LA Dodgers Meet, Greet & Beat the Mets

The New York Mets' Journey: A Season of Highs and Lows

The New York Mets' season, filled with unexpected twists and turns, came to a close with a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). It was a season that saw the Mets rise from a challenging start to come within touching distance of the World Series, a testament to the team's resilience and fighting spirit.

The Mets' journey was nothing short of a roller coaster ride. From a sluggish 22-33 start to a remarkable turnaround that captivated the hearts of fans, the team showed what it means to never give up. The players-only meeting that sparked a change, the accountability they held each other to, and the standard they set for themselves, all contributed to a season that will be remembered for its inspiring moments as much as for its ultimate outcome.

Tommy Edman and Will Smith emerged as pivotal figures for the Dodgers, with Edman earning the NLCS MVP honors. His performance, alongside the Dodgers' depth and talent, proved too much for the Mets in the end. Despite the loss, the Mets' designated hitter J.D. Martinez reflected on the journey positively, emphasizing the incredible path they had traversed.

The Mets' playoff run was marked by memorable victories, including Pete Alonso's three-run homer that sealed the Wild Card Series against the Brewers. Each game added a new chapter to their story, one that saw them overcome the Braves and the Phillies, teams that posed significant challenges throughout the season.

As the Dodgers celebrated their victory, the Mets' clubhouse was a scene of mixed emotions. There was a sense of disappointment, naturally, but also a recognition of the effort and dedication that each player had put forth. Adam Ottavino and Ryne Stanek, among others, expressed their feelings candidly, acknowledging the pain of the loss while also taking pride in the commitment shown by the team.

Looking ahead, the Mets have a foundation to build on. The experiences of this season, both the highs and the lows, have forged a team that knows its potential. As they regroup and look to the future, the Mets can take solace in the fact that they were part of a magical season, one that brought joy and excitement to their fans.

The end of the season is always bittersweet, especially when it concludes just shy of the ultimate goal. However, the New York Mets have shown that they are a team of character, capable of defying expectations and making a deep run into the playoffs. As the saying goes, "It's not about the destination; it's about the journey." And what a remarkable journey it has been for the Mets this season.

Many New York Yankees fans are not happy despite the Mets being rivals. They wanted another rematch of the 2000 World Series Subway Series.  

Victim of Assault, Gay Teacher Brandon Soriano: 'Homophobia is Real'

It is June. During this month, while the Catholic Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Body and Blood of Christ, others celebrate the National Puerto Rican day parade and Gay Pride. It is supposed to be a time of summer fun as the days get warmer and many have months off to enjoy it. However, one young man has been forced to start this time on bad terms.

Brandon Soriano, a 25-year-old elementary school teacher was brutally assaulted after leaving Queens Pride. In New York, each borough has a set day to celebrate Gay Pride. Queens starts it off, then Brooklyn, Staten Island, The Bronx with Manhattan ending it all with the much larger Gay Pride parade. Many LGBTQ and others participate in each event in a show of pride and solidarity.

Despite many advances made on how society sees and treats the LGBTQ community in recent years, some hate still remains. Soriano was enjoying his day at Queens pride and left after it was over. He was going to pick up some food before going to his apartment when two people yelled anti-gay slurs and brutally beat him up.  He was left unconscious on the sidewalk with a busted lip and very large bruises on his head and face. 

The attack was unprovoked, according to Soriano who said it occurred at around 10 at night on 37th Avenue and 84th Street in the Jackson Heights section of Queens. Soriano is hoping the perpetrators are caught. He says that if he sees them again that he will cross the street to avoid them. The attack has left him uneasy. He says that "Homophobia is real and it's annoying." The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is current investigating the incident and is asking the public for any information that may lead to arrests.

