Local hero Pedro Beato cracks the New York Mets opening day roster

Pedro Beato / Nicholas Diunte

Once he steps foot on the mound for the New York Mets, Xaverian high school graduate Pedro Beato will have accomplished what every kid with a bat and a glove toiling the New York City sandlots desires - to play big league baseball for the hometown team.

As profiled earlier this spring by our own Marcelo Bravo, Beato represents the hopes and dreams of the thousands of area school-aged children wanting to follow in his footsteps. Blessed with a tremendous arm and a tantalizing 6’4” build, it is apparent why the Orioles offered him a $1 million signing bonus.

Acquired from the Orioles during the Rule 5 draft this winter, Beato will have to stay with the Mets the entire season or else be offered back to the Orioles for $25,000, half of his draft fee. Beato is no stranger to the Mets organization, as they drafted him out of high school in the 2005 MLB Draft, but opted for a year at St. Petersburg Community College when the Mets could not meet his demands for the $1 million he sought as a bonus.

In 12.2 innings this spring, Beato posted a 3.55 ERA. He figures to be used in the bullpen for middle relief. Regardless of whatever capacity he serves for the Mets, Beato will fulfill a boyhood dream when he climbs on the mound fully clad in his Mets uniform. Legions of New Yorkers will be vicariously watching one of their own embark on his major league career.

High hopes for fallen Knicks

Carmelo Anthony has one of the highest scoring averages this season of all NBA players. When Anthony was with the Denver Nuggets, he made numerous game-winning shots and rallied his team to victory. It is another story now that he is with the New York Knicks, as they continue to lose games. After acquiring Anthony, the Knicks fell to 7-10 and are now the seventh place team in the Eastern Conference. Logically the Knicks should not be below the .500 mark because of the talent they have on their team. Both Amar’e Stoudemire and Anthony are great offensive players that demand double teams from the opposition. The problem is that when the Knicks start to play well, they give up in the fourth quarter.

Anthony is explosive on offense and takes and makes tough shots but his defense is subpar. The Knicks are a high offense team that likes to attack the basket and drain 3-pointers, but that does not mean that Anthony is automatically compatible with the Knicks. The team must be adjusted so that they can find the rhythm to win games. Mike D’Antoni wants his players to play fast and aggressive which is substantially different from the way Anthony had to play with the Nuggets. In order to match the intensity of their offense, they must now work on their defense. They must work harder to get back after the fast break to prevent the other team from scoring.

In terms of team chemistry, the Knicks are still trying to adjust to each other. Since the trade came mid-season, they have not found the time to understand how they play individually and how to make it work as a team. It is very understandable that this would happen and only the optimistic fans would expect the Knicks to win every game after acquiring Anthony. There is no argument against the fact that the Knicks can get into the playoffs this year. If they can finish the season strong and focus on their chemistry, the Knicks can be a tough contender for the championship.

Is criticism of the Knicks recent play warranted?

Amare Stoudmire / Wikimedia Commons

Along with the trade for Carmelo Anthony came increased media attention for the Knicks. Since acquiring Anthony, the Knicks have played poorly, going 7-11 and have received heavy criticism from the press. Many pundits are now skeptical that the Knicks gave up too much in the trade and that the new stars Chauncey Billups and Anthony will not be able to develop chemistry with Amare Stoudemire and the rest of the Knicks.

These questions are valid and the Knicks play has not provided any answers; however, this should have been expected when the trade was made. It would be unreasonable to expect a team with only two starters from prior to the trade to be able to play with the chemistry of a team that’s played all season long. Using the Maimi Heat as an example, when they acquired Lebron James and Chris Bosh they began the season an unspectacular 9-8 and they had the advantage of training camp and preseason to work on chemistry.

Overall, the Knicks offensive and defensive totals are similar before and after the trade. The problem for them has been holding leads and closing games. Being able to close out games should come in time when they learn what their most effective plays down the stretch are.


For those who expected the Knicks to raise their play to championship level after acquiring Anthony is slightly absurd. At last check few teams surrendering 105.5 points a game and have Jared Jeffries and Ronny Turiaf splitting time at center have recently won championships.


In the NBA, championship teams typically rely on multiple superstar caliber players; the Anthony trade gives the Knicks the second star that every championship team needs. Although the Knicks gave up very talented players in Reymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, all of these players are role players and likely would never give the Knicks a legitimate chance at a championship. However if the Knicks front office can surround Stoudemire and Anthony with a strong supporting cast who can play defense and rebound the can become serious contenders.

The Knicks may not be able to correct their flaws this season, but despite their struggles, the trade was necessary. The fans and media have to give the team time to develop into the elite team they fantasized about when the trade was made.

Big midseason trade leave the Knicks with no depth

Carmelo Anthony / Greg Ma / Wikimiedia Commons

The Knicks are faced with the fact that their superstar powered team lost six out of their last seven games. At the time of this article, they were seven and nine after Carmelo Anthony was traded to the team. The Knicks made a massive trade carrying away a large part of their team to the Nuggets.

The Knicks problems started with the fact their defense is playing poorly. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni preaches offense, but for the Knicks to start to win, they will need to play better defensively. Secondly, the Knicks do not have a center who can clear the paint and grab rebounds or simply help Amare Stoudemire . The Knicks have started three different centers in the past three games. The three starters can play defense but are easily out played by most of the league's centers. The rotating trio at center that the Knicks have been trotting out are being asked to play extended minutes for the first time in their careers.

Another thing is the ticking time bomb which is Chauncey Billups. Billups is 34 years old and injury prone, but when he is healthy he provides the team with scoring and assists. The Knicks will need a backup point guard who can take over if Billups is injured.

Overall, the Knicks are three superstars plus fillers; to get to the point where they can compete in the playoffs they are going to have to work on their defense and keeping the paint clean.

One should review products before trading

Carmelo Anthony / Flickr

Currently, the Knicks are 7-11 with Carmelo Anthony as a New York Knick. How successful has this trade really been? With the thought of benefiting the Knicks, it is the Nuggets that have benefited so.far Comparing the Knicks to the 10-4 Nuggets, the Knicks definitely did not have this change in mind.

