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The tributes are starting to come in about the passing of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of George Steinbrenner. George Steinbrenner’s passion for the game of baseball helped revive one of the game’s most storied franchises, and in the process ushered in the modern era of baseball business operations. Mr. Steinbrenner understood and embraced the power of the players, and he put this knowledge to good use in establishing the Yankees as one of the sports world’s most iconic brands. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Steinbrenner family, his friends and the entire Yankees baseball family.”
Michael Weiner, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association

This is a very sad day for me and Carmen and all of baseball. My sympathies go out to the Steinbrenner family. George was The Boss, make no mistake. He built the Yankees into champions and that’s something nobody can ever deny. He was a very generous, caring, passionate man. George and I had our differences, but who didn’t? We became great friends over the last decade and I will miss him very much.
Yogi Berra

“George Steinbrenner is an American icon and was one of the preeminent owners in all of sports. A true champion with his own unique style, he held his team to the highest standards and demanded a title for Yankees fans each and every season. I will remember him as a winner whose passion and enthusiasm became part of the fabric of New York City. He was an inspiration and represented the essence of leadership.”
Jets Chairman and CEO Woody Johnson

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Steinbrenner family. This is a sad day not only for Yankee fans, but for our entire City, as few people have had a bigger impact on New York over the past four decades than George Steinbrenner. George had a deep love for New York, and his steely determination to succeed – combined with his deep respect and appreciation for talent and hard work – made him a quintessential New Yorker. George invested his heart and soul into the Yankees, and his competitive fire helped usher in new eras of Yankee greatness, reclaiming the team’s long tradition of excellence and its position as the most successful franchise in the history of American sports. He was a champion who made New York a better place, and who always gave back to the city he loved. He has left an indelible legacy on the Yankees, on baseball, and on our city, and he leaves us in the only way that would be appropriate: as a reigning world champion. We will be lowering the flags in City Hall Plaza today in honor of his achievements. George was a larger than life New York figure whose passion and drive to succeed will forever be missed.”
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

“I was greatly saddened to learn today of the death of George Steinbrenner. Everyone involved in the game had great respect for what the Yankees accomplished during his tenure, both on and off the field. George Steinbrenner shared the players’ competitive drive: his goal was for his team to win.
“I also had the privilege to work with him on matters involving America’s Olympic athletes. He was extremely well regarded for his efforts on their behalf over the years. I am glad that I had a chance to be a part of Baseball while George Steinbrenner was on the scene.”
Former MLBPA Executive Director Donald Fehr

“George Steinbrenner served the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Board of Directors with great commitment and enthusiasm for the last 12 years since his election as a director in 1998. He shared his vision, kindness, love for the game and his generosity in so many ways as a key figure in the Board’s leadership. His impact on the Museum’s ability to preserve baseball history is felt at so many levels in the organization. Our sympathies are with the Steinbrenner family. He will be greatly missed in Cooperstown.”
National Baseball Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark

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He was brash. He was bold. He was arrogant. He was unapologetic. He was fiery. He was temperamental.
He was the Boss.
George Steinbrenner, who bought a struggling Yankees team in 1973 and over the next 35 years, restored it as major league baseball’s flagship organization, passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 80. Reports are saying that Steinbrenner died from a heart attack at his home in Tampa.
“It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing. He passed away this morning in Tampa, Fla., at age 80,” the family said in a statement. “He was an incredible and charitable man. He was a visionary and a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and turned it into a champion again.”
Steinbrenner had just celebrated his 80th birthday on July 4. According to reports, he was taken to a Tampa hospital after emergency crews responded to his home Monday night. The family said that funeral arrangements will be private, but details about an additional public service will be announced at a later date.

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Pre World Championship Training

Date Time Event Location
Sept. 3-9 TBD USA Practice TBD
Sept. 10 7:30 p.m. USA vs. Australia XL Center
Sept. 11 2 p.m. Australia vs. Spain Chase Arena
Sept. 11 TBD USA Practice TBD
Sept. 12 TBD USA vs. Spain XL Center

2010 FIBA World Championships
Date Time Event Location
Sept. 23 Noon USA vs. Greece Ostrava, Czech Republic
Sept. 24 Noon USA vs. Senegal Ostrava, Czech Republic
Sept. 25 9:15 a.m. USA vs. France Ostrava, Czech Republic
Sept. 27-29 TBD Second round Ostrava, Czech Republic
Oct. 1 TBD Quarterfinals Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Oct. 2 TBD Seimfinals Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Oct. 3 TBD Finals Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

(times listed for the FIBA games are eastern time — the Czech Republic is six hours ahead)

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HARTFORD – It seems like Connecticut is beginning to feel like home for the USA Women’s National Basketball Team.
Fresh off a sold-out game Saturday against the WNBA All-Stars at the Mohegan Sun Arena, the National Team will return to the state in mid-September with a pair of exhibition games at the XL Center against Australia and Spain, USA Basketball officials announced Monday morning. Team USA, coached by UConn women’s head coach Geno Auriemma, will play Australia on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and will play Spain on Sept. 12 at a time to be determined. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. at the XL Center box office, through www.ticketmaster.com and through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, Prices are $75, $50, $30, $20 and $10.
In addition to the two USA games, Spain and Australia will play each other in an exhibition game at the University of Hartford’s Chase Arena on Sept. 11 at 2 p.m.

