Jim Mancari

Pete Sweeney, a former Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) athlete and student at Our Lady of the Snows, North Floral Park, has covered the Chiefs since 2014, a tenure that has included Super Bowl victories in 2020, 2023, and 2024. Sweeney’s love of sports began in the CYO, where he played basketball and soccer at the parish.

The holidays are all about traditions, and there’s nothing more traditional in the local boys’ high school hoops scene than the annual Msgr. King Memorial Basketball Tournament. The 54th annual tournament returned to the iconic green floor at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Flatlands, from Dec. 26-30.

For the 53rd time, the TCS New York City Marathon — a major highlight of the fall sports scene — traversed the five boroughs on Sunday, Nov. 3. As always, our diocese was well represented by parishioners throughout Brooklyn and Queens. This year, several Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) track coaches participated in the race or passionately cheered on the runners along the 26.2-mile course.

The baseball world has lost a legend. A controversial one, but a legend nonetheless.

We often hear that a football team is just like a family. Sure, the same could be said for other sports teams, but there’s something about football where the family moniker rings especially true. Perhaps it’s the in-the-trenches mentality associated with the game. It’s a rough-and-tough, down-and-dirty, rumble-tumble sport where everything gets left out on the gridiron.

In the Diocese of Brooklyn, the name “Joe Lapchick” is synonymous with greatness. From his early days as a basketball player to a long coaching career at St. John’s University and with the New York Knicks, Lapchick exemplified integrity in sports. Being associated with him is a tremendous honor.

Longtime basketball coach Barry "Slice" Rohrssen reflects on his life of service, shaped by his Catholic faith and dedication to mentoring young players.

For 63 years strong, the Basketball Old-Timers of America hosted a dinner ceremony to induct its new class of Hall of Famers. It’s always a who’s who of New York City’s most influential former basketball players and coaches — all of whom descend upon Sirico’s Caterers in Dyker Heights with story after story reminiscing about the past. 

Tier 1 All-Stars, Honorable Mention, Tier 2 + 4 All-Stars

Every year right around now, it’s time to go dancing! Not in the ballroom, but in the NCAA Tournament.