27th Annual Players (photo LSV)

El Bronx, NY – While most New Yorkers were preparing party details for the XLVI Super Bowl game between the New England Patriots and the NY Giants, a group of loyalist were preparing for another Super Bowl tradition, the 27th Annual Ben Gay Bowl, formerly the Father & Son football game.

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Keeping the Roberto Clemente legacy alive.

El Bronx, NY - As many of you know, our site is also used to try and connect people and sports. As such, we publish the following request regarding Roberto Clemente.

While December 31st, 2012 will mark the 40th anniversary of Roberto Clemente’s tragic death, his legacy continues to grow.  Without fail, each year there is a new book, documentary, web site or other commemoration of this fallen son of Puerto Rico.  Central to his status as hero are the profoundly touching personal stories about Clemente that transcend time and space.  Many of these accounts are about brief meetings with Clemente, others about seeing him play or speak, still others happen after his death.  As part of my work on Clemente’s importance , I am collecting stories about him from anyone who is willing to share their personal reminiscence.  I want to include a wide range of these narratives in my essay, with the narrator’s permission, as part of my discussion of Clemente as a transnational Puerto Rican hero.

Since most of the stories I have been told about Clemente have been through conversations, I would welcome the opportunity to talk with individuals one on one by phone but I am also more than happy to accept written accounts.  All reminiscences are welcome; there is no limit on length or focus.  I ask only that you tell me why this connection to Clemente is important for you.  I will be gathering stories until the 20th of January and will send a final copy of my essay to all who contribute. 

Se puede contribuir en español también.

You can send your story or inquiry by email to:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or, by mail to:

Shelly Jarrett Bromberg, PhD

Miami University Hamilton

Department of Spanish and Portuguese

1601 University Blvd.

Hamilton, Ohio  45213

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Part of the collection of Clemente collectibles displayed yesterday. (Photo LSV)

El Bronx, NY - The last of the three symposiums on Roberto Clemente was held Wednesday at Applebee’s restaurant with one of the countries top Roberto Clemente collectors, Mr. Paul Kutch, President of the Clemente Clubhouse. Mr. Kutch based out of Delaware came all the way from Delaware with a load of Clemente memorabilia featuring the audio and media aspect pre and post 1973.

Latinosports.com sports contributor and one of the organizers of the event, Mr. Danny Torres opened the event welcoming the modest crowd at the Gateway Mall Applebee’s explaining how he had met Mr. Kutch over the Internet over a decade ago. Mr. Torres also praised Mr. Julio Pabón for the Latino Sport Clubhouse store he had opened back in the 90’s at 149th, which he visited for the first time and was introduced to the world of collecting.

(Lft to Rht) Danny Torres, Paul Kutch & Julio Pabón. (Photo LSV)

Mr. Kutch has been coming to the Bronx for this annual event for many years and has become one of the highlights of the almost month long Clemente celebration. The 21 Days of Clemente is in its eleventh year and it is a way to get the community to remember Roberto Clemente during the holiday season. Mr. Pabón also welcomed everyone and explained how inconvenient it is for him to organize these events during the middle of the Christmas holidays how inconvenient it must be for everyone attending. He thanked everyone for making the effort to come and help keep alive a tradition of recognizing a man that should not be forgotten, especially during the Christmas Holidays. "This was the same time of the year that Clemente was out there raising money to help the earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Imagine how inconvenient it must have been for Clemente,” he stated. He continued, “perhaps this way we can all understand a little of why Clemente’s efforts were so unique and important to recognize. Especially when those efforts eventually led to the fatal plane crash that took his life on December 31st, 1972."

Mr. Kutch memorized the crowd with his hands on presentation of the numerous audio and video products. Vinyl records (both long playing and some 45’s) eight tracts, eight millimeter and 16 millimeter films, cassettes, VHS’s and DVD’s that have been produced on Roberto Clemente. It was clear from the presentation that very little was known about Clemente until after the 1971 World Series where the world got to see the incredible player on a national scene. Thus more products began to be produced on the Roberto after 1971 and a lot more after his death in 1972.

Mr. Paul Kutch and part of his Clemente display. (Photo LSV)

Among those present yesterday were a group of High School students from Cardinal Hays proving that Clemente’s spirit is still alive among youth in the Bronx. Also attending was the popular Bronx poet, Mariposa who had participated in last week’s symposiums by reading a thought-provoking poem on Roberto Clemente. “I came again tonight and I invited my brother who is a great Clemnete admirer. I will be coming to these every year from now on,” she stated.

