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Ray Negron: Alex, Hal Steinbrenner has basically said he is happy you are here and helping with the  responsibility with the kids and you will show them the Yankees way. How do you feel about that?

Alex Rodriguez:  I am grateful Hal gave me an opportunity to come back in 2016  and not only to get my career back and rehab my life. I forever will be  grateful. I really love the kids and look forward to spending time mentoring them..

Negron:   You were a good Yankee regardless of all the stuff that went on.  How do you feel about that?

Alex: it was the greatest time of my career. It had its ups and downs.The one thing I will neve forget is always remember the 2009 world championship that was as good as it gets.

Negron:  Pete Rose said to me I got to know Alex Rodriguez. He is one of the greatest. He said, “I know the man.” I had a blast with him. He should have been bigger in New York than he was. Maybe had he not played behind Derek Jeter.  He would have been a king there and had a statue there.

Alex: Pete is a living legend and he is extremely intelligent and articulates the game in a beautiful way. I really enjoy my time with Pete. Listen, I have no complaints. I am one of the luckiest human beings on the planet and I get a chance to kind of pave forward with some of our great talent here in New York.

Negron: I regret the fact that George Steinbrenner didn’t get to see this like a Reggie. He went through scenarios with Reggie and he became his guy. Do you feel you are going to be the guy in helping the Yankees from the standpoint from psychological etc.?

Alex: Mr. Steinbrenner brought me here in 2004 and I forever will be grateful to the Steinbrenner family and now Hal and I have developed a nice relationship over the years. I really have enjoyed our talks. We both have two passions in common. We love the NY Yankees and we love young players and my job is to make those young players better.

Negron:  Roberto Alomar, what did he mean to you in your career?

Alex: He is one of my heroes and became one of my closest friends in the game, someone I admired. He’s baseball royalty. When you think about Sandy Sr.,  Sandy Jr. and of course his mother is probably the biggest baseball fan of them all so Robby is a dear friend.

Negron: Do what you have to do as far as these kids go. Know the New York fans love you and hey come on we want to see you in New York as much as possible.

Alex: Thank you Ray. Appreciate it.

Ray Negron can be heard on ESPN radio 1050 Every Sat and Sun from 12pm – 2pm. You can also find Ray on NEWSMAX.

The winter of 1995 George Steinbrenner asked me, “How can we keep Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry clean for a whole season?” I told him that I couldn’t give him that kind of guarantee. He asked me why not? I said, “Because I need my job in order to feed my kids.” He laughed out loud as only the Boss could. Then he got very serious again and asked, or should I say, demanded some type of guarantee.

He wanted Doc and Darryl real badly, he just didn’t want the embarrassment that sometimes comes with this type of heartache or should I say headache. With George Steinbrenner, I was never afraid of losing my job because of the great respect we had for each other, I just didn’t want to ever disappoint him. He had always been so great to me and my family and there is nothing that I wouldn’t have done for him.

Sometime that week I ran into an old friend of mine from high school who I knew used to do a lot of drugs. He had become a very successful Wall Street stock broker at Bear Sterns. I asked him how he had beat his daemons. He told me that he was getting help form one of his clients, who happened to head a drug rehab facility called the Long Island Council on Drug and Alcohol Dependence. He told me about an incredible lady named Adele Smithers and all of the work she was doing with people battling the disease of addiction. I asked him to introduce me to Adele.

Two days later I was at the home of Adele Smithers literally begging her to help me with Doc and Darryl. I had done my research of the incredible Mrs. Smithers and found out that Adele and her late husband Brinkley were truly the pioneers of drug and alcohol recovery. They literally spent millions on research and were the first to announce that as part of the scientist’s research, there was a gene that could tell us if we could become addicted to alcohol. Adele, I found to be a very interesting individual. I explained to her about my dilemma with the Boss, Doc and Darryl. She listened very intently and after some tea and cake sent me home and said that she would call me in a couple of days.

