Guestbook
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Bernie Colbert - Team Recruiter
Malden,Ma. 02148 August 27, 2007 4:24:23 PM Entry ID: 1194089 | To Coach Al,his staff,players and parents. I want to thank them all for their display of good sportsmanship during the tournament and especially their participation on our Challenger day. Al's teams are always top notch and this year was no exception. The memories they got by winning our tournament fail to equal the memories I got from watching the Wakefield team assist the Challenger kids. Be proud of what you have accomplished. Hope to see you at next year's challenger day!!! |
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Chas
MIT-CFO August 26, 2007 12:25:28 PM Entry ID: 1193058 | Al, thanks so much for your kind words in regards to our Tournament and Staff. It means a lot to each and everyone of us. It's the fuel that keeps us going. You and your organization have become a major piece of our tournament. Thank you for your continued participation. We all look forward to seeing you back next year! |
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Ron Giovino
MIT President August 26, 2007 11:06:17 AM Entry ID: 1193015 | Al, thanks for your comments. You are absolutely correct. The comments from one "Sour Grapes Daddy" can not take away from the great work and effort of the great people who put on this tournament. As for the Wakefield All-stars, let me say what an impressive, classy organization you are. To make the MIT finals in three straight years is quite an accomplishment. This year, the championship was hard fought and the competition was challenging to say the least. More impotant than the trophy, is the way your team coaches and families handled themselves during the tournament. Your fans were involved in the entire experience of the MIT. The Wakefield players were tremendous examples of what young men should know about life. Their participation in the Challenger Day game was both moving and inspirational. For me, it was what they did for the Challenger kids that will never be forgotten. To have the team pick up the trophy instead of the coaches on Championship night, showed that you understand what this sport is all about. Thanks to the leadership you and your coaches provided, the Wakefield All-Stars captured not only a trophy, but a memory that will last a lifetime. Thanks for being part of our MIT experience. See you next year! |
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Al
Wakefield August 26, 2007 9:27:32 AM Entry ID: 1192965 | Moving on!! I would like to deeply thank every volunteer that is involved with the M.I.T. Their exemplary performance and willingess to give of themselves is beyond what we would expect of any person. To say that they are a "class act" is a clear understatement. When we invite a player to be on our team. I usually tell the parents that it is hard to describe this tournament and they will need to let the experience show them. As usual there were no disappointments. The Wakefield parents and players were extraordinary in both their participation and support to the coaching staff, I want to thank you all for that. You, as you always do, made Wakefield proud. Your participation in the Challenger game made an indelible mark on many people. These are the things that make you winners. The players won a championship against a very formidable opponent. Medford, not only is a great team, they are a team with a lot of spirit and class. Coach McGonagle is the reason for this, as well as his players and their families. Many of our players and parents felt that this was the best BB experience of their lives. I would say the the M.I.T team met their goal by a lot. |
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Al
Wakefield August 26, 2007 9:02:02 AM Entry ID: 1192952 | Stated goal of the M.I.T. THE GOAL OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS SIMPLE; TO TEACH KIDS THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL AND SPORTSMANSHIP. Simple and true to the core!!!! Too much has been made of of one selfish and agenda minded adult, who obviously has no clue what youth sports and the M.I.T. encompasses. While much has been made of some of the high scoring games, it should not be lost on anyone the spirit the teams on the short end displayed when the game was over. They DID not hang their heads. They DID not whine (like one adult), they smiled going through the line and congratulated the team that won. In my opinion, they are as much a winner as their opposition. When you have an organization such as the M.I.T. who give 150% to our kids and their parents it is unconscionable to rip them because you did not get your way. That speaks volumes about the type of person you are. |
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larry williams