Now 35-36, this team has sunk from the original 28-26 and are under .500 for the first time since November. This downward trend could be due to the fact that the young players have been traded off, right when they were getting their team chemistry down. The results of the Nuggets after the trade is proof of their growth. Perhaps if the Knicks did not do such a trade, especially trading away their young players, this would have been the current record for the Knicks.. Sure Carmelo Anthony is a highly valued offensive player, but he does not have the passing and defensive ability such as great players like Lebron James or Dwyane Wade. Their defense is lacking, and the slack has to be picked up. If the team keeps up good defense against the opposing teams, Carmelo Anthony will have an easier time to shoot. Based on their recent games, the Knicks are getting crushed during the fourth quarter. Why? Their defense is sloppy. Anthony has to defend more than he can score in the fourth quarter. Instead of playing individual games, the team has to form some chemistry, fast!

Offense wins games, but defense wins championships: A lesson the Knicks need to learn.

Amar'e Looks Puzzled / Chamber of Fear / Wikimedia Commons

Every great basketball player has acknowledged at least once in their career that playing solid defense is the key to winning games. Some even say that defense is more important than offense. A team that plays strong defense is able to work better together, making all of the other pieces of the game fall into place. John Brady, head coach for Arkansas State University has stated regarding defense, "If you want team play, you must stress defense. Defense makes players unselfish."

Currently the New York Knicks are in a slump, 7-11 (as of Thursday March 24th) since the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, and it is arguable that the cause is not their scoring. Carmelo Anthony is still averaging 25.0 points per game, Chauncey Billups is averaging 17 points per game, and Amar'e Stoudemire is averaging 26 points per game. The Knicks are averaging 106.06 points per game, 2nd highest in the NBA. These offensive numbers show that scoring isn't the problem.

A major problem in the Knicks offense is their poor shot selection. Billups at times pulls up to shoot from 25 feet with a hand in his face, and although he can make it once in a while, it is still a poor choice when he has other teammates who are open or running a play. Anthony loves to play one on one basketball and as soon as Stoudemire catches the ball in the paint, he looks to shoot or drive and forces up shots when he has teammates open. This lack of sharing the ball and taking "bad" shots contributes to the Knicks low field goal percentage, ranked 17th in the NBA.

The Knicks also have troubles rooted in their defense. For most of the game, the Knicks play two on five defense because Stoudemire, Anthony, and Billups decide to take their time getting back by arguing with the referees about the lack of a call. These three are the most experienced players on the Knicks, and they of all people, should know that they have to be there to help out on defense. Even though they are not the best defensive players in the world, having their bodies there will help the team play better defense. 

Pat Riley believes, “In all the research you do as a coach, studying other coaches and championship-type situations, you find that all those teams combined talent with great defense. You’ve got to stop other teams to win.” The Knicks now have the talent; all they need is stronger defense and they will have a championship team.

Rebounding is another area where the Knicks struggle greatly, currently ranked 20th in the NBA. Aggressive rebounding is crucial to take away the opposing team's second chance points and allows the Knicks to control the flow of the game. In the fourth quarter this season, the Knicks failure to box out, has allowed the opposition to come back from great deficits or cement their leads. The past three games, the Knicks went into the fourth quarter with the lead, and ended up letting it slip away, most resulting in a loss by double figures simply because of a lack of rebounding, defensive intensity, and poor shot selection.

The disappointing trade

Mike D'Antoni / C.J. / Wikimedia Commons

The hottest news for the New York Knicks is the trade that landed Carmelo Anthony  in the Big Apple. It all started with superstar Amar’e Stoudemire joining the Knicks at the beginning of the 2011 season. With Stoudemire leading the Knicks in points, rebounds, and blocks; the Knicks went on 13-1  run to get in playoff position. Everyone was looking forward to the Anthony trade, but rather than helping the Knicks, it appears he's been a negative influence on them.

At the time of this writing, the Knicks are 7-11 ever since Carmelo Anthony started wearing blue and orange. The Knicks lost to teams that they should have beat, such as the Cavaliers, Pacers, and the Bucks. On March 18th the Knicks lost to the Pistons in which Carmelo Anthony only scored six points. The Knicks did not give up Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, and Danilo Gallinari for a player who scores only six points. Although Carmelo averages 25 ppg, the shots he takes are not very smart. In a recent interview Amar’e Stoudemire implied that Melo does not follow the D’Antoni system. He stated that the Mike D’Antoni system works; they just have to buy into it and get it done like they did before the trade.

However, Anthony isn’t the only one to blame for the Knicks poor performance. In the recent loss to the Orlando Magic, Anthony seemed to mature and correct his mistakes; instead of throwing up bad shots, he gave out nine assists. The problem for their loss to the Magic was Stoudemire’s performance, in which he scored 13 points, his fewest as a Knick. It is reasonable for Stoudemire to have one bad day because he plays a lot of minutes back to back. If the Knicks want to get back on top, their defense will have to improve, Anthony will have to take smarter shots, and Jared Jeffries would have to further contribute to their offense and be an efficient player. The Knicks are falling, but hopefully they can pick themselves up and get back on top.

The Knicks Have yet to Bring their Team Together

Lately, the New York Knicks have faced the challenge of finding functionality in their newly updated roster. In late February, the Denver Nuggets traded Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks in what looked to be a turning point for them. The Knicks however, have not shown signs of adjustment, as they have fallen bellow a .500 record in Wednesday night's loss agains the Orlando Magic. With every added loss, attention has been diverted to a few key players including Amar'e Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups and of course, Carmelo Anthony. In months preceeding the "Me-lo" trade, many experts saw Stoudemire strengthen his role as a leader for the team. With the new trade, a shift of leadership and responsibilities has undergone between both stars, but it needs to reach out to the team too.

With the playoffs looming, one can question whether the team can adjust in time to qualify. Amar'e Stoudemire's style of ball-play involves pick and rolll techniques while Anthony simply does not use the same techniques. He is an isolation shooter who will seek the opportunity for a clear wing in which he can make a jumpshot. Contrastingly, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has led the team to become more comfortable in implementing their offense with plenty of ball handling before shots are made. While both Stoudemire and Anthony have specialized playing styles to offer, they tend to conflict each when they pursue their own objectives. With these two situations becoming intertwined, it is easy to forget about the rest of the team. Defense is one of the issues that plagues the Knicks the most, especially since the team has a problem with inconsistency.

