#tom daley armpit

[matthewcats]

"Tom Daley at Jurassic Park" by Matthew Robins

gouache on panel, 2020

prints available from my etsy shop:

[boysboysboysss]

Tom Daley’s armpits…. Yeahhhhh

[phregnancy]

this is actually a common misconception - phil is allowed to have his arms and armpits showing, he just doesn’t like sleeveless tops and we don’t see him shirtless so we otherwise don’t get many pharmpit opportunities. phil’s not allowed to be actually shirtless and show the phleavage and phips, out of fear that other olympians will reach out to him like how tom daley did in 2017 when we got side phoob. that’s why he has the silicone muscle torso piece, because his actual torso cannot be seen.

I JUST SAW A CLIP AND HELLO OMG PHILS ARMPITS ARE OUT WTF HOW IS DAN ALLOWING THIS AND NOT SHIELDING HIM

[matthewcats]

Tom Daley’s Armpit

[junker-town]

13-year-old wins diving championship, causing us to contemplate our youth

Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

We’ll never be this accomplished.

On Monday 13-year-old Oleksii Sereda became the youngest diver to win the European Championship. Sereda broke Tom Daley’s record (which he also set at age 13), which stood almost as long as he’d been alive after being set in 2008.

There is precisely nothing that will make you feel older and less accomplished than hearing about a 13-year-old becoming a champion in anything, let alone being named the best diver in all of Europe. At this point we have two options:

Cry gently into our coffee and wait for the sweet release of death.

Channel the pain into sharing our 13-year-old exploits in the hopes we can somehow feel better about ourselves.

These are our stories.

When I was 13 I made a movie for Nickelodeon.

Yeah, a real, actually exists short film that I have a VHS copy of sitting on my bookshelf. I honestly don’t remember the contents that well. I know I did the voice over for the main character, and recall it being claymation — but what I remember the best was ruining the behind the scenes documentary they wanted to air alongside it.

Nickelodeon in Australia were doing this thing called Short Films by Short People, and asked for pitches. I wrote a script along with some friends and we were selected, spending the summer working on the film.

Alongside the 3 minute film they wanted to air a short documentary where we told other kids how cool it was to work with Nickelodeon. It was cool, for sure. I remember the animator hated us. I also remember getting yelled at by the producer because I turned up at the studio in a Stone Cold Steve Austin shirt one day. She was normally very chill, but absolutely went off on me because they couldn’t use any footage from that day and didn’t want to blur my shirt. It turns out those suits at Big Gak weren’t okay with an angry bald man standing on a turnbuckle flipping people off.

What a world.

- James Dator

When I was 13 I just wanted to go through puberty really badly.

I was really short and my voice still sounded like a child’s and did I mention that I was really short. Honestly I wasn’t asking for all that much at that point because I was still in middle school. An armpit hair would’ve been huge. But no, I was just really short and had to play against like full-grown-men type of 8th graders in basketball and that was no fun.

Shoutout to the kid who did the diving record, because at 13 I was just whiny and short as hell.

- Matt Ellentuck

When I was 13 I was an active member of a Christina Aguilera fan message board.

First off, yes it was a message board. It wasn’t even Tumblr. It was a message board. The internet was very different back then. Sometimes Christina’s mom Shelly would hop online to talk to us. We speculated over dating and eventual breakup rumors with her backup dancer Jorge. Or the stories fans would bring back from tour. It was always the busiest at night, and you never wanted to miss a big night. Just like you never want to miss NBA Twitter during a big game. If you logged back on later, the FOMO was too strong.

Anyway, her debut album is currently celebrating is 20th Anniversary and I have no idea where my life went. But I kind of miss only caring about what new posts had been made on that message board while I was at school.

- Whitney Medworth

When I was 13 I was obsessed with my Geocities website on Michigan football

I have already revealed way too much about my youth for this website, which you can read about here. Here’s just an excerpt from 13-year-old me:

My Hobbies- Sports and hangin’ around are my hobbies. When I’m with friends we always play basketball, or football, or soccer, or some sort of sport. Following all sports is fun to. It’s like watching a masculine soap opera. Hanging around is always fun, I’m a pretty lazy guy so that’s what I do most of the time. It’s always fun to go the mall or downtown and talk to people, just random people. I have made many friends that way, and enemies.

This is only maybe the third most embarrassing thing on that website. Which you can still go to. But please don’t it’s humiliating. Here’s the link again.

— Louis Bien

When I was 13 I was an active member of an MVP 05 message board.

