Happy Easter! We returned home from church to this news! Gregg Jr and Kristen had a baby boy at 9:29 a.m. Nolan Gregory Sarra. We are blessed - God is good! Everyone is doing well. Look at this beautiful boy! I’m crying again, so happy!
I am honored and thanks to everyone that has allowed me to tell their stories over the years!
Newsday's Gregg Sarra has Long Island football award named for him via
@Newsday
It is with great sadness that Commack baseball coach Bryan Bonin has passed. He left an indelible mark on the baseball community and will be severely missed by all. Please pray for his beautiful family. He was only 33 years old. RIP Coach - you were one of the best!
Why can’t we have 10 basketball players per team in a gym with masks? Two coaches, two officials, scorekeeper, clock keeper, security guard. That’s 27 total people in a varsity gym. The bench can socially distance. Hmm!🧐
Connetquot’s legendary baseball coach Bob Ambrosini has died. Suffolk’s all-time winningest baseball coach had 602 wins and led the T-Birds to 20 league titles, 7 Suffolk championships, 4 LI crowns and 2 state titles in 33 years. He was an incredible coach!
Peconic Bay Hospital will be my office for awhile, outstanding staff and special thanks to Dr. Michael Ciminiello, who performed the full hip replacement, enabling me to play ball again, what did Arnold say, “I’ll be back.” Thanks to everyone for the prayers and well wishes♥️💪
Wow thank you sir! And many thanks to all the coaches, players administrators and passionate HS fans that have made my
@NewsdaySports
career so rewarding!
Update on Centereach QB Justin Robbert. He was doing just fine at Good Samaritan Hospital after undergoing a Cat Scan and other tests. He suffered a scary injury in the 4th quarter at Lindenhurst and the game delayed 25 minutes. Good news- He’ll go home tonight with his parents.
Say hello to Frank Catalanotto, the new Hofstra University baseball coach. This guy has succeeded at every level of baseball, including a 14-year MLB career. He takes on the challenge of turning Hofstra into a consistent winner. Classy guy!
Honored to accept the NYSHSFCA Hunter Lowe Award at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona tonight. Accompanied by my lovely wife Katherine it was a blast. Thanks to my incredible Newsday staff for without them this would not have been possible!
This is what the field looked like at the conclusion of the Catholic State title game in Buffalo. St.Anthony’s is Long Island’s first state football champion - ever.
The Governor looks like he’s handing over the Guidance on the high risk and moderate sports to the local health departments in Nassau and Suffolk. This has great potential to have everyone play.
Congratulations to Dave Martinez, just a Long Island guy, managing the Washington Nationals to the World Series in 2019! Just incredible, a kid from the Brentwood Youth Association, getting the job done.
#homegrown
No HS football, no problem and it’s all about the timing. Stud QB Jack Coan will make his first start for Wisconsin Saturday at noon and it’s televised! I will be locked in! Make LI proud Jack!
Sayville’s Jack Coan is 21 of 26 for 311 yards and four TDS and Notre Dame leads Florida State 31-20. What a Sunday night treat watching a future NFL QB.
Welcome to the spring sports season on Long Island as expected big-time snow ice rain unplayable fields - move the season back two weeks make everyone happy thank you
Sayville’s Jack Coan of Notre Dame signs a free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts and will prove at the next level that he is as good as it gets! Congratulations to a classy top notch talent!
They’re back! Mom and Dad are COVID Pnemonia survivors - God Bless and look over them and stay healthy everyone. We’re lucky to still have them and they’re outside taking a walk. Thank you Mather Memorial Hospital.
This what every district should be doing and stop all the nonsense. Too many different opinions out there. I like the message from Garden City. It’s basically, Be safe let’s live our lives.
NYIT head coach Frank Catalanotto and his outstanding staff did the unthinkable in 1 year - he turned a 10-year doormat of a program into a Super Regional baseball champ. The Bears beat Southern New Hampshire, 6-3, and they're headed to the D-II College World Series. Incredible!
Newsday Sports Editor Hank Winnicki and I at Penn State University where we accepted the prestigious National Award for excellence coverage of high school sports. Fantastic experience, and a big thank you to Penn State and the folks at John Curley Center for Sports Journalism.
Now on the pizza guy delivering to my mom and dad and my mother-in-law this way it keeps them in the house and makes me feel better that they’re safe be safe everyone
Eight-grader Dunia Sibomana is your New York State Division I wrestling champion. He pinned Ryan Ferrara of Chenango Forks in 1:32 to capture the 102-pound weight class in Albany. It will be Sibomania on Long Island!
