent. Depth players John MitchellJohn Scott, Stu Bickel, Steve Eminger and JefWoywitka are UFAs and may not be back. Mosto them can be replaced airly easily. RFAs includDel Zotto and Anton Stralman. Mighty-miteMats Zuccarello already lef or the KHL.

In the salary cap era, changes come every seasonor all hockey teams. Te Rangers had a very successul season and are close to being perennial

Stanley Cup contenders. How they handle thiso-season will determine i they stay among theleagues elite or all back to the pack.

www.1495Sports.com


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Athletes In Your Community:

The New York Mets Alumni Association teamed up with Citibank Volunteers or the SeventhAnnual Global Community Day on June 15,2012. Mets-greats Edgardo Alfonzo, JerryKoosman and Cleon Jones were on handto help re-pack over 30,000 pounds o sweetpotatoes and apples at Mets Plaza or CityHarvest.

We are partnering with City Harvest or

what we call a re-pack event where the Ci-tibank employees work with City Harvest tore-pack large amount o ood to be distrib-uted to ood pantries in New York City, saidBill Brown the Manhattan Division Directoro Citibank. Between Jerry, Cleon and Ed-gardo it really makes our Citibank employeeseel great about volunteering.

Alonzo, has been actively involved in theMets Alumni Associationmaking appear-ances on behal o the Mets at Citi Field andor the Citi Tuesdays program earlier in theyear.

I think it is great to help others and to havethe opportunity to help others wheneverthey may need it, said Alonzo o the event.

It is great to be a part o something that canmake a positive impact in the community.

Koosman, who is considered to be one o thebest le handed pitchers in Mets history, helped to li the ranchise to their frst World Seriestitle in 1969 had this to say o the event, It is un I always try to help out charity.

Satesh Patel who is a volunteer with Citibank shared his experience with 1495 Sports on what itlike to work with a company like Citibank, who is always an active company in the community.

Mets Alumni Give City Harvest a Helping Hand

Mets Alumni (r to l) Edgardo Alfonzoto Citibank, City Harvest volunteers aCiti Field. Photo by: Stacy Podelski

By: Dexter Henry


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I work or Citi and I like to give back my time and Citibank is very good at allowing their em-ployees to give back, said Patel. Citi allows employees one day o to do volunteer work so Iused that as an opportunity to come here and give back.

Cleon Jones, who caught the nal out o the Miracle Mets World Series Championship, wasnamed to the Mets All-time lef elders list in 2012 had this to say on the day o service, I am

always looking or ways to help out others.

Tere has been a positive buzz or the Metsboth on and o the eld, as the Mets-alumnishared their thoughts on the 2012 season thusar. Te Kids rom Queens have been thrillingans with their play, as they currently sit inthird place in the National League East.

Tey have had some good quality wins soar, said Jones o the 2012 team. Te Metshave just got to continue to play heads-up anderror ree ball.

Koosman, who had his club record or con-secutive scoreless innings streak snapped byR.A. Dickeythis month share these thoughts

on the club with 1495 Sports, I enjoy theact that this club has been doing so well. It isgood to see the spirit back and that everyoneis having un.

Alonzo, who was known or his clutch hit-ting during the 1999 playos, while rankingthird in Mets ranchise history with 1,135 hitsand fh with 538 RBIs.

It will be interesting to watch the Mets thisseason, especially i the pitching sta can stayhealthy, Alonzo said on the 2012 Mets. I

would say watch out or them this year.

Jones &Jerry Koosman lend a handth Annual Global Community Day at

www.1495Sports.com


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1495 Sports Jets Quotes fromDay Two of Jets Mini-CampBy: Stacy Podelski

1495 Sports is proud to bring these quotes romDay wo o New York Jets Mini-Camp, as AntonioCromartie, David Harris and Brandon Moore allchatted with members o the New York media.

