NY Yankee Great & Hall of Famer Yogi Berra Has Passed Away at Age 90 … Rest in Peace

“It ain’t over till it’s over.” (Yogi Berra)

I am a lifetime Boston Red Sox fan and for most of my life the New York Yankees have been the bane of my existence, but it is with much love, respect and sorrow I say that Yogi Berra has passed away.

Sadly, one of the greatest and most beloved New York Yankees of all times has passed away, Yogi Berra is dead at age of 90. His skill on the field as a catcher was certain and the man was a winner in all things on and off the baseball diamond. The man behind the mask and known to so many for his Yogisms will be sorely missed.  He was born Lawrence Peter Berra was born on May 12, 1925, in the Italian enclave of St. Louis known as the Hill, and grew up to be one of the greatest, most unique and lovable Yankee icons of all time.  Maybe greater than all his World Series wins, too numerous All-star appearances, 3 MVP’s, Yogi Berra served two-years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving as a gunner’s mate in the D-Day invasion, and had already played three seasons for the Yankees.

Yogi is the last of the all time greats, they just don’t make them like this anymore.

Click here or on pic for video via ESPN (Pic -

Yogi Berra, one of baseball’s greatest catchers and characters, who as a player was a mainstay of 10 Yankee championship teams and as a manager led both the Yankees and Mets to the World Series — but who may be more widely known as an ungainly but lovable cultural figure, inspiring a cartoon character and issuing a seemingly limitless supply of unwittingly witty epigrams known as Yogi-isms — died on Tuesday. He was 90.

His death was reported by the Yankees and by the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J. Before moving to an assisted living facility in nearby West Caldwell, in 2012, Berra had lived for many years in neighboring Montclair.

In 1949, early in Berra’s Yankee career, his manager assessed him this way in an interview in The Sporting News: “Mr. Berra,” Casey Stengel said, “is a very strange fellow of very remarkable abilities.”

And so he was, and so he proved to be. Universally known simply as Yogi, probably the second most recognizable nickname in sports — even Yogi was not the Babe — Berra was not exactly an unlikely hero, but he was often portrayed as one: an All-Star for 15 consecutive seasons whose skills were routinely underestimated; a well-built, appealingly open-faced man whose physical appearance was often belittled; and a prolific winner — not to mention a successful leader — whose intellect was a target of humor if not outright derision.

Yogi Berra Highlights

Except for maybe Babe Ruth, Lou Gerig and Joe Dimaggio, Yogi may just be the greatest Yankee of all time and certainly belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of Yankee players.

Beyond the historic moments and individual accomplishments, what most distinguished Berra’s career was how often he won. From 1946 to 1985, as a player, coach and manager, Berra appeared in a remarkable 21 World Series. Playing on powerful Yankee teams with teammates like Rizzuto and Joe DiMaggio early on and then Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle, Berra starred on World Series winners in 1947, ’49, ’50, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’56 and ’58. He was a backup player on the championship teams of 1961 and ’62. (He also played on World Series losers in 1955, ’57, ’60 and ’63.) All told, his Yankee teams won the American League pennant 14 out of 17 years. He still holds Series records for games played, plate appearances, hits and doubles.

No other player has been a champion so often.

Perhaps what made Yogi Berra stand out to me as the greatest Yankee was his sense of humor, unique style and accessibility. I have used “Yogi-isms” many times wen writing and in my everyday life in and out of work. My favorite is probably, ” It’s like deja vu all over again.” Of course followed by a close second and third of, “It ain’t over `till it’s over” and “I really didn’t say everything I said.”

If you ever get a chance, go to the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center.

Fantastic Obit at the NY Times.

65 Year Anniversary of D-Day – Yogi Berra Feature

Buffalo Bills Fan, Beer and Bat Races Never a Good Mix …Watch What Happens When Bills Fan Meets Bus

FUNNIEST VIDEO OF THE FIRST WEEKEND OF NFL FOOTBALL … WHY BAT RACES SHOULD ONLY BE TRIED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS!!!

The Buffalo Bills stunned the Indianapolis Colts 27-14 on Sunday at the home opener of the 2015 NFL season; however, the question remains whether the Buffalo Bill’s fan below ever made it to the game or realized that the Bill’s even won the game. What has to be the funniest video of the first week of the football season, this Bill’s fan once again proves the age old adage that chugging beer, lots of beer, spinning around a bat several times and inanimate large objects don’t mix.

Having played rugby in college, bat races were a way of life following matches. Believe it or not there is a method to the madness. Obviously this guy did not get that memo. As I watched this video, I could envision exactly what was going to happen, although I did not see the tour bus parked bear by. Wow, that’s going to leave a mark. The NFL might also have to do concussion studies for their fans as well. Imagine being this guy going to the office Monday morning?