My family had just moved to Norway, I didn’t speak the language yet and nobody else cared about baseball. But I had my PS2 and MVP 05, and I found a message board of other (mostly) teens who loved the game (a few of whom now also work in sports media, shouts out to them). I started taking requests for custom create-a-players (CAPs for short) of historical baseball players or prospects that weren’t in the game, and I had a way-too-big excel sheet where I had formulas for how to determine what each rating in the game should be based on the player’s stats at different levels of baseball.

Game’s still great, by the way. And now I have way-too-big spreadsheets for Football Manager, instead. They’re color-coded now, which technically counts as personal growth.

— Pete Volk

When I was 13 the Chicago Bears taught me sports pain.

Being the ultimate Jay Cutler apologist, I believed the Chicago Bears could compete for the NFC North title in 2011. The season started off great with Chicago starting off 7-3. They had a last second pick six to beat the Panthers, crushed the Vikings on Sunday Night football, and saw Matt Stafford throw DJ Moore down by the helmet which in turn sparked a brawl. Life was great.

But then Cutler broke his thumb against the Chargers and the Bears lost five of their next six games to miss the playoffs. The losses didn’t bother me that much as much as the way they lost. Caleb Hanie took one step too extra when taking a spike, inciting a penalty and running out the clock against the Raiders. A completed Hail Mary was enough for the Chiefs to beat us. Then the Tim Tebow game happened. In what was one of the ugliest games I have ever seen, the Bears had a chance to run out the clock and get this win out of the way. But Marion Barber decided it was smart to run out of bounds with less than two minutes left. Oh, and all of these games happened in a row. 13 year old me was crushed at how the Bears could continue to break my heart every week. I can only imagine the look on my face if Double Doink happened that year instead.

— Vijay Vemu

[velmaemyers88]

Covering the Closer: Two Decades of Writing on Mariano Rivera

The Yankees signed Mariano Rivera for $2,500 in 1990, and he threw his final pitch for the club in 2013. In between, he played in 19 major league seasons, won five World Series titles and compiled the most saves in M.L.B. history.

Numerous reporters from The New York Times documented his lengthy career, from his emergence with the Yankees to his championship triumphs and his final farewell. Here is a collection of excerpts from several of the most memorable points in his career.

‘A Young Panamanian’

By Ira Berkow, Feb. 22, 1993 (The first mention of Rivera in the Times)

Steve Howe was telling Mariano Rivera, a young Panamanian pitcher, about his spring trainings in high school in Clarkton, Mich.

“We’d go out to play in March and April and have to sweep the snow off the basepaths,” the veteran relief pitcher said.

Rivera looked at Howe. “It snows in Michigan?” he asked.

Full Article

Big-League Debut

By Jay Privman, May 24, 1995

Yankee pitchers continue to be plagued by the long ball. They allowed four home runs tonight and have given up 22 in the last 10 games. Mariano Rivera, recently called up from Class AAA Columbus, started but was knocked out after three and one-third innings.

Rivera was brought up because Jimmy Key, who was scheduled to pitch tonight, was put on the disabled list last Saturday because of inflammation and tendinitis in his rotator cuff.

Full Article

A New Role

By Jason Diamos, Aug. 2, 1995 (Rivera’s first bullpen appearance)

Rivera couldn’t do it last night. He allowed a run on two walks and a two-out double in the sixth and was the victim as the Brewers wiped out the Yankees’ third lead on [David] Hulse’s inside-the-park homer in the seventh.

As the ball squirted around the left-field corner after Randy Velarde slid into the padding in foul territory in an attempt to stop it, Hulse hustled around the bases. He beat the relay home with a nice slide, and the Brewers had their first lead, 5-4.

“I know I can pitch out of there,” Rivera said of his new role in the pen. “I don’t know what happened today.”

Full Article

‘He Should Be Illegal’

By Claire Smith, April 29, 1996

And even though Rivera does not feel like Sandy Koufax, he’s been virtually untouchable. “It’s not that I feel unhittable,” the affable 26-year-old Panamanian said. “I just feel comfortable.”

The Twins, conversely, were very uncomfortable with Rivera and his 90-plus-mile-per-hour fastball. “We don’t need to face him any more,” Twins Manager Tom Kelly declared. “He needs to pitch in a higher league, if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal.”

Full Article

Becoming the Closer

By Jack Curry, Jan. 5, 1997

Confident words flow from Rivera, but it is ludicrous to suggest he is arrogant; this is someone who endured 12-hour days working on fishing boats with his father, who used a cardboard box for his first glove and who still considers it a duty to play with neighborhood kids.

