Instead of one day of presents, they have eight crazy nights

Borough President Diaz (center), Rabbi Israel Greenberg (left),
and New York Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman (right),
lit the menorah to commemorate the Jewish holiday.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., together with New York Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman and the Bronx's Jewish leaders, hosted the borough’s annual Chanukah celebration at Borough Hall yesterday, the third day in the Festival of Lights.

"The celebration of Chanukah reminds us that we can triumph over oppression of all kinds, no matter what the odds," Waldman said. "It is a triumph of a little light over total darkness."

Diaz echoed that statement, saying one of the reasons for this celebration is "to understand the history of the Festival of Lights."

He also spoke about his past visit to Israel, saying "there is no better way to see the beauty of Israel than with your own eyes.

Traditional Chanukah foods, such as latkes and jelly donuts, were served. The event also featured a musical performance from world-renowned recording artist Dafka Israel-Potok and the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale Community Choir.

Jump below for a few more pictures of the event.

Newest Yankee helps give out toys at P.S. 7

Most people have never heard of Matt Duran, and certainly none of the students at P.S. 7 today have, but that didn't stop the hundreds of kids from exploding in cheers when they realized a New York Yankee was in the building.

Matt Duran and Ray Negron of the NY Yankees, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, PS 7 Principal Frank Patterson, Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lenny Caro, NY Yankees mascot Sultan and puppet Lucky pose with students from PS 7.

Duran joined Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lenny Caro in giving away toys to the students, part of the annual toy drives that the Yankees, the Chamber and Dinowitz each do (separately).

Also helping out was an adviser to the Yankees, Ray Negron, who told the students they need to show their teachers "that [you] are going to grow up and become really good people."

Duran, 18 years old future 3rd baseman for the Bronx Bombers, added that they need to follow their dreams and work hard at school.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz hands out soccer balls to PS 7 students.

Yankee great helped bring in holiday season in the Bronx

 Former New York Yankee Mickey Rivers helped the Bronx Botanical Gardens launch their holiday season last week.

-Photo by Talisman Brolin

Rivers (far right), the former center fielder who won two World Series with the Bronx Bombers in 1978 and 1979, joined a handful of elected officials, including Assemblymen Marcos Crespo (far left) and Jeffrey Dinowitz (second from right) and state Senator Jose Serrano (second from left), to help bring in the holidays.

Dinowitz turned on the lights for the Botanical Gardens' menorah.  -Photo by Talisman Brolin

Borough President Diaz Honors Little League Champions

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is getting to know the Rolando Paulino Little League quite well. First, part of the league played in the Bronx Borough Cup championship at Yankee Stadium, and now Diaz has honored the 9-and-under team for their performance in a national tournament. Something tells me RPLL may just have a few future Yankees in their league.

On Friday, Sept. 30, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
honored the Rolando Paulino Little League’s 9-and-under baseball team
for their performance in this summer’s Cal Ripken Little League tournament.
The team won both New York State and the Mid-Atlantic Region
before their elimination in the national tournament.

Baseball fans think Yankees will win the Fall Classic

The Bronx Bombers are favored by
fans to win the Fall Classic.

Baseball fans think the Bronx Bombers will win their 28th World Series this year, according to a new Marist poll. 

More than one in five -- 22 percent -- think the New York Yankees will round the bases into their 28th championship, 16 percent say the Philadelphia Phillies will take the win, and only six percent believe the Boston Red Sox will slide into victory.

It's worth noting that this poll was conducted Sept. 13 and 14. Way back then, the Red Sox were 5 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the American League Wild Card. Today? The Sox are in a tie with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Angels have been eliminated from contention.

Last year’s World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants, are favored to repeat by just three percent of baseball fans -- but they've also been eliminated from the playoffs. The same proportion -- three percent -- thinks the Texas Rangers, the Atlanta Braves, or the Detroit Tigers will steal the title. 17 percent believe another team entirely will take the title, and 26 percent are unsure.