The very next day Adele asked me if I wanted to go to Florida with her to meet with Mr. Steinbrenner. I called the Boss and told him of my meeting with Mrs. Smithers and he agreed to the meeting with her in Tampa. It did help that Adele was a big Yankee fan and seven years before the Smithers Foundation had helped Doc and Darryl in their recovery efforts. The Boss had done his own homework on Adele Smithers and was impressed that I had brought in such a giant in the field. The two got along great. She explained so much about recovery that for the first time Mr. Steinbrenner really understood that addiction was a disease. From the business side,

Adele understood that the Boss could be a bully. However, from the human side she saw that the Boss really cared about Doc and Darryl and really wanted the best for them. Between the three of us we set up a game plan on how we would care for these two guys. Adele was doing this out of the goodness of her heart and the Boss asked me to check in with Adele. Doc and Darryl spent a lot of time with Adele and grew to love her like a mother. The Boss had a wonderful relationship with Adele and her money was no good at Yankee Stadium. Adele loved how philanthropic Mr. Steinbrenner was and if you knew Adele, than you knew she was the same way.

Adele once asked me how she could help with the charities that the Yankees were involved with, possibly the Boys and Girls Club. I went to our community relations director John Szponar and it was worked out so that the Smithers Foundation would sponsor a Spring Training Boys and Girls Club luncheon with all of the Yankee players. In her own quiet, dignified way, Adele was always there for the Yankees and for non-Yankees alike. For the rich and for the poor. For the black and for the white. When Hank Steinbrenner started Hank’s Yanks, a youth baseball program for underprivileged kids, Adele was one of our sponsors. She was there to help whatever kids may have had possible drug or alcohol issues or questions. When Adele contracted Parkinson’s disease, she still maintained her crazy work schedule. Nothing would stop this woman from doing what she felt she was here for. Nothing except God asking her to join him.

Today, I was on the phone with Steve Chassman, the head of the Long Island Council, about a boy with a problem. After we setup the boy’s appointment, I hung up the phone and it rang. The call was from Christopher Smithers, the son of Adele. He had been caring for her in California. Chris told me what I did not want to hear. Adele Smithers died this morning. Next to my Mom, the greatest woman I had ever known. She was a female George Steinbrenner. Very very tough and didn’t take any crap from anyone. With Adele, you knew who the Boss was. At the same time, she had the biggest heart in the world. God, she sounds just like Mr. Steinbrenner, I guess that’s why they got along so well. Only the people who had intimately worked closely to the Boss would know how important Adele Smithers was to George Steinbrenner.

Adele Smithers was here to help mankind and looked for nothing in return. Timing is everything in life and I can only say that Adele’s timing is just not good because we need her now more than ever. Adele Smithers was a second mother to me, Aris Sakellaridis, Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and so many others. We will never ever stop missing you Adele. We will never stop loving you. We will never forget that you were the Mother of Recovery!

Ray Negron can be heard on ESPN radio 1050 Every Sat and Sun from 12pm – 2pm. You can also find Ray on NEWSMAX.

TAMPA – Yankee fans are probably the most passionate of all sports fans. They just can’t get enough news about their team. They want to hear from the media, they want to hear from the manager and general manager, but when they get to hear it directly from the man who signs the checks that’s the only time a Yankee fan truly feels satisfied.

I got a chance to sit down with Hal Steinbrenner in his Tampa office and I got to appreciate how well the Yankees co-owner really does know his team. Fans have to understand I have known this young man since he was eight years old.

And to see how he has grown up to be one of the leaders of the Steinbrenner family and really truly cares about the direction of this mighty organization makes me feel quite proud.

Steinbrenner was good enough to sit down with NY Sports Day and ESPN Deportes and I hope you fans appreciate – as I do –  the fact he is trying to lead the Yankees back to prominence.

Ray Negron: I am here with the Yankees Co-Chairman Hal Steinbrenner. 2017, how do you feel about it?

Hal Steinbrenner: Every year is exciting. It’s a fresh start. This year, though, it’s different because all of the young talent, all of the young kids we have. Guys like (Greg) Bird, who has already been up here. (Luis) Severino and (Aaron) Judge. But also some other guys. (Gary) Sanchez is also in that group. Other guys like Chance Adams and (James) Kaprielian, who we might see this year. It’s just a lot of youth. It’s been a lot of years since we had since we had such a good nucleus of young talent. So it’s exciting.

RN: Diane Munson was here this weekend with the Yankees ladies fantasy camp asking about Gary Sanchez. What’s your feeling on Gary Sanchez?