The event ended with a free raffle where a lucky guest will walk away with something on Roberto Clemente, or the Retire 21 campaign and  the traditional toast to Clemente with some home made Puerto Rican Coquito.

Latino Sports is the promotional company for the Retire 21 Campaign, the national movement to try and get Major League baseball to retire Roberto Clemente's #21. As such, for 21 days during the month of December Latino Sports organizes a series of events. Local students from all grade levels are encouraged to participate by handing in any work of art, a written composition, a drawing, a piece of art, a song, or poem on Roberto Clemente. All Students who submit something will automatically receive a certificate of achievement from the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Díaz Jr. and they will also receive Yankee and NY Mets game tickets.

Applebee's has also sponsored a Clemente and Retire 21 display that is presently decorating its large window display making their windows. In addition, every week a symposium is organized where a guest speaker is invited to come and speak on Clemente, or the Retire 21 campaign.

The 21 Days of Clemente is organized by Latino Sports and sponsored by: Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center & Applebee's Restaurant at Gateway Mall.

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El Bronx, NY - One of the top Roberto Clemente collectors in the country will visit the South Bronx tonight to talk and display a few of his collectibles. Mr. Paul Kutch, President of the Clemente Clubhouse based out of Delaware will be making his annual haul to the Bronx to be part of the annual 21 Days of Clemente organized by Latino Sports Ventures, Inc.

Mr. Kutch has been coming to the Bronx for this annual event for many years and has become one of the highlights of the almost month long Clemente celebration. The 21 Days of Clemente is in its eleventh year and it is a way to get the community to remember Roberto Clemente during the holiday season. "This was the same time of the year that Clemente was out there raising money to help the earthquake victims in Nicaragua which eventually led to the fatal plane crash that took his life on December 31st, 1972," stated Mr. Julio Pabón, President of Latino Sports.

Part of The 2011 Display at Applebee's. (Photo LSV)

Latino Sports is the promotional company for the Retire 21 Campaign, the national movement to try and get Major League baseball to retire Roberto Clemente's #21. As such, for 21 days during the month of December Latino Sports organizes a series of events. Local students from all grade level are encouraged to participate in handing in any work of art, a written composition, a drawing, a piece of art, a song, or poem on Roberto Clemente. All Students who submit something will automatically receive a certificate of achievement from the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Díaz Jr. and they will also receive Yankee and NY Mets game tickets.

Applebee's has also sponsored a Clemente and Retire 21 display that is presently decorating its large window display making their windows a popular addition to the holiday season decorations of the mall. 

In addition every week there is a forum where a guest speaker is invited to come and speak on something related to Clemente, or the retire 21 campaign.

A Clemente Batting Helmet, One of the many collectibles that Mr. Kutch has brought to the presentaions. (Photo LSV)

Tonight forum with Mr. Kutch is the last of the three forums on Clemente. The event is scheduled for 7 PM at the Applebee's Restaurant at the Gateway Mall on River Avenue and 152nd Street. The forum is free to all members of the community.

The 21 Days of Clemente is sponsored by: Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center & Applebee's Restaurant at Gateway Mall. Special thanks go out to NY Mets for their gifts and tickets and special thanks to the NY Yankees for their tickets.

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(Bronx, NY) – World-famous juggler, Matt Fishman, will entertain fans going to Friday’s Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

“We want everyone to enjoy being at Yankee Stadium, in The Bronx and a part of the neighborhood,” said Dr. Cary Goodman, Executive Director of the 161st Street Business Improvement District.

“Football has a rich history here, and we’re glad it is back.”

The 161st Street Business Improvement District in conjunction with The Bronx Tourism Council will be hosting a hospitality tent for The Pinstripe Bowl from 11 AM – 3 PM. The tent will be erected at the corner of 161st Street and River Avenue. It will greet visitors from New Jersey and Iowa with a banner inscribed with, “Welcome to The Bronx.”

McDonalds will offer guests free hot chocolate. Discounts will be available at Yankee Tavern, Yankee Bar & Grill, Stan’s, Molino Rojo, Billy’s and Z’Novia.

The Wildlife Conservation Society and The New York Botanical Garden will provide discount coupons for The Holiday Train Show and the Bronx Zoo.

The Mariano Meter will be re-programmed to flash greetings to the Iowa State Cyclones and the Scarlet Knights from Rutgers.

Bronx Community Solutions will help clean the sidewalks of litter.

The 161st Street BID is managed by the NYC Department of Small Business Services.

