X/Twitter friends: Please ignore any “special invitations” from my AOL email. Hacked. Hoax. You are all special, but the invitations are not! Cheers.

RIP Willie Mays. Growing up as baby boomers on Long Island, my brother and I had typically divided loyalties. I loved The Mick, Larry loved Mays. We’d argue who was better. I still insist that in his prime, Mantle was better, but Mays’ prime was longer. Willie was the greatest.

My Newsday obit on Pete Rose, all-time great player, character and controversial figure. newsday.com/sports/basebal…

I’ve been an avid Yankees fan since 1957 and I cannot remember a worse inning, given the circumstances, than 2024 World Series Game 5. Amazing thing about baseball: You’ve never seen it all. Would rather have been a journalist than a fan for this one. No time for the pain!

Have to wonder, given that the Yankees’ offer was so close to the Mets and Soto seemed like a perfect fit in the Bronx after best year of his career, if the so-called Yankees’ mystique is gone. I’ll be watching their “pivot” closely.

Just watched ‘NY Sack Exchange’ 30 for 30. Simply terrific. Honest, moving, revealing. This Giants fan salutes all four and their stories. What a great job by ESPN. 👏👏👍👍

Great scene at URI’s Ryan Center today. It’s Education Day and thousands of elementary school kids are here for women’s hoops game. The three grandZogs are in the crowd. I managed to find them all for a quick hug. Then they went back to their friends … I’m ok.

Remembering the greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer in MLB history. From my spring training collection when he visited Mets and mentored young Jose Reyes.

Warm wishes and season’s greetings!

Neighborhood party. One mile drive. Plenty of food, drink and friends. Happy and healthy new year to all from Mr. and Mrs. Zog.

As a Giants fan, and judging only by what I’ve seen on TV so not an expert or an insider, I prefer Travis Hunter at No. 3, a possible bridge QB (or Lock) and Dart or Milone.

The ‘One-Vote-Short Club.’ (From Zog’s All-Star Game collection.)

Link to my article on URI’s historic 2024 football season for the alumni magazine. A 40-year playoff drought ends. uri.edu/magazine/issue…

In 2004, in a rare instance of romantic creativity, I made this CD for my wife. Great songs for a great lady. Happy Valentine’s Day to my Bonnie, and to all the great ladies out there.

I never hit a buzzer-beater. My grandson Leo, age 8, made one today to defeat rival in rec league finale. (Video courtesy of coach’s wife.)

Honored to be back in Newsday’s Baseball Preview section with this 50-year retrospective on baseball’s first big-money free agent — Catfish Hunter. newsday.com/sports/basebal…

Remembering whe Shea Stadium was home for ALL the New York teams. newsday.com/sports/basebal…

Putting aside the fact that we are now watching professionals playing the college game, this was a terrific Final Four. So rare that all 3 games go down to the final seconds. Tremendous intensity, tremendous action. Great theater. Gritty comeback by Gators. 👏👏🏀🏀

I may be violating the X code here by not ripping Yanks or Mets, but my grandson Leo was MVP of big 8-year-old R.I. all-star tournament title game. Pitched, played 1st, drilled 3 hits for S. Kingstown champs. 6 wins in 8 days. His sister Lyla was very proud (Grandpa, too!) 👏⚾️

A link to Newsday story on my forever favorite story subject. #7 is always #1 in my heart. Mantle's spectacular career still remembered fondly 30 years after his death newsday.com/sports/basebal…