HS: Obviously he had a tremendous start to his Major League career. We will see about this year, but he is the real deal. He has the temperament for New York, just a tough catcher, and it’s going to be exciting to see his numbers after a full year.

RN: Hal Steinbrenner 2017 as opposed to Hal Steinbrenner 2011 or 12. You seem to be more into the team and more into the knowledge of your team. How do you feel about that?

HS: We’ve grown up with these players. We have been talking bout them the last three, four, and five years. We have high hopes for them and through the years, they have progressed perfectly. In some cases, without a hitch. It’s great to finally see them at this level because we have been following them for so long. It’s exciting.

RN: What about the fact the Bronx has taken a real surge with the Yankees and want to be involved with the Yankees?

HS: I think it’s tremendous. We monitor social media and we know what our fans are saying, conventional media as well. Everybody is very excited. They all want to be part of this youth movement. They see great potential as we all do. Everyone is pretty keyed up about this year.

RN: Our fans are pretty bright. They know the Yankee history. They also seen you grow up with the Yankees. Do you feel the aspect that you have a true responsibility to these people?

HS: We always felt we have a responsibility to these people. That’s why we do our best every year. If we have money come off the payroll, for instance, we do our best to put as much of it back into the club as we can. We know what our fans excellence and they expect to win. We try to give them that. We do our very best. That has not changed.

RN: I am going to let you go. Thank you so very much. You have us some good news and I thank you for that.

HS: I hope the year pans out very well and I hope we live up to everyone’s expectations. Thanks Ray.

Weekends belong to Ray on ESPN 1050AM on Impact Saturday and Sunday 12-2pm. You can also read Ray on Newsmax.

TAMPA – This weekend, I came to the NY Yankees Fantasy Camp.  It’s the one time of the year that I can sit down with Diane Munson, Thurman’s wife, and soul search and talk about days gone by.

To Thurman Munson, I was always his little brother and Diane was like my sister.  Whenever Diane was in New York at the end of that particular homestand, I would always drive Thurman and her to Teterboro Airport. Those rides were the most hilarious of times because Thurman and Diane used to poke fun at each other and we would scream with laughter.

I never saw a Yankee couple more in love. I always wished that I could someday have a marriage like that.  Diane asked me about this new Yankee catcher named Sanchez. I told her that I had already done a couple of charity events with Gary and for me he represented the spirit of Thurman in a very nice way.

I asked Diane if she would like to send a message to Gary Sanchez on  behalf of the Munson family, and she said she would love to.  Here is the message that was transcribed by NY Sports Day from Diane Munson: “Hi Gary! I can’t wait to meet you in February and I heard nothing but wonderful things about you. I look forward to it. I heard you are a gamer, just like Thurman Munson. It’s going to be my pleasure.”

I hope that Gary Sanchez understands the magnitude of what Diane is trying to say.

Weekends belong to Ray Negron on ESPN Deportes 1050 Impact Saturday and Sunday from 12-2pm. You can also read Ray on Newsmax.

I was recently attending a charity event for the American Cancer Society.  I noticed that they were auctioning off different sports and entertainment items. The most interesting was a painting by the terrific pop artist, Riz Robinson.  It was a very deep piece of John Lennon.  Mr. Robinson saw me staring at the painting and asked me what my attachment to it was. I told him that John Lennon was a spiritual mentor to me and that Lennon and Paul McCartney were my all-time favorite song writers.

November 1977, one month after Reggie Jackson had hit the three home runs in game six of the 1977 World Series, Reggie and I went jogging in Central Park.

It was a beautiful brisk day and at this time I could still run really well. Reggie liked running with me because I would make him run harder, I always wanted to beat Mr. October but he was deceptively fast.  Three quarters of the way to the west side of the park, I noticed two very familiar figures. It was John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

John Lennon noticed Reggie before Reggie noticed Lennon. I screamed to Reggie, “Stop Jack!  It’s John Lennon.” I was in shock because I had always been a giant Beatle fan.  Reggie and Lennon shook hands and then Lennon introduced Yoko Ono to Reggie.