The Knicks show weakness often towards the end of games in the fourth quarter, which ends up costing them the lead. A promising strong start in the first two quarters leaves the offense tired and this is where star players like Anthony are relied upon more heavily. It has become apparent that Anthony has not found his niche in making these rushed offensive plays. The shots that he does take are usually not thought out well and come from different areas of the court suggesting that he is not yet secured a perfect spot to shoot from. Also, these continued shot attempts by Anthony prove that he is not willing to run the pick and roll with Stoudemire or other alternative plays.

Mike D'Antoni highlighted on Wednesday that Stoudemire was unable to raise his offense because he was tired. Many other phrases are recycled such as the situation being simply a "long season" or that they "[they] have to take a step backwards to move forwards." This way of analyzing the team's weaknesses lacks being realistic and will only hurt them further by blinding them from the true problem. Instead, the head coach needs to diverge some much-needed attention to the Knicks defense in order for each player to have better involvement and collaborate more effectively on the court.

Trading for Carmelo ... bad decision?

The New York Knicks are not doing as well as they believed they would this current season. Trades, for the most part, are supposed to help both sides of the deal. But, after the mid-season trade for Carmelo Anthony, the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets went in completely opposite directions. The Knicks lost to Orlando Magic, dropping them below .500. On the other side, the Nuggets were able to rise to 43-29 after the trade. This brings up an important question. Were the Knicks smart in trading for Carmelo?

The Knicks believe themselves to be a dominant force, since the Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are together. They are the leading shooters on the Knicks. However, the team needs to get adjusted to playing with Anthony. Many people believe that the Knicks took a huge risk in trading for Anthony. Trading players mid-season is a risky, but Donnie Walsh was thinking about the Knicks future. Walsh was quoted, in an NBC Sports article, as saying, “I take more responsibility than the players or the coaches because I made a monumental trade in the middle of the season, and it appears to me they’re having a hard time getting together, which is understandable,” Walsh said "That's why I don’t like to do it in the middle of the season,” Walsh added. “We gave up a lot. We got back a lot. But I do think this trade is going to make us better in the future. In the long run, this trade will make us a better franchise.” The Nuggets are prospering now, but will that continue next season? 
Walsh is ensuring the Knicks prosperity farther in the future. Next season, when the Knicks' players improve their chemistry, they will be the dominant force they believe themselves to be. Trading for Carmelo Anthony was a great investment for the Knicks.

Pay me and give me a scholarship

NCAA revenue earning players should not be paid due to the simple fact that most of them are in the school with a full scholarship . They are given top of the line equipment and are treated like royalty . Most players who are given a full ride don’t even use all four years. Many forgo one or more years of college to try to make money in numerous leagues across the globe. They are provided with scholarships that the college expects them to use. So it’s only fair for the colleges to cash in a few dollars from their games to get other people into college. The average NCAA full scholarship is about $50,000, which covers all the students classes, boarding, and food. They receive top of the line perks that other students don’t receive. I am not bashing the students because they have talent, but because they waste money that other students would love to have. Revenue players are bringing in money for their own funds in school, allowing the university to fund all of the activities in which they participate..

To pay or not to pay?

The debate over whether college athletes should get paid or not is still ongoing. These athletes have to live two different lives; the life of a student and the life of their possible career. Everyone except the athletes seems to be making money. Colleges make money by selling tickets and advertising for their basketball games, and companies make money by selling their merchandise such as NCAA video games or basketballs. Does it seem fair that these athletes who play the game do not get paid, but others do?

On the other hand, athletes receive special treatment other students do not get. They get the benefit of choosing their classes before any other students do. Their biggest benefit is the fact that the university pays for all of their tuition and other expenses. While other students have various part time jobs to pay off their loans, these athletes are attending college for free and yet they are greedy for more. College athletes also have special access to some facilities such as their own cafeteria and gym. They also have personal teachers follow them around during their seasons. What more could a student in his twenties ask for? If the athletes want to get paid they should try their best to play in the pros. That is the path the student has chosen and if playing in the pros isn't for them, then they have the free education that was provided for them as a backup. Playing a sport for a team isn't a right; it is a privilege.

Paying college players

There has been much discussion on the current issue:  Should NCAA basketball players be paid?

My view on this issue is they should not be paid. Why? First, a college scholarship usually goes around from $20,000 a year to around $60,000 a year, depending on the college. Their scholarships are a form of payment.. This money is given because they will be required to perform for the college teams and in turn their scholarships pays for their college tuition fees and dorms. A regular student usually have to take loans or pay the full tuition with borrowed money because they are not given scholarships. This scholarship should be considered as a form work-study as most college students take jobs for minimum wage in the college to pay off the college tuition.

For players that say they should be paid because they do not have enough money to spend on regular things, a student that has been granted a scholarship will still be eligible for financial aid. Students can earn federal grants that usually gives $1,500-$5,000 per year, which does not have to be used on tuition but can be used for expenses. This money is usually used to pay for that brand new car most players want. Instead of using this money on luxuries, this should go to the "spending money" that the players need.

NCAA players get paid enough

A big question that comes up every year right around the beginning of the NCAA championship is whether or not NCAA players should be paid for their performance in games. Most Division I players go into schools on a full-ride, meaning that they get full tuition and room and board. At top notch universities such as Duke and North Carolina that alone can save the players as much as $50,000 a year. In addition, many qualify for Pell Grants, which are given regardless of whether or not they have to use it towards school. Based on this, NCAA players get paid enough.

Those who think players should get paid argue that so much money is being made off their performance on the court: $50 for a player’s jersey, in addition to all the shirts, hats, basketballs, towels, and other apparel found in the stores all over campus. Many complain that not giving the players their share of product licensing is harming them and robbing them of money that should be theirs. The college is already giving them enough money them for the education they receive(which they may or may not use), living expenses, food, books, and a couple extra thousand for travel expenses and random objects to clutter their dorm rooms. What else does a busy and pre-occupied college student need?

In an article by Johnette Howard on ESPN.com, Chris Plonsky at the University of Texas said, "Athletes will never, ever be treated as employees of universities. I can promise you that." The argument is that players are still students, and by paying them, they essentially become employees.. This will create animosity and jealousy around campus, hurting everyone involved. What happens to the amazing actors who sell out school plays, should they get paid too? There are other talents that should get money too if paying NCAA athletes a salary in addition to scholarships is accepted.

