Building the next big thing in HS sports media with LocalLive Networks. SVP of Digital Media. Broadcaster, Reporter at heart. 1 goal in life: Best. Dad. Ever.
🚨 Exciting Announcement 🚨
officially LIVE.
After months of planning and building the site - the evolution of KDJBlog - we are thrilled to open the doors to the new home for local sports in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties.
GameDay…
Just so you understand how absolutely ridiculous this St. Peter’s run in the NCAA Tournament is:
St. Peter’s would be the 5th largest high school in Section 1.
New Rochelle, Arlington, North Rockland and Mount Vernon are all bigger
The best stories in sports are the long shots; the people nobody expected or overlooked who then rise to prominence.
Demetre Roberts of Mount Vernon is one of those athletes. Totally passed over by D1 out of high school and then a star at St Thomas Aquinas for a D2 national…
This is my favorite picture of my father and I. It’s from 3 years ago, in his favorite place (Cancun, Mexico) on his 71st birthday. As you can see, the man had great hair and loved a good vacation shirt.
Early yesterday morning, Kevin Devaney Sr. passed away after months of…
On the day where we find out we can’t have HS sports until at least early October, I am at my daughters’ softball practice. The other fields have a baseball game, two soccer practices, two lacrosse teams waiting to play and the tennis courts are full.
How does this make sense?
Proud dad moment today as my daughter Daria scored her first career basket in a real CYO game (No. 23 in white). If she never scores again, at least I have this video to watch forever.
Sunday was one of the most euphoric days in Stepinac Athletics history. It was also one of the saddest.
Longtime assistant football coach Gary Farmer passed away shortly after the Crusaders’ CHSAA Basketball City Championship game victory over Cardinal Hayes at St. John’s…
WOW! Holy crap. Newtown wins the CLASSS LL title 13-7 over Darien I’m the final play Jack Street hits Riley Ward for 36-yard TD
#cthsfb
Newtown’s first state title since 1992
We lost one of the best referees, personalities and kindest people. Robert Goldstein lost his battle with cancer. Known from CYO through varsity as “Goldie.” If you ever played football or basketball in this area, Goldie probably did one of your games. RIP to a legend
The best stories in sports are the long shots; the people nobody expected or overlooked who then rise to prominence.
Demetre Roberts of Mount Vernon is one of those athletes. Totally passed over by D1 out of high school and then a star at St Thomas Aquinas for a D2 national…
Totally speechless. Came to the game tonight with my family and was called onto court to receive this plaque from the Slam Dunk organizers. Thank you Lou DeMello, Kevin Cook and everyone involved. Unforgettable moment w my family
@WestchesterPark
I’ve watched a ton of basketball games this first week. I feel like I keep seeing the same referees. Many are not working this season, which is understandable. The ones that are deserve our sincere gratitude. They don’t do it for the money. They do it for the kids. So thank you.
Tappan Zee, a team with nobody over 6 feet in the starting lineup, just won the state championship.
Maybe the greatest TEAM I’ve ever seen in my years. Tonight in Glens Falls, a 49-36 win over Irondequoit for the NYSPHSAA Class A title.
If anyone at Section 1 Inc wants to keep thinking the County Center is just a “venue to host basketball” please know I’ve been thinking about taking this pic since my son was born. Will be framed and hung next to his sisters
Have been playing with my kids for the past hour and came back to find an overwhelming response on Twitter and my phone. Thank you. Definitely lifts my spirits on a difficult day.
The Tappan Zee basketball program has become synonymous with winning. Yet somehow they've been a part of so many iconic playoff defeats.
On Saturday, the Dutchmen buried "the demons" and, for all the players and coaches before them, authored their greatest moment: Capturing the…
One hour into today I’m sure we all had a heightened appreciation for teachers. No replacing them
But now at the end of the day, I say God Bless custodians, aides, counselors, lunch monitors, safety officers, nurses and everyone else who does this every day for our children
Ardsley’s Griffin Buckland embraces his friend Preston Wachtell after Buckland hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer tonight. Wachtell was among the passengers in the fatal car accident last week, which claimed the lives of his father and a friend
Championship Sunday at the Westchester County Center will be an end of era in local sports. It is the last day of Section 1 championships for Pete Ruf of News 12.
Pete is stepping away after two decades. He’s captured the greatest sports moments of you, your children, your…
Somers coach Anthony DeMatteo did not hold back his emotions. He was tearful in celebration. He took full blame for last year's state championship loss. And he choked back tears talking about how much it means to follow in his dad's footsteps.
To him, this win meant everything.
Iona Prep grad Matt Ryan got his first career NBA start tonight with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ryan scored 20 points, hit 6 of 8 from 3s, and the Pelicans beat Detroit 125-116 to go to 4-1.
@Matt_Ryan04
Had a few guests drop by the LocalLive broadcast booth.
One wanted more candy. One wanted to stay for the late game. One wanted to play with the mic. Grateful to get to experience this all with my kids.