Lennon said to Reggie “I don’t know your sport, but I do know that right now you’re bigger than the five Jackson’s put together.” Reggie laughed at that and I guess you could say that John scored big points with that comment. John told Reggie how much he loved New York and Reggie replied about how intense and crazy the city could be. Yoko never really said much and I was just mesmerized watching two entertainment gods of the era enjoying one another. Years later, I asked Reggie if he ever thought about that time that we met John Lennon and reminded him of what Lennon said that day.  Reggie smiled. You have to remember that Reggie had met all of the greats from the last six decades. Stars from film, TV, music and sports. We are talking about greats like Sinatra, Mohamed Ali, Pele, you name it. I believe he even met Elvis but I’m not sure, Today, Reggie understands the magnitude of John Lennon and what Lennon meant to the world and he must think to himself, “that’s pretty neat.” That’s what Reggie’s smile told me.

Years later I spent time with Paul McCartney, right after his wife Linda died of cancer. Paul was just the coolest guy. He was the youngest 60-year-old guy ever. I was working for the Cleveland Indians and a good friend introduced us. Every time that I ran into Paul he was always great. One time I told Paul that I loved writing and was thinking about doing a children’s book.  He told me to put my soul into it and not to be afraid, something that some of the great writers that I have met had also shared with me.  I didn’t know what he meant until I started to write the book. I was scared because I wanted it so badly and I wanted it to be great.

My publisher was Harper Collins and the book imprint was Regan Books and the great publisher Judith Reagan.  Judith had known of my story and my friendship with George Steinbrenner. She thought that this was the real book, however that would be a book for another day.  When going over the children’s book, Judith told me not to tell anyone about the book except for Mr. Steinbrenner who had given me permission to write it.  Since I knew a lot a writers I decided to ask everyone for advice. I wanted to tweak the manuscript to try to make it better and better. At one point Judith said,” Do you understand that I like your idea for the story and I have editors that will help shape it up? If you keep asking all these people for their advice, one of them is going to say that they wrote it.” Boy she was right. After the book came out and started to have success, some guy started saying that he wrote it. When I saw Paul McCartney again I gave him a copy of the book and told him what had happened.   Paul told me that the same thing had happened to him when he wrote one of his first songs. I asked him, “What did you do?” He said,” I sat down and wrote another song and it had to be better than the first.” He told me that I had to do the same thing to shut this guy and all the other jealous souls up. It was the best advice that Paul McCartney could have given me and I love him for it.

I went to Mr. Steinbrenner to tell him what was being said and he was quite annoyed and like Paul, the Boss told me that I had to prove that the first book wasn’t a fluke and I had to come right back with another one. My next two books went to number one on Amazon.

This year, I start my seventh book and if I have one regret it is that Thurman Munson and Billy Martin didn’t get to see me accomplish such an incredible feat. The reason for this is that like Reggie and the Boss, Billy and Thurman always motivated me. My very first published writing was actually a story that I did about Munson entitled “Five days in August.” I wrote it in 1979 and it appeared in a magazine years later.

Let’s just say that I was a kid who always happened to be in the right place at the right time. I will forever be grateful to the kindness and sincerity and of course musical genius of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I was not disappointed when meeting two of my heroes– thank you.

A special thank you to the 1974 Yankees, Mr. Steinbrenner’s first contending team, also known as “the band on the run” named after the McCartney song because we were playing that 1974 & 1975 season at Shea Stadium while they renovated Yankee Stadium.

Finally a special thanks to the great sports artist John Pennisi for being able to re-create a wonderful moment in my life with his god given talent as an artist.

Hear Ray Negron every Sunday at 11am-1pm on 1050 ESPN or read him on Newsmax.

I recently visited Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl (football game) A well known individual came up to me and said I have been reading your material on NY Sports Day and Newsmax.  He commented,  “You must be making a killing.”

I said to him,”I don’t get paid.” He asked, “Then why would you do it? Why would you waste your time?” I got a little annoyed with him but I kept my cool and told him that I do it because I get to tell stories, real stories about the greatest people that have made the Yankee brand what it is.

Because I am not getting paid, the editors cannot tell me what and how to write.  I can accentuate how much I really do love the Yankees, baseball, sports and how great it is be an American and not be afraid to say it.