*Cromartie had this to say on the perormance othe deense this year versus last:

I am not going to say that it is. Yeah, we nished

rough but we said we are a better group than that.We have to play up to the level that we are capableo. I think that is one thing that we are working onthis year, communicating what we need to do, y-ing to the ball, just doing the things that we knowhow to do best and letting our pass rushers be passrushers. We are just going out and doing the simplethings right now, just trying to put all o the piecestogether.

*I going back to Cortland or training camp will bepositive or the team:

I denitely think so. I think it is good or us tohave a ull of-season. I think the rookies got in andthey got to run a bit more. Tey didnt have to getthrown into the re. You know what to expect outo everyone right now going into our training camp.

I think this is going to help out a lot with the cama-raderie o the team as well. Being here last year inNew Jersey and having training camp here, it wasa lot because we (werent around our teammates).Everyone was going home. We didnt have guys indorms which changed the camaraderie o our team.I think that is something that Rex Ryan is reallygood at. Like he said he wants to have the pulse othe team.

*On wearing a black jersey at practice:

As guys we have talked about it, black witgreen with a little bit o white, maybe greyin it. I think that would look real good.Mike Tannenbaum, i youre listening tothis, yeah I just said it. (joking) Its just ajersey. Its all about the decal that goes onthe helmet and the guys that you play withI you know a guy is playing 100% or you,you want to give 100%, thats just the tempwe have been trying to set this of-season.

*Linebacker David Harris had this to sayon the deense setting a high standard oritsel:

Yeah, its a very high bar. But this is NewYork, there is a lot o expectations and its atough crowd.

I am not going to say that it is.Yeah, we nished rough but we saidwe are a better group than that. Wehave to play up to the level that weare capable of, Antonio Cromartiesaid. I think that is one thing thatwe are working on this year, communicating what we need to do, yingto the ball, just doing the things thawe know how to do best and lettingour pass rushers be pass rushers.We are just going out and doing thesimple things right now, just tryingto put all of the pieces together.


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*His thoughts on the our-man rush looks the de-ense has shown:

Yeah, its the same deense its just that everybodysin dierent positions. Quinton Coples, whos very

athletic or his size, he really loves it. With so manydierent choices in our ront our with the thingsthat hes able to do and he has tremendous upside.Hopeully itll carry over into the season.

*How the spring has been or the deense:

I think its been a great spring or the deense. Ithink a lot o the younger guys have stepped up.Tey stepped into the system; they ask their coachesquestions and get up to speed. A lot o guys ondeense have made it a goal to become aster andlighter on their eet and better conditioned. Teysought that out themselves. I think you have to likewhat you see by the way were practicing.

*Guard Brandon Moore had this to say on howmuch the oseason has helped the team:

Its good to get some extra time together, especiallywith a new oense. It kind o sets the stage to be apart o the process to try and be a productive team.

*On how good the oense will be as the year goeson:

I mean, were in shorts, pajamas as Tony Sparanolikes to say. We got a lot accomplished. Well knowmore as we go along. Youre only as good as oncethe season starts and each game you play. I sawsome good things on how we can attack people butthose are going to come down to execution up ront,in the back eld, and with the quarterback makingdecisions and the receivers being where they needto be. Tatll be an indicator.

*Moore gave these thoughts on how heis getting ready or Cortland:

Some rest, conditioning, lifing, gettingready or camp and just enjoying yourree time cause you wont have any or awhile. I you eel like it, (spend a) littleextra time with your (play) book. Justopen it up and keeping things resh ora little bit. (Just) get away, as coach toldme a long time ago, just enjoy your timewith your amily.

Yeah, its the same de-fense its just that every-bodys in different posi-tions. Quinton Coples,whos very athletic for hissize, he really loves it,David Harris said. Withso many different choicesin our front four with thethings that hes able to doand he has tremendousupside. Hopefully itll carryover into the season.

www.1495Sports.com


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Chat with Art Shamsky..... Photo/Written by: Stacy Podelski


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1495 Sports sat down with Mets-great ArtShamskywho was in Middle Village, Queens tosupport the Citi uesdays program on June 19.Shamsky spoke in-depth on a number o topicsincluding his adjustment to the New York areaand his legacy with the team.