Two San Antonio, TX John Jay High School Football Players Suspended & Could Face Criminal Charges After Deliberately Hitting Ref From Behind (VIDEO)

REFS LIVES MATTER … TWO JOHN JAY HS FOOTBALL PLAYERS SUSPENDED FOLLOWING WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN INTENTIONAL ASSAULT, WILL THEY FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

Two John Jay High School football players have been suspended and could face criminal charges after what it appears to be an intentional targeting of a referee. The incident took place as San Antonio, Texas’ John Jay high school vs Marble Falls Friday night, September 4th 2015. John Jay lost to Marble Falls 15-9 and this is the type of sportsmanship that is taught at their school. Watch the VIDEO below and you can see the intentional targeting of the referee by one player and then the second football player coming in and purposely spearing the ref.  Northside ISD athletic director Stan Laing said the video was “very disturbing” and the district is investigating the sequence of events leading up to the play, and the UIL is aware of what happened. Honestly, it does not matter one iota what lead up to this assault. An assault is an assault, stop making excuses. What, you going to blame the ref and say he had it coming?

The suspension of these two thugs should be the least of their problems. The deliberate hitting of this unsuspecting referee is nothing more than assault and should be treated as such. In a world we live in today where punks just have no respect for authority, these two thugs should be charged with felony, aggravated assault. This was a purposeful and intentional act meant to cause harm. They could have paralyzed this ref for life doing what they did. These two thugs should be suspended forever and never be allowed to play football again in any division or conference in Texas or any other state for that matter. Also, they need to be charged with assault. If some one is so heinous and vile an individual to do something like this in broad daylight with people watching and cameras rolling, imagine what they are capable of when no video is there to capture them?

VIDEO – Greg Gibson

 More video here of different angles.

Two San Antonio, Texas high school football players are under investigation after they smashed into a referee during a game, according to local media.

In a play during John Jay High School’s game on Friday, one of the team’s defensive players ran into a referee’s back, sending him to the ground, where another player dove on him, according to a video posted on the San Antonio Express News website.

The unidentified players were immediately ejected from the game, a 15-9 loss to Marble Falls High School, according to the San Antonio newspaper.

Two other John Jay High School players were ejected from the game shortly before the incident, the newspaper reported.

ESPN - Texas high school players suspended, may face charges for hitting referee from behind.

Both players were immediately ejected from the game and later suspended from the team and from school, pending an investigation by the Northside Independent School District. The referee was “very upset” and “wanting to press charges,” Austin Football Officials Association secretary Wayne Elliott said.

“The first thing we want is that those two kids never play football again,” said Elliott, who declined to release the referee’s name and added he was seeking guidance from the state officials association.

Northside Independent School District athletic director Stan Laing told KENS5-TV that the incident Friday was “disturbing” and “inexcusable.”

District spokesman Pascual Gonzalez told The Associated Press on Sunday that it would hear from game officials, coaches and students during an upcoming due process hearing, which also will involve the University Interscholastic League, the state’s school sports governing body.

“It is not the good sportsmanlike behavior that we teach students,” Gonzalez said.

The Hall of Fame Speech Junior Seau’s Daughter Couldn’t Give … Roger Goodell and the NFL Get It Wrong Again … NFL Buckles Somewhat to Pressure

SHAME ON YOU NFL , ROGER GOODELL AND THE HALL OF FAME  …

As the NFL Hall of Fame inducted 8 more members into the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio something his year was definitely not right and should not be brushed over as, oh its just a policy.

Linebacker Junior Seau gave every inch of his body to the NFL and sadly, his brain as well as the hundreds if not thousands of hits caused irreparable damage to his head, mind and health. Seau was a “Super Charger” and one of the games greats who sadly passed away at the age of 43 from suicide and a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest.  As his daughter Sydney Seau said, Junior Seau was an Oceanside Pirate, a U.S.C. Trojan, a Miami Dolphin, a New England Patriot, a San Diego Charger, and now he is, and forever will be, a Pro Football Hall of Famer. His daughter has stated that “the two words that exemplify my dad the most are “passion” and “love.” Everything he achieved, accomplished or set his mind to was done with both qualities. In every situation — whether it be practice, a game, a family barbecue, an impromptu ukulele song or just a run on the Oceanside Strand — he always gave you all of himself because to him, there was never any other option.” For me, as just a fan  that is exactly what I saw him do on the field as a player. Is passion and leadership so late in his career appeared to be like that of someone just starting out their career. Seau played with a passion like every play could be his last and he did not just hang on to hang on. He was an inspiration until he finally retired. I had so hoped in his years with the Patriots that he could finally get that Super Bowl ring he so deserved. However, that was not to be the case.

