Tragedy turns into triumph as Rangers rally around their heartbroken teammate to steal a series in the steel city

Photo by Robert Sabo/New York Daily News

Sometimes in life we are reminded that sports is in fact just a game, but sometimes sports is much more than just a game, because it helps give us a few hours to escape from the cruel reality that life brings us.

After game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pittsburg Penguins, the New York Rangers were a beaten team, playing on dead legs after a brutal schedule that had them playing 6 games in 9 nights. The game four loss put the Rangers down 3-1 in a 7 game series, one loss away from being eliminated from the playoffs against a very talented team. Tragedy struck home and the Rangers would find an unlikely rallying cry to propel them into doing the unthinkable.

Marty St. Louis was a late season addition to the New York Rangers team, a future hall of fame player, who was brought in to help lift this team to win their first Stanley Cup since 1994. He lost his mother who passed away from a heart attack after game 4, a few days before Mother’s Day. The Rangers flew St. Louis to New York then flew him home on a private jet to be with his family. He got to say goodbye to his mother one more time, then with the encouragement from his father made it back to be there with his teammates and fight a different kind of battle. The emotional return of St. Louis helped the Rangers win game 5 and set up game 6 at Madison Square Garden, on Mother’s Day.

The game begin with 18,000 people chanting “Martyyyy!! Martyyyyy!!” In honor of Martin St. Louis. Riding the emotional high provided by the Garden faithful, St. Louis fittingly scored the first goal of the game with his dad and sister in the stands watching the game. His teammates mobbed him after the goal and you can just see the emotion in his face. A few seconds later the Rangers scored another goal and the Garden was rocking. The Rangers won the game 3-1 and it set up a game 7 show down.

After game 6 Martin gave a heartwarming speech to his teammates saying among other things “You guys have been nothing but unbelievable for me the past couple days and I’ll never forget that, this was a team [expletive] win tonight, I couldn’t be prouder to be a [expletive] New York Ranger with you guys.” The Rangers went on to Pittsburg for game 7 and won the game 2-1 behind their world class goaltender Henrik Lundqvist who was nothing short of spectacular. St. Louis had an assist on the game winning goal by Brad Richards, Henrik took care of the rest, saving 35 of 36 shots that were thrown at him.

Now the Rangers move on to the Eastern Conference Finals, an improbable run that no one really saw coming. Picking up and rallying behind their fallen teammate, banding closer together and what could be even more special if they can be the last team standing in June. Sports is just a game most of the time but it also allows you to turn tragedy into triumph, help ease the pain of going through the trials and tribulations of life, even if it is only for a few hours.  

Some of New York's best young baseball players celebrated on one special night.

Last night in Maestro's on 1703 Bronxdale Ave in the Bronx New York, Tony Melendez and members of the TM Baseball Academy held their first annual baseball banquet. This night was to celebrate baseball players of the TM family from 7u-18u and it was a very special night. Kids of all ages who have aspirations of becoming great college baseball players and future major league stars were being celebrated for their hard work and their dedication to the sport they love the most. For a sport that is lacking interest from young kids today, this night was a reminder there are still young guys and young girls out there that still love the game of baseball.


The night begin with all the members of the TM teams lined up in order by which age group they play for, starting from 7u ending with 18u. Family, friends and a few politicians waited the teams arrival into the room to give them the standing ovation each one of them deserve for being dedicated, hardworking and understanding what it takes to be the absolute best at what it is they want to be; baseball players. Each team came out separately, their names being announced one by one, walking in the room as family and friends clapped and screamed in admiration of their heroes. Once every member of one team was announced they posed for pictures along with their coaches and parent coordinator, then out came the next team.


Once every team member was announced and applauded, everyone took their seats and we listened to guest speakers' talk and congratulate these hard working ball players, their families for being supportive, the coaches and Coach Tony and his wife. We heard from Coach Tony's pastor who christened the opening of Tony Melendez baseball academy 7 years ago and who last night christened the first annual baseball banquet, we heard from politician Michael Benedetto, also Coach and his wife each gave humble and emotional heartwarming speeches.


Once the speeches were finished it was time to celebrate. Cartoonist Angelo Martinez was on hand drawing beautiful portraits of everyone, TKA made an appearance and had a lively wonderful performance, and more importantly, all the ball players had smiles a mile long, enjoying their night. This night was all about our ball players. They put in the work, they try as hard as they can to play the game they love with excitement and joy.


As much as this night was about the young players who grind every day to be the best, it was also about the parents for the support they give, being there for their children, for the coaches who take time out of their busy life to help these kids stay on track and more importantly for Tony and Jess, putting together a small baseball facility 7 years ago and being able to turn into a foundation of success and hard work. Joy, happiness and celebration is what can be best described on this night. As much as the interest in baseball is in decline, on this joyous night baseball was very much alive. The future was on display as kids of all ages reminding us the game of baseball isn't going anywhere anytime soon.


We all have our favorite baseball players that we look up to, our idols and heroes, but on this night our favorite baseball players were the young kids walking into a room full of people screaming for them, celebrating them. Our idols were the coaches who put the time in and never take a day off or time off, who do their best to make sure these players do their best, Tony and Jess who run the operation of the best baseball academy in New York City. Our heroes are all the parents who these young players are fortunate enough to have the support and love from. Who sacrifice so their child can play the sport they love, getting involved to make sure that child is motivated and dedicated every day.


TM 1st annual baseball banquet was a success. We celebrated everyone who was involved in the success but more importantly we celebrated the players who deserve it. Baseball may be on the decline in the city among our youth, but not with our kids at TM baseball academy and not on this night. Music, smiles, and happiness. On this night we were all a part of the team, we all were a family, as we celebrated our rising future stars.