Prodded into describing his status in his home country, he said, “Right now, when it comes to sports in Panama, I’m the man.”

Full Article

A First Trip to the World Series

By Jack Curry, Oct. 18, 1996

There is [David] Cone, the bionic pitcher who returned after missing four months because of surgery to remove an aneurysm from under his right armpit. There is Derek Jeter, the 22-year-old shortstop whose poise and abilities are boundless. There is Mariano Rivera, who can throw his high fastball past any batter and would secure the Cy Young award if it were given to the most valuable pitcher. There is Andy Pettitte, whose 21 victories will probably earn him the Cy Young instead. There is Bernie Williams, who is proving to be the best center fielder in baseball not named Griffey.

“Look up and down the lineup,” Paul O’Neill raved. “Eighty to 90 percent of the guys, you knew what you were going to get from them. And then some of the guys that people were worried about gave us more than you ever expected. Jeter and Rivera were great.”

A Day of Grief and Triumph

By Jack Curry, Oct. 13, 2004

After the ceremonies, Rivera, who paid for the funeral and promised to take care of María Félix, [Victor Darío] Avila’s widow, and her 16-year-old daughter, told reporters in Panama, “This is a very difficult moment, but you have to go on and thank God for what we have.”

Rivera was soon put in a position to match his actions to his words about having to move forward after the deaths. His actions as a pitcher in mourning the last three days were imposing as Rivera helped the Yankees survive in a wild 10-7 victory over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Full Article

Ring No. 4

By Jack Curry, Nov. 4, 2009

Of course, Rivera, the mighty Mariano, was the last closer standing.

As talented as the other postseason closers are, Rivera is different. As long as the Yankees could get leads, Rivera would protect them better than anyone. He has saved 39 of 44 opportunities in the postseason, including 11 of 12 in the World Series.

“He’s the best at what he does,” Jorge Posada said. “I think he’s the best to ever do it.”

Full Article

A Milestone Save

By Tyler Kepner, Sept. 19, 2011

[Joe] Girardi said Rivera’s record would not be broken in our lifetime, and he may be right. Only Trevor Hoffman and Rivera have even 500 saves, and no other active pitcher has 350. The record will be part of Rivera’s legacy for many years, but it will not be his epitaph.

“Records are meant to be broken, so I don’t know,” Rivera said. “All I hope is whoever’s going to be there or do that will just respect the game the way I have respected it. That’s all I wish.”

Full Article

Fears of an Early End

By David Waldstein, May 3, 2012

As soon as Rivera fell in the outfield, the gravity of the moment could be read on the worried faces of everyone in the Yankees’ blue and gray uniforms.

Alex Rodriguez, who was waiting for his turn in the batting cage, appeared to say: “Oh my God. Oh, my God,” and immediately signaled to [Joe] Girardi, who ran out to assist Rivera. For several minutes Rivera writhed on the warning track in obvious pain as grim-faced teammates and coaches stood nearby. After the game, the news was dealt with glumly in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

“I thought we were hoping for the best,” said Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. “I told you this game is cruel before the game. It’s even more cruel now.”

The End

By David Waldstein, Sept. 26, 2013

As he walked to the mound alongside [Derek] Jeter, [Andy] Pettitte tapped his right arm to signal for the replacement pitcher, Matt Daley, then took the ball from Rivera’s hand. Rivera wrapped his arms around Pettitte, who is also retiring after the season, and buried his face in his shoulder, sobbing.

“I didn’t say anything at first, and I didn’t expect for him to be quite so emotional,” Pettitte said. “He broke down and gave me a bear hug, and I bear-hugged him back. I mean, he was really crying. He was weeping, and I could feel him crying on me.”

With a gentle prod from Jeter, Rivera finally looked up, hugged Jeter and walked off the mound as the fans, the Yankees and the Rays stood and cheered.

Full Article

Unanimous

By Tyler Kepner, Jan. 22, 2019

Rivera, 49, signed with the Yankees from Panama in 1990 for a $3,500 bonus. He reached the majors five years later and started 10 games; the last batter he faced as a starter was Martinez, who singled home a run in the fifth inning against him on Sept. 5, 1995, knocking Rivera from the game and sending him to the bullpen forever.

It was a perfect fit. Rivera thrived as a setup man in the Yankees’ 1996 championship run and took over as the team’s closer in 1997, the year he discovered his devastating cut fastball, which broke hundreds of bats with its hard, late movement into the hands of left-handers.

