As 2016 is starting to wind down and the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it’s a good time to reflect on the year and thank those who have contributed to NY Sports Day over the past year.
We are growing every day and this month we are looking to have around 350,000 visitors to the site, which will break another record. Month over month, we are increasing our visitors and reach.
And the journalism community is starting to notice. Yesterday we had a banner day. Ray Negron’s interview with Aroldis Chapman was picked up by every major media outlet in the area and also by national outlets and in Chicago.
And unlike many independent outlets, we are credentialed by every sports team in the area and have a photographer at many games as well.
All of this came from the hard work of the staff, we would never have approached the size and scope we have accomplished in the past year.
I want to thank Ray for his tireless work. He has opened doors for us and because of his connections, NY Sports Day is now read by major players in the sports, entertainment and political worlds. A chance meeting walking into Yankee Stadium produced a very fruitful relationship.
Wally Matthews joined the staff about a month ago and immediately, not only did he bring his tremendous reporting and writing talent to the staff, but also he is an example of professionalism that everyone on the staff – including myself – can use as an example. Thank you Wally for taking a chance on us.
Rich Mancuso has become a very close confidant for me. His connections and experience provides us with great insight with every column.
Andy Esposito gives us a very different view in his columns. Coming from Mets Inside Pitch, there are very few people out there that know as much about the club as he does. His stories are always a must to read.
We have Lloyd Carroll, who gives us his unique view coming from the world of accounting. I think Lloyd would agree with me when I say, you don’t have to agree with Lloyd, but you have to read him.
MLB scorer Howie Karpin, scout Billy Coppola and long-time radiomen Ashley Scharge, Matt Mankiewich and Rich Coutinho have joined us, giving us a good “veteran” presence.
Our US Open guys, Rich Pagliaro and “The Koz,” make this site the best tennis outlet out there the two weeks around Labor Day.
Leslie Treff and Joe Soccoa have taken over my old beat with the Rangers. I can’t think of a better duo covering a team. And even though, I will cameo from time to time, I know the beat is in good hands.
John Fennelly joined us from SNY as an alternate outlet for him and he provides excellent coverage on the Giants for us.
Both Jon Wagner and Ian Schraier have been with us for years and every article they produce is well written and informative.
Over the summer, after a staff change, both Anthony Rushing and soon to be published author David Russell stepped up to fill the void and I am proud to say with that stepped up the writing quality of the site.
We have a number of new faces coming over from other places. Breanna Morello, Jimmy Calderone, Keith Raad, Jackie Daly, Mike Polak, Gershon Rabinowitz, Charlie Mule, Steve Simineri, Jason Cordner, and Chris Saunders have come in and made this outlet very diverse.
Over on the photo side, Neil Miller has brought in a staff of professionals shooting for us. The artwork makes the site look great and helps the content on a daily basis. David Pokress, Dave Saffran, Mike Lawrence, Ashley Marshall, Dennis Clark, and Joe Amaturo are tremendous photographers and we are thankful to have them.
We want to thank all the media relations departments in the area, who took a chance on us and also friends of our outlet, like Scott Engel and Joe Pietaro, who always will provide help and advice.
And finally, we want to thank you the readers. Without your visits to our humble outlet, there would be no reason to do what we do.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.
Sincerely,
Joe McDonald
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