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I don’t care if you love or hate the New York Yankees, anyone who even remotely likes baseball has to be saddened over the death of long-time public address announcer Bob Sheppard this morning. Sheppard was 99 years old and started doing the PA for the Yankees in 1951, Mickey Mantle’s rookie season.
I will always consider myself lucky that I was able to not only hear his amazing voice all those times I covered Yankees games at the Stadium and New York football Giants games at the Meadowlands but to also speak with him on occasion. He was one of the most gracious men one could ever meet.

“Now batting for the Yankees …. number two … Derek Jeter … number two.”

“Ball carried by Anderson … spilled by Marshall.”

God, I loved that. “Spilled.” No one but Sheppard could have said that and made it sound so impressive.

Farewell, Bob. You will be missed.

Here’s some of the release sent out by the Yankees today:
It is with deep sadness that the New York Yankees announce the passing of longtime public address announcer Bob Sheppard – “The Voice of Yankee Stadium.” Sheppard passed away this morning at his home in Baldwin, N.Y., with his wife, Mary, by his side. He was 99 years old.
Born in Ridgewood, Queens, Sheppard began his tenure as Yankees public address announcer on April 17, 1951 — Opening Day of Joe DiMaggio’s final season and Mickey Mantle’s Major League debut. Among the approximately 4,500 baseball games he worked over his tenure with the Yankees were an incredible 121 consecutive postseason contests (1951-2006), including 62 games in 22 World Series.
“Most men go to work, but I go to a game,” Sheppard said. “How many men would love to do that?”
Sheppard’s incredible career behind the microphone started when he volunteered his services for a charity football game in Freeport, Long Island, in the late 1940s. An executive from the Brooklyn Dodgers football team of the All-America Conference was at the game. He liked Sheppard’s style (“clear, concise and correct”) and hired him. The football Dodgers folded after only one season at Ebbets Field (1948), but one of their opponents—the New York football Yankees—heard Sheppard’s booming voice and offered him their PA job at Yankee Stadium. Baseball’s Yankees then heard him and offered him the same role for them for the 1950 season. Though his teaching schedule could not accommodate the 77-game home schedule for baseball (plus World Series games) and he turned down the offer for 1950, he reconsidered the next year.
In addition to his baseball duties, Sheppard was the public address voice for the football Giants for 50 seasons—from their move to Yankee Stadium in 1956 until his retirement after the 2005 season. Sheppard also served the New York Titans of the American Football League at the Polo Grounds, the New York Stars of the World Football League at Downing Stadium, the New York Cosmos (soccer) and St. John’s University basketball and football. Sheppard also handled PA duties for five Army-Navy football games in Philadelphia.
Some of the events he listed as the most memorable of his incredible career were: Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series on October 8, 1956; Roger Maris’ 61st home run on October 1, 1961; Reggie Jackson’s three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series on October 18, 1977; and the Giants-Colts overtime NFL Championship Game on December 28, 1958.
In one of the game’s truly memorable moments, Sheppard introduced President George W. Bush before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series (on October 30) as Mr. Bush became the first sitting President to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
On May 7, 2000, a plaque was dedicated to Sheppard in Monument Park of the original Yankee Stadium to commemorate his 50th anniversary season.
Sheppard announced his final game at Yankee Stadium on September 5, 2007, a 3-2 Yankees victory over the Kansas City Royals.
At the request of Derek Jeter, a recording of Sheppard announcing his name has been played prior to each of his at-bats since Sheppard’s absence in 2007.
On September 21, 2008, Sheppard provided a valedictory in the bottom of the seventh inning of the final game at the original Yankee Stadium. Unable to say goodbye in person as he continued to recover from illness that had kept him away from the Stadium since the final weeks of the 2007 season, Sheppard gave his tribute through a taped segment played on the video board. He recited:
“Farewell, old Yankee Stadium, farewell …”
“What a wonderful story you can tell …”
“DiMaggio, Mantle, Gehrig and Ruth …”
“A baseball cathedral in truth.”

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The Miklus Foundation will be hosting a Mini-Golf Extravaganza on July 11 at the Trumbull Library from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to raise funds for the construction of an indoor training center for young golfers at the Tashua Knolls golf course. Adults and children of all ages are welcome to play for just $5 per person.

On July 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., there will be a wine tasting event, also at the Trumbull Library. A limited number of tickets are still available.

Donald Miklus worked behind the scenes for more than 40 years on Tashua Knolls and the executive 9-hole course, Tashua Glen. When Don passed away in 2008 at the age of 67, the Miklus Foundation was created to help support youth golf. Don was a Junior Champion at Fairchild Wheeler, where he learned to play.

The Foundation’s main goal is to establish an indoor golf training center for youth golfers to be housed in an old Tashua Knolls storage facility. All money raised at this event will go exclusively toward the extensive renovations required, including installing electricity and building classrooms, as well as indoor driving bays and a putting green.