However, what should have been the case was that Junior Seau’s family should have been able to induct him into the NFL Hall of Fame with a speech. Seau was inducted posthumously, not because he was an 85 year old veteran, but because he committed suicide from the effects of brain damage suffered over his 20 year playing career. But the NFL and the NFL Hall of Fame looked to brush that terrible dirty little secret under the Gold colored blazer. Shame on you!!! Rules are made to be broken, especially when they are for ambassadors of the game like Junior Seau, but the NFL does not want the truth behind brain injuries and damage to players to ever come out.

The New York Times:

In his 20-year N.F.L. career, Junior Seau established himself as one of the game’s greatest linebackers. He committed suicide in 2012 at age 43 and was subsequently found to have had a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated hits to the head. Before his death, Seau told his daughter Sydney that she should speak on his behalf if he made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But the Hall, citing a five-year-old policy of not letting others give full speeches for deceased inductees, did not allow Sydney to deliver her speech.

Recorded in her hotel room in Canton, Ohio, this is the speech Sydney had hoped to deliver on Saturday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

I cannot speak for him because I am not him. I have not played in the N.F.L. for one second, let alone 20 years; I do not have past seasons to reminisce about or hilarious locker room stories to joke about. But I do have one thing, and that is unconditional love.

Your Junior Seau, your No. 55 and your buddy, was also my father. And although I didn’t know every aspect of his life, I did know one particular part very well. His athleticism and talent made him extraordinary enough to make it into the Hall, but it is his passion and heart that make him truly legendary and deserving of this tremendous honor. Tonight I would like to honor him and his legendary heart.

What the sad and pathetic NFL suits did not want said live in Canton, Ohio during Hall of Fame induction was the follwoing … Shame on you Roger Goodell and the rest of you low-lifes that would not allow a family to honor one of the NFL’s greatest linebackers because he committed suicide at the hands of the NFL turning a blind eye to concussions and the damage it reeked upon the players. But of course the air in a football is more important.

But I think what we tend to forget about our favorite invincible, unstoppable, indestructible superhumans is the minor detail that they are also human. That is something that we all must endure today without his physical presence. We cannot celebrate his life and achievement without feeling the constant piece that’s missing.

May 2, 2012, we all endured a loss. Thousands lost their all-time favorite linebacker, hundreds lost their favorite Charger, tens lost their buddy, and four lost their father. The reason why this honor is so hard to accept is because we had always envisioned him still being here to accept it.

But something that we all cannot deny is that we are all still here. We can keep working today, we can keep building our tomorrows, and we can keep praying for the rest. This superhumanlike man truly blessed us with one of the most precious gifts he could have given. He gave us his time. With that time, I know he made one hell of an imprint on my life, and from the amount of emotion and love in this room, I think we all could say the same.

Something that is hard for me to admit to myself and to you all is the fact that I miss his singing. I miss his huge mangled hands strumming on his uke, playing the only five chords he knew, to the hundreds of songs he would attempt to sing off-key. I miss him calling me Beau, my girlie middle name, and I miss him hugging me too long and too tightly, almost to the point where I couldn’t breathe.

There’s nothing I want more than to see you walk up on stage, give me a hug and tell me that you love me one last time, but that isn’t our reality. You would always say you loved me, and even after I would respond and say I loved you, too, you would look me in the eyes and say, “I love you; do you hear me?”

Well, after this speech, I hope you can hear us when we say that we love you, and I hope that this induction can exemplify the fact that you were more than just Junior Seau — you were a light, and you’re still mine. This is your speech, your moment and your honor, and to say that I’m the most proud daughter on Earth would be an understatement. Congratulations, Dad; you made it.

UPDATE I: Daughter Honors Seau Onstage at a Celebration Under a Cloud.

Watch the VIDEO here, this is what the NFL was guilted into conceding to do for a man who gave so much to the NFL and the game, including his life.

She received a similar reception Saturday as she paid tribute to her father, who was inducted posthumously, in an onstage interview after the showing of a poignant video featuring family photos and clips of his bone-crushing tackles. It was a concession made by the league, which had said it would not allow her to make an introductory speech.

After the montage, Sydney and Seau’s three sons uncloaked their father’s bronze bust to claps and cheers. Seau’s mother, who sat in the stands, wept.

“You are a light, and I want nothing more than to see you come on stage and give the speech you were meant to give, give me a hug and tell me you love me one last time,” Sydney Seau said, her voice breaking during the interview, which lasted about five minutes. “But that isn’t a reality.”

