Feature Articles

Simply Serena

Serena Williams didn't just beat Maria Sharapova. She crushed her.

On the way to her third Australian Open singles title, Williams picked off her opponents one by one, with the skill and precision of a sharpshooter at target practice and Sharapova became her latest, most satisfying, casualty.

A Sweet Escape: Softball Helped Mathis Overcome Hardships

Rosie Mathis sat at her mother's Valley Hospital bedside, unable to contain her excitement.

If there was one game to have circled on her summer softball calendar, it was the Emerson game. And the following afternoon the bitter rivalry would play out on the field.

Pitching With Pop: Jaci Rahey Remembers Grandfather's Lessons

The drop pitch with a little extra spin. The riser that spins backward with some bite. And the specialty drop-curve that cuts in on right-handed batters and tails down.

DePaul senior Jaci Rahey can take out hitters with a number of pitches. And she owes it all to her maternal grandfather.

Julie Abbott, "Bridge Street Babe"

Julie Abbott brings dedication, a whirlwind personality and some sassy spice to Syracuse's morning talk-show scene.

One Sharp Fencer

Jenn Kostialik can't control what's going on inside of her, so she knows there's no point in trying. At 8, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease that in most cases causes mucus to build up and clog the lungs.

CF makes it difficult to breathe and can result in infections and lung damage. What the disease hasn't done is keep the Wayne Valley senior from putting her energy into the things she can control. And it hasn't kept her from excelling.

N.Y.C. Marathon: 'Incredible experience'

Steven Cohen had no intentions of timing himself. In fact, the Fair Lawn resident didn't bother to wear a watch and never looked up to see his time when he crossed the finish line.

Going into his first New York City Marathon, the 39-year-old had only two goals: to enjoy the Central Park crowd and not to be "one of those people who are in terrible agony at the end." 

Game Stories

Softball: Paramus Cath.'s Sheppard is solid

Brittany Sheppard didn't blink twice when Saddle Brook's Jamie Rattacasa blooped a two-out single into shallow center field in the seventh inning. 

Until that point, the Paramus Catholic pitcher had struck out eight, retired 21 of 22 batters and hadn't given up a hit. And she had no idea. 

Basketball: Hackensack makes freebies

For four quarters, Hackensack coach Charles McKnight flailed his arms in exasperation on the sidelines, pleading with his girls to remember the intangibles of the game.

"Good teams make free-throws," he cried from the bench. 

Track: Kitchen wins two in U.S. farewell

In a perfect world, the United States and Zimbabwe would be as close as New Jersey and New York. That way Tinashe Kitchen wouldn't have to choose between family and the sport he loves.

Softball: River Dell's Cameron Overcomes Stumble

Erin Cameron knew she crushed the ball. Now, the only thing left to do was round the bases. There was just one problem, though.

As the River Dell sophomore looked to make her move toward second, she stumbled over first base.

Fencing: Ramapo finds a way to foil Wayne Valley

Ramapo coach Jeanne Browne was so pumped she couldn't keep her shoes on.

With her team on the verge of stealing the momentum from Wayne Valley in the second foil round, Browne kicked off her heels, paced alongside the strip and cheered loudly in an attempt to will her team to victory. And it worked.

Fencing: Ramapo streak comes to end

Daniel Tobin sat on the edge of his seat and prayed.
"Let us win, please let us win," the Ramapo freshman repeated.
But divine intervention wasn't enough for Ramapo on Wednesday.

Q&A

Black Ice: Authors George & Darril Fosty

Before Willie O'Ree was declared the first Black man to break into the NHL with the Boston Bruins in 1958, historians George and Darril Fosty say there was James "Cut" Brown, George Tolliver and Henry Sylvester Williams. Almost 30 years before Bernard "Boom Boom" Geoffrion—the man the National Hockey League credits as the inventor of the slap shot—was born, the Fostys believe Eddie Martin, a former baseball-turned-hockey-player, might have been the first player to unleash the classic power move.