Big news announced today for all you HS football fans - Sayville will travel to play Floyd on Saturday at 2 p.m. Two giants on the football landscape will get it on! Speed and finesse versus speed and power!
Thought about the family of outstanding Commack baseball coach Bryan Bonin this morning in church. Said my prayers for them and for him as he battles the wicked C for his life. Everyone please count your blessings as no one is guaranteed tomorrow. 🙏🙏🙏
There are athletes that follow the safety guidelines and stay away from parties and large groups. They are quarantined through no fault of their own and we're seeing it everywhere. Contact tracing will ruin HS sports.
How about Michigan rolling to the Big Ten title with a 42-3 thrashing of Iowa and Plainedge’s own Dan Villari holding the championship trophy!
#LongIslandstrong
Truth be told, St. Anthony’s is on a different level of football than the rest of Long Island. Without disparaging any other successful programs - not necessary - just watch a St. Anthony's - Chaminade football game - it's impressive. The game is different.
In the BAD MOVE category! This was probably not a good idea to be left on the Sayville football field. It didn’t work out for these folks at all as Sayville beat East Islip 28-10 in the Suffolk Division III football final.
This looks like a rule in Suffolk football - and I’m looking into it. “If a kid tackles/blocks someone in a game or practice and one of them tests positive the other must quarantine for 10 days.” That is laughable. Football was played all over the country and no reports of spread
Had the time of my life with the man I admire most and love with all my heart - my Dad - haven’t seen him this excited in years! It was an incredible night at Citifield and a walk off win for the Mets!
@Smatz88
@MStrooo6
#HDMH
Newsday HS staff worked hard on spring previews and players to watch- we’re ready to roll with or without a season. We still want to recognize all the great student athletes in boys & girls track, tennis, softball, baseball, boys & girls lax. Stay tuned!
@NewsdayHSsports
Friday night, perfect weather for a high school football game and I'm watching one on a live feed from Georgia - geez. More than 30 years of fantastic fall Fridays out on the football field with John Valenti, Andy Slawson and Bob Herzog. Yep - I miss it!
Texas School For The Deaf of Austin Texas just won the state football championship with a 63-32 win over Veritas Academy of Austin. Imagine that - a football team of all deaf players winning a state football title - just phenomenal!
Spoke to QB Dan Villari of Plainedge and he confirmed that he is No. 2 on the Wolverines depth chart and should see some playing time when Michigan travels to play at Ohio State this week. Newsday's Thorp Award winner is very busy getting prepared for a great opportunity. 👍
What a blessing to have the opportunity to tell the story of Dunia Sibomana - a very special young person -
@NewsdaySports
. Good luck to him and all the qualifiers at the state wrestling tournament.
@Jeremy_Ruckert1
was a beast blocking in the Army All-American game in San Antonio. Huge block set up 44-yard run and a field goal. They should have thrown him the ball more than once, a bad overthrow downfield when he was wide open. He represented LI football in a big way.
One of my first interviews was with Tom Flatley, the legendary Garden City football/lacrosse coach. It was an honor to write his tribute. He died at 80 years old and left an everlasting impression on Long Island's HS athletics. via
@Newsday
So Jules
@JulesElbaba
as I was visiting some kids in the neighborhood as the Easter Bunny - this happened - Gregg Jr. and Kristen had a baby boy - what an outrageous Easter blessing! Nolan Gregory Sarra born today - I’m a grandpa!
Uniondale’s Jo-Jo Wright was an instant media delight with that big smile and infectious laugh. His death is overwhelming. He was already a star and the future was so bright. They’ll name a part of Uniondale Ave in his honor - beautiful gesture. Gone way too soon - 🙏
Wow all baseball players should learn a lesson from tonight’s Yankee game. Gary Sanchez did not run out a grounder and the Rays made a defensive mistake. But because Sanchez assumes he was an easy out he didn’t run hard and they threw him out to end the game. Always run it out!!
Just don’t get it - how could school administrators allow their teams to play on such a pitiful night weatherwise the biggest game of the year. And don’t give me that football players are tuff and all that macho stuff. This stinks for the fans cheerleaders the band everyone.
One of the classiest players I've ever had the pleasure of writing about was Long Island's Jack Coan, who is thrilled that Big Ten football is on for this fall via
@Newsday
One of Long Island's greatest baseball coaches and a mentor to so many PAL youth has died. PAL baseball director Jon Zaturn passed away Wednesday at his home. He was 69 years old. Services have not been announced yet. RIP 'Coach Z'
The entire town of Sayville piled on in the championship celebration -- high school sports at its best -- just a fever pitch! Congratulations head coach Joe Esposito, pitcher Brock Murtha and the Golden Flashes!