Now back to work… Somers and Lakeland is next
11/11/11
12 years of marriage. 12 years of sorta, kinda hoping our anniversary doesn’t fall on Championship Weekend.
Fortunately, I’m married to the person who totally gets it.
We’ll spend the day together; me broadcasting and her faithfully listening for 12 hours straight.
Bolted out of the Dome tonight after the Carmel game, mainly in an attempt to get my 6 year old son home at a decent hour (it still didn't work).
But what a fun weekend and so lucky I got to enjoy it with Dylan. His first trip to the Dome was memorable thanks to the folks who…
Coaching football takes an insane amount of time and sacrifice, and it’s especially difficult when you have young children. Makes a Dad appreciate a moment like this. Congrats to coach Tony Becerra
So... is anyone going to explain exactly why football in New York can practice but not play games? I’m just not buying the ‘high risk’ denotation while soccer and field hockey is ‘low risk’
I have typed and deleted a lot of tweets tonight. Many written out of anger. I’m on record: I believe NYS should play football this fall and I don’t feel enough effort was made at any level for that to happen. The adults failed the players.
But it’s over. And we need to move on
Want to be a leader and great teammate?
Last night Ardsley senior star Ryan Watson broke his collarbone late in the 1Q vs Pleasantville. He knew he played his last snap
Despite the pain, Watson stayed on the sideline the entire game to support his team.
He left the ER at 1am
Tonight was one of the most unbelievable finishes to a football game I've ever seen live.
Ramapo (NJ) trailed by 8 with 19 seconds left. Scored, missed the 2 point conversion, recovered the onside kick and then tossed a Hail Mary to win 38-34 as time expired. The sequence:
Lifetime respect for Jets coach Robert Saleh, who is wearing a St. Peter’s sweatshirt today in support of the school’s AD and football coach Mark DeCristoforo, who lost his daughter in a fire on New Years Day. Amazing gesture.
Best story of the day: Shenendehowa of Section 2 was supposed to play Shaker for a conference girls soccer title today. Shaker had a positive COVID test and initially forfeited the game. Shen would not accept winning that way. Instead, they are co-champs for the fall.
Shenendehowa will not accept forfeit from Shaker and both teams will be declared Suburban Council Tournament Co-Champions. Both teams had the same record and tied during the regular season. Championships should be determined on the field.
@ShakerBlueBison
Saturday morning CYO. One day, I’m going to make a book of the most “CYO-est gyms” in America. This one, Holy Name in Croton, will be featured. IHM in Scarsdale will be in it, too.
Great job today by Iona Prep baseball on providing a safe and fun way to honor their 13 seniors. Nothing can replace the season lost. But I could see how much it meant for these guys to be together, in uniform, one final time together. Happy
@locallivenet
could be a part of it.
Simply incredible.
New Rochelle’s JoJo Gray and Rye’s George Kirby together at the MLB All-Star Game in Seattle today. Two fine young men and relentless workers.
@gkirb98
and
@JGrayy_
deserve this.
GO CRAZY NEW ROCHELLE! You’re Huguenots are KINGS OF NYS in AA!! FINAL: New Rochelle 28 McQuaid 0 For the first time ever in school history New Rochelle has gone a perfect 13-0
That will do it for Bracketology for the 2018-19 school year in Section 1 athletics. This year we tracked every result for boys and girls soccer, lax, basketball, baseball, softball, and hockey. That’s a total of 5,654 total games. I appreciate all those who followed and helped
Final: Carmel 42, Bennett 12 in NYSPHSAA Class AA state championship. I’ve never seen a run like this at the AA level. Carmel just obliterated the rest of New York
Very much appreciate Stepinac holding a moment of silence in memory of my father before tonight's game. First class by
@StepinacSports
and
@step_basketball
This is the first time since 1997 that Mount Vernon boys basketball won’t be competing in the Section 1 finals. In 1997, I was a junior in high school.
It’s not meant to cast a light on the Knights’ defeat. In fact, it’s the opposite. We should use today to sit back and marvel…
Just in -
@NYGovCuomo
just announced that high school sports can resume February 1st- with the approval of county health directors.
Great news for athletes- and their families.
@RochesterChambr
Spent the morning at
@WVOXRADIO
in New Rochelle working on my next project:
Pumped to announce I’ll be hosting a weekly radio show every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. Show airs live on WVOX 1460AM, online and will be available as a podcast
As soon as halftime hit, a mob of fans at Stepinac surrounded
@UNC_Basketball
legendary coach Roy Williams. And give him credit, he’s smiling and posing for pictures with every one of them. Told security it was ok.
One game to go at the Westchester County Center. I somehow found a way to enjoy Championship Week more than ever - having my oldest daughter Daria join me to “work” this week. On the left, a pic I took of her 10 years ago here. This building is a part of our lives
The Somers varsity football team didn't win a state championship on Saturday in Syracuse. If you think that, you don't understand football in this town.
Somers won a state title. Not just the team. But the community.
From flag to youth to JV to varsity:
Somers IS Football.