Do college atheletes deserve to be paid?

College athletes should not be paid because the universities give the athletes more than sufficient compensation. Universities provide the athletes with a free education and pay for much of their other living expenses. In addition to this, they also receive the luxuries of first choices of classes, personal academic advisors and nicer facilities then the average student at the university. The opportunity to play college sports is also a great way to showcase their talents to fans and more importantly professional scouts. Just as college is a way for the average student to increase their marketability college provides the same opportunities for athletes.

The individual athletes who get fans to turn on their TV’s, attend games and buy merchandise will be able to play professionally and earn more than their fair share of money. For those athletes who can not make it in professional sports the free education, likely of higher quality then they could have received otherwise, is sufficient compensation.

If an athlete feels that they deserve to be compensated they don’t have to go to college. For example current NBA player Brandon Jennings did not go to college but instead played professionally abroad and was paid to do so. This route is not only viable for basketball, football players can play in the CFL (Canadian Football League) which has no minimum age requirement and baseball players can be drafted out of high school. These options are not taken by many athletes; showing that they feel the experiences that the universities provide them are sufficient compensation.

College basketball players already have a safety net

With the NCAA March Madness underway, the question of whether or not college athletes has been brought into light. Many sports experts and journalists such as Robert Lipsyte of ESPN.COM reason that college basketball players simply are not being compensated enough. Players receive a full four-year tuition scholarship and access to special tutoring centers in order to help insure their education. Critics are reliant on a wide array of weak and hypothetical situations concerning athletes being cheated of a proper learning experience.

The responsibility of learning rests on the players, who had to have confronted this issue throughout their time in high school. Following a sport such as basketball going into college is a commitment that shows the athlete is seeking to make a career out of it. Not everyone can become a star basketball player in their league and even less will make it to the NBA. A player who confronts this situation towards the end of their college career should come to the realization that they can find other professions using the education that they received for absolutely no cost. That safety net is the most important things that college athletes possess.

The debate on paying college athletes

This week marks the start of one of the most lucrative college sporting events of the year, the NCAA Men's Division 1 basketball tournament. Scheduled to bring in over $100 million dollars in revenue to member institutions, there is no doubt that "March Madness" is big business. With the tremendous amount of money that is changing hands while the student-athletes push for a spot in college basketball immortality, the debate continues about whether or not college athletes should get a piece of the action.

In addition to our viewpoints on this topic, we are also presenting a few recent ESPN.com articles that discuss this very question, "Should college athletes be paid?"

Should college athletes be paid? - Robert Lipsyte and Dan Shanoff

College athletes already paid in full - Jason Whitlock

Pay college athletes? No. - Johnette Howard

College Athletes Should NOT be Paid

The debate as to whether or not college basketball players should get paid is constantly on fire. The NCAA brings in so much money to the universities, due to revenue from merchandise, advertisements, and sponsors, that athletes believe they deserve a cut.

The players believe that they have a right to the money because they are the cause for the fans entertainment, and the sponsor's desire to advertise. However, they are getting paid. Their selfish and spoiled minds led them to believe that they are doing all of this for free. Many, if not all of the starters, on an NCAA basketball team have full ride scholarship. That is already their $120,000 contract for four years. According to an ESPN.com article, the players get many privileges that are not offered to all of the other students at the college. The sports players get, "Not just free food, free "training table" super food (at least for football).Not just a free room and board: The best dorm rooms on campus. Not just the occasional access to professors: Full-time teaching assistants whose only job is to make sure the athletes get the most out of the education experience (uh, that's aspirationally). Not just free books and classes: First choice of any classes they want." That is definitely payment enough.

Also, if one college sports team gets paid, then all of the teams that the university offers need to get paid. Then, if the teams are paid, the teams need to be paid equally. If they are not, it creates a hierarchy and increases tension among the sports. If money became associated with power, then the basketball and football teams, which are sports that bring in the most amount of money, would be considered better than the baseball and wrestling teams. According to an article by Johnette Howard, there are many issues that need to be considered when college athletes become employees. "Should stars get more or would there be a flat rate for everyone? Can a college athlete/employee renegotiate? Get fired? For what?"

The bottom line is, athletes should not be given a salary, on top of the advantages that they already have. They get everything that they need, and more. Giving them more money would only bring up problems. Many issues will arise for the college employees that would need to be addressed.

NCAA Basketball Bracket

Matthew's NCAA Bracket

NCAA Bracket

Ankhe's 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket

Daniel's prediction of 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball

Julian's NCAA 2011 Picks

Marcelo's 2011 NCAA Picks

St. John's up and down season ends in NCAA birth

Red Storm Coach Steve Lavin / Eric Chan

The 2010-11 season for the St. Johns Red Storm basketball team was a roller coaster ride. In the end the Red Storm earned their NCAA tournament birth for the first time since 2002. In the preseason coaches poll St. Johns did not receive even a single vote for the top 25.

The St. Johns basketball team got off to a rocky start with disappointing losses to the likes of St. Mary’s, Fordham and St. Bonaventure. However, under the guidance of coaching icon Steve Lavin, the Red Storm would turn it around. In the middle of the season the Red Storm encountered a rough patch in their schedule facing eight straight top 25 teams. As expected, St. Johns went only 2-5 in the first 7 of those games. But in the final game of the stretch, they blew out Duke, ranked 3rd in the country at the time. This game sparked the team to go 9-2 for the remainder of the season including impressive victories over then No. 4-ranked Pittsburgh, No. 10-ranked Cincinnati and No.15-ranked Villanova. The Red Storm ranked 17th in the coaches poll to going into the Big East Tournament.

Senior guard Dwight Hardy was the catalyst of the Red Storm. He came up big when it counted the most, including his 26 points in the upset of Duke and a season high of 34 against Villanova. In the Big East tournament, St. Johns had a controversial win over Rutgers in the first round and then fought hard in the second round against Syracuse, but came up short.

St. John's earned a 6th seed in the NCAA tournament. It appears as if St.Johns has been positioned in a portion of the bracket where they could make a run in the tournament. After a first round match up against 11th seeded Gonzaga, potential opponents for the Red Storm are Jimmer Fredette (BYU), 2nd seed Florida, 1st seed Big East rival Pittsburgh, who they have already beaten this season. All of these games will be a challenge for St. John's, but if they can play tough defense as they did in their big wins they have a chance to go deep in the tournament.