Full Article

Credit: Source link

The post Covering the Closer: Two Decades of Writing on Mariano Rivera appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/covering-the-closer-two-decades-of-writing-on-mariano-rivera/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=covering-the-closer-two-decades-of-writing-on-mariano-rivera from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.tumblr.com/post/186446708412

[reneeacaseyfl]

Covering the Closer: Two Decades of Writing on Mariano Rivera

The Yankees signed Mariano Rivera for $2,500 in 1990, and he threw his final pitch for the club in 2013. In between, he played in 19 major league seasons, won five World Series titles and compiled the most saves in M.L.B. history.

Numerous reporters from The New York Times documented his lengthy career, from his emergence with the Yankees to his championship triumphs and his final farewell. Here is a collection of excerpts from several of the most memorable points in his career.

‘A Young Panamanian’

By Ira Berkow, Feb. 22, 1993 (The first mention of Rivera in the Times)

Steve Howe was telling Mariano Rivera, a young Panamanian pitcher, about his spring trainings in high school in Clarkton, Mich.

“We’d go out to play in March and April and have to sweep the snow off the basepaths,” the veteran relief pitcher said.

Rivera looked at Howe. “It snows in Michigan?” he asked.

Full Article

Big-League Debut

By Jay Privman, May 24, 1995

Yankee pitchers continue to be plagued by the long ball. They allowed four home runs tonight and have given up 22 in the last 10 games. Mariano Rivera, recently called up from Class AAA Columbus, started but was knocked out after three and one-third innings.

Rivera was brought up because Jimmy Key, who was scheduled to pitch tonight, was put on the disabled list last Saturday because of inflammation and tendinitis in his rotator cuff.

Full Article

A New Role

By Jason Diamos, Aug. 2, 1995 (Rivera’s first bullpen appearance)

Rivera couldn’t do it last night. He allowed a run on two walks and a two-out double in the sixth and was the victim as the Brewers wiped out the Yankees’ third lead on [David] Hulse’s inside-the-park homer in the seventh.

As the ball squirted around the left-field corner after Randy Velarde slid into the padding in foul territory in an attempt to stop it, Hulse hustled around the bases. He beat the relay home with a nice slide, and the Brewers had their first lead, 5-4.

“I know I can pitch out of there,” Rivera said of his new role in the pen. “I don’t know what happened today.”

Full Article

‘He Should Be Illegal’

By Claire Smith, April 29, 1996

And even though Rivera does not feel like Sandy Koufax, he’s been virtually untouchable. “It’s not that I feel unhittable,” the affable 26-year-old Panamanian said. “I just feel comfortable.”

The Twins, conversely, were very uncomfortable with Rivera and his 90-plus-mile-per-hour fastball. “We don’t need to face him any more,” Twins Manager Tom Kelly declared. “He needs to pitch in a higher league, if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal.”

Full Article

Becoming the Closer

By Jack Curry, Jan. 5, 1997

Confident words flow from Rivera, but it is ludicrous to suggest he is arrogant; this is someone who endured 12-hour days working on fishing boats with his father, who used a cardboard box for his first glove and who still considers it a duty to play with neighborhood kids.

Prodded into describing his status in his home country, he said, “Right now, when it comes to sports in Panama, I’m the man.”

Full Article

A First Trip to the World Series

By Jack Curry, Oct. 18, 1996

There is [David] Cone, the bionic pitcher who returned after missing four months because of surgery to remove an aneurysm from under his right armpit. There is Derek Jeter, the 22-year-old shortstop whose poise and abilities are boundless. There is Mariano Rivera, who can throw his high fastball past any batter and would secure the Cy Young award if it were given to the most valuable pitcher. There is Andy Pettitte, whose 21 victories will probably earn him the Cy Young instead. There is Bernie Williams, who is proving to be the best center fielder in baseball not named Griffey.

“Look up and down the lineup,” Paul O’Neill raved. “Eighty to 90 percent of the guys, you knew what you were going to get from them. And then some of the guys that people were worried about gave us more than you ever expected. Jeter and Rivera were great.”

A Day of Grief and Triumph

By Jack Curry, Oct. 13, 2004

After the ceremonies, Rivera, who paid for the funeral and promised to take care of María Félix, [Victor Darío] Avila’s widow, and her 16-year-old daughter, told reporters in Panama, “This is a very difficult moment, but you have to go on and thank God for what we have.”