I…
August 19 - Dawn of a new season. First day of practice for athletics in NYS. Good luck to the athletes who are making the commitment today. I used to hate giving up my summer in HS. I’m grateful every day since that I did. Some of best memories of my life
Sad day in Section 1 Athletics: Just learned of the passing of Steve “Iggy” Aguado. Iggy was a fixture on the shot clock at the County Center and gyms around the region for decades. The man loved Section 1. RIP to an incredibly kind human being.
Best wishes to my good friend Josh Thomson as he moves on to his next endeavor. It's been an awesome 20 years working alongside you. This pic is from our early days at lohud. Congrats
@lohudinsider
on not really aging, either.
You want to get pumped for this weekend's
@NYSPHSAA
Football Championships at The Dome? Inject this energy from
@SomersFootball
coach Anthony DeMatteo into your veins.
Watch and try not to run through a wall on your way to out the door this morning. Let's. Go.
Final: Stepinac 74, Christ the King 65 in
@CHSAA_NYC
AA City Championship. First for Stepinac since 1960.
Take pride Westchester. The Suburbs just took over the damn City
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day. Not an easy time to be a teacher, especially if you’re a parent too
My daughter just now tried to hang around after her 1st grade Google Meet in hopes of talking to her teacher 1 on 1. She misses her so much
Teachers, and coaches, mean everything
As I hear more stories this week about the wild - and sometimes unrewarding - world of coaching high school sports, I’m more convinced of this reality:
Coaching is 5% of your salary and 95% of your stress.
Good luck to all in the postseason
When you win the City Title, you turn the locker room into a water park.
Well earned title for Stepinac and coach Patrick Massaroni.
@step_basketball
@StepinacSports
First day of school for my girls. Full day, in person, even getting to ride the bus. Thank you
@ByramHillsCSD
for working so hard to make this happen. Soccer starts for them next week.
As you can see, my son is channeling my excitement
Have been holding on to this pic for a while.
@ChrisCaronHS
@JohnMaloneHS
and I on our last assignment together - Pville football at the Dome. These guys are like my brothers. Wish them the best
I’ll get a lot of eye rolls on this one, but whatever...
Try to be good to the refs for the next few weeks.
ALL 3 game I’ve been to in the last week had refs doing both JV and varsity. That’s not normal. These guys break their asses to ensure games get played. Cut them slack
Final: Tappan Zee 39, Somers 15 in the Section 1 Class A Boys Basketball Championship.
The Gold Ball is back to the Dutchmen - in the most Tappan Zee Game I’ve ever seen.
Henry Davis rips a double down the left field line in his MLB debut with the Pirates.
On a short list of the most mentally tough kids I’ve ever covered. So pumped for the Fox Lane grad. Coach Matt Hillis and Davis’ family in attendance tonight.
My goal in January was to get 1 million page views for all of 2023 on KDJBlog. I might actually get there tonight.
I don’t say thank you enough to all the schools, ADs, coaches, athletes and families who support my site. Thank you. A lot more is planned for 2023-24.
When you pass away and people speak endlessly about your brilliance, kindness, sincerity and devotion to others, you know you lived a wonderful life.
Tom Konchalski deserves this and so much more from everyone who ever knew him. I feel fortunate to be among them. RIP Tom.
Today is the first day Division 1 schools can offer basketball players in the class of 2021
Stepinac guard A.J. Griffin was just offered by Duke
It’s on...
Happy New Years to all. Never know what calendar flipping can bring. This time last year I was searching for the next chapter in my life. Exciting but nerve-racking time. Year later I’m in a more exciting and more prosperous position than I ever imagined. And best is yet to come
Stepinac will have a backcourt this season committed to Duke and UNC. Let that sink in for a moment.
Worth noting that all Stepinac home games will be streamed live on
@locallivenet
😁
Crushing news. Josh and I have been close friends and colleagues for two decades. He poured his heart into his reporting, worked endless hours and continued to raise LoHud's standard for daily local sports coverage. It's not going to feel the same without him on the sidelines
I was informed yesterday that my job has been eliminated. My last day of work at
@lohud
and for
@lohudsports
will be Dec. 9.
I'll probably have much more to say next week. There are plenty of people I have to thank -- none more so than you, my readers.
A week ago very few people knew who Tobin Anderson and Demetre Roberts were outside of this area. They’ve had the nation rooting for them since Tuesday night. Not a more deserving coach and player of the attention. Congrats on an unbelievable run.
Thank you for everyone followed Bracketology of Section 1 boys and girls basketball.
And I truly appreciate all of the kind words on Twitter this morning and via text. I really enjoy doing it.
Everyone has their own 9/11 memory. Mine was as a Fordham University student and part-time reporter at The Journal News.
Woke up in my dorm that morning to the images on TV. Immediately got in my car and drove to the office to help put out the next day's newspaper. Listened to…
Stepinac won the city title on Sunday. You cannot understate the significance of that, especially considering where this team was 2 weeks ago.
Decided last minute to bring my camera to the game. It turned out to be worth a movie.
A Forever Championship for the Crusaders. Enjoy