To me, a writer is someone who is not  afraid to tell a story. The very first book that I ever read was “The Old Man and The Sea.” The author was Ernest Hemingway, perhaps the greatest novelist of all-time.

That was story telling at its best because it was about a Cuban fisherman sitting out in the sea for two- and- a half days. He was wrestling a marlin on his fishing hook and at the same time fighting sharks who were trying to eat his giant catch.  Yes, that simple, yet Mr. Hemingway won every writing award possible for this story and they even made a major motion picture starring the great Spencer Tracey.

I was only nine-years old when I read this book though I couldn’t help to read every page.

Years later I would get to know the great sportswriters Dick Young and Phil Pepe when I became a batboy for the New York Yankees.  They would teach me not to be afraid to tell a story, to write as if I were talking to a person or a group. Remember that writing is an expression.

Throughout the years I would notice that George Steinbrenner would love to sit down and write letters to people Most of the time he would get a pad and just write it out. They were actually beautiful letters of appreciation or dissatisfaction depending on who the letter was for.

I remember, I needed a letter of recommendation to get into a school. He told me to write the letter and he would sign it. Well I wrote the letter, he read it then he tore it up and said, “This letter would be good for a school ran by Al Capone.”

He then sat down, picked up a pen and pad and wrote a great letter which his secretary would then type.  This actually happened several times during my tenure with “The Boss”.

Many times Mr. Steinbrenner would actually send people hand written letters.  The recipients of the letters were always so grateful because no one did that anymore.

Another wonderful writer was the sportscaster and author Dick Schaap. His books literally spoke to you. I remember asking Dick, how he learned to write like he did.  He said, “In this country we have something called the Freedom of Speech.”  As long as we have that,  I can let my soul tell my story.

Dick used to see me babysit some of the players kids.  Kids like Yankees second baseman Sandy Alomar’s boys, Sandy, Jr. and Robbie, outfielder Bobby Bonds son, Barry, centerfielder Bobby Murcer’s son, Todd, and even the Boss’s son Hal, who  later along with his big brother Hank,  would grow up to run the Yankees.

Dick Schaap asked me to watch over his son Jeremy, who today is one of ESPN’s top sports journalists. On these occasions I would take advantage of Dicks’ knowledge and ask as many questions as I could about the art of writing.  Dick was the greatest when it came to sharing his craft.

When I wrote my first story,  which was on the days following the death of Thurman Munson, I think it saved my life.  For four days I could not catch my breath, continuous hyper ventilation and I thought I was going to die. I had Incredible anxiety over the death of our friend, our team leader, Thurman.  Dick Schaap told me that if I wrote down my thoughts, it would serve as great therapy.

He was so right because by the time I finished writing my Munson story, Bobby Murcer would drive in all five runs to beat the Orioles in the tribute game to Munson and I could breathe again.

The pad and pen is still the best friend a person could have from the standpoint of telling a story, writing about  your soul or just flat out telling the history of this county that we live in.

The key to writing is don’t be afraid to express yourself.  Many times, I’m still guilty of that myself but I am living proof that it is never too late.

I still have dreams and goals even at my age. I will be honest with you, I dream to someday win a Pulitzer Prize and in America anything is possible because the pen is mightier than the sword.

Ray Negron can be heard every Sunday on 1050 AM ESPN Deportes from 11 am to 1pm and also can be read on Newsmax.

Recently, Ross Greenburg was on my radio show, ESPN 1050 “Impact.” From the standpoint of where he has been and where he is going, it was one of the best shows that we have ever had.

There are few political shows today that can seamlessly mix stories about Ground Zero with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and make everyone watching feel good, but that is what good storytellers do. However we are not talking about “60 Minutes,” we are talking about a show about hockey, which aired its second episode on EPIX last Friday night.

It is called the “Road To The NHL Outdoor Classics, ” and it tells the stories of four teams, the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, as they head towards the NHL’s two outdoor games this year, the Centennial Classic in Toronto on New Year’s Day and the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in St. Louis om January 2. The magic is weaved by no other than Ross Greenburg, who in a storied career as a sports TV executive and producer has won an amazing 54 EMMY Awards, and nay be on his way to number 55 with this series.