Medford August 25, 2007 9:41:37 PM Entry ID: 1192794 | This must be the same Peter Colford that under cover of darkness left envelopes refunding money to 2 kids that had signed up for BayStates, but weren't good enough for him. He allegedly refunded their money and included a brochure to a local batting cage advising them to go there to improve their skills. This to me is 100 times worse than anything he thinks happened to his son. I happen to think his son is a great kid, and I wish him all the best in his future as a student and an athlete. I had sent a heated e-mail to Peter and he forwarded it to others, neglecting to include anything negative he had said. I challenge Peter to answer the question about these 2 kids knowing his rights to freedom of speech will be protected. Peter you profess to be for the kids. |
| Bernie Colbert Malden August 24, 2007 6:52:35 PM Entry ID: 1192142 | Team recruiter here - I have read the Colford file and it is 100% accurate. I have also signed on to the Medford Cal Ripken website and left a message which probably will not be approved by Mr. Colford. We all know that some teams were stronger than others this year and in years passed. Unfortunately when teams are recruited I have no idea what their talent level is. But I am proud to say that the teams Ken and Mario were speaking about truly had the Mit philosophy. They will be invited back next year. I have asked Mr. Colford to end this nonsense. In my mind it was a great tournament. I congratulate Coach McGonagle and the rest of the Medford team on a great run, to bad we all are focusing on Peter Colford and not the memories of the tournament and the fun we had at the Challenger day. I for one can't wait for the 2008 tournament!! Thanks to all the teams and the "Great folks of SMLL" |
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Ron Giovino
MIT President August 24, 2007 11:04:35 AM Entry ID: 1191552 | Jessica, Thank-you so much for all your hard work. Thanks to the generosity of Wild Oats, the Challenger Day was a great success. We appreciate sponsors that give us the ability to do special things for deserving kids. We hope the partnership we have formed will last long into the future. On behalf of the MIT, thanks for all you did for us and the kids. |
| Jessica Wild Oats August 24, 2007 11:01:19 AM Entry ID: 1191551 | Hello Ron, I wanted to thank you and all of the workers at the MIT challenger game and the final game. I would not have been able to do everything myself. Sunday was amazing just watching those kids play and have a huge smile on their faces brought tears to my eyes. I am glad that Wild Oats was a part of it. I told everyone I worked with on Sunday night what an experience it was. Thank you again for allowing me to be part of it. Monday night was a thrill, the people were exciting to watch as the kids played. I thought at one point I was a major league game just from the crowds reactions to the kids. I hope Wild Oats can help you out again with anything your group does. If you talk to the people from SMLL please tell the grounds workers that I said thank you for all of their help. I have never been to an event were they helped out like those guys did, I will never forget them for it. |
| WGLL Medford August 23, 2007 9:56:10 PM Entry ID: 1191222 | Great Job!! I am soo glad to see the kids from Medford getting together and making a great team!! WTG!! MIT's. Thanks for all your help and making this a great invite for the children of Wellington!! I am soo Sorry you are dealing with these people who have no life!! I found out the hard way! You can't make everyone happy!! Its pretty sickening the people who love to make a scene!! I am sorry that the gentleman you have been dealing with is from WGLL. I am not to sure he is screwed in the right way! He has nothin better to do with his time!! Well again Great Job!! Keep up the good work and don't let one jerk get the best of you!! |
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Tom Russo
MedFord August 23, 2007 1:09:55 PM Entry ID: 1190759 | On behalf of the many volunteers of the MIT ,I would like to thank all of our teams ,the coaches and the parents for their help this year. Without their participation the MIT Tournament would never be successful. Although there were some lopsided games,we did have plenty of very competitive games including the semi-final and champioship games ! There were walk-off homeruns,excellent defensive plays,base-runners being thrown out at home,strong pitching , and what I liked best ,all the players playing . For all the fans out there,please remember that the MIT Staff does not choose the players that are on each team !The Staff does make sure that every player that shows up for the game MUST PLAY at least 3 innings and MUST BAT at least once. As for teams that play in the tournament,the MIT tries to get local teams.Sometimes for whatever reasons,teams that play in the tournament one year skip the next,and return the following year. How strong each team will be we have no idea.But we have teams that return most years: Medford ,Malden, Billerica,and Wakefield immeadiately come to mind.Will all the teams return next year, I hope so but maybe they will not. This year the fans were excellent.There was great particpation in our dance and sing-a-longs and even the umpires were dancing! I am already looking forward to next year .Although it is alot of work ,once you see our kids laughing and smiling,and they are our kids,the fatigue goes away. |