Steve Lavin, a savior for St. John's

Steve Lavin / Wikimedia Commons

Steve Lavin had an early start to his coaching career, and has made quite a name for himself in a short amount of time. When he was merely 24 years old, he was the assistant coach at Purdue. In his three years at Purdue, he picked up valuable experience under the tutelage of Gene Keady. He uses what he learned to help win games to this day. Then in 1991 he was hired by UCLA to be an assistant head coach.

In 1995, Lavin saw the team win the 1995 national championship with a 32-1 record. After 5 years of service as the assistant coach, he was promoted to the head coach position with the UCLA Bruins and led the Bruins to the 1997 Pac-10 Championship and the NCAA Elite Eight with an overall record of 24-8 in his first. In his 7 years as head, Lavin compiled a record of 145-78. His first season there, he led the Bruins to the 1997 Pac-10 Championship and the NCAA Elite Eight with an overall record of 24-8.

His impressive performance caught the eye of many, as he had a 12-4 overtime record throughout the course of seven seasons. He also led the team to a 10-4 record against the rival USC Trojans.As both an assistant and head coach, Lavin participated in 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (1990–2002), while working at Purdue University and UCLA. During Lavin's tenure as a head coach, he was one of only two coaches in the country, along with Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, to lead his team to five NCAA "Sweet 16s" in six years ('02, '01, '00, '98, '97). Lavin guided UCLA to six consecutive seasons of 20 or more wins, as well as six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. After one losing season, he was fired by UCLA, and began his job as an ESPN analyst.

After seven years as an ESPN analyst, he became the head coach at St. John's, although his dream job was to coach Penn State. According to an article published by SNY, “Lavin said St. John's was one of ‘two or three schools in the country’ for which he would have left his broadcasting career at ESPN.” Lavin’s guidance over the St. John's basketball team led the Red Storm to the NCAA championships for the first time in seven years. He powered the team to obtain the sixth seed in the tournament.

Had Lavin not been there to drive the team, they would have gone another year seedless. According to a PennLive.com article, “(The Red Storm) could not make a winning play when it mattered. They could not beat anyone who mattered. They finished 6-12 in the Big East for the school's eighth straight losing conference season. They weren't even an afterthought in a town that worships at the altar of the sport.” The students at the University believe that Lavin could turn around the dismal losing streak of the Red Storm. “Because I'm a student at St.John's, … I actually believe Lavin has a good chance of helping turn around the program here at St.John's,” according to a student's blog. He also has an off the court presence, where he got Dwayne Polee to sign a “National Letter of Intent” to play for the Red Storm.

Steve Lavin has had an illustrious career. Starting out as an assistant coach at Purdue, he worked his way up to head coach of UCLA, where he obtained five Sweet 16 spots in six years. After a brief hiatus, he returned to coaching at St. John's, one of the few schools he was willing to leave his ESPN job for. So far, he has led them to the NCAA championships, where they have the sixth seed. The team would not have made it this far without him.

Breakdown of the 1985 Redmen

In the 1985 NCAA tournament, St. John’s University was the talk of New York City. The Redmen had four first round draft picks, and a Hall of Fame coach, Lou Carnasecca. Although they did not win the championship, they were in the Final Four with their four star players; Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson, and Bill Wennington. With the help of two time All-American Chris Mullin, 1986 AP national player of the year Walter Berry, one time NBA career assists leader Mark Jackson, and three time NBA champion Bill Wennington; the Redmen were able to beat Southern, Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina State. However, against Georgetown and their future Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing, they could not triumph.

St. John’s made it to the NCAA playoff tournament and became the number one seed of the West region. St. John’s swept 16th seeded Southern University in the first round by beating their team 83-59. In the second round, they had a difficult challenge in playing against ninth seeded Arkansas. The team was led by Chris Mullin’s 26 points and barely beat them in a 68-65 victory. After making to the round of sixteen, they beat Kentucky 86-70. After beating N.C. State in the round of eight, with a 69-60 victory, this set up St. Johns to play in what was an almost all Big East Final Four. In the final four St. Johns competed against rival Georgetown led by Patrick Ewing. St. Johns had a victory over them the first time they met in the regular-season, but lost two times in their rematches including one loss in the Big East tournament. Georgetown destroyed St. John’s in the Final Four 77-59, ending their second Final Four appearance in school history.

Reviewing the Red Storm's 2001-2002 NCAA Appearance

Marcus Hatten / Upper Deck

On Thursday night, the Red Storm will face off against Gonzaga in what will be their first NCAA tournament appearance in nine years. It was announced Sunday that they earned the number six seed in the Southeast region. With this new found opportunity for St. Johns, it is important to look back at how they performed last time they qualified.

The Red Storm faced the Wisconsin Badgers on March 15^th, 2002 in the first round of the NCAA East Regional tournament. The Badgers picked up the win with a 80-70 score; however, they did not dominate the majority of the game. The two teams were tied at 24 for most of the first half and Marcus Hatten proved to be a key player from the very start of the game. By the end of the game, Hatten had shot 12-for-33 from the field Hatten made many shots including three pointers early on, putting pressure on the Badgers to score. Wisconsin identified their weaknesses after leading in the first half and had their best player play defense in the second half against Hatten. Freddie Owens stopped Hatten from making any more three pointers and sank 18 points of his own.

The Red Storm was led by three starters, Marcus Hatten, Anthony Glover, and Eric King. The starters guided them throughout the season with their contributions. Hatten averaged 20.1 points per game that season and also 4.5 assists. Anthony Glover also averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds . Eric King , averaged 7.6 and 4.5 rebounds. Hatten signed with the Los Angeles Clippers as an undrafted free agent and currently plays in Italy. None of the players on that team had long lasting NBA career. Jon Scheiman, reserve guard from the 2002 team, is the brother of our own math teacher David Scheiman.