Citibank began the Citi uesdays program toprovide added value to Citi customers and Metsans or the 2012 season. Te promotion takesplace whenever the Amazins have a home gameat Citi Field on uesday, oers unique experi-ences and exclusive access to benefts and re-wards to Citibank customers using their creditor debit card.

It is a great partnership between the Mets andCitibank, said Shamsky. I have done a numbero these events or both Citibank and the Metsand am happy to be here. Queens is like homeor me, and I really miss those days where Iplayed or the team in the 60s and 70s.

Shamsky, who was traded to the Mets in the1968 season or Bob Johnson continued bysaying, I had actually lived not too ar romthis branch when I frst came to New York andit just brings back a lot o memories. I enjoymeeting and talking with people who maybewerent around when I played, but know aboutthat team. For me to go out and do what I can

to meetpeople and do what I can or Citibankand the Mets is a good opportunity or me and I

enjoy it.

Te outfelder was a vital part to the Mets win-ning their frst World Series Championship in1969, had a .300 average at the dish that sea-son, with a .375 on-base percentage. Shamskywas the regular starter or the ranchise againstright-handed pitchers.

It was an incredible team, Shamsky said onbeing a part o the 69 Mets. I have always saidthat the 1969 Mets may not have been the greatest team in terms o ability to win the WorldSeries, but they rank right up there as one o thmost incredible teams.

Shamsky continued by saying, Tey were ateam known as the lovable losers at one point itime, and or them to turn it around when noone had expectations or them to do anything.It turned out that was the year that the Jets hadwon the Super Bowl, the Knicks won the NBAChampionship in 1970, to see all three o theseteams winning their frst championships-it wasa great year or proessional sports in the New

York area.

Generations o Mets ans still continue to knowabout the ways o that Magical team, as the generation o ans have passed along the legacy othe frst World Series victory to the uture ansseen at Citi Field today.

Te team will always have a legacy because o

the act that the history o the team has beenpassed on rom generation to generation,Shamsky said. Children who werent even borknow the names o the players, thanks to thoseparents and grandparents who told our story.Tere are so many people who come up to meand say-I was there when you won the WorldSeries. It is great or me because no matter whayou did you will always be known as a part

o that 1969 Met team that lives on orever interms o how popular they were.

www.1495Sports.com


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It is a legacy that still lives on with Shamsky, Istill have great memories and riends rom thatyear. We have lost seven members o that teamunortunately, but the remanding guys I am stillvery close too and will always have this wonder-ul bond o having done something that mostpeople thought incomprehensible early in theseason. We were able to beat a terric BaltimoreOrioles team in the World Series and I think thelegacy will live on orever.

Te Mets were one o baseballs rst expansionteams were ounded in 1962 and had the daunt-ing task o taking the place o the beloved Brook-lyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. Shamskyhad this to say on there being a National Leaguesquad back in New York.

When the Dodgers and the Giants lef in thelate 50s New York was lef without a NationalLeague team. In 62 baseball expanded and theMets were developed, Shamsky said. Ironicallyenough the Mets took one color rom the Dodg-ers (blue) and one rom the Giants (orange) andthat is how they got their colors.

Shamsky who was originally with the CincinnatiReds rom 1965-67 gave this perspective, Hav-ing played against the Mets, I knew there wasso much excitement or the ans even thoughthe team was not any good. Even though theywere the Lovable Losers ans still came out andyou saw how passionate the ans were when youplayed against them.

I think there was something special, therewere a lot o National League ans who weredisappointed when both the Giants and theDodgers lef and there was an opportunity orans to have that again, Shamsky said. Nomatter how they played on the eld ans ap-preciated that there was another team rom theNational League there and it developed into

the Mets anatics that we know today.