“The stories come from the athletes, and it’s our job to tell these great stories to a wider audience, with the help from the teams and the NHL,” Greenburg, the former head of HBO Sports, said recently in a conversation. “The opportunity is out there to have these great stories come to life for the fans who crave them, you just need the opportunity to do it.” That opportunity was created by the NHL with EPIX, the premium entertainment network, for each of the last three years, and the results get better and better.

This week fans got to see New Jersey native Trevor van Riemsdyk, a rising Blackhawks star, take time out of a busy week in New York during a road trip for an emotional visit Ground Zero with his family, while the Toronto Maple Leafs go back to spend time with the Yousef family, Ethiopian immigrants whose house the team helped build. We also got a first look at Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel visiting the new Blackhawks training facility and talking about the impact it will have on the community, along with scores of up close thoughts and visits with players and personalities big and small. It is compelling content which goes well beyond the normal fandom.

“This type of in-depth content is really what fans want these days, and I think this will be transformative for where television will be going into the future,” Greenburg, who launched popular series like “Hard Knocks” and “24/7” while at HBO, added. “Just watching games is no longer enough. Fans want to know about the drama and the personalities, and that’s what we do with these series.”

For a league like the NHL, the access leading up to their annual outdoor games is critical, and Greenburg is the perfect storyteller to make sure that the stage is set. And for an audience today that wants to consume content anywhere, EPIX, who delivers the show every Friday night via traditional broadcast and on a host of digital platforms including mobile, is a great partner. “They don’t limit the length of the show as you would have with a broadcast network, and the result is great, unvarnished storytelling,” Greenburg added.

Does this work for any sport? “It can with the right timing and access, but the NHL has really grasped and embraced the value.” The Westchester, NY resident and Brown University graduate added. “The players and teams really make it work.”

For fans of hockey, or just great stories, “The Road To The Outdoor Classics” is must see TV made even better by the mad who created the sports reality genre. Maybe they can make it work with baseball as well

Today, I received a Christmas card from Brandon Boyd. Who is Brandon Boyd? Today he is the equipment manager of the Texas Rangers Baseball team. Even if he was my own son, I could not be prouder of him.

I met Brandon when he was 14 years old. He was a kid with a dream and loved baseball almost as much as I love baseball. At a young age he got to be the spring training batboy for the Cleveland Indians. When I went to work for the Indians for a few years I took Brandon with me. He worked in the clubhouse, learned Spanish, and was very helpful with the predominantly Latin team.

He was loved by the star players like Bartolo Colon, Manny Ramirez, and the Alomar brothers, Robby and Sandy. And let’s not forget Omar Vizquel. However he got to see the ugly side at the same time. He saw the jealousy part of the game from his peers.

I guess you can say he saw the good, the bad, and the ugly.

No matter how good he was at helping the players it just wasn’t appreciated by the people that he worked with. I told him to hang in there, in baseball everyone goes through this. Brandon would not let me talk to the manager or general manager because he was mature enough to realize that it could come back and slap him in the face. He was the hardest working person in the clubhouse, would never complain and only made life in the clubhouse better for those players.

At one point it was so tough for Brandon that he realized that it was not in his best interest to work there anymore. I told again to hang tough because I would be going back to the Yankees shortly and I would take him with me. I think this made the blow easier.

After that season, Jon Hart became the G.M. of the Texas Rangers and asked me to go there to work with the psychology department. When I got to spring training fate had it that the equipment manager was a guy I knew from the Yankees named Chris Guth. Naturally,  the first thing I asked him was if he needed help in the clubhouse.   He was looking for a guy for the A-Ball team and for the next three weeks I literally begged Chris to hire Brandon. When he finally did I think I was happier than Brandon.

To this day, the people at Texas say that my best contribution to the Texas Rangers Organization was my introduction of Brandon to them. In fourteen years, Brandon has grown through the ranks to the point where he is now the top man in the clubhouse. The thing that also makes me proud is that met a beautiful young lady named Giselle and together they have three incredible kids: Austin, Savana, and Holland. Patience paid off for Brandon being a good person. He never felt sorry for himself and two World Series later Brandon Boyd and his family are living the American Dream.

Going into my 45th season in baseball I need to thank the New York Yankees for all the support through the years.  The Yankees have been this Puerto Rican and Cuban boy second family.  When things were tough at home I always had the option of staying at my second home Yankee Stadium.