The Miklus Foundation, an approved 501(c)3 organization, is committed to encouraging young golfers to grow and learn through all aspects of the sport.

For more information about the Mini Golf Extravaganza or Wine Tasting, contact Chris Plumeau at Tashua Knolls (203) 452-5188 or Kristine Miklus (203) 209-2647. Or visit the Miklus Foundation at miklusfoundation.com, or miklusfoundation@gmail.com.

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I was Fairfield University on Tuesday to speak with baseball coach John Slosar, who is going to be retiring next spring after 35-plus years with the university when I also bumped into a very familiar face.

Greg Nero.

Yes, Stag Nation, Greg Nero and let me tell you, he looked great.

He told me that he was back to his playing weight – 225 pounds – and had been playing basketball (and dunking all over his brother). He said there have been no ill effects and he is excited as all heck to get back on the floor again.

As for the illness: Nero told me that he had come down with mono while playing during his junior season and he just kept playing. It got so bad in the 2009 MAAC tournament that he doesn’t even remember playing against Manhattan in the quarterfinals, or fouling out, for that matter. That after the game, his heart rate was so high that he went to the hospital. Incredibly, he played in the semis the next night against Siena. But by that point, the virus had completely damaged his immune system and it’s taken these past 18-plus months to recover.

But he has recovered. And he wants to play for Fairfield.

Keep your fingers crossed Stag Nation that Nero can once again put on No. 44. He deserves it.

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This past week, a funeral service was held for Manute Bol at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. The former University of Bridgeport standout and NBA player and humanitarian, was honored by more than 100 mourners that included political leaders, NBA officials and Bol’s family.
The column I wrote on Manute’s passing touched several nerves, including those of John O’Reilly, who was a guard on that 1984-85 UB team that went 26-6. After speaking about Bol on the phone, and fighting back the tears, O’Reilly later e-mailed me some more memories of Manute that I’d like to share:

“I know personally that the year he gave us in ‘84-‘85 was something that will never be forgotten for many, each day Coach (Bruce Webster) always reminded us of that and to a man we, ‘Got it.’ But it was more than that — the name Manute means “Special Blessing” and to me it is absolutely true, as he was a special person. Sure, that year was great and memories are priceless. Having been exposed to him was a blessing. He made me a better player but more importantly, he made me a better person.”
And this:

“My son who’s 9 knows the story of me giving up my (Number) 10 to Manute and has watched many UB videos of that year with Manute. After learning of the news, I was driving home from my daughters softball tournament and when I told him about Manute he was sad and quiet. After about 10 minutes he said to me, “You know, I was going to wear 33 or 17 or 12 (the numbers of Larry Bird, Chris Mullin, John Stockton) next year in basketball but I changed my mind. I’m going to wear 10.” On Sunday when he got up he put on his Warriors No. 10 Bol t-shirt in honor of Manute. So, it’s not just my generation he has touched, it’s the generation before and after and his legacy will live on to touch many more.”

These came from former UB manager and statistician Patrick O’Hara, who was at UB from 1982-85.

“I was one of those fortunate enough to meet Manute Bol and call him friend. His passing leaves our world an emptier place. I’m happy to have read your story. You may be done, but I thought I’d share some of my experiences. I’m a Masuk graduate and Bob Baroni was a history teacher/UB assistant coach at the time. He knew I did the (score) book for Masuk basketball and was their manager at the time. When he found out I was heading to UB, he introduced me to another Monroe resident, Bruce Webster. I had a job. I was the basketball secretary, team manager team statistician and whatever else Bruce or Bob asked me to do.

“That year has left me with many great memories. There are many more that keep coming back. It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years. Manute made everyone and everything he contacted better. It is a lesson I would hope we could all draw upon. The Park City has had little to boast since Manute Bol. Perhaps it would be nice if he could inspire one more good thing? I just wanted to share some thoughts about Manute.
I did not want his passing to go without saying something about someone so memorable 25 years later. Thanks for listening.”Thank you Patrick.

And this from old friend Bob Beslove:

“It is a wonderful tribute you wrote about Manute Bol. You truly touched on what this giant of a man was all about. You touched on the fact Bol always had a smile on his face and was quick to form a bond with people. No greater friend did he have than Arthur Yiotis, the late owner of Famous Pizza on lower Park Avenue near the Bridgeport campus.
“Bol only had a few teeth in his mouth when he arrived in town but UB basketball coach Bruce Webster knew just what to do. He took Bol over to see Arthur and in minutes Arthur drove Bol to his dentist. Yes, Arthur paid the entire bill and the bond formed that day was a wonderful to behold. Bol ate daily at Famous Pizza and besides eating pizza, he became fond of Arthur’s spaghetti.
“When Bol was playing with the Miami Heat I went with Arthur to game there and was sitting front row on the court when during warm-ups, Manute spotted Arthur on the other side of the floor. “Arthur, Arthur,” he shouted as he dashed to greet Arthur. A memory never to be forgotten.

Thanks Bob