Westchester Square News: Fraud Across the Board?

Westchester Square News: Fraud Across the Board?: Fraud Across the Board? Manhattan Coach Loses Dream Gig for Lying on Resume By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK MARCH 27- This ha...

Fraud Across the Board?

Fraud Across the Board?

Manhattan Coach Loses Dream Gig for Lying on Resume

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK MARCH 27- This has happened more than once. A college coaching opportunity is available and the candidate has the supposed credentials to move up the ladder after building a program. In the case of Steve Masiello, who got the Manhattan College men’s basketball team back to the NCAA Tournament, he is a candidate of the latest embarrassment and greed of collegiate sports.

Yes, Masiello lied for an opportunity to land the head men’s basketball coaching job at the University of South Florida. His resume was inaccurate about being a graduate of the University of Kentucky. So, Tuesday it appeared he was moving on, and Wednesday morning he may be without a job.

The truth is, and lesson hopefully learned again, false information on a resume will eventually backfire and that applies for someone like Masiello. And a million dollar opportunity that was at hand now could leave him on the unemployment line.

The bad and, more so, sad aspect of this Masiello mess: Manhattan College has a dilemma. Do, the decision- makers at the school move ahead and begin the process of hiring a new coach, or do they forgive and forget? Another aspect, and it is obvious, how did responsible officials at Manhattan, who hired Masiello three years ago, bypass false information that USF was able to discover?

That aspect may never be known. Masiello was a perfect candidate to rebuild a men’s basketball program at the Metro Atlantic Conference affiliated college that is based in the Bronx, in a section known as Riverdale. He played under current Louisville coach Rick Pitino as a freshman at Kentucky in 1997.

He later learned more on the sidelines as an assistant coach for Pitino at Louisville. So, Masiello had the credentials to land a head coaching job. At Manhattan, Masiello compiled a 60-39 record in three years, and got the Jaspers to a first round game last week in the NCAA Men’s basketball Tournament losing to Pitino and Louisville.

Officials at Manhattan College could not be reached for comment, nor could Masiello. Though a source reached at the school said, “There was every indication that Steve had all the credentials to be here. This has been a shock to all of us as we wished Steve well.”

The source, when asked, did not comment regarding the future for Masiello as to whether his job at Manhattan would be open to him again. And that is something that would be subject to extensive review, because college coaching jobs require in most part credentials of an undergraduate degree or beyond.

In other words, success on the sidelines and compiling a respectable record at a mid-major school (Manhattan) and working under a successful coach, Pitino, does require more of a background check when it comes to credentials.

Perhaps the more significant issue here revolves around college coaches leaving a school to take another opportunity while under contract. In that case, as is with Masiello, the student/athletes become the victims. Those under scholarship and recruits are betrayed and left to consider other options.

Success can be an option, but it has to be accomplished the correct way. We see this time-and-time again. The reputation of college athletics is becoming more like professional sports and big business that includes mega-million contracts with cable television networks and for the coaches.

This is not only an issue for Manhattan College but the entire NCAA community of schools. There is a concern and this goes beyond the status of Steve Masiello and his future.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso   

Westchester Square News: FBI Now Involved in Norwood Double Homicide

Westchester Square News: FBI Now Involved in Norwood Double Homicide: FBI Now Involved in Norwood Double Homicide By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 26- A new flyer posted by law enforcem...

FBI Now Involved in Norwood Double Homicide

FBI Now Involved in Norwood Double Homicide

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MARCH 26- A new flyer posted by law enforcement officials shows that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now involved in an unsolved double homicide that took place last year on Perry Avenue in Norwood. The bodies of Jason and Jennifer Rivera were found inside a white SUV along Perry Avenue near East Gun Hill Road, on January 16, 2013. According to the flyer, both Jason, 30, and Jennifer, his 20-year old niece, were both shot, "execution-style" in the back of their heads. The flier states, "The FBI and the NYPD are seeking information," in the deaths of the pair and offers a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible parties or individual. At the time of the killing, one police source stated that two individuals were seen fleeing the area on home surveillance video obtained by police from a resident of the block, but if investigators have such a video, it has not yet been released to the public.

