by Carmine Elvezio

“Reach out with Ray and Steve” zooms to number one.

Executive Director Michael Max Knobbe of BronxNet came to Ray Negron and mentioned certain individuals were questioning if the Yankees were doing their “fair share” during the pandemic. You could see the rage in his eyes. The reason I get upset is because I know how much our community relations department, which is led by senior Vice President community relations Brian Smith, does for our community in the Bronx. George Steinbrenner used to have a classic saying “That if more than two people know what you were doing then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons”. That was one of the very few arguments I’ve had with the boss. I used to tell him we live in a very copycat society and felt if any rich guys of power saw what he was doing, that they would want to do just like him.

My opinion as the community consultant for the Yankees is that, through my individual research, all throughout baseball, the Yankees do more for their community than most teams in the game and yet most people don’t know it. With the exception of those on the receiving end of the great Yankee benevolence. Michael Max Knobbe, who besides being a long time producer, seasoned journalist, and the head of BronxNet, had a suggestion for Negron and his co host Steve Vaccaro. “Reach out with Ray and Steve” was already on Cablevision optimum which is a community-based public access station. Michael Max Knobbe suggested that we bring “Reach out” to the Bronx with a new home on the BronxNet television network.

“Reach out” is a variety show. Ray and Steve wanted a show along the same old Johnny Carson tonight show format with an exception of community. It’s during the community segment of the show that all parties felt that you could really bring out the happenings of the Bronx. Yes, they want to highlight all the good the Yankees are doing, however they also want to be able to show the work that others are trying to do in order to help show that the Bronx can be beautiful.

After watching a couple of episodes, the show was contacted by Grace Fernandez who has a long-standing relationship with the Dominican Republic embassy. Fernandez wanted to see how they can help the Yankees and other organizations to collaboratively offer food and supplies to all families in need and to beautifully help the Bronx with all its community, religious leaders, and people who want to get their hands dirty in the Bronx because they care.

This past weekend, the crew for “Reach out” had fun helping surrounding areas of the Bronx including those stores and places of worship with volunteers. Yankee players Gio Urshela and Gleyber Torres set out hundreds of one hand sanitizers for all the players to use during the cleanup job. At BronxNet we want to make sure we connect all the good that’s done by the community from education to health, news, debates, cultural arts. “Reach out” combines superstars, athletes and role models. Connecting the Bronx to the World.

It’s nice to be able to have this format “Reach out,” to show the people everywhere that not just the Yankees but all high ranking officials, throughout the borough of the Bronx and all through the city all have a heart.

Whenever there’s a fire in the Bronx I don’t like to run away from it, I like to run into it. The guy that always tells me where the fire is located and helps me with the water hose, is a gentleman named Michael Max Knobbe. For years, because of my affiliation with the New York Yankees, he has advised me on different ways that we can always help our people in the Bronx.

Born and raised in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, Michael Max Knobbe has a background in the arts and production and is an advocate for health and fitness, community awareness and media integrity. He is a graduate of the Bronx HS of Science, holds a BA in Studio Art and World History from Drew University, and a MFA from Lehman College.

Serving as Executive Director of BronxNet Television since 2002, Michael Max Knobbe has pioneered and guided many initiatives at the network, including the production of award winning content that builds community, connects the Bronx to the world, and provides young people with professional skills to take on the challenges of an ever-changing digital landscape.

Mr. Knobbe is a co-founder of the Alliance for Community Media’s New York State Chapter, and has testified before Congress about the importance, impact and necessity for logical programming. His direction had garnered multiple NY EMMY nominations and wins. Michael Max currently lives in the Van Cortlandt Village section of the Bronx and has been shooting and editing short form vignettes called “Voices on the Move” through the pandemic.

Thank you for representing and recording the beauty of the Bronx!

“Reach Out” is such an appropriate name for BronxNet’s newest television show. I am proud to be co hosting the show because it really lets me tell stories of sports and entertainment that most people usually don’t hear about. At the same time I can let the people of the Bronx know what the Yankees are doing for and with the community.

I have always said that the only argument that I ever had with George Steinbrenner was that as much as he didn’t want people to know what he was doing for them, I felt that what he used to do for so many was so beautiful that they deserved to know. I hate the fact that it wasn’t until he was gone that people found out about his great heart for all people, especially those in dire need. I once asked him what could I do to pay him back for all that he did for me throughout the years and he simply said, “just help your people as much as you can, especially the young people that will find out about you and you plight.”

I’m grateful to Mike Max Knobbe and the people at BronxNet for letting me tell the people of the Bronx the beautiful truth about the Yankees through Reach Out with Ray and Steve.

Please read the statement below from Michael Max Knobbe, Executive Director BronxNet TV

For more than a quarter century BronxNet has provided public services including access to technology, career building learning experiences and media education for students, and vital local programming by for and about the Bronx. We are proud to have Reach Out with Ray and Steve on BronxNet TV from the Bronx to the world. Bronx born Ray Negron has been a longtime Yankee consultant who like the Bronx Bombers likes to bring out the beauty of the borough and help in anyway possible. Through his show Reachout he gets to tell the true story of how the Yankees really do care as well as entertain the people of the Bronx with international superstars in the world of sports and entertainment. You can see Reachout with Ray & Steve every Monday at 8:30 pm on Bronxnet television.