Rivera was soon put in a position to match his actions to his words about having to move forward after the deaths. His actions as a pitcher in mourning the last three days were imposing as Rivera helped the Yankees survive in a wild 10-7 victory over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Full Article

Ring No. 4

By Jack Curry, Nov. 4, 2009

Of course, Rivera, the mighty Mariano, was the last closer standing.

As talented as the other postseason closers are, Rivera is different. As long as the Yankees could get leads, Rivera would protect them better than anyone. He has saved 39 of 44 opportunities in the postseason, including 11 of 12 in the World Series.

“He’s the best at what he does,” Jorge Posada said. “I think he’s the best to ever do it.”

Full Article

A Milestone Save

By Tyler Kepner, Sept. 19, 2011

[Joe] Girardi said Rivera’s record would not be broken in our lifetime, and he may be right. Only Trevor Hoffman and Rivera have even 500 saves, and no other active pitcher has 350. The record will be part of Rivera’s legacy for many years, but it will not be his epitaph.

“Records are meant to be broken, so I don’t know,” Rivera said. “All I hope is whoever’s going to be there or do that will just respect the game the way I have respected it. That’s all I wish.”

Full Article

Fears of an Early End

By David Waldstein, May 3, 2012

As soon as Rivera fell in the outfield, the gravity of the moment could be read on the worried faces of everyone in the Yankees’ blue and gray uniforms.

Alex Rodriguez, who was waiting for his turn in the batting cage, appeared to say: “Oh my God. Oh, my God,” and immediately signaled to [Joe] Girardi, who ran out to assist Rivera. For several minutes Rivera writhed on the warning track in obvious pain as grim-faced teammates and coaches stood nearby. After the game, the news was dealt with glumly in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

“I thought we were hoping for the best,” said Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. “I told you this game is cruel before the game. It’s even more cruel now.”

The End

By David Waldstein, Sept. 26, 2013

As he walked to the mound alongside [Derek] Jeter, [Andy] Pettitte tapped his right arm to signal for the replacement pitcher, Matt Daley, then took the ball from Rivera’s hand. Rivera wrapped his arms around Pettitte, who is also retiring after the season, and buried his face in his shoulder, sobbing.

“I didn’t say anything at first, and I didn’t expect for him to be quite so emotional,” Pettitte said. “He broke down and gave me a bear hug, and I bear-hugged him back. I mean, he was really crying. He was weeping, and I could feel him crying on me.”

With a gentle prod from Jeter, Rivera finally looked up, hugged Jeter and walked off the mound as the fans, the Yankees and the Rays stood and cheered.

Full Article

Unanimous

By Tyler Kepner, Jan. 22, 2019

Rivera, 49, signed with the Yankees from Panama in 1990 for a $3,500 bonus. He reached the majors five years later and started 10 games; the last batter he faced as a starter was Martinez, who singled home a run in the fifth inning against him on Sept. 5, 1995, knocking Rivera from the game and sending him to the bullpen forever.

It was a perfect fit. Rivera thrived as a setup man in the Yankees’ 1996 championship run and took over as the team’s closer in 1997, the year he discovered his devastating cut fastball, which broke hundreds of bats with its hard, late movement into the hands of left-handers.

Full Article

Credit: Source link

The post Covering the Closer: Two Decades of Writing on Mariano Rivera appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/covering-the-closer-two-decades-of-writing-on-mariano-rivera/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=covering-the-closer-two-decades-of-writing-on-mariano-rivera from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.tumblr.com/post/186446708412

[weeklyreviewer]

Covering the Closer: Two Decades of Writing on Mariano Rivera

The Yankees signed Mariano Rivera for $2,500 in 1990, and he threw his final pitch for the club in 2013. In between, he played in 19 major league seasons, won five World Series titles and compiled the most saves in M.L.B. history.

Numerous reporters from The New York Times documented his lengthy career, from his emergence with the Yankees to his championship triumphs and his final farewell. Here is a collection of excerpts from several of the most memorable points in his career.

‘A Young Panamanian’

By Ira Berkow, Feb. 22, 1993 (The first mention of Rivera in the Times)

Steve Howe was telling Mariano Rivera, a young Panamanian pitcher, about his spring trainings in high school in Clarkton, Mich.

“We’d go out to play in March and April and have to sweep the snow off the basepaths,” the veteran relief pitcher said.

Rivera looked at Howe. “It snows in Michigan?” he asked.

