Dumont HS students put on a demonstration about the dangers of DWI.
'MAKE SOME HISTORY'
Giants and Jets make bid to host 2014 Super Bowl and new Meadowlands Stadium.
The idea of a first-ever Super Bowl in a cold-weather, open-air stadium was embraced by quarterbacks Eli Manning of the Giants and Mark Sanchez of the Jets. Read more.
LT in trouble again -and he owes me $150
photo by Thomas E. Franklin / 1994
Disgraced football legend Lawrence Taylor was charged with rape, federal prosecutors said. Read the tawdry details.
Last week, I was covering this hideous story, see video below. It was a long day, and another sad chapter in the life of a former great athlete.
But there are two noteworthy asides to this story. His colorful lawyer, Arthur Aidala, and I went to college together at Purchase College. Although we were only casual acquaintances, he was a character back then, he looked different but I remembered him. We did however bump into each other at Yankee Stadium during the World Series last October, otherwise I had not seen Arthur since 1988. It was quite a surprise to see him defending Taylor. Watch the video, he put on quite a performance.
The other item of note, is an old story. LT owes me money.
Actually, its Al Porro who owes me. Porro was LT's attorney and business partner years ago-now he's a convicted felon. When they opened a restaurant together, on Rt. 17 near the stadium, -you may recall, it was sometime around 1990...they bought two prints from me of LT playing for the Giants, intended to hang in the restaurant or some office, I can't recall exactly. Only the check they sent me bounced, in fact I think it bounced a second time after the first one failed, but I can't recall for sure.
The story gets better. A few years later, I'm sitting in a court room in Hackensack waiting for the judge while covering an assignment for the AP; LT's in court for not making child payments or something. I've got time to kill, so I'm reciting this story about LT and Porro to a colleague, when the guy sitting behind me eavesdrops on my conversation. He then taps me, introducing himself as Porro's son, and asks for my card, promising to send ANOTHER check, assuring me it won't bounce this time.
That was 1992-ish, I'm still waiting for that check... So the way I see it, LT owes me $150 bucks.
As far as human beings go, he's not the greatest -for sure. But as a football player, he was the best player I've ever seen. The most dominating sports figure, other than Michael Jordan and Dwight Gooden in 1985, I have ever seen.
Al Paglione RIP
photo by THOMAS E. FRANKLIN /2003
My friend and former colleague Al Paglione at The Record passed away this week, he lived a full life. Al was true New Jersey character and a great great photographer. Al was self-taught, "a longshoreman-turned-photojournalist who chronicled 35 years in the life of North Jersey."
He was a true original. A legend, and a throwback to the days of Tri-X and Nikormat's. I will miss you Al. Peace.
Here is an interview I did on FiOS1 News, talking about Al's work.
photos by THOMAS E. FRANKLIN /2004
A PITCH FOR DIABETES
Hackensack's Tim Swatek is one of North Jersey's top baseball players, and he is off to a fast start this season for the Comets -on the mound and at the plate. The 6'4" Maywood resident is garnering much attention and he plans to pitch at Fordham next year. Right now the future looks bright, but three years ago Swatek was struck with Type 1 Diabetes. It was a real scare for him and his parents, but Swatek has persevered. Read full story by Art Stapleton.
ARMED & READY
Eastern Christian's Gene Hill is one of North Jersey's top high school tennis players. Born with a congenital condition that left him with a short right arm, he plays with one-arm. Read more by Art Stapleton.
HEAT IS ON
Temperatures reached a hundred once again, as the hottest summer on record continues...We caught up with some folks in North Jersey dealing with warm temps and trying to stay cool.
North Jersey Shot Putters
North Jersey has 8 of the top female high school shot putters in the entire state, and they have shown dominance in this track event in recent years, with many titles among them. Recently, they gathered at Paramus Catholic HS for a photo shoot, and they had this to say about their sport.
Read Art Stapleton's column.
The Great Falls water park
More flooding...This week Paterson's Great Falls became a local hot spot, after the recent torrential rains. The historic Paterson Great Falls Park, which was designated as a national park last year (see my video), has lured visitors from all over the region to marvel at the surging waters.
The historic park designation will be a great great thing -not only for Paterson -but for those who have never been.
This place truly is a spectacle, well worth seeing, without a doubt.
The Great Falls in winter.
The Great Flood of 2010
North Jersey has more or less turned into a swamp this spring, as Nor'easters and horrendous storms have dumped record amounts of rain. Flooding has ensued, and wrecked havoc on low-lying communities and neighborhoods near swollen rivers. This is a staff video I produced, focusiing on Bergen and Passaic counties.