Helping to change the culture or the ranchisein those years was manager Gil Hodges, asthings began in 1968 as the team posted a 73-89 record, which was the best in their seven-year existence. In 69 Hodges helped New Yorkto become the rst expansion team to win theWorld Series, and to do so afer nishing atleast 15 games under .500 the previous season.

Gil was the one that really helped to start thetransormation o the Mets, Shamsky said.He was a very down to earth, good and strongindividual, who really turned the tide or theteam. I believe i he had not passed at such anearly age that the Mets would have gone on towin more championships.

Shamsky who seems to have his own placein pop culture, as the Mets-great is a avoriteamong ans. For those who had ever watchedthe hit V Show Everyone Loves Raymondmay know as the Brad Garrett character Rob-ert Barone named his dog afer the star-hadthis to say on his own legacy.

I think there was something special, there were a lot of National Leaguefans who were disappointed when both the Giants and the Dodgers left andthere was an opportunity for fans to have that again, Art Shamsky said.No matter how they played on the eld fans appreciated that there wasanother team from the National League there and it developed into theMets fanatics that we know today.


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I am smart enough to know that any legacythat I have is because I was a part o that 1969team, Shamsky said. Te beauty o that teamis that when you talk about it-it is not just aboutTom Seaver,Jerry Koosman,Cleon Jones orTommy Agee-it was about Al Weis, Kenny Bo-swell, Jerry Grote and Bud Harrelson and allo the guys who were a part o that team.

My legacy was being a part o that, I was luckyenough to have two dogs named aer me-JonStewart o Comedy Central named his dog aerme and I was on the show Everyone Loves Ray-mond because they named the dog aer meand it was a wonderul experience.

Shamsky went on to say, One o the questionsI am asked because I played with the Reds isShould Pete Rose be in the Hall o Fame, thesecond is Do you wish you were playing nowwith the money that the players are makingand the third is How does it eel to have a dognamed aer you? I think it is great to havepeople remember me in that way, and I am still

in New York thanks to having been a part othat 1969 team. I try to do what I can to keepthe teams legacy remain what it is.

On being able to be a part events including theCiti uesdays program Shamsky had this tosay, o have an opportunity to do events likethis with Citibank and chat with their custom-ers as well as Mets ans it oers me a chance tosay hello and let them ask questions about thethings they may want to know about that team.

Art shared with 1495 Sports the most com-monly asked questions by ans:

People always ask me What about theBlack Cat that ran on the feld or What didyou think about om Seavers almost perectgame? Other questions include What aboutthe Ron Swoboda catch and the TommyAgee catch? I never get tired o answeringthem because it was a part o my lie andnow and or me it is a great eeling to be apart o the team and I wear this World Se-ries ring with much pride because in realitythere were only 31 o them.

o be a part o that team and club that won

the frst Mets World Championship is veryspecial and I know all the guys eel the sameway.

Shamsky wrapped up his legacy with theclub by saying, I try to do things over theyears to maintain my visibility here in theNew York/Metropolitan area and it has beenvery special to be a part o that wonderul

1969 Championship team.

It took the St. Louis native a bit o time be-ore growing to love the New York area, andShamsky shared what it was like adjusting tothe Big Apple.

New York was so big and it wasnt reallyscary-but it was too big or me, and when I

got here I was a little overwhelmed, Sham-sky said. I enjoyed it, but never really tookadvantage o it until when the season is over,that is when I took advantage o being inNew York at the time. Tat was when I ellin love with the city, the culture, what thecity had represented in terms o what it o-ered or people.

To be a part of that team andclub that won the rst Mets WorldChampionship is very special andI know all the guys feel the sameway. Art Shamsky


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Shamsky continued by saying, It was a bit o atransormation period or me, I will also say thatwhen I came over here-I ell in love with the ansbecause they were so good to me. Tey always ap-preciated the act that you gave an efort. I eel inlove with ans rom the beginning and Ive been in

New York ever since.

Known as a clutch hitter, Shamsky had a .538average in the three games that he started in theNational League Championship Series, sharedthese thoughts with 1495 Sports on hitting.