New York Yankees top prospect's chance at the major leagues

Jesus Montero is the Yankees’ top prospect and will start his major
league career as their catcher due to an unexpected injury to
Montero’s competition Francisco Cervelli. Cervelli injured his foot
after fouling a ball off the foot in a Yankees and Rays spring
training game. An MRI showed that Cervelli has a broken foot and will
be out for more than a month. Montero was slated as Cervelli's backup in spring training, playing for the Yankees in an exhibition game and sharing his time behind the plate with
Cervelli. The backup catcher spot is now up for grabs and Montero’s
experience puts him over fellow prospect Austin Romine for the
position.

Montero is ranked third in the top 100 prospects and has improved
greatly on his defense behind the plate. Montero’s defense is a
weakness that holds him back. Montero understands he needs to work on his catching and declares, "I've been catching a lot. I've been trying to do my work behind the plate." Montero is 6-foot-4 weighing 225 pounds making him less than ideal for the catcher spot. He is not the most agile guy behind the plate but his experience in the minor leagues can compensate for his build.

It is his ability to hit that makes him a top prospect. Arguably the best batter in the minor leagues, Montero batted .317/.370/.539 over 44 Double-A games. Along with his high average, Montero is rated 80 on a scout power scale of 20 to 80. He has great hand eye coordination and struck just 12.6% of the time in Double-A. If the Yankees give him a chance to gain more experience in the major leagues, Montero will surely provide them with explosive power and raw strength.

Is pitcher Bartolo Colon worth his weight in gold?

Bartolo Colon / Keith Allison

Bartolo Colon was recently signed by the New York Yankees to a minor league deal on January 26th, 2011 with an invite to major league spring training. The Yankees are taking a huge chance on him, because even though he was a former American League Cy Young award winner with 150 career wins, his track record as of late has been  disappointing. In September 2008, he was suspended by the Red Sox because he went to the Dominican Republic to deal with personal matters. This decision ended his career as a member of the Boston Red Sox, as he was placed on the restricted list and filed for free agency. The following year he had an off-season injury to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow. Colon also did not play a single game in the big leagues in the 2010 season.

The Yankees have chosen to sign Colon despite these events because of his impressive performance in the Dominican Winter League. In seven starts with the Cibaenas Aguilas, he was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA. He has the potential to add to the Yankees the depth and experience needed in their pitching rotation to become serious World Series contenders, if he is able to restore his throwing power to what it once was. Furthermore, what makes him of interest to the Yankees, is his ability to get stronger as the game goes on. Few other power pitchers have the ability to throw harder as the game goes on. Colon is notorious for still throwing four-seam fastballs at above 96 miles per hour as the game approaches the fifth and six innings. His ability to pitch late in games, with seven seasons of at least 200 innings a season, will take the pressure off the bullpen. All of these attributes combined will make him a great grab for the Yankees, granted that Colon gets back on his high horse.

Things with Colon seem to be up and up, as he continues to impress the Yankees in their 2011 spring training camp. In two starts and five innings pitched, he has a 1.80 ERA with four hits, one walk and one earned run.

Colon is the big guy wearing the #40 in the following video. In the first drill, he goes third:

The Mets take a gamble with Pedro Beato

Pedro Beato / Nicholas Diunte

As an up and coming young prospect, Pedro Beato has produced the numbers necessary to gain the attention of Major League teams. In the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft, the New York Mets drafted him in the 17th round; however, were not able to sign him. At the time, Beato was enrolled in Xaverian High School and although he showed talent, it was not clear whether he was ready for the major leagues. The Baltimore Orioles were willing to take a chance on him in the 2006 Amateur Draft and that same year he struck out a fifth of the batters he faced. After only a season playing for Baltimore's Class-A minor league affiliate, Beato was ranked the 99th best prospect by Baseball America magazine.

With new found recognition under his belt, Beato was able to further develop his skills through in-game experience in the 2007 season. He pitched twice as many games, all of which he started; and struck out 106 batters. Beato's invitation to the 2007 All Star Futures Game solidified his position as a prospect that major league teams would want to keep an eye on.

Soon enough, Beato's years of consecutive success once again caught the attention of the Mets who were now certain of his capabilities. The Mets were finally able to obtain Beato in the 2010 Rule 5 Draft, thereby marking an active investment in him. Last month, the aspiring pitcher noted, "coming around a second time is very exciting," during an MLB.com introductory segment. MLB's Rule 5 draft prevents minor league teams from withholding players that other franchises would have play in the majors. Now the Mets will have to keep Beato for the entirety of the season or trade him back to the Orioles and pay half of his fee. Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen had high hopes for Beato in a recent interview, "So far [The Mets] have been very excited about the life of his arm." With this added pressure, Beato will have to put out his absolute best to guarantee his place on the Mets roster and continue his endeavor to become a star pitcher.

Daniel Murphy: Mets starting second baseman?

Murphy at the plate / Wikimedia Commons

Second base has been a glaring hole in the Mets lineup since the departure of Edgardo Alfonso. Over the last decade, second base has been patrolled by the likes of: a past his prime Roberto Alomar, Danny Garcia, Miguel Cairo, Jose Valentin and most recently the much maligned Luis Castillo. None of these players struck fear in opposing pitchers. To solve this problem the Mets have looked inside their organization and are now hoping Daniel Murphy can fill the hole. Along with Murphy, Rule-5 draft pick Brad Emaus and the aforementioned Castillo are competing for the second base job.

Many people in the Mets organization are hoping for Murphy to win the job because although he is still unproven at the big league level, he has shown the most potential to be a productive hitter. The question with Murphy arises on the defensive side of the ball. When he was first called up to the big leagues, Murphy, naturally a third baseman, played the outfield and had his fair share a struggles with limited range, a poor arm from the outfield, and a tendency to misjudge fly balls. The Mets grew tired with his adventures in the outfield and tried him out at first base where he did improve but still was no Gold Glover. With the rise of Ike Davis, first base is no longer a possibility for Murphy.

In order to keep Murphy's bat in the lineup, the Mets decided to give him a trial at second base. Murphy’s first attempt to be the Mets second baseman was derailed by an injury which incurred while turning a double play in the minor leagues. This sidelined Murphy's chances for most of the 2010 season.

Many critics, based on his defensive history, do not believe Murphy will be able to play second base on the major league level. However, Murphy is confident he can make the switch, claiming, “I've played some second before in the minor leagues. I played in high school. So it's not quite as foreign as I think left field was to me, and even probably first base."