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The Clemente Legacy is being kept alive with a younger generation that will not forget. (Photo LSV)

THE BRONX—Thirty-nine years ago, his stirring words still resonate in the millions of ardent fans who followed his extraordinary career on and off the field: “Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on this earth.” The late Puerto Rican baseball player, Roberto Clemente Walker, spoke those unforgettable words.

Since 2001, a few blocks away from the historic ballpark, Yankee Stadium, Clemente aficionados have gathered to commemorate the lifework and legacy of this remarkable human being. This year the event took place at the Applebee’s restaurant in the Gateway Mall in South Bronx.

Sponsored by Latino Sports Ventures, Inc. under the direction of Mr. Julio Pabón, President of LSV, this year’s featured guests at the 11th annual ‘21 Days of Clemente’ shared their artistic gifts through music, theater and poetry in what was truly an intimate evening dedicated to simply not only a humanitarian but ‘una leyenda’…a legend.

Johanna Rodríguez actor spoke about the play DC 7 and her learning about Clemente (Photo LSV)

To kick off this year’s ‘21 Days’, five talented students from Cardinal Hayes H.S, an educational jewel in the South Bronx, shared their musical talents by playing an original composition entitled, ‘Mr. 21’: a rousing tribute to a ballplayer they never met but were inspired by his life of service to the disadvantaged children in our society.

Representing theater, Puerto Rican actress, Johanna Rodriguez is currently in an off-Broadway musical on the life of Clemente; a rather curious title: DC7, The Roberto Clemente Story. For those who know this tragic story, Clemente died in DC7-model airplane in 1972 but after seeing this spectacular performance, you see the reason behind the name.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico and currently living in NYC for six years, Rodriguez spoke passionately about her role in the musical and who introduced her to Clemente.

“Well…I was taught very little in school about Clemente. I knew he was a great sports star through my Dad,” said Rodriguez who expressed her views on not knowing more about Clemente throughout her educational years.

Boricua poet, Mariposa excited and educated with her poen on Clemente. (Photo LSV)

“Being a part of this musical, I’ve learned a lot about him as a humanitarian and family man. Throughout the rehearsals, there were a lot of tears,” stated Rodriguez who will once again be back on the stage playing the role of Dorothy Carrington in February 2012.

What about the talented actor, Modesto Lacén who plays Clemente in the musical?

“We went to school together and this is the role he was born to play,” said Rodriguez who also took a few questions from the audience.

Beside his theatrical heroics on the ballfield, Clemente was also quite an artist who learned how to play the piano, carve driftwood, ceramics and…poetry.

Representing poetry at this year’s ‘21 Days’ was Bronx-reared, Puerto-Rican poet, writer and educator, Mariposa who also wrote a truly captivating piece that through the spoken word can be just as powerful to any baseball thrown, wooden bat swung or rubber base stolen.

If accomplished with the passion and grace of that ballplayer who died thirty-nine years ago…Mariposa said it best a few days ago, “Presente, our beloved, Roberto Clemente.”

On Wednesday, December 30, 2012, the final presenter for ’21 Days’ will be Mr. Paul Kutch, President of Clemente’s Clubhouse in Newark, DE and the most notable collector of Roberto Clemente memorabilia in the United States. Starting at 7pm at Applebee’s/Gateway Mall, he will discuss ‘Clemente on Video and Recordings’. On display, he will share with the public, rare, vintage artifacts from his personal collection.

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El Bronx, NY: The 11th annual 21 Days of Clemente officially kicked off on Monday December 12th at the Applebee’s restaurant located at the Gate Way Mall in the South Bronx. The first of three weekly symposiums was held yesterday promptly at 7 PM. Latino Sports President and national chair of the campaign to retire Clemente’s number, Mr. Julio Pabón, did this first community forum. The title of the presentation was: The Retire 21 Campaign: It’s Present & Future Status.

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Part of the loving mix of people at the annual LSV Xmas Dinner Party. (Photo LSV)

El Bronx, NY – There was great music, incredible food and a host of loving people yesterday at the annual Latino Sports Ventures, Inc. Christmas dinner party. The party was held in conjunction with Morivivi Language Services, a Bronx based language service company at Mi Casa Tu Casa Guesthouse in the South Bronx.

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Ms. Buzunesh Deba receiving an award from Latino Sports. (Photo LSV)

El Bronx, NY – “Thank you, Thank you,” were the words that Ms. Buzunesh Deba kept repeating throughout the numerous interviews and accolades that she was receiving at the Faculty Lounge today at Hostos Community College.

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