Hudson Skyliner

@KDJmedia1 As a sports parent, this hit me hard. Youth sports are about so much more than the box score. It’s about showing up, valuing the little things, and teaching your kids to play for the team. A powerful reminder to cherish every moment we get to watch them compete.

In all my years of broadcasting, I'd never gotten emotional on air until tonight. It was impossible to hold back the tears. Jack Piccione of Tappan Zee lost his father suddenly last Sept. 1. Matthew Piccione died of a heart attack minutes after playing pickleball with friends. He was 51. Over the last three years, I got to know Matthew Piccione fairly well. One day back in 2023, he asked coach George Gaine for my number so he could call me just to say thank you for calling out Jack's contributions during Tappan Zee's championship run. Jack was a role player who averaged maybe 5 points a game as a freshman. But he started and never came off the court. "I know he doesn't score a lot of points," Matthew Piccione said. "But you are one of the only people who appreciates what he does for the team." Matthew Piccione kept a very low profile at games and reinforced in his son to be the emodiment of all the things that make Tappan Zee basketball different than any other program in the state. Play unselfish. Defend. Be coachable. Defend. Draw charges. Pass. Sacrifice for your teammates. And, of course, defend some more. Nobody in the history of Tappan Zee basketball since I have been covering has ever played that role better than Jack Piccione. He's the best best defensive player in the program and is on an elite level of players I've been around in Section 1. When Matthew died in September, I worried about Jack. I wondered what his senior season might be like. The person most responsible for instilling and reinforcing the values that made Jack great was now tragically gone. Tonight, Jack Piccione scored 5 points in the Section 1 Championship game. FIVE. Yet not only did his team because of his performance, I had the honor of handing him the MVP Trophy to prove it. In the final 90 seconds of the game, I shared the story of Matthew Piccione and his passing. You will hear the emotion in my voice. It's genuine, not because of any relationship I had with him. You just can't be a sports parent and not relate to loving your child and always wanting what's best for them. Because here's what I am going to tell you. And I really want all parents to read this and remember it: Your kids' youth - not just athletics, but all of it - is short and it's precious. You don't get this time back when it's over. It goes way too quick. And some don't even get to see it to the end. You have a choice: You can spend this period of their lives stressing about how many points they score, what awards or accolades they receive, begging people to vote in the online poll for Player of the Week, emailing the coach and complaining about playing time or lamenting the number of shots they get in a game. Go ahead. You can make all of that important for yourself and your child. Trust me, you won't be alone in doing so. Or you can do what Matthew Piccione did. Sit in the stands and enjoy watching your children compete. Teach them that it's team above all else, stress what it means to sacrifice and ensure them that, when you do those things and have success, the feeling of hanging a banner will far exceed any of the personal accolades think are important. And, sadly, God might choose that you won't be around to see it all anyway. Matthew didn't get to give his son a hug after he won tonight. And Jack didn't get to see the pride in his father's face. Think about that. If you are a parent, try to put your child in Jack's shoes. If God forbid your child was confronted with the same tragedy, you'd want them looking back on this sacred period of their lives the way Jack will forever recall them with his dad. Tonight was complete validation for Jack Piccione and all of the things his father always told him. Jack scored 5 points and won the MVP on his way to becoming the most decorated basketball player in Tappan Zee history. Nobody has ever won more in a TZ uniform than the most unselfish player they've ever had. He wouldn't trade his career with anyone, either. Take a moment to listen to myself and Pleasantville coach Nick Bonura from tonight's @SportsEngine broadcast of @TZeeAthletics @TZhoops

Another thought for Be Water Be You. The brand clearly draws from the “be water” philosophy about adapting and flowing. Instead of referencing Bruce Lee directly, you could create an original spot showing athletes in different situations where they adjust and stay composed under pressure. Basketball, running, training, even everyday life moments. Voiceover about water adapting to any environment and people performing best when they do the same. End with: “When you can be anything, Be Water. Be You.” This keeps the meaning while avoiding licensing issues and makes the concept feel universal.

$INKW Announces Major Be Water Expansion in Walmart Stores Across the Southeast accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/bu…

I had a campaign idea for Be Water Be You. In basketball culture a perfect jumper is called “wet” or “pure.” Imagine a hooper alone on an empty court at sunrise. He shoots and every nothing but net swish turns the net into water for a moment. No celebration, just calm confidence. A soft voiceover talks about flow, not forcing things, and being true to your nature. The message builds around performance and clarity. When you are tense you fight the moment. When you are hydrated and clear you move naturally and everything feels effortless. It ties the feeling athletes chase to what your brand represents. End with the line: “When you can be anything, Be Water. Be You.” It makes the product about mindset, rhythm, and living in flow, not just drinking water.

