Why Phil Rizzuto is stupid, and Curtis Sliwa a genius

[Slippery Elm]

OK, I'm kidding about Scooter. BUT. . .

I was at the Staten Island Yankees' game Monday night. They pounded on the N.J. Cardinals. The team mascot is some guy in a Holy Cow suit, complete with halo, with the name "Scooter" on the back!

Pat Riley, I'm told, copyrighted the term he supposedly invented - "threepeat". He gets residuals when that term is used commercially.

Too bad Scooter never copyrighted or trademarked the "Holy Cow" and "Scooter" names - HE COULD HAVE MADE A KILLING. (Or did he??). So could have that guy who invented those yellow smiley face things; he recently died but never regretted (he said) not doing so.

Curtis Sliwa of WABC and the Guardian Angels was there in his red Superhero crimefighter suit. He managed to get acknowledged his 80 year old father's birthday, made a speech, did some giveaway promotions with local companies that were announced during the game, and got assorted plugs for himself in. His new wife was also there - very nice-looking. He's a genius at self-promotion, even though a High School dropout.

Nice ballpark with a great view of NY harbor. BTW, the view of the skyline at night on the ferry ride back was fabulous.

[Slippery Elm]

http://www.nypostonline.com/sports/29002.htm

MR. JUAN-DERFUL RALLIES YANKEES

By MARK HALE

S.I. Yankees 12 - N.J. Cardinals 7
July 10, 2001 -- Juan Camacho doesn't get real nervous when the Staten Island Yankees digs themselves into an early deficit. Why worry? Camacho knows that sooner or later, the Yanks will hit.

So it was last night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark, where the Yankees came back from an early 3-1 hole thanks primarily to an eight-run fourth inning that catapulted them to a comeback victory over the New Jersey Cardinals. The final score might have read 12-7, but really it was: Staten Island, one huge inning; Jersey, no big innings.

"We start losing all the time," Camacho said. "But we always get back in it. We have a very good offense and some very good hitters."

In particular, they have Camacho, who had a career day at the plate. The slugging third baseman piled up two homers, three hits and five RBIs. Even more impressive was the timing with which he delivered his run-scoring knocks.

After Jersey posted a three-spot in the third inning off of Baby Bomber starter Bobby Wood to take a 3-1 lead, Camacho injected his teammates with some much-needed adrenaline in the bottom of the fourth. He led off the inning by crushing a towering home run to right off Cards' first-round draft pick Justin Pope, cutting the lead to one.

His blast both inspired his teammates and unnerved the Cards. Aaron Rifkin followed with an infield hit, and Jeff Segar proceeded to bounce a textbook double-play ball to New Jersey third baseman John Santor. But Santor's throw to second sailed into right field, moving both runners up and keeping the rally alive.

Singles from Jeff Christensen, Alejandro Fernandez and Andy Cannizaro then brought home two more runs before John-Ford Griffin scorched a two-run double to right. That brought things full circle, as Camacho's second at-bat of the inning produced a two-run single to right that capped the eight-run burst.

"You play nine innings," Segar said, "so you're bound to get lucky in one of them."

Camacho wasn't done yet, however. After the Cards trimmed the margin to 9-6 on a three-run bomb from Molloy H.S. alum Jesse Roman, Camacho erased any thoughts of a visiting comeback by launching a moonshot to right-center that may or may not have landed yet.

The two-run rocket put Camacho in a tie for the team lead in homers with four and placed him squarely atop the club's RBI list with 16.

Meanwhile, like their comeback last night, the Yanks (12-7) have rebounded from a slow start to win five of their last six games, a run that has them perched atop the McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League. The a streak has been a result of the Bombers' suddenly hot bats, lumber that's ripped off 68 runs in the last 11 games.

"We've got some guys who are pretty good hitters and who can swing the bats," said manager Dave Jorn. "And we're starting to come around."

[Nome]

No one will ever have to give a benefit for either Scooter or Yogi.

Both were smart businessmen and are financially, more than "comfortable"

[SkooterPhil#10]

Scooter did try to tell Seaver that his nickname was patented. In his free verse book:

"Wait a minute.
Wait a-
You can't call him 'Scooter'.
With me in the booth,
Seaver.
That name is....
That name is patented."

[Bluesexy's daddy]

Thanks Elm. I will try to catch a game there the next time I am in NY. It sounds great. With the ferry ride and the view of the harbor they should do all they can to promote that team and stadium as a tourist attraction.

One thing I like about minor league baseball is the relaxed atmosphere.

[Slippery Elm]

DITTO to all that.

I just wish there, and at Keyspan Park in Coney Island, they'd TURN DOWN THE PA SYSTEM! It is loud everywhere these days.

[afsargent]

The Scooter was a great announcer. It was a shame that Mr. S. wanted him to broadcast the game instead of letting him go to Micks funeral. The Yankees lost a good color commentator.

[Sixty one]

Does anyone know whether Phil's health will permit him to be at old-timers game tomorrow?