TARIQ GOES TO HAITI
Tariq Zehawi, my esteemed colleague at The Record, just returned from a two week trip to Haiti. he was following a medical/religious group from Saddle River, headed by Dr. Mark Wade,who plans to provide short-term -and long-term care, for earthquake victims in Haiti. Tariq and reporter Joe Ax went down with Wade's group, and remained in Port Au Prince until Wade and his group returned a week later with more supplies. Read more.
I helped him edit this video, which is a little longer than most of the video reports we produce, which includes a lot of his photographs as well. Tariq did a fine job on this very difficult assignment.
BLIZZARD 2010
The first major storm of the 2010 walloped North Jersey, dumping 18 inches of snow and shutting down schools, roads, and stores.
BOSCO'S BEST
Wednesday was National Letter of Intent Signing Day for high school athletes across the nation, and North Jersey had dozens of players signing on with top college football programs. None more than National powerhouse Don Bosco Prep, which had 10 players signing with Division I schools.
The national high school football champions and the North Jersey Team of the Year, celebrated with a grand ceremony at the Sheraton Crossroads Hotel. Bosco also honored 27 of 32 seniors who intend to play college football, including 10 who will play Division I or I-AA. Read more.
JETS PREPARE FOR COLTS
The Jets and head coach Rex Ryan prepare for this weekend's AFC Championship game against the Colts in Indy at the teams practice facility in Florham Park. The outspoken leader of Gang Green talks about the upcoming game, as well as young quarterback Mark Sanchez.
JETS SHOCK CHARGERS
NY Jets 17, San Diego 14
Went on the road with Gang Green out to San Diego of the AFC Divisional playoff game, and Jets hung in there and stole this one from the heavily favored Chargers. Loudest stadium I've ever been in, it was crazy-loud, and a great game.
After the game was another story. My colleague Chris Pedota's car rental was mistakenly towed after the game, which left us stranded and set off a string of events that turned this trip into a nightmare.
CHARGERS CASTILLO; Pride of Garfield
San Diego Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo is one of two present NFL players -the other being Myles Austin of the Cowboys, from tiny Garfield New Jersey.
In fact they both played on the same team at Garfield High, the same unheralded school that produced former Jets standout Wayne Chrebet -making that THREE NFL stars from the same small town. As Castillo prepares for upcoming playoff game against his hometown team -the Jets, we visited with him and his former high school coach Steve Mucha.
YANKS WIN 27th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
New York defeats Phillies in 6 games to clinch their 27th World Series title, and the first in the brand new Yankee Stadium.
I produced a video both before the game, and another one after the game.
Pre-Game video.
Post-game video.
OBAMA SUPPORTS CORZINE
President Barack Obama came to Hackensack and joined Caroline kennedy in an effort to drum up support for Governor Jon Corzine in his bid for re-election. Corzine has been trailing the challenger Republican Chris Christie, and needs the boost. Obama remains a fan favorite among area Democrats, and put on quite a performance. If only Corzine had that kinda command...
9/11 INTERVIEW BY NEWS 12 -Long Island
A nice piece done by New 12 Long Island reporter Virgina Huie, on my September 11th photographs.
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GROUND ZERO REVISTED
Progress is replacing delay, slowly, at the former World Trade Center site known as Ground Zero. Take a look. I had not been down there in some time, and its very hard to accept that its been ten years. Yet, nothing has gone up. I believe that it essential for that site to be rebuilt in order for all of us New Yorkers to move on. Its taken too long.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
WOODLAND PARK? or WEST PATERSON?
Boro residents argue over what to call their town, weeks before Election Day when they get set to vote on the name.
MIRACLE METS
The Mets gave tribute to the World Championship team of 1969 with a moving ceremony at Citi Field. Seaver, Koosman, Grote, Cleon, Buddy, Kranepool, Swoboda, Ryan -all were on hand to take us back to that magical year, and to relive their improbable World Series win over the vaunted Baltimore Orioles. Good stuff.
Lets Go Mets.
ROTHMAN LISTENS-UP
Congressman Steve Rothman held a series of town hall meetings to listen to what his constituents had to say about the proposed changes to national health care. The first meeting, held in a swelter-hot senior center in North Arlington, was raucous. This video caught a lot of attention and went somewhat viral, after the Drudge Report linked to it, almost crashing the NorthJersey.com server. Nearly 160,000 hits.
This was another meeting, held in Englewood Cliffs two days later.
SOMBER FAREWELL
Jersey City bid farewell to fallen officer Marc DiNardo, the detective shot during a shootout with robbers on July 16th. Law enforcement from around the country turned out for the funeral procession. Full story.
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