for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com february 14, 2014 • The queens Courier 81 sports REMEMBERING RALPH KINER Beloved Met dies at 91 BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] Ralph Kiner, one of the most notable voices in New York Mets history, and a Hall of Fame player who dazzled baseball fans for a decade, died on February 6. Kiner passed away from natural causes at his home in California. He was 91. “Ralph Kiner was one of the most beloved people in Mets history— an original Met and extraordinary gentleman,” Mets CEO Fred Wilpon said. “His knowledge of the game, wit, and charm entertained generations of Mets fans. Like his stories, he was one of a kind. Our sport and society today lost one of the all-time greats.” Calling Kiner an original Met may seem odd since he didn’t actually play for the team. However, following a 10-year stint, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 40s and 50s, Kiner started calling Mets games in their 1962 inaugural season. Kiner retired with a .279 batting average and 369 career home runs, and had stints with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians. He led the National League in home runs in each of his first seven seasons, but stopped playing due to a back injury. He then went on to have a broadcasting career, full of unforgettable stories and phrases, and his famed “Kiner’s Korner.” He broadcast Mets games for more than 40 seasons. “Ralph was loved and appreciated,” said Shannon Prior, a founder of blog Metspolice.com. “What was great about Ralph was he could comment on the game and criticize a player without being a jerk…” The TV booth in Citi Field is named after Kiner. And Kiner, who was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1975, is also a member of Beloved Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner died at 91. the Mets Hall of Fame as well. Royals rout Loughlin in rivals rematch BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] Christ the King sophomore Rawle Alkins predicted that his team would defeat Bishop Loughlin in their rematch on February 9. The Royals had lost the first match-up against their Brooklyn/Queens conference rivals in a close 76-74 game, but Alkins knew this time the outcome would be different. “I just felt confident,” Alkins said. “If you look at their team and you look at our team, we have so many mismatches it’s not even funny.” Alkins’ prediction came true. The Royals dominated the second half, led by senior big man Adonis Delarosa, who had 23 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Royals to a 67-49 blowout of the Loughlin Lions. Alkins had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks, and junior forward Travis Atson added 21 points and 11 rebounds to the win. With the win, Christ the King improved to 18-5 overall (14-3 in conference) taking over the lead from Loughlin, 18-5 overall (13-3 in conference), and secured at least a tie for the regular season title. The difference in this game was Delarosa, who scored just three points in the first half, suddenly came alive in the second half. Being mismatched against smaller-sized and less athletic opponents, the nearly 7’, 265 pound center took advantage of his size to score and get to the foul line, where he shot 11 of 14. “I just knew they couldn’t guard me,” Delarosa said. His abilities were fully shown when, with just 1:03 remaining, he wrapped around a defender and slammed a two-handed dunk, causing the crowd to explode, bringing the score to 63-44. Then the big man sprinted back on defense to Adonis Delarosa’s dominant performance gave Christ the King a much needed victory over rival Bishop Loughlin. swat a layup. Although the block was called goal tending, it sent the crowd into louder cheers of “CK, CK, CK.” Delarosa’s performance was meaningful, as he had just come of a two-game suspension for committing a flagrant foul in the previous Loughlin game. THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Because he couldn’t play, he had to watch his teammates lose to Archbishop Molloy in their last game, 71-68 in overtime. “I knew if I was on the court, I would have made a difference,” Delarosa said. “It really hurts watching my guys play from the sidelines.” Photo courtesy of the New York Mets
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