I always tell youngsters who have any ambitionto get to the next level in baseball to take care oyoursel, said Shamsky. You have to stay healthy,a lot o it is having ability and a lot o it is beingin the right place at the right time and stayinghealthy.

On clutch hitting Shamsky had this to say:

One o the things Ive always prided mysel onwas not striking out much, making contact, and Ialways enjoyed that conrontation between hitterand pitcher-especially as it got later in the game.Art continued by saying, You can compare it toother things I guess, but when that pitcher hasthat ball and the game is on the line, that conron-tation to me there is nothing like it in sports.

Te Mets-great went on to say: I cherished thosemoments because it made me bare down, I thinkthe act that I didnt strike out much and made

contact gave me the opportunity to put the ball inplay in that respect I am proud. Being known assomeone who put the ball in play and someonewho is a clutch hitter is a great thing.

Shamsky had this to say about the 2012Mets:

I think they are real streaky and parto that is because o the act that theyare a young team, Art shared with 1495

Sports. What they need to do, and theywill do is learn how to win close games.Tat is what happened to us in 1969 isthat we learned how to win a 3-2 game,we learned how to salvage a series.

Art continued the comparison between69 and the current team by saying, Wehad some great pitching and this current

team does as well between R.A. Dickeyand Johan Santana, and there are stillsome things that this current team willlearn. I think i they can learn to winsome o the close games, and they can getthat clutch hit anything can happen, butI think Mets ans should be excited aboutthis team.

One of the things Ive al-ways prided myself on wasnot striking out much, makingcontact, and I always enjoyedthat confrontation between

hitter and pitcher-especiallyas it got later in the game.Art Shamsky said, You cancompare it to other things Iguess, but when that pitcherhas that ball and the game ison the line, that confrontationto me there is nothing like it in

sports.

www.1495Sports.com


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Osi was grateul or the new deal. Tey steppedup to the plate and they didnt have to, Umeny-iora admitted. Tey could have just allowed meto play out this last year, which in essence I amdoing. But they denitely, denitely showed me

some love.

Te Giants are a stronger team with Umenyiora inthe lineup. Along with Jason Pierre-Paul and Jus-tin uck, he gives them three strong pass rusherson the deensive line, a threesome that ew teamscan hope to match. When the Giants put pressureon opposing quarterbacks, their deense is amongthe most eective in the league. When they dont,they are very average.

During the regular season, Osi had nine sacks innine games and added 3.5 sacks in the teams ourpostseason games. Te deending Super Bowlchamps were 9-4 last year including playos withUmenyiora in the lineup and just 4-3 without him.

Te ormer 2nd round pick out o roy State willbe 31 this November and may have one big con-tract lef in his NFL career.

Osi was grateful for thenew deal. They stepped uto the plate and they didnhave to, Umenyiora admitted. They could have justallowed me to play out thislast year, which in essenceI am doing. But they def-nitely, defnitely showed msome love.

www.1495Sports.com


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United Way Celebrates 125 Years withannual Day of Action By: Stacy Podelski

It is amazing the impactthat giving back and help-ing out others can have,and the United Way orga-nization is one such ex-ample o how the power opositivity and giving backcan make an impressionon all o our lives.

Founded in 1887, theUnited Way movementnow celebrates 125 yearso advancing the commongood, while creating a bet-ter lie or all by ocusing on the three key buildingblocks o education, income and health.

Te United Way recruits civic-minded people andorganizations to bring passion, experiences andthe resources needed in order to make that positiveimpact happen.

United Ways rom around the country is currentlyengaging in service projects, in the Fifh AnnualUnited Way Day o Action. Projects include every-thing rom advancements in education, income andhealth.

Te Day o Action will culminate tonight with thelighting o the Empire State Building in blue, whichis the United Ways signature color.

Tere are volunteer activities at service sited aroun

the country, and they willpared with social media aonline advocacy activitiesraise awareness around thimportance o volunteer-ing. Tose on twitter thatvolunteering today shoultweet #IAmTeChange an#LIVEUNIED and shar

their experiences on the per o giving back.