Full Article

Big-League Debut

By Jay Privman, May 24, 1995

Yankee pitchers continue to be plagued by the long ball. They allowed four home runs tonight and have given up 22 in the last 10 games. Mariano Rivera, recently called up from Class AAA Columbus, started but was knocked out after three and one-third innings.

Rivera was brought up because Jimmy Key, who was scheduled to pitch tonight, was put on the disabled list last Saturday because of inflammation and tendinitis in his rotator cuff.

Full Article

A New Role

By Jason Diamos, Aug. 2, 1995 (Rivera’s first bullpen appearance)

Rivera couldn’t do it last night. He allowed a run on two walks and a two-out double in the sixth and was the victim as the Brewers wiped out the Yankees’ third lead on [David] Hulse’s inside-the-park homer in the seventh.

As the ball squirted around the left-field corner after Randy Velarde slid into the padding in foul territory in an attempt to stop it, Hulse hustled around the bases. He beat the relay home with a nice slide, and the Brewers had their first lead, 5-4.

“I know I can pitch out of there,” Rivera said of his new role in the pen. “I don’t know what happened today.”

Full Article

‘He Should Be Illegal’

By Claire Smith, April 29, 1996

And even though Rivera does not feel like Sandy Koufax, he’s been virtually untouchable. “It’s not that I feel unhittable,” the affable 26-year-old Panamanian said. “I just feel comfortable.”

The Twins, conversely, were very uncomfortable with Rivera and his 90-plus-mile-per-hour fastball. “We don’t need to face him any more,” Twins Manager Tom Kelly declared. “He needs to pitch in a higher league, if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal.”

Full Article

Becoming the Closer

By Jack Curry, Jan. 5, 1997

Confident words flow from Rivera, but it is ludicrous to suggest he is arrogant; this is someone who endured 12-hour days working on fishing boats with his father, who used a cardboard box for his first glove and who still considers it a duty to play with neighborhood kids.

Prodded into describing his status in his home country, he said, “Right now, when it comes to sports in Panama, I’m the man.”

Full Article

A First Trip to the World Series

By Jack Curry, Oct. 18, 1996

There is [David] Cone, the bionic pitcher who returned after missing four months because of surgery to remove an aneurysm from under his right armpit. There is Derek Jeter, the 22-year-old shortstop whose poise and abilities are boundless. There is Mariano Rivera, who can throw his high fastball past any batter and would secure the Cy Young award if it were given to the most valuable pitcher. There is Andy Pettitte, whose 21 victories will probably earn him the Cy Young instead. There is Bernie Williams, who is proving to be the best center fielder in baseball not named Griffey.

“Look up and down the lineup,” Paul O’Neill raved. “Eighty to 90 percent of the guys, you knew what you were going to get from them. And then some of the guys that people were worried about gave us more than you ever expected. Jeter and Rivera were great.”

A Day of Grief and Triumph

By Jack Curry, Oct. 13, 2004

After the ceremonies, Rivera, who paid for the funeral and promised to take care of María Félix, [Victor Darío] Avila’s widow, and her 16-year-old daughter, told reporters in Panama, “This is a very difficult moment, but you have to go on and thank God for what we have.”

Rivera was soon put in a position to match his actions to his words about having to move forward after the deaths. His actions as a pitcher in mourning the last three days were imposing as Rivera helped the Yankees survive in a wild 10-7 victory over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Full Article

Ring No. 4

By Jack Curry, Nov. 4, 2009

Of course, Rivera, the mighty Mariano, was the last closer standing.

As talented as the other postseason closers are, Rivera is different. As long as the Yankees could get leads, Rivera would protect them better than anyone. He has saved 39 of 44 opportunities in the postseason, including 11 of 12 in the World Series.

“He’s the best at what he does,” Jorge Posada said. “I think he’s the best to ever do it.”

Full Article

A Milestone Save

By Tyler Kepner, Sept. 19, 2011

[Joe] Girardi said Rivera’s record would not be broken in our lifetime, and he may be right. Only Trevor Hoffman and Rivera have even 500 saves, and no other active pitcher has 350. The record will be part of Rivera’s legacy for many years, but it will not be his epitaph.

“Records are meant to be broken, so I don’t know,” Rivera said. “All I hope is whoever’s going to be there or do that will just respect the game the way I have respected it. That’s all I wish.”

Full Article

Fears of an Early End

By David Waldstein, May 3, 2012

As soon as Rivera fell in the outfield, the gravity of the moment could be read on the worried faces of everyone in the Yankees’ blue and gray uniforms.