I would either sleep in the  trainers room in the clubhouse or on the outfield during a nice night. I remember sometimes having these sleepovers with the Cucuzza boys.  Today Rob and Lou Cucuzza are the equipment managers at Yankee Stadium.

Mr. Steinbrenner first suggested that I stay at the stadium so that I wouldn’t  be on the subways late at night, traveling all the way back to Queens.  The Boss was very good to all the bat boys. In those days he was closer to us because there were less of us.

Today there are dozens of kids working the clubhouse.  I consider this a good thing because who wouldn’t want to work for the Yankees. When I go to speak to different schools around the city the first question is how can they they get a job at Yankee Stadium?

Today it’s great to see that young people both male and female still have such an interest in the New York Yankees. It’s beautiful to see how the organization gets so involved in the community the way they do.

Understand that I take this very personal because some of these food drives at the stadium have actually fed some of my family members that I have living in the Bronx. When Mr. Steinbrenner passed away in 2010, I was afraid that the organization would slack off in their efforts with community relations.

However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything it’s more than increased. The incredible food and toy drives conducted at Yankee Stadium would really make The Boss very proud. No one except his family and very close friends will ever understand how important this was to him or how important Christmas was to him.

Today I celebrate the first Christmas without my beloved parents. It’s a very difficult time for me and my family. I need to thank Hank and Hal, Jenny and Jessica Steinbrenner, Randy Levine and Brian Cashman and Lon Trost for their continuous support.

Debbie Tyman and Debbie Nicolosi, what you guys do behind the scenes with your crew is incredible. Brian Smith and Rocky Balsey who heads the community relations program, you guys are tireless in all your efforts in the Bronx.

I am very lucky to be associated with such a fabled organization. I need to thank the Yankees for the beautiful flowers that you sent both my Mom and Dad when they passed away last month. They loved The Boss and they loved the Yankees for giving their son direction in life.

You didn’t know my parents but they were very grateful. In their honor I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a great 2017 season.

Today, I went to my first basketball game as a reporter. The reason why I volunteered to go to this game was because Benjamin Cardozo High School was playing Springfield Gardens, my alma-mater.

It meant that Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio was going after his 755^th win which would have put him one ahead of Ed Petrie of East Hampton High School. That would make Naclerio New York State’s all-time winningest coach.

Even though I love my history at Springfield Gardens, I had to root for Coach Naclerio. I have known him since our days as high school baseball players. He was a great center fielder, who flat out flew. If there was a race between Brett Gardner of the Yankees and Ronnie, I would have bet on Naclerio.

I was a damn good player and drafted in the second round by the Pirates. Maybe, I would have been drafted higher if Naclario didn’t rob me of so many hits. Ron was also a great guard at Cardozo, averaging 18 points per game. This guy was just a great athlete. Ron was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, played three seasons and was invited to Major League Camp in 1981. A terrible tear of his ligaments in his ankle, finally ended his dream of playing in the Major Leagues. It was the third time he would suffer the same injury to the same ankle.

As a high school coach, the numbers speak for themselves. However it is his personalized make-up, intensity and his love of players that made him the greatest of all time. On the court, nobody but nobody works the floor like Naclerio. He is up and down, back and forth walking, running, waving, screaming cheering and I’m sure almost fainting because he is probably more exhausted than his players.

The game itself was very entertaining to say the least. Cardozo led all throughout until three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. At that point Springfield took the lead on the heroics of super guard Hogual Augustine, probably the best player on the floor and one of the most recruited kids by Division 1 schools.

However, it was a three-point bomb by guard D. Utley that would lock up the game for Cardozo. Utley scored 31 points, which made Naclerio the king of high school basketball and a true New York legend.

Another legend in the Naclerio family was Dr. Emil Naclerio, who was the man who would operate on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and saved his life after Dr. King was stabbed in a murder attempt.

Several years ago, before a game, Martin Luther King III – the son of the great Noble Peace Prize winner and one of this country’s greatest heroes – walked on the court to honor Ronnie and his accomplishments. This was truly a classy act by one great son to another.

In my life, I have been so blessed to know so many incredible people, who always had a dream and have never given up on those dreams. Ron Naclerio is one of them.