CSI in the News - CSI Today

Bay Ridge EagleCitizen Kane’s Bay Ridge Beat: January 20, 2010by Tom Kane (tk@brooklyneagle.net), published online 01-20-2011By Tom Kane And FriendsFrom humble beginnings … Had a chance to catch up with one of my oldest and dearest friends last week, NeilBarbella. Neil is currently the associate head coach of the men’s baseball team at the College of Staten Island, nodoubt as a result of the wonderful tutoring he received as a young assistant back in the day. Neil was a member ofmy own coaching staff in St. Patrick’s Little League and an integral part of the undefeated championship season ofmy beloved Navajos. He’s been working a little harder than that these days as he and Head Coach Mike Maurocontinue to build a nationally recognized program.“We’re very excited right now,” Neil told me. “We’re currently ranked 50th in the nation on the Division III level. Thatmight not sound like much, but we’ve never been ranked before.”And there’s more to celebrate.“We had our first-ever All-American last year, (first baseman/pitcher Pat Gale), and have a solid core returning,” Neilsaid. “More importantly, we’ve been able to schedule more prominent opponents, which will boost our strength-ofscheduleranking, something that really comes into play when bids are made at tournament time.”CSI’s first big game comes on March 4, when the Dolphins face national power Cortland State. Here’s hoping Neiland his charges are playing well into June. Good luck, my friend.* * *One more for Gang Green … If only I’d known, 42 years ago, that I’d be waiting this long to see the Jets return to theSuper Bowl, maybe I’d have rooted for another team. After all, only the Lions have waited longer. But, the wait couldbe over soon if my new hero, Mark Sanchez, can carry us through one more road game this Sunday in Pittsburgh.He’s working against more than the powerful jinx that has cursed the franchise since 1969, though, as SportsIllustrated decided to make the task even tougher by putting the Jets on this week’s cover. We all know how thatusually works out – “Cancel my subscription!” But, seriously, I have all the faith in the world that Sanchez is up to thetask, as is his extra large coach. On to Dallas, men!* * *The long road back … Last year, you may have read a wonderful piece by Eagle columnist Eddie Mayrose aboutSteve Oliver, head basketball coach at Fontbonne Hall Academy, and his daughter Jillian, who injured her knee in aNew York State playoff game. It’s been a long eight months for Jill as she battled to return for her senior season aftersurgery to repair a torn ACL. There was a lot of painful rehab and more than one setback as the Bonnies’ point guardraced the clock to get back on the court. However, Jill didn’t become such an accomplished player withoutperseverance being one of her strong qualities and, last week, she made her season debut in the Fontbonnebackcourt.Playing tentatively at first, she worked her way into the offense until she buried a big three in the third quarter of atight game against division rival St. Saviour. The Bonnies won that one and enjoyed a nine-point contribution from Jillin her next outing. While she recognizes there are still some limitations, she’s just thrilled to be back, even lining upon the court at times with her younger sister, Kate.Page 80 of 157