Alex Rodriguez, who was waiting for his turn in the batting cage, appeared to say: “Oh my God. Oh, my God,” and immediately signaled to [Joe] Girardi, who ran out to assist Rivera. For several minutes Rivera writhed on the warning track in obvious pain as grim-faced teammates and coaches stood nearby. After the game, the news was dealt with glumly in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

“I thought we were hoping for the best,” said Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. “I told you this game is cruel before the game. It’s even more cruel now.”

The End

By David Waldstein, Sept. 26, 2013

As he walked to the mound alongside [Derek] Jeter, [Andy] Pettitte tapped his right arm to signal for the replacement pitcher, Matt Daley, then took the ball from Rivera’s hand. Rivera wrapped his arms around Pettitte, who is also retiring after the season, and buried his face in his shoulder, sobbing.

“I didn’t say anything at first, and I didn’t expect for him to be quite so emotional,” Pettitte said. “He broke down and gave me a bear hug, and I bear-hugged him back. I mean, he was really crying. He was weeping, and I could feel him crying on me.”

With a gentle prod from Jeter, Rivera finally looked up, hugged Jeter and walked off the mound as the fans, the Yankees and the Rays stood and cheered.

Full Article

Unanimous

By Tyler Kepner, Jan. 22, 2019

Rivera, 49, signed with the Yankees from Panama in 1990 for a $3,500 bonus. He reached the majors five years later and started 10 games; the last batter he faced as a starter was Martinez, who singled home a run in the fifth inning against him on Sept. 5, 1995, knocking Rivera from the game and sending him to the bullpen forever.

It was a perfect fit. Rivera thrived as a setup man in the Yankees’ 1996 championship run and took over as the team’s closer in 1997, the year he discovered his devastating cut fastball, which broke hundreds of bats with its hard, late movement into the hands of left-handers.

Full Article

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Covering the Closer: Two Decades of Writing on Mariano Rivera

The Yankees signed Mariano Rivera for $2,500 in 1990, and he threw his final pitch for the club in 2013. In between, he played in 19 major league seasons, won five World Series titles and compiled the most saves in M.L.B. history.

Numerous reporters from The New York Times documented his lengthy career, from his emergence with the Yankees to his championship triumphs and his final farewell. Here is a collection of excerpts from several of the most memorable points in his career.

‘A Young Panamanian’

By Ira Berkow, Feb. 22, 1993 (The first mention of Rivera in the Times)

Steve Howe was telling Mariano Rivera, a young Panamanian pitcher, about his spring trainings in high school in Clarkton, Mich.

“We’d go out to play in March and April and have to sweep the snow off the basepaths,” the veteran relief pitcher said.

Rivera looked at Howe. “It snows in Michigan?” he asked.

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Big-League Debut

By Jay Privman, May 24, 1995

Yankee pitchers continue to be plagued by the long ball. They allowed four home runs tonight and have given up 22 in the last 10 games. Mariano Rivera, recently called up from Class AAA Columbus, started but was knocked out after three and one-third innings.

Rivera was brought up because Jimmy Key, who was scheduled to pitch tonight, was put on the disabled list last Saturday because of inflammation and tendinitis in his rotator cuff.

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A New Role

By Jason Diamos, Aug. 2, 1995 (Rivera’s first bullpen appearance)

Rivera couldn’t do it last night. He allowed a run on two walks and a two-out double in the sixth and was the victim as the Brewers wiped out the Yankees’ third lead on [David] Hulse’s inside-the-park homer in the seventh.

As the ball squirted around the left-field corner after Randy Velarde slid into the padding in foul territory in an attempt to stop it, Hulse hustled around the bases. He beat the relay home with a nice slide, and the Brewers had their first lead, 5-4.

“I know I can pitch out of there,” Rivera said of his new role in the pen. “I don’t know what happened today.”

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‘He Should Be Illegal’

By Claire Smith, April 29, 1996

And even though Rivera does not feel like Sandy Koufax, he’s been virtually untouchable. “It’s not that I feel unhittable,” the affable 26-year-old Panamanian said. “I just feel comfortable.”

The Twins, conversely, were very uncomfortable with Rivera and his 90-plus-mile-per-hour fastball. “We don’t need to face him any more,” Twins Manager Tom Kelly declared. “He needs to pitch in a higher league, if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal.”

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Becoming the Closer

By Jack Curry, Jan. 5, 1997

Confident words flow from Rivera, but it is ludicrous to suggest he is arrogant; this is someone who endured 12-hour days working on fishing boats with his father, who used a cardboard box for his first glove and who still considers it a duty to play with neighborhood kids.