Police and FBI officials could not immediately say who is posting the reward. A spokeswoman with the FBI confirmed they were working the double murder with investigators from the 52nd Precinct's detective squad. The spokeswoman confirmed, "We had been working with the NYPD on another case," at the time Jennifer and Jason were killed, prompting the FBI's involvement. Residents of the block reported no gunfire that night, leading investigators to believe that the pair were killed at another location and then taken to Perry Avenue. With the street's, "No snitching" motto clearly in effect, the flyer posted by officers at the corner of Perry Avenue and East Gun Hill Road was torn down after just a couple of days. Anyone with any information is asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. Get More Bronx News

Subscribe Today:

Westchester Square News: Lady Rams Leave the Big Dance

Westchester Square News: Lady Rams Leave the Big Dance: Lady Rams Leave the Big Dance By Howard Goldin BRONX NEWS, MARCH 24- The only team representing the Bronx in the Women’s NCA...

Lady Rams Leave the Big Dance

Lady Rams Leave the Big Dance

By Howard Goldin

BRONX NEWS, MARCH 24- The only team representing the Bronx in the Women’s NCAA Tournament, Fordham University, seeded 10th, played competitively throughout its first round contest against the seventh seeded California Lady Bears at Waco, Texas. A victor was not decided until the final seconds of the game.

The Lady Bears ran up their largest lead in the first half, six points, 13-7, with a three at 14:25. At that point, the Rams of Fordham began a 14-1 scoring run that raised their advantage to a game high of seven points, 21-14, at 7:51. The run was culminated by a three by Erin Rooney. After the last first half tie at 28, Fordham’s Emily Tapio sunk a basket that gave Fordham a 30-28 lead at the half.

During the second half, neither team displayed any intention to accept losing the contest. The score was knotted eight times and the lead changed hands on nine occasions. 

Three of the lead changes took place during the final 31.5 seconds of play. With the Rams leading, 61-60, Afure Jemerigbe netted two free throw to give the Bears a 62-61 lead. The ball then was given to the star of each team, Erin Rooney of the Rams and Brittany Brown of the Bears to hopefully give her team a win. They are two of only three players in the NCAA this year who averaged at least 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game.

With 19 seconds on the clock, Rooney’s basket provided the Rams with a 63-62 advantage. Five seconds later, Brown’s layup gave the lead back to the Bears, 64-63. Rooney took the final shot of the game, but it was blocked by Reshanda Gray. The block was caused by a defensive switch made by Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb. 

The two backcourt leaders of their teams played outstandingly and achieved double-doubles. Brown scored 22, 16 in the second half, dished 10 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds. Rooney scored 17, hauled down 10 boards and passed for five assists. 

Coach Stephanie Gaitley assessed the two, one day before the contest was played, “I think Erin is very disciplined. I think she is more of a disciplined guard and I think Brittany can really create her own shots and she does a great job of getting other people shots as well. In so many ways, what they both do for their teams is very similar.”

Although the Rams were narrowly edged in Saturday afternoon’s contest, their improvement since Gaitley assumed the head coaching position is remarkable. In the 2007-8 season, the Rams were 0-29. Under the helm of Gaitley for the past three seasons, Fordham has won 62 games, a Fordham record high of 25 in each of the last two years.

Two star Fordham seniors commented on the team’s rise. Rooney remarked, “I think it’s just nice to be able to put a school on the map. It’s a great school, and people, I think, think of it as more of an academic school, and to be part of a team that can put it out there in in the sporting world and get people to recognize it, it’s pretty special.” 

Another Fordham senior, Abigail Corning, said, “It means a lot to be a part of the historical run that we’ve put together and really building our program up from obviously winning zero six years ago.”

Meaningful comments regarding Fordham were tweeted by Scarsdale native Lindsay Gottlieb, the classy and highly successful coach of Cal, “Major credit and kudos to @Fordham WBB. Well coached is an understatement. [They are] excellent players with a winning attitude.”

Westchester Square News: Subway Muggers Sought

Westchester Square News: Subway Muggers Sought: Subway Muggers Sought Police Seek to Identify D-Train Robbers By David Greene BRONX NEW YORK, MARCH 20- P olice have released ...