As a Catholic, I disagree wholeheartedly with the LGBTQ lifestyle; however, this does not mean that I or any Catholic has justification to hate the LGBTQ. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). Not all neighbors will be Catholic. Jesus did not specify and left it in a general sense.
Any Catholic or anyone who claims to love God and hates gays, or assaults them physically does not love God at all.  He or she is defying God's will to love one another. We can disagree with each other, but we must never hate one another. This is just not God's way.  Moreover, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says it clearly:

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

As it says, "They must be ACCEPTED with RESPECT, COMPASSION, and SENSITIVITY.  Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."  Calling them f*gs, sodomites or any derogatory term is uncharitable and a sin against our neighbor which offends God and our neighbor. Moreover, assaulting a homosexual or anyone is never justified, unless in the case of self-defense of course (which is rare). I have many gay friends and it pains me to learn that this young man was attacked for no reason other than because he is gay. This could have been any one of my friends.  Let us pray for one another and protect one another. Let us sow the seeds of love in everyone we encounter. Despite our differences and alternate views, we are all children of God.  If you are a victim of hate, please report it to the authorities and do not keep the incident quiet. This will empower those with hateful hearts.   

If you have any information on this case, contact the NYPD: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/services/law-enforcement/hate-crimes.page    



Source:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/06/04/queens-pride-parade-hate-crime/

Bronx Priest Native of Nigeria Shot in Queens

Father Damien Ekete of Holy Spirit church on University Avenue in the Bronx was shot after trying to evangelize a drug dealer. Ekete witnessed a drug deal going on while waiting for a cab after attending a party in Queens. While telling the drug dealer that his lifestyle was not moral and was dangerous, a green Nissan Altima pulled beside them and someone inside began to shoot. The perpetrator missed the drug dealer and hit the priest instead in his right upper arm.

Father Damien Ekete is a 49 year old African native of Nigeria and has worked in the Archdiocese of New York for five years. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital and released. Shortly after, he was interviewed by detectives and drove home to his rectory in the Bronx. Please keep father Ekete in your prayers as he recovers. I commend his bravery and evangelical zeal, however, he must be more careful and understand that the streets are dangerous and he must always check his surroundings.  I myself was attacked by 'Latin Kings' gang members after recruiting some of their members to our youth group. Luckily my kick boxing skills are sharp and I was able to take down the five gangsters. They messed with the wrong guy!  The 'holy beat down' I gave in self defense served to increase my street credit which brought more youth!  God works in strange ways indeed!!!

I know Holy Spirit parish very well. It is a small modest parish community located near Bronx Community College.






Source:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/05/08/queens-priest-shot/

http://nypost.com/2016/05/08/priest-shot-outside-queens-bodega/

http://www.amny.com/news/catholic-priest-shot-in-south-ozone-park-queens-nypd-say-1.11775052

https://www.readfulapp.com/site/NYCnow?tag=News&item=572f5de7031b58325e7ecca7

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/bronx-priest-hit-stray-bullet-queens-drive-by-shooting-article-1.2629289?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fsports%2Fbasketball%2Fnets+%28Sports%2FBasketball%2FNets%29

http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/criminal-justice/2016/05/8/priest-shot-in-shoulder-in-south-ozone-park.html?cid=twitter_NY1

Sad News - Avonte Oquendo

The autistic teenager from Queens, New York who was caught on camera leaving his school is believed to be dead. (see: http://www.sacerdotus.com/2013/10/avonte-oquendo-missing.html)

Avonte Oquendo left his school without the staff realizing and ran off onto the streets of Queens, New York never to be seen or heard from again.  Thousands of volunteers mobilized a large search effort including the NYPD, but no success.  Rewards were offered leading to information on the whereabouts of young Avonte in order to find him, but tips that were received lead nowhere.  The homes of sex offenders in the area were even searched to see if convicted child molesters/rapists had taken the child to sexually abuse.

A few hours ago, a high school student out on the shore of College Point taking photos discovered human remains.  Legs and an arm were on the scene.  The student immediately called the police who found clothes similar to that which Avonte was wearing the day he vanished as well as a jawbone, ribs and pelvic bone.  According to the Oquendo family's lawyer, the clothes are extremely identical, including sneakers found - all were the same size Avonte wore.

Nevertheless, the mother of Avonte is not giving up hope stating that "it's not Avonte until it's Avonte."  DNA tests are being done on the remains with help from Avonte's mother who provided samples of her own DNA as well as Avonte's birth certificate with inked footprint and his toothbrush to extract his DNA from.

This is a sad day indeed.  Any child that goes missing is horrific, but when it comes to a non-verbal autistic child; it hurts a little more for the mere fact that this child could not talk.  He could not ask for help, call his mother or do anything a non-autistic child is capable of doing at age 14.

