Thursday, January 31, 2008

Commentary

MLB Should Retire Clemente's #21 for Good
By Ismael Nunez

It is time for Major League Baseball to retire #21 in honor of one of baseball’s greats Roberto Clemente.
It’s up to you Commissioner. You are at bat.
The New York City Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Relations recently held a hearing on the resolution calling for Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Sleigh to retire # 21 in honor of Clemente, a Hall of Famer and a humanitarian.
Many grassroots activists and baseball fans have lobbied MLB to retire Clemente’s uniform number from all baseball teams. That’s an honor given only to one player: Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson.
That January day advocates made their presentations before the City Council, saying why they support retiring the number.
Two of them were judges from Connecticut: Carmen Lopez and Dale W. Radcliffe.
“We honor a young Latino from Carolina, Puerto Rico, who came north to play baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1950’s and confronted the dual minority status of race and language,” Radcliffe said. “We honor a superb athlete…often over-looked and underappreciated, yet who managed to transform anger and resentment into determination and reached the pinnacle of his profession.”
Radcliffe also spoke of the boricua’s accomplishments on the baseball field.
Lopez said it is about time that MLB retires the number.
“I believe that MLB, as a good corporate citizen, has a wonderful opportunity to showcase a superstar who lived by the principles of respect and service,” Lopez said.
This move, she said, would help a future generation know the legacy of Roberto Clemente.
And she spoke about Clemente’s heroic acts.
Clemente is not a hero, she said, because he played baseball with skill and pride. He’s a hero because he led a life of service to others. He even lost his life in an attempt to help others.
“These are the role models that our children and youth need,” she said.
William Gerena-Rochet, editor of Latinosports.com, spoke about how Clemente opened doors for future players.
“Clemente was not the first Latin American to play in the MLB,” he said. “He was the first Latino super star and began playing baseball when ML teams still had quotas on how many players of color they would have on their teams at a given time.
“Whereas Robinson is said to have opened the gate, Clemente can be said to have held it open for the Latino players who followed,” he said.
Bryon Hunter, producer of the documentary “The Legacy of 21,” said that almost ballplayer interviewed for the project agreed that #21 should be retired.
Julio Pabon, founder of Latino Sports, said Clemente deserves the honor because “he was more than just a great baseball player.
“The fact that he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously after his death without having to wait the five year period is a testament to his great ability as an athlete that still to this day is mentioned and compared when certain plays or throws are made from right field,” Pabon said.
The fact that Clemente was killed on December 31, 1972 in an airplane crash on his way to take badly needed supplies to earthquake Nicaragua victims was the ultimate sacrifice that any human being can make, Pabon said.

Ismael Nunez is a freelance writer based in El Barrio, NYC, who contributes his writings to Puerto Rico Sun.

Roca en Isabela


Roca en Isabela
Originally uploaded by EdVeguilla.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Featured story

Bronx Boricua Princesas Wanted

Bronx Puerto Rican Parade seeking candidates to march down on the Grand Concourse and celebrate their cultural pride in the spring.
Organizers of the annual Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade - celebrating its 20th anniversary this year - are now looking to crown princesses and princes (ages 5 to 65+) to lead the parade.
For more info, go to
http://www.bronxprparade.com/new-press-releases.html

Friday, January 25, 2008

Featured story


'Avenida Puerto Rico' leading into a very proud Perth Amboy

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080125/NEWS010203/801250493

PERTH AMBOY (NJ) -- A sign, proclaiming the honorary name "Avenida Puerto Rico" for Hall Avenue, was unveiled Thursday to the applause of residents and supporters who see the move as a tribute to the accomplishments Puerto Ricans have made in the community.

source: Home News Tribune

Thursday, January 24, 2008

IMG_6032


IMG_6032
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
America's Next Top Model Jaslene Gonzalez signs an autograph for Daisy at Urban Latino Magazine's In the Mix networking reception at Sofritos restaurant in Manhattan. Jaslene, a boricua, is the covergirl for the magazine's current edition.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

RIP: Prof. Serrano


RIP: Prof. Serrano
Originally uploaded by prsuncom
Obit

Boricua College Remembers Beloved Professor Alfredo Serrano

By Robert Waddell

Alfred Serrano, professor at Boricua College, often boasted that he had worked at almost any kind of job. He knew the American history behind the creation of blue jeans and he was a war veteran with a gentle soul.
The Boricua College learning annex on East 147th Street in the South Bronx is a little too quiet without the academic facilitator who often offered students and colleagues a dish full of candy. Serrano died suddenly of a massive coronary on January 4.
“He was a caring person and a humanitarian,” said Professor Julio Sanchez. “He believed in rejoicing and for people to come together making a better world through education.”
Serrano had been a member of the Boricua College faculty since 1996.
He had 27 years experience in the fields of elementary through post-secondary education.
From 1965 to 1967, Captain Serrano, a Puerto Rican, served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in Vietnam. He was both an enlisted man and an officer serving in positions as varied as supervisor-unit commander, Infantry advisor in South Vietnam, Staff Officer, Personnel Officer and Communications Officer.
As an educator, he often shared stories about Vietnam and growing up in New York City.
Serrano was quick with a joke and had a loud laugh.
He loved history and geography and often taught courses in these subjects.
“I'm going to miss the conversations we had,” said Professor Esteban Galvan. “He was a very understanding, very caring person. He could talk about all kinds of subjects; he was always interested in learning.”
Serrano is survived by his mother, a brother, two sons and several grandchildren.


Robert Waddell is a freelance journalist based in the Bronx who contributes his writings to Puerto Rico. Waddell, who serves at Boricua College, worked with Serrano for over three years.

Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián II


Sunday, January 20, 2008

Thanks for 'Un Caribe en NY'


IMG_5935
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
From left, artist Diogenes Ballester, me and filmmaker Judith Escalona at the Jan. 17 closing reception of the "Un Caribe en NY" photo exhibit


Thanks to everyone who in one way or another supported the "Un Caribe en NY" photo exhibit at Cemi Underground, NYC. A special thanks to my fellow participating photographers Chris Lopez and Eliud Martinez. Another special thanks to Cemi Underground for the space.

The exhibit ran from Jan. 4-18 at Cemi Underground. You can still check out our online "Un Caribe en NY" photo gallery. Just click on the "Photo Exhibit: Un Caribe en Nueva York" link posted right here in this blog.

Saludos,
Clarisel Gonzalez, curator

Montañas de Jayuya


Montañas de Jayuya
Originally uploaded by Jorge Rodriguez.