All-Stars in Cincinnati and Manchester

It didn’t take Todd Frazier very long to earn his first (and certainly not last) Hometown View mention of the baseball season. 

Toms River’s favorite major leaguer came up big in the Cincinnati Reds season opener against Pittsburgh Monday at Great American Ballpark.  Frazier made a sparkling defensive play at 3^rd base which earned him the #2 spot in ESPN’s Top Ten Plays of the Day but that was just the appetizer. The former Toms River South and Rutgers University standout snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the 8^th with a 3-run homer, a massive 432-foot shot into the upper deck in left field which was the game-winner in a 5-2 Reds victory.

The 29-year old Frazier is coming off an All-Star season in which he smacked 29 homers and drove in 80 runs while batting .273.  He signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Reds in February.

The Manchester Township Police Department recently saluted the philanthropic efforts of resident John McGuire who for more than 20 years has helped the police department, Manchester Little League, Police Athletic League, Municipal Alliance and the school district.

A retired elevator mechanic who commuted daily to New York City, McGuire has made many donations to help police officers, supports PBA 246 with their annual golf outing, assists with fund raisers for the Regional Day School and established a scholarship at the high school in memory of his late son.  He also serves as a mentor to three elementary school students.

Police Chief Lisa Parker said “John has been a pillar of the community for more than 20 years and is always looking for ways to help out, whether that means offering his time to mentor children or donating funds to help purchase equipment that keeps our police offers safe.”  McGuire clearly is someone who puts others ahead of himself and Manchester Township is fortunate to have him among their residents.

I spent considerable time on Twitter during last night’s Duke-Wisconsin game and honestly was surprised by the number of people who simply despise the Blue Devils and almost act like there is a conspiracy to help them win.  There is no perfect program in college sports today but I find it very easy to root for Mike Krzyzewski and I ended my evening with the following tweet: ”Sleep tight Duke Haters.”