United Way is currently makia splash in Washington, DC a

members o EAM NFL were seen in actduring the United Way Youth EmpowermSummit, which was hosted by American versity.

Te three-day event engages participantsin identiying opportunities to improve tacademic success o American students aengage in opportunities or NFL players their supports to recruit readers, tutors amentors.

Youth involved in mentoring relationsh

have the opportunity to realize their ullpotential. Money alone wont solve the edtion challenge. Communities o support give their time to advancing and empoweyouth create a bright uture or all Americans, said EAM NFL Captain NnamdiAsomugha. who represents the PhiladelpEagles.

New York Giants defensive tackle ChrisCanty with the future leaders of theUnit-

ed Way Photo by: Martin Dixon

www.1495Sports.com


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epresenting the local teams were New Yorkiants deensive tackle Chris Cantyand Nework Jets le tackle DBrickashaw Ferguson.

embers o TEAM NFL were on Capitol Hillnd speaking to members o Congress aboute importance o education and how it im-

acts the uture leaders o America.

United Way TEAM NFL volunteers play anmportant role in raising awareness and pro-

ding inspiration to youth around America.EAM NFL recruitment eorts will advancee United Way call to activate one millionaders, tutors and mentors and improve theademic success o our nations youth, said

FL Partnership Director Tracey Holmes.

or more inormation on the United Way anse encouraged to click on the link below:tp://www.unitedway.org/

ore inormation on TEAM NFL can be seen

low:tp://www.unitedway.org/team-nf

United Way TEAM NFLvolunteers play an im-portant role in raising

awareness and provid-ing inspiration to youtharound America. TEAMNFL recruitment effortswill advance the UnitedWay call to activate onemillion readers, tutors anmentors and improve theacademic success of ournations youth, said NFLPartnership Director Tra

ey Holmes.

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20/21

Starting Pitching:Key to Yankees Resurgence

By: Brad Kurtzberg

Say what you want aboutthe steady bat oDerekJeter, the power oCur-tis Granderson or theclutch walk-o home runhit byRussell Martin lastweekend, but they are notthe biggest reason or theYankees recent hot streak.Te act that the startingrotation has been consis-tently excellent has beenthe key to the Bronx Bomb-ers recent resurgence.

Te rotation has an impressive 7-1 record and a1.76 ERA in the month o June (through 6/11). InApril, the starters had an ERA o 5.80 while in May,it was 4.15.

When the season began, the rotation was a bigquestion mark or the Yankees, at least aer C.C.Sabathia. Te loss o newcomer Michael Pinedaor the season due to injury made or more doubt-ers but the Yankees were able to turn things aroundand are now again tied or rst place in the tight ALEast.

Te return oAndy Pettitte, who returned aer

taking 2011 o, has been a big help and a steadyinginfuence. In six starts since rejoining the Yankees,Pettitte has a tiny 2.81 ERA, best among the starterson the sta and has walked only nine hitters in 41.2innings pitched. Having two pitchers they can de-nitely count on has denitely helped the Yankeesrotation gain condence.

Te continued good play

the back three starters o rotation, Hiroki Kuroda,Ivan Nova and Phil Hughwill be a big key to the Yakees success or the rest oseason. Tese pitchers doneed tobe excellent, just consisteand the Yankees bullpen,

led by closer Rafael Soriashould be good enough to leaplenty o wins.

Lately, all three o them have ound a wayget it done and the result is a record o 8-their last 10 games. On Monday, Nova didhave his best stu but still pitched seven sout innings in a win over the Braves. Hug

has won his last three decisions while Kuhas had three straight quality starts, winntwo and garnering one no-decision.

Pitching remains the most important parbaseball, even in this age o six inning staers and specialty relievers. Perhaps the bikey to the Yankees continued success willthe consistency o their starting pitching.

Andy Pettitte Photo by: Stacy Podelski

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21/21

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