Although Murphy is not a naturally gifted fielder he has the reputation as a notoriously hard worker which will surely help his cause. He claims that he's been improving over the off-season. “I've been working on trying to shorten up my 'stroke' [throwing motion]. It's definitely gotten better." He added, “With the work I've been able to do in the offseason as far as my footwork, it's helped out a lot." With his work ethic, Murphy has the potential to become an adequate major league second baseman, but ultimately if he wants to make the team and have a long big league career, he will have to produce with the bat.

Up in to this point in spring training none of the second basemen have distinguished themselves as a clear front runner to make the team. Murphy has been the most productive hitter despite hitting only .250 compared to .154 and .124 for Castillo and Emaus respectively. Still Murphy is no shoo in to make the team because Castillo is clearly a superior defender and Emaus has the advantage of being a Rule-5 pick where they would have to offer him back to the Blue Jays if he does not make the team. What may give Murphy the upper hand is that new Mets manager Terry Collins has stated that he views second base as an offensive position.

Despite his rocky road to the majors he remains confident in his abilities claiming, "In some capacity I'm going to be able to help the 2011 Mets to win a pennant."

Jeter goes for 3,000

Derek Jeter / Wikimedia

As captain of The New York Yankees, Derek Jeter has pulled through for his team numerous times. Jeter, this season, is only 74 hits away from the big 3,000 hits to add to his legendary status as one of the all time great shortstops. Passing Lou Gehrig in 2008, Jeter is the all-time Yankees hits leader. At only age 37, it will be interesting to see how high he can take his hitting to the Hall of Fame list.

There has been some speculation that due to Jeter’s recent swing change, chances of breaking this 3,000 earlier this season is grim. Jeter is practicing shortening his front-foot stride when hitting. However, hitting only a ground-ball single out of two spring training games, this new stance is questionable and will be interesting to see how he will adjust throughout the season.

In an interview with the Washington Post Jeter commented on his new stance. "It just cuts down on bad habits," Jeter said. "Striding too far forward. Tying yourself up. Habits that I got into last year. Trying to just eliminate those. It's just repetition, really. That's the only thing that you're trying to do is just doing it over and over until it becomes natural."

Mets await for Santana's return

Johan Santana / tedkerwin

Johan Santana, a star player for the New York Mets suffered a rare baseball injury last season. Santana had a rough start to begin season, but was improving until his injury. He went through surgery on September 14th to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. Six months have gone by and Santana has still not fully recovered. According to general manager Sandy Alderson, Santana might return in late June or early July.

With baseball season only a couple weeks away, the New York Mets pray that Santana’s recovery will be quick because the Mets need veteran Santana's leadership this season. However, even if his shoulder is healed, Santana isn’t sure that he will be able to pitch like he did in his prime. Until Santana's return, the New York Mets will have to manage with Mike Pelfrey and Jonathon Niese. Hopefully Pelfrey will pitch the way he did at the beginning of last season, when he had a record of 9-1; but he will have to be more consistent to make up for Santana's absence.

Veteran A.J Burnett must step up after a previous lackluster season

A.J Burnett/ Flickr

A.J Burnett has been the New York Yankees most inconsistent pitcher in their rotation. Some games he can’t be hit and others he can’t throw a strike. His inconsistency cost the Yankees a place in the World Series last season. His playoff game against the Rangers was a complete disaster. He gave up five runs in six innings and gave up one home run. Last season, he had 10 wins and 15 losses with a 5.26 ERA and led the lead in hit batsmen. Statistically this was his worst season yet. The Yankees have paid too much to Burnett to let him off the rotation. Burnett must work on his signature pitch, the curve ball, which was lackluster last season.

His progress so far in the spring camp has been to hard to measure considering he has only pitched six innings. For him to get back to his Florida Marlins days, he must work on his control and maybe even throw in a change-up. This season could easily be a repeat of the last one or a return to previous form, depending on him working on his control. One thing is for sure, you never know with A.J Burnett.

Rivera defies father time

Mariano Rivera / Wikimedia Commons

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees closer, has now extended 16-year career by two more for $30 million. According to Sports Illustrated's John Heyman, Rivera was also offered a three year contract to play for the rival Boston Red Sox, but Rivera declined. The Red Sox were not the only team to attempt to steal Rivera from the Yanks. Rivera also chose the Yankees over an unnamed team, that was willing to pay more money, approximately $17 million, for three years. In a New York Daily News article, they discuss why he stayed, "[He] wanted to maintain his ties to the only team he has ever played for and went with less money and fewer years to continue wearing pinstripes."

The Yankees definitely did not take a risk in signing their strong closer. Even at the age of 41, Rivera is still in his prime. When Trevor Hoffman, former San Diego Padres, turned 41 after the 2008 season, he was released. Rivera, however shows no signs of slowing down. His ERA over the past 3 years stayed consistently low, ranging from 1.40 to 1.80. In the 2010 season, Rivera only allowed 14 hits out of the 55 games that he finished, giving up only two home runs. According to a New York Times article Rivera is on the field less, but still remains effective. "Each year Rivera pitches less often than the year before, but when he does pitch, he is basically as effective as always. He has stayed strong enough to dominate in the postseason, allowing just one run in 28 innings over the Yankees’ last four appearances."

Mariano Rivera, unlike many other closers, has been able to continue playing at the age of 40. He ranks favorably among a list of other closers who have done the same. He is also one of the only closers to not only to reach age 40, but also to continue going strong. Mariano Rivera defies "Father Time," and according to an MSN Sports Article, "If you needed further proof of his age-defying play, at the age of 40, he was named the 2009 Sporting News Pro Athlete of the Year award."

Closure in Mickey Mantle's Career

Mickey Mantle / Topps

Prior to the start of 1962, New York Yankees star Mickey Mantle had already accomplished some of his career's most notable feats as a power hitter. He won his first and only triple crown in 1956 as the leader in home runs, batting average and RBI's. "The Mick" as he was called, went through a transition in playing style after suffering an injury that impacted his overall performance beyond 1962. The first half of the 1960's looked promising for veteran swinger Mantle, seeing as he hit a home run in Yankee Stadium that cleared the 461 foot marker. A year later in 1963, he slammed another home run which some estimated could have traveled 600 feet. Mantle helped the Yankees win a World Series prior in 1962 and these new feats of power suggested that he was in his prime as a hitter. However, this would be the last time that Mick won a World Series with the Yankees.