Make no mistake about it NFL … you knew damn well about the studies of the damages to the brain and what would eventually happen to these players after they retired or even during their playing days. But making money off their bodies and minds was more important to the NFL and those lucrative TV deals. To Roger Goodell and the rest of the NFL suits, do not ever pretend to say you care about the players or the integrity of the game, looking the other way with concussions and the dame it caused to so many players shows exactly what you really think. But the NFL and the commissioners office would rather make a bigger deal over deflated footballs, rather than players committing suicide due to brain damage.

NFL Legend, Former NY Giant, Broadcaster and Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford Has Passed Away at Age 84, RIP

One of the original golden boys of the NFL has passed away … Remembering a legend of the game.

Former NY Giant player, broadcaster, Pro Football Hall of Famer and legend of the game, Frank Gifford, has died at the age of 84. Gifford played in an era when players were two way players and a game that was so rough and brutal that 95% of the players today could not withstand. Gifford played running back, receiver and defensive back for the New York Giants in his NFL career, which spanned from 1952-1964. Gifford sat out the 1961 season after a suffering a head injury from what many have said was the most brutal hit in NFL history (VIDEO) at the hands of the late Chuck Bednarik. Gifford returned in 1962 and won Comeback Player of the Year.

Frank Gifford, a Hall of Fame running back and receiver who personified the Giants’ glory years of the late 1950s and early ’60s and then became the low-key play-by-play voice of ABC’s “Monday Night Football,” teaming with the contentious Howard Cosell and the country-boy presence of Don Meredith in a broadcasting team that became must-see programming for much of America, died at his home in Connecticut on Sunday. He was 84.

After retiring from football, Gifford became a sports broadcaster, most notably as a play-by-play announcer and color commentator on Monday Night Football from 1971 to 1997 with Howard Cosell and Dandy Don Meredith. Sadly, all of the original members of the Monday Night Football broadcasting crew have now passed. Frank Gifford is survived by his wife, Kathie Lee Gifford, and children.

In a statement from his family:

It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and friend, Frank Gifford. Frank died suddenly this beautiful Sunday morning of natural causes at his Connecticut home. We rejoice in the extraordinary life he was privileged to live, and we feel grateful and blessed to have been loved by such an amazing human being. We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time and we thank you for your prayers.

Frank Gifford, August 16, 1930 – August 9, 2015, Rest in Peace

NFL Legend Frank Gifford Passes Away at 84.

Born in Santa Monica in 1930, Gifford attended the University of Southern California on a football scholarship and went pro after being selected 11th overall in the first round of the 1952 draft.

Gifford played with the New York Giants his entire NFL career, from 1952 to 1964, with several visits to the Pro-Bowl. In 1956 he was league MVP and led the team to a championship (before it was called “The Super Bowl”).

The Giants used Gifford at running back, defensive back, wide receiver and on special teams. He went to the Pro Bowl at three different positions. His 5,434 yards receiving were a Giants record for 39 years, until Amani Toomer surpassed him in 2003. His jersey number, 16, was retired by the team in 2000.

After his playing career ended, he became a sports commentator, first for CBS and then as a co-host of Monday Night Football from 1971 to 1985.

The Original Monday Night Football crew has sadly now all passed away, right to left, Dandy Don Meredith, Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford.

Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch both released statements on Gifford’s passing.

“Frank Gifford was the ultimate Giant. He was the face of our franchise for so many years. More importantly, he was a treasured member of our family. My father loved him like a son and was proud to act as his presenter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a favor Frank returned years later by presenting my father in Canton. For my siblings and me, Frank was like a revered older brother whom we looked up to and admired. We loved him and will miss him terribly,” Mara said.

“Not only was Frank a member of the Giants family from the time he left USC, and will be forever, but because Frank, my father (Bob) and Pete Rozelle were so close in the ’60s, I felt like he was a member of my family. I always loved seeing Frank on our sideline before our games. He had the handshake of a 25-year old, and he looked you right in the eye with his big blue eyes. He was such a strong person in every way. He will be missed and will always be remembered as a Giants’ Giant,” Tisch said.

Frank Gifford was not only one of the legends who played the game but also took part in one of the more famous media events back in the day long before the immediacy of social media, Facebook and Twitter. John Lennon passed away as Monday Night Football was taking place, a game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Frank Gifford and Howard Cossell learn about John Lennon’s death live on air and would announce to the world the death of John Lennon during of all things, a football game. Check out the VIDEO below where Frank Gifford becomes the voice of reason and talks Cossell into making the announcement. So with .03 seconds to go before a game winning field goal attempt, the announcement of John Lennon’s death came out over broadcast news via MNF.