A similar situation happened in the National League that happened in the AL Wild Card race. On Sept. 14, the Braves were a solid 4 1/2 games up on the Cardinals. Today? Atlanta only has a one-game advantage.

While more baseball fans sit behind the Yankees dugout, their arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox, have fallen from grace in the eyes of baseball fans. When Marist last reported this question in July, 17 percent favored the Bronx Bombers while 15 percent boasted the Red Sox. 10 percent touted the Phillies while four percent cheered on the Giants. Now out of the top five, four percent thought the St. Louis Cardinals would go all the way. 23 percent, then, said another team would be crowned the champions of baseball while 27 percent were unsure.

Little League Raiders take inaugural Borough President's Cup

Wednesday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the New York Yankees co-hosted the first ever Borough President's Cup Little League Championship. We'll have a full story for next week's Bronx Press, but since it will be nearly a week, here's a recap of the game.

Playing at Yankee Stadium was a dream come true for the teens.

The Little League Raiders and the Rolando Paulino Little League competed for the Bronx title at Yankee Stadium. The Little League Raiders won the game, defeating the Rolando Paulino Little League 9-7 in extra innings.

Diaz with RP's Joel Paulino.

The Raiders were down 3-0 going into the fourth, but scored two runs. In the fifth, they pulled ahead 7-3 after a run-scoring error, two bases-loaded walks and a two-run single.

But the Rolando Paulino Little League didn't give up. In the bottom of the seventh (typically the final inning in Little League), down 7-3, a two-run single with the bases loaded brought the score to 7-5. With the winning run at the plate, an RP player then struck out swinging, but then Felix Camacho's liner into left field was misplayed by the fielder and tied the game up.

Jump below for the rest of the recap.

Countdown to 602 (UPDATE with pictures)

The 'Jeter Meter' is now the 'Mariano Meter,'
counting down Rivera's last ten
saves to the all time record.

OK, so 602 isn't as catchy as 3,000, but it's even more impressive. Now that Derek Jeter has surpassed the famed hit milestone, the 161st Business Improvement District has found another milestone their LCD sign can track.

The BID has installed a 'Mariano Meter' in front of his portrait between 161st Street and 162nd Street on River Avenue, which will count the last ten saves Mariano Rivera needs to capture the major league all-time saves record.

The meter, which originally counted up to 3,000 hits for Jeter, now counts up to 602 for Rivera as he chases the record.

The Mariano Meter currently sits at 592.

The four-foot LED screen carries 'good luck' wishes from local merchants, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and fans. The Jeter Meter was in place in front of the Yankee Captain’s image from May through July. The Mariano Meter will run through the end of the season in front of Rivera's image.

Billy’s, Yankee Tavern, Molino Rojo, Stan’s, KJY Fruit, S & A Collectibles and Valencia Bakery are the initial sponsors of the Mariano Meter.

Fans will have a chance to wish Mo 'good luck' by stopping at the Mariano Meter and adding their names to the electronic scroll.

The meter is on River Avenue,
between 161st and 162nd streets.

Trevor Hoffman, a former San Diego Padre, holds the MLB record with 601. After Rivera, the next closest active pitcher to Hoffman is Francisco Cordero with 316.

Jeter closing in on 3k

New York Yankee captain Derek Jeter is four hits away from 3,000. Not only would he become the first Yankee to ever do so, there's a very good chance it's going to happen at the Stadium. The Bronx Bombers begin a four-game homestand against the Rays Thursday, and ticket prices are starting to skyrocket.

The 'Jeter Meter' has been counting down Jeter's quest for 3,000.

As a big Yankee fan myself, I have season tickets on Fridays (so we all know when I want it to happen). I also know that the average ticket price for a bleacher or 400 level seat on a regular Thursday goes for around $15, and they drop as low as $5 the day of. Tickets for this Thursday's game are already at least $40 for the same area--up over %100 from just two days ago.

Jump below for more information--and a possible tip on where to score free cake!