I actually agree with you. Football in the elements is part of what makes Buffalo special and I wouldn’t want to lose that. My point wasn’t about a permanent dome. A retractable roof lets them still play outside when they want, but gives the city the option to close it for concerts and other major events so the stadium can be used year round.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills I disagree, Football and Baseball are all better OUTDOORS. I love watching both in the elements, Geaux Bills from Louisiana

The Inaugural Season. 📰: bufbills.co/4kMO8zo

This is for Mayor Mamdani and everyone who signed off on opening schools in person today. If you’re going to make a decision that big, the city also has to be able to function. Driving wasn’t even a realistic option in many neighborhoods, so families had to rely on public transportation. The one system we were told to depend on was the exact thing that wasn’t working. Trains were delayed, some lines were suspended, and express trains were forced to run local. Platforms were packed shoulder to shoulder and trains kept stopping with doors opening to cars so full nobody else could get on. Parents and kids were left watching train after train pass them by. Then came the streets. Sidewalks still buried. Crosswalk corners blocked by plowed snow. Try getting a stroller over a frozen wall of slush while keeping kids safe near traffic and tell me the city was ready for a normal school day. No one expects perfection after a historic storm. People needed one more day so transportation and basic safety could catch up. Instead thousands of families were pushed into chaos before the city was prepared to support them. This morning wasn’t normalcy. It was avoidable. @NYCMayor @nycemergencymgt @NYGov @GovKathyHochul

Together, with our City partners, we weighed the pros and cons of returning to in person learning tomorrow and we are confident in our decision to reopen. Our schools and city are ready to welcome students and staff back tomorrow.

Our schools are more than just educational institutions. They’re critical to the stability, health, and wellness of nearly 900,000 young New Yorkers.

@therlybadglfer @BuffaloBills I hear you. A lot of fans wanted something different and the decision’s been made. At this point I’m just hoping the stadium brings the team long term stability and still opens the door for other big events in Buffalo. Either way, go Bills.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills And for several years people expressed this wish. It was ignored by those people who get to make the decision. So, we are moving on now. Thanks for your compliance

@schenn4jvr @BuffaloBills I hear what you’re saying about the Super Bowl and the usual host cities. My point was more that a roof would open the door to a lot of other year round events that bring revenue, not just the Super Bowl itself.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills Theres a 7 stadium rotation for the super bowl. Atlanta. Tampa. Arizona. Los angeles. New orleans. Vegas. San fran. Rhats it. New stadiums might get one as a token. But never in rotation. And super bowls hurt the economy of rhe area

@WackoJacos @BuffaloBills I respect the Randy Jackson gif 🤣

I appreciated the decision to close yesterday, but opening in person tomorrow feels a little premature. There’s still snow piled on sidewalks and streets and it’s not like it just disappears overnight. I get wanting normalcy, I just worry about kids and parents trying to get to school safely.

New York City Public Schools will be open for in-person instruction tomorrow.

@ElonMusketXx @BuffaloBills Maybe it never gets a Super Bowl, but a covered stadium still allows year round events and revenue opportunities the city doesn’t have now.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills Not every team wants another Allegiant Stadium. Buffalo will never ever host Super Bowls and Final Fours

@SlayerLatin @BuffaloBills Not complaining about game days at all. Just talking about what it could’ve meant beyond football.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills We will never get a Superbowl. And New highMar is perfect for us........ you can watch from home my guy

@notcrotonix @BuffaloBills Maybe you’re right. Still, a covered stadium creates opportunities for other large events and revenue the rest of the year.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills even with a full roof, buffalo will never host a super bowl

@therlybadglfer @BuffaloBills Relax. It’s a stadium discussion, not a personal attack. I just think a fully covered stadium would’ve helped long term.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills OMG it has a partial roof. PLEASE STFU & MOVE ON ALREADY. If it was in Florida the weather would be better all year, but they didn't do that either.

@BonkersBroncos Not what’s best for me… what’s best for the team long term. Hosting major events brings in revenue from other venues and helps the franchise financially too.

@NYCUnscripted L-O-L 🤣😂😂😂😂 Glad you've decided what's best for Buffalo and their fans.

@schenn4jvr @BuffaloBills No need for the name calling. I’m just saying if you’re spending billions, you should at least keep the option open.

@NYCUnscripted @BuffaloBills Not enough hotels in the area to get a super bowl moron.

Our country isn’t perfect, but moments like this remind me why I love sports. For a few hours we’re all watching the same thing, cheering, reacting, and sharing the same emotion. The divisions fade and the differences don’t feel so big. I just wish we could carry that feeling beyond the game. Congratulations to the @usahockey team for winning gold and giving us all that moment.

Sports world reacts to USA Men's Hockey bringing home the Olympic Gold 🥇👏

@NYCMayor @nycemergencymgt Nice to see NYC DOE just call the snow day. Appreciate the clear decision for families.

The call has been made! NYC Public Schools will have a full snow day tomorrow.

@CBSNewYork Credit where it’s due. Thank you NYC DOE for making tomorrow a real snow day. Kids get a break and parents can actually plan around it.

#Breaking: New York City public schools will have a snow day Monday due to the nor'easter, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces. cbsloc.al/4qLUiBn

I don’t get why NYC won’t just cancel school Monday instead of doing remote. Parents already have to figure out work and deal with the snow, and now we’re also expected to make sure kids are logged on all day. Other towns just cancel. Why is NYC handling it differently? @nycemergencymgt

Mayor Mamdani Holds a Press Conference to Provide Weather Updates twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…