One of the top local baseball prospects on Long Island for 2019. Not too many people get visits from MLB scouts and have them over for dinner to discuss the future and whether its MLB or college. Joey Savino just had the New York Yankees at his place!
North Babylon's Jason Gwaltney is widely considered Long Island's greatest running back of all time. Sayville has this new kid - a freshman - Kyle Messina. He's the only freshman that ever made me think about what Gwaltney was as a freshman. The Messina kid is a special talent.
Prayers for Newfield’s Elijah Riley, who is playing so well at safety for the New York Jets, and was just carted off the field with an injury. He did give a thumbs up before the cart left. Pray he’s ok - he’s a phenomenal person!
Church was beautifully decorated for tonight’s mass! Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to everyone- may all your wishes come true. Be safe and enjoy time with family and friends.
Wrote this story a little less than a year ago about the courage of Bethpage trainer Joe Killeen in his fight against pancreatic cancer. He was such a brave man. He passed away this week and I'll miss him. via
@Newsday
I want know who classified all the HS sports between low risk and high risk. What determines the why in each classification? The DOH needs to break that down. You agree?
This is an epic photo of two of East Islip’s iconic high school coaches! The legendary Sal Ciampi and his son Sal J. Ciampi after East Islip won the Suffolk Division III title.
Thomas Mackell stripped quarterback Steve Otremba as time expired and St. Anthony's scored 27 unanswered second half points to come back and beat St. Francis of Buffalo, 27-20, for the CHSFL AAA title.
All of Long Island's High School spring sports have been cancelled according to the executive directors in both Nassau County and Suffolk County. The athletic councils had hoped for a different outcome but were left with no choice as health and safety is the number one priority.
Two LIC classics in the books. Massapequa and Plainedge very deserving Long Island champions. And all four teams showed tremendous sportsmanship in hard-hitting tough games. All four communities should be proud of Plainedge, Massapequa, East Islip and Walt Whitman.
I’ve been waiting for that QB bootleg all night - Jack Coan TD - Wisconsin leads Miami 28-3. Way to go Jack super performance! You make Long Island proud.
Nothing like football Thanksgiving in Selden in the old neighborhood with Jeff and the guys. Did the total hip replacement 3 weeks ago stop me - nope. 6 TD 3 INT Mahomes like! Not mobile at all but all smiles all around. Love my family and friends.
Here’s some great news for LI football fans. Freeport transfer Jayvian Allen has scored three first half touchdowns in the Georgia state football championship for Grayson. They lead 35-0. No. 3 ranked team in the country.
The Yankees have to give CC Sabathia two innings relief on Sunday after showing the baseball world how you protect your teammates. I love the loyalty and respect for teammates!
GAME ON!!! The Great Neck School District has walked back its decision of playing high-risk sports this winter. The district will put additional safety guidelines in place and ALLOW its student-athletes to play in Section VIII. A warm feeling on a blizzard-like day!
I am so honored to recognize Baldwin’s Kwasi Bonsu with the Marcus A. Henry Award as Long Island’s top scholar-athlete-citizen. He is the 10th recipient of Newsday’s highest award. Congratulations Kwasi - well deserved!
Congratulations to Long Beach eighth grader Dunia Sibomana for reeling off a total of seven wins at the national high school wrestling championships in Virginia Beach to finish third - what a great job
Paul Longo becomes the all-time winningest football coach in Suffolk public school history as Floyd beats Ward Melville, 37-15, in a Suffolk Division I game. The man is all class.
Sayville QB Jack Cheshire couldn't be more classy. What a great kid! I asked about his record for TD passes in a single season and how he passed the great Jack Coan. He said, "that's my brother the guy I looked up to, the guy who set the standard." Wow his parents should be proud
This is an opportunity amongst all the chaos to connect with family - playing old fashioned style with multiple board games going on all at once. Find silver linings and be healthy and safe as we will overcome.
Ward Melville beats Floyd 14-7 in a semifinal in what could be considered the upset of the year in Suffolk HS football. The Patriots have been on the cusp of a win like this for years. Congratulations!
History! Julianna Hernandez of Newfield with an historic win in the Suffolk League III tournament. Hernandez won 8-6 to become Long Island’s first league wrestling champion.