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Ron Giovino
MIT President August 22, 2007 5:52:17 PM Entry ID: 1190107 | FANS- MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED US WHO ARE THE GUYS THAT KEEP WRITING SO NEGATIVELY IN THE GUESTBOOK? THERE IS "KEN M." FROM MEDFORD AND "MARIO" FROM SOMERVILLE. THEY BOTH THINK THE TOURNAMENT IS WEAK AND "KEN M." THINKS THERE SHOULD BE TWO TEAMS FROM MEDFORD. BELOW YOU WILL SEE THAT WE RECEIVED TWO MORE COMMENTS FROM BOTH GUYS. WE ARE PLACING THEM ON THE WEBSITE FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SECONDLY, WE HAVE KNOWN WHO "KEN M." WAS FOR OVER A WEEK AND TODAY, WE REALIZED THAT HE IS ALSO "MARIO" FROM SOMERVILLE. IT IS DISTURBING THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO HIDE BEHIND FALSE NAMES TO GET A POINT ACROSS. TOMORROW, I AM ASKING OUR ATTORNIES TO LET ME KNOW IF WE CAN TELL YOU HIS REAL NAME. IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD LIKE "MR. X" TO PLEASE SIGN IN AND GET THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH HE KEEPS LOOKING FOR. STAY TUNED |
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Chas
MIT - CFO August 22, 2007 9:34:09 AM Entry ID: 1189551 | I just wanted to take a minute to congratulate Al, his coaches and most of all the Wakefield team on their victory Monday night. You know when Wakefield is in the house you're going to see a good game. We were not disappointed. They are always one of the most fundamentally sound teams you will see. Anyone who was there Monday night saw them at what you'd think was their best. However, If you saw them Sunday when they were there to help and support their Challenger team you saw what these kids are really made of!! Al, we look forward to seeing you back next year. |
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Kevin
Wakefield August 21, 2007 1:11:57 PM Entry ID: 1188798 | To all of the MIT staff a sincere thank you for a great two weeks of baseball fun! The MIT is a GREAT Tournament for the whole family! It was what it was billed to be a fun time for all! Challenger Sunday was a tremendous day! I am very proud to say that I am from Wakefield after watching that team participate in full uniform with their peers during the challenger game! It says a lot about their coach's and player's and I think it set a perfect tone for the tournament.(Participation was not mandatory) To the boy's of the Wakefield All-Star Team you were big winners before the championship game was ever played! Congratulations and thanks to the coach's... Al, Frank, Mark and Don you really helped the kids reach their potential with dignity and class. Thank you! |
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Ron Giovino
MIT President August 21, 2007 7:37:14 AM Entry ID: 1188418 | On behalf of the MIT family, I wish to thank everyone involved in the tournament. We hope that you will take away some great memories from the past two weeks. We will never forget the inaugural Challenger Day. This year's group of athletes demonstrated a respect and appreciation for the game. That is a direct result of good coaching and parenting. You all should be very proud. Today, we will begin preparing for next year. If you have any comments on how to make this a better experience, please let us know. |
| None August 21, 2007 7:34:14 AM Entry ID: 1188416 | What was the score of the early game last night? |
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Marty Griffin
Everett August 20, 2007 4:43:06 PM Entry ID: 1188015 | I would like to take this time to thank evERYONE involved with the MIT, it was extremely ejoyable and i know my son had a great time, although we didn't win any games the kids still had a lot fun for their first time in the tournement. Ron execellent work on the microphone. Bernie great keeping score and all the changes us coaches had to make, plus thank you for not picking on me at work about my lack of dancing ability. Thanks to all my parents,my players, after all they are the reason iv'e been coaching this long, and will continue to. Brenda C. thank you for your time and effort to put the team together. Marty Griffin President Everett cal Ripken |
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Ron Giovino
MIT [President August 20, 2007 2:53:25 PM Entry ID: 1187895 | Thanks to you and all the kids for adding such great energy to our tourament. |
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Marissa Moschella
Melrose August 20, 2007 2:42:05 PM Entry ID: 1187876 | Dear the entire MIT staff, I've had soooo much fun this year at the mit thanks to Ron I now know how to do the YMCA better than I could do it and me my cousins my brother and friends have so much fun playing at the parks eating the delicious food from the food stand and the grill I'm really excited to see the championships tonight Wakefeild and Medford its gonna be hard there both undefeated but again thanks for all the fun! |
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RICKEY THORNTON S.M.L.L.