Prodded into describing his status in his home country, he said, “Right now, when it comes to sports in Panama, I’m the man.”

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A First Trip to the World Series

By Jack Curry, Oct. 18, 1996

There is [David] Cone, the bionic pitcher who returned after missing four months because of surgery to remove an aneurysm from under his right armpit. There is Derek Jeter, the 22-year-old shortstop whose poise and abilities are boundless. There is Mariano Rivera, who can throw his high fastball past any batter and would secure the Cy Young award if it were given to the most valuable pitcher. There is Andy Pettitte, whose 21 victories will probably earn him the Cy Young instead. There is Bernie Williams, who is proving to be the best center fielder in baseball not named Griffey.

“Look up and down the lineup,” Paul O’Neill raved. “Eighty to 90 percent of the guys, you knew what you were going to get from them. And then some of the guys that people were worried about gave us more than you ever expected. Jeter and Rivera were great.”

A Day of Grief and Triumph

By Jack Curry, Oct. 13, 2004

After the ceremonies, Rivera, who paid for the funeral and promised to take care of María Félix, [Victor Darío] Avila’s widow, and her 16-year-old daughter, told reporters in Panama, “This is a very difficult moment, but you have to go on and thank God for what we have.”

Rivera was soon put in a position to match his actions to his words about having to move forward after the deaths. His actions as a pitcher in mourning the last three days were imposing as Rivera helped the Yankees survive in a wild 10-7 victory over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

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Ring No. 4

By Jack Curry, Nov. 4, 2009

Of course, Rivera, the mighty Mariano, was the last closer standing.

As talented as the other postseason closers are, Rivera is different. As long as the Yankees could get leads, Rivera would protect them better than anyone. He has saved 39 of 44 opportunities in the postseason, including 11 of 12 in the World Series.

“He’s the best at what he does,” Jorge Posada said. “I think he’s the best to ever do it.”

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A Milestone Save

By Tyler Kepner, Sept. 19, 2011

[Joe] Girardi said Rivera’s record would not be broken in our lifetime, and he may be right. Only Trevor Hoffman and Rivera have even 500 saves, and no other active pitcher has 350. The record will be part of Rivera’s legacy for many years, but it will not be his epitaph.

“Records are meant to be broken, so I don’t know,” Rivera said. “All I hope is whoever’s going to be there or do that will just respect the game the way I have respected it. That’s all I wish.”

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Fears of an Early End

By David Waldstein, May 3, 2012

As soon as Rivera fell in the outfield, the gravity of the moment could be read on the worried faces of everyone in the Yankees’ blue and gray uniforms.

Alex Rodriguez, who was waiting for his turn in the batting cage, appeared to say: “Oh my God. Oh, my God,” and immediately signaled to [Joe] Girardi, who ran out to assist Rivera. For several minutes Rivera writhed on the warning track in obvious pain as grim-faced teammates and coaches stood nearby. After the game, the news was dealt with glumly in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

“I thought we were hoping for the best,” said Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. “I told you this game is cruel before the game. It’s even more cruel now.”

The End

By David Waldstein, Sept. 26, 2013

As he walked to the mound alongside [Derek] Jeter, [Andy] Pettitte tapped his right arm to signal for the replacement pitcher, Matt Daley, then took the ball from Rivera’s hand. Rivera wrapped his arms around Pettitte, who is also retiring after the season, and buried his face in his shoulder, sobbing.

“I didn’t say anything at first, and I didn’t expect for him to be quite so emotional,” Pettitte said. “He broke down and gave me a bear hug, and I bear-hugged him back. I mean, he was really crying. He was weeping, and I could feel him crying on me.”

With a gentle prod from Jeter, Rivera finally looked up, hugged Jeter and walked off the mound as the fans, the Yankees and the Rays stood and cheered.

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Unanimous

By Tyler Kepner, Jan. 22, 2019

Rivera, 49, signed with the Yankees from Panama in 1990 for a $3,500 bonus. He reached the majors five years later and started 10 games; the last batter he faced as a starter was Martinez, who singled home a run in the fifth inning against him on Sept. 5, 1995, knocking Rivera from the game and sending him to the bullpen forever.

It was a perfect fit. Rivera thrived as a setup man in the Yankees’ 1996 championship run and took over as the team’s closer in 1997, the year he discovered his devastating cut fastball, which broke hundreds of bats with its hard, late movement into the hands of left-handers.

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