Mantle was unable to play because of a sickness called osteomylitis, a condition that impaired his bone structure. After a difficult season in 1965, his total of a mere 19 home runs revealed that Mantle was no longer the player he used to be. The following season marked the first time in 14 years that Mantle was not invited to the MLB All-Star game.

Baseball analysts recognized the Mick's retirement during the mid 1960's. However, Mantle impressed fans when he managed to hit his 500th career home run against the Baltimore Oriole's pitcher Stu Miller on a 3-2 pitch. This remarkable moment allowed Mantle to end his career on a strong note since he announced his retirement on March 1st, 1969. In 1974, Mickey Mantle's noteworthy career and collection of Word Series rings helped him become immortalized in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mickey Mantle in the Yankees' greatest decade

Mickey Mantle / Topps

Mickey Mantle is a name that often comes up in baseball conversations. He had a rough start to his career with the Yankees. He made his debut with the Yankees in 1951. Mantle replaced Joe DiMaggio whose career had ended the prior season. He faced the pressure of living up to the former Yankee great. Due to the pressure, he struggled putting the ball in play and struck out frequently. Mantle was sent down to a farm team for a while but was back just in time for the playoffs and played in his first World Series. With the Yankees, he won seven World Series titles.

He improved his next few seasons and then broke out in 1956 when he won the Triple Crown and a MVP award. That year was considered the best in his whole career. In 1961, he and his teammate Roger Maris were chasing Babe Ruth’s season home run record of 60. Many Yankee traditionalists were angered by Mantle and Maris chasing Ruth's long-lasting record. Many newspaper and media did not even give Mantle and Maris any praise. Maris in the end won the race beating Ruth's record. In this decade, Mantle had some of his best season on the Yankees. He status as one of the Yankees' top players will never change.

Pain, Suffering, and Success

Mickey “The Mick” Mantle was one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport. He was born to play. Some people even say that Mantle never reached his full potential. By the age of 19, he suffered major injuries to both of his legs as well as his left shoulder. However, these injuries did not hinder his accomplishments. He won four Home Run Championships, a Triple Crown; and three MVP awards in his 18 year career with the New York Yankees.

Although he accomplished so much, his career was unfortunately plagued by injuries. In high school, Mantle developed osteomyelitis in his left leg, which is a bone disease caused by bacteria or fungi. At first, his only option was amputation, which would have destroyed the great baseball career that did not even start yet. His leg, as well as his career, was saved by a "new miracle drug" called penicillin.

His second career threatening injury occurred while he was playing for the New York Yankees in the major leagues. Mantle was the Yankees leading hitter. A sprained right knee in game two the 1951 World Series resulted in him sitting out the rest of the series. That same year, the Yankees announced that they had no idea what affect the osteomyelitis would have on his career.

Mantle led the Yankees as they dominated through the late 1950s and into the early 60s. From 1955 to 1958, the Yanks won the American League Pennant, and took the Series in 1956 and again in 1958. When Mantle won the Triple Crown in 1956, he posted a .365 batting average, 52 homers, and 130 RBIs. He was close to breaking Babe Ruth’s record of most home runs in a season, which stood at 60, but he only hit 54, beaten by his teammate Roger Maris, who ended up besting the record with 61 home runs at the close of the season.

Although Mickey Mantle’s strong 18 year professional career with the New York Yankees was tortured by his many injuries, which included osteomyelitis, he still did better than his best. His many injuries did not prevent him from achieving any of his goals.

There Goes the Duke

Duke Snider / Donruss

Edwin Donald Snider nicknamed "Duke" was the pride of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Snider had pride in winning his game, that’s why his father nicknamed him Duke. Snider hit 40 or more home runs each season from 1953 to 1957 and led Brooklyn to their only World Series in 1955. Snider was an exceptional player until 1960 when his ability diminished due to the team moving to Los Angeles and a bad knee. Snider’s impressive home run ability was not apparent as he hit only 15 home runs in 1958. Playing in the Los Angeles stadium was a big obstacle for the left handed slugger Snider because the right field fence was 440 feet away from the home plate. After playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers for five seasons and winning one World Series, he was sold to the New York Mets on April 1, 1963.

Snider was past his prime when he was playing for the Mets. He batted .243 with 14 home runs in 415 plate appearances. Due to Snider's request to play for a winning team he was sold to the San Francisco Giants in 1964 after playing for the Mets for one season. In San Francisco, Snider wore the number 28 uniform because his usual number 4 uniform was worn by Mel Ott and retired by the Giants. The Giants and Dodgers were always intense rivals of each other. It affected the Dodgers fans deeply when Snider played for the Giants. Their rivalry started when both teams were playing in New York and continued when both team moved to California. To Snider it was an honor for him to be compared to Willie Mays of the Giants and explains, "so we had a rivalry as a team, that was it." Snider was well liked and his fans will always consider him a part of the Dodgers. To his fans no one can dethrone the "Duke" and will always upheld him as number one in their hearts.

Memories of the Duke

Duke Snider / Virtual Card Collection

On February 27th, Duke Snider, the Hall of Fame center fielder, died at the age of 84. Although he is no longer with us, his accomplishments and memories still remain. Duke is the only player to hit four home runs or more in two different World Series. In a recent ESPN.com interview, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy remembers Snider as, “a god, a baseball hero for all of us.” Even Snider’s rival and Hall of Fame center fielder, Willie Mays recalls Snider as, “a fine man, a terrific hitter and a great friend, even though he was a Dodger."

According to Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, “He was the true Dodger and represented the Dodgers to the highest degree of class, dignity and character.” Fellow Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda praised him as, “one of my idols. I almost fainted.” Unlike Mays and Mantle, “Duke never got the credit of being the outfielder that Mays and Mantle were,” said former teammate Don Zimmer.

It seems baseball lost another idol. "His name will always be with me because of what he told me about what he was taught as a rookie of how to become a better hitter. ... He said he used to swing and miss a lot. He used to go out to the bullpen and stand in there while the guys were warming up so he could learn the strike zone better. And he did. He became one of the best players in the game,” said by Mets manager Terry Collins in a ESPN blog. Duke is gone, but the memories of Duke Snider are everlasting.