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The State of Squadra Italia in World Baseball Classic with Marco Mazzieri, Manager

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) WASHINGTON D.C.- During the hustle and bustle of the National Italian American Foundation’s annual Expo Italiana, I had the privilege to speak with Marco Mazzieri, the poised, pensive, and soft-spoken manager of the Italian National baseball team. The next installment of the World Baseball Classic, a worldwide baseball competition in which players from each country…

VIDEO: 5 Lezioni Italiane with Paisani Anthony Fasano, Rick Cerone, and Jessie James Decker

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) BERGEN COUNTY, NJ- Ottobre: il mese per celebrare i contribuiti degli italo-americani. What better way to celebrate Italian Heritage Month than hearing from current Tennessee Titans’ tight end Anthony Fasano, former New York Yankees catcher Rick Cerone, and Jessie James Decker (wife of New York Jets WR Eric Decker)? I asked the Italian-Americans tough…

New York Giants: Mark Bavaro’s 9-year career, deserving of HOF ’17?

Mark Bavaro, the only tight end on the 2017 ballot, hopes to join only eight others at the position in the Professional Football Hall of Fame. In comparing career stats (total yards, touchdowns, average yards per reception) to other HOF tight ends, one will conclude that Bavaro, albeit a two-time Super Bowl winner, does not make…

Tim Tebow Dons Orange and Blue … Again

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) BERGEN COUNTY, NJ- Today, Tim Tebow, former National Football League quarterback reported for day one of the New York Mets instructional league in Florida. A former Heisman trophy winning Florida Gator, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos, finds himself in an orange and blue uniform yet again. After an 11-year absence…

Yankee Greats Remember Yogi Berra

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) BERGEN COUNTY, NJ- A United States Navy World War II hero and National Baseball Hall of Famer with the most World Series rings of all time, Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra is the most revered baseball player in history. Berra stormed the beaches of Normandy in the D-Day invasion as a U.S….

Best of: 2016 Nike Color Rush Uniforms

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) BERGEN COUNTY, NJ- The NFL, for the second straight season, has adopted the Nike Color Rush uniforms for Thursday Night Football. This year, however, the NFL is adapting the initiative, with one team wearing completely team-colored uniforms while the other wears mostly white uniforms (yes, white is a color, too). Last year, there…

Mike Piazza: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY- September 11, 2001: a date that forever changed the landscape of the global community in which we live. 2,996 lives were lost in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Millions of lives were changed forever. Immediately, first responders, including New York’s Finest and New York’s Bravest, rushed…

My Exclusive, Candid Interview with Doc Gooden

Dwight “Doc” Gooden – A Tragic Hero of Gotham City. By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) YANKEE STADIUM, NY- Hundreds of fans, clutching sentimental memorabilia anxiously awaited Dwight Gooden’s arrival to suite 7, the “Mantle Suite”, at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, August 6, 2016. The private, VIP event, organized by Mint Pros and J.Irwin Productions, featured many other Yankees…

3 Takeaways: Building a Championship Culture

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) MONTCLAIR, NJ- In an intimate setting, coaches, parents, and athletes interacted with a panel of experts from high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Hurley Sr., Rutgers wrestling head coach Scott Goodale, and former New York Giant and two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Snee discussed ways to…

Citi Procamp: Didi Gregorius

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) MOUNT VERNON, NY- 160 young athletes, a plethora of outstanding high school and college coaches, and one Major League Baseball superstar converged on Sports Underdome on August 25, 2016. The occasion? New York Yankees star shortstop Didi Gregorius hosted his inaugural Citi Procamp. Gregorius, who told me he idolized players like Derek…

Citi Procamp: Noah Syndergaard

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) BROOKVILLE, NY- Noah Syndergaard, ace starting pitcher for the New York Mets, can now add another title to his resume: coach. On August 8th, 2016, 250 kids (grades 1-8) attended Syndergaard’s inaugural Citi baseball Procamp at Long Island University’s Post campus. While throwing batting practice, he even challenged one of the campers…

New York Jets Tackle Bullying: A Symposium

By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) FLORHAM PARK, NJ- The New York Jets are doing their part to tackle an off-the-field epidemic: bullying. On any given day, 8% of students, afraid of being bullied, stay home from school (STOMP Out Bullying). On August 22, 2016, the Jets invited 150 Tri-State area educators, bullying coordinators, and administrators to an inaugural…