We will have to wait perhaps a few days or a month to learn whether or not the remains found are

that of young Avonte.  The NYPD does not suspect foul play, but who knows.  The remains were found nine miles from Avonte's school.  Some are speculating that he went to the waters of Queens and drowned which can possibly explain the separated bodily remains due to an expedited decay of the body where the body bloats quickly as it is filled with water, becomes mushy and breaks apart due to the bacteria.

We can only pray and hope Avonte is still alive, but most likely these are his remains if in fact the clothes found match what he was wearing the day he left his school.  If not, my prayers go out to whoever these remains belong to and his/her family.

I will update this post as soon as I learn more.*



Source:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/cops-investigating-arm-torso-legs-found-queens-shoreline-missing-teen-avonte-oquendo-police-source-article-1.1582937

http://pix11.com/2014/01/17/could-it-be-avonte-inside-the-extensive-investigation-of-found-human-remains-2/

http://www.ny1.com/content/news/202054/human-remains-discovered-in-queens-could-be-of-missing-teen

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9396907

http://pix11.com/2014/01/17/body-parts-found-may-be-linked-to-avonte-oquendo-police-source/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/17/avonte-oquendo_n_4616470.html

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/01/17/avonte-oquendos-family-waiting-to-learn-identity-of-remains-found-in-queens/

http://www.ny1.com/content/news/202054/human-remains-discovered-in-queens-could-be-of-missing-teen

Marc Anthony Racism

Baseball is one of my favorite sports to play and watch.  Naturally, the All Star game is a must for me.  I was privilege to attend the one at the Old Yankee Stadium in 2008 and had fun. 

Baseball is America's pastime.  It is the game that has helped Americans direct their focus from daily stresses and national tragedies.  However, this year's All Star game was tarnished. 

Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony, a New Yorker or "NuyoRican" was invited to give his interpretation of "God Bless America."  This hymn is sung during the 7th inning stretch in many baseball stadiums.  It is a song that calls on the Creator who grants us inalienable rights and has allowed our nation to prosper to continue blessing the nation.

However, some ignorant trolls took to Twitter and began tweeting racist tweets against Marc Anthony.  Derogatory terms were directed at him as well as Mexicans.  These people gave away their ignorance not only because of the racism, but for the mere fact that they believed Marc Anthony to be of Mexican descent. 

Marc Anthony is American born of Puerto Rican descent.  Not only is he American by birth, but also for the mere fact that Puerto Ricans are already citizens because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States of America.  Whether born in the States or on the island, Puerto Ricans enjoy American citizenship and are proud of that, even though other Hispanics often mock Puerto Ricans for not having "independence."  However, this is most likely due to envy because many non-Puerto Rican Hispanics risk their lives to come to this nation yet have the nerve to mock Puerto Ricans for having citizenship. 

Moreover, the angry tweets criticized that the hymn "God Bless America" was sung by a non-America (according to them).  However, this once again shows their ignorance.  The composer of this hymn was Irving Berlin, an immigrant born in Russia of Jewish descent.  The irony right?

In closing, it is sad to learn that these things still happen in American society in the 21st century.  We need to work more to educate our young people so that they will not grow up with misconceptions and prejudices against any group.

I invite all to file a report to Twitter against these racists who use the site to abuse others.   
These are the tweets and the accounts who wrote them.  I will add more as I learn of them:

https://twitter.com/SirRock1001/statuses/357324731311067136
https://twitter.com/BlurNulled/statuses/357323727316332544
https://twitter.com/BlurNulled/statuses/357323727316332544
https://twitter.com/chancellorjones/statuses/357323837144170497



A similar outpouring of xenophobia happened when Cuban Yoenis Cespedes won the HomeRun Derby and was interviewed in English.  See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/17/yoenis-cespedes-home-run-derby_n_3612301.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

I will write on this at a later time.




Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/marc-anthony-god-bless-america_n_3618420.html    
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/opinion/2013/07/18/outrage-against-marc-anthony-shows-racism-against-latinos-alive-and-well/ 
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/07/marc-anthony-controversy-underscores-a-racist-ignorant-tide-in-america.html/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/marc-anthony-all-star-game_n_3618975.html