MEDFORD August 20, 2007 11:35:58 AM Entry ID: 1187655 | TO THE M.I.T.STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS-SUNDAY WAS A GREAT DAY-THE CHALLENGER GM. BETWEEN WAKEFIELD AND MALDEN WAS SUPER--TO SEE THE SMILING FACES ON THOSE KIDS MADE MY DAY--MY HAT GOES OFF TO THE VOLUNTEERS WHO TAKE PART IN RUNNING THE CHALLENGER LEAGUE--AND AS FOR THE M.I.T. RUNNING SUCH A GREAT EVENT FOR THE CHALLENGER LEAGUE--I COULDN'T BE ANY PROUDER ON BEING PART OF THE M.I.T.--I'M TRULY TOUCHED AND OVERWHELMED--GOOD JOB GUY'S--SEE YOU ALL TONITE |
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Ron Giovino
MIT President August 20, 2007 11:13:19 AM Entry ID: 1187636 | Denise thank-you for your kind words. Having the entire playoff team from Wakefield at the Challenger game meant so much to all of us on the MIT Staff. Bernie and the great people of Malden West have demonstrated what is important about youth sports and winning is way down on the list. I am so proud of all the generous people who made yesterday possible. Our goal has always been to give these kids memories that will last a lifetime, yesterday the kids gave us all that gift. |
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Denise Colbert
Malden August 20, 2007 9:57:28 AM Entry ID: 1187529 | Hi guys, Thank you all for a wonderful time yesterday with the Challenger game yesterday. All the kids had a ball dancing on the field and really having the true meaning of baseball kids having fun not who is winning or if they did not get a hit but just the joy of being able to play and having a great time at it. I am a parent from Malden, but hats off the Wakefield team who is playing in the regular tournament who all gave up their time before their game to be buddy's to the players from Wakefield great job and they had just as much fun as the players did. Thank you also to all the Volunteer's either helping cooking or serving food and being on the field. You all did a great job. Ron you know how much this means to Bernie and myself, all that you have done all year helping with our Challenger League this year being there for every game all the wonderful pictures that you had taken on the last day and the tearful and heartfelt column you had in the Malden Evening News all of the parents from our league can not THANK YOU enough. With much love and appreciation Denise, Bernie and of course our number one player Kyle Colbert |
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LUCY
SOMERVILLE August 18, 2007 11:37:47 AM Entry ID: 1186428 | I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MIT STAFF FOR GIVING OUR CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY BASEBALL. MOST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DAN AND ROXANNE SCRIMA!!!! DAN HAS BEEN THE MOST DEDICATED,MOST HARD WORKING COACH I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE TO KNOW.REGULAR BASEBALL SEASON I THINK, IS TOO SHORT AND IF IT WASN'T FOR DANS COMPASSION AND DEDICATION TO OUR CHILDREN,THEY WOULDNT OF HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY BALL FOR THIS LONG. HIS WIFE ROXANNE HAS BEEN VERY LOVING AND SUPORTIVE TO OUR CHILDREN. ALWAYS BRINGS THEM GOODIES AND ALWAYS THERE WITH HER CAMERA TAKING PICS OF OUR KIDS AND THEN TAKING HER TIME TO GO HOME AND ACTUALLY EMAILS THE PARENTS THEIR KIDS PICS. DAN HAS NOT ONLY BEEN A GREAT COACH TO HIS PLAYERS BUT ALSO GIVES HIS PLAYERS SIBLINGS, LIKE MY 5 YEAR OLD SON THE CHANCE TO GO ON THE FIELD AND PRACTICE WITH THEM. HE GIVES MY SON A CHANCE UP AT BATTING AND ACTUALLY SHOWS HIM HOW TO HOLD THE BAT,HOW TO SWING THE BAT AND HOW TO CATCH A BALL.HE REALLY MAKES MY 5 YEAR OLD SON FEEL LIKE HE IS A PART OF HIS TEAM. THANKS DAN AND ROXANNE!!!!! HOPEFULLY WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR!!! |
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Lu
Somerville August 17, 2007 3:26:52 PM Entry ID: 1185845 | Just wanted to thank the MIT staff and officials for a job well done! This tournament has been a great way to end our baseball season. I also want to thank Dan Scrima, Somerville's head coach, for all his hard work, dedication to the kids and above all his patience. THANK YOU! See you all at tomorrows game. Don't forget your dancing shoes!! =) |
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Tom Russo
Medford August 16, 2007 5:50:42 PM Entry ID: 1185075 | On behalf of the volunteers of the MIT Tournament,I would like to commend the fans for their avid participation with "YMCA,OOH AAAHH,and Sweet Caroline " songs and dances this year! I know that the kids get a big kick out of seeing their parents and friends letting their hair down,that is if you have any hair to let down,and singing and dancing.Not only does it make everybody a little happier ,but maybe for just a little while ,it makes our worries go away. Remember that the kids who play in the MIT Tournament are our kids.When you see a good play ,CHEER for that kid and it shouldn't matter what team he is on . Consequently, if a player makes a poor play,SO WHAT ,that player , at most, is only 12 years old. Too many times,especially the last few years,parents and coaches just get TOO CARRIED AWAY !This is not the "World Series nor is it the "SUPER BOWL ". Let the players have some fun,because getting older just plain STINKS ! |
