The Bronx is Burning

Just finished watching the two-DVD set of THE BRONX IS BURNING (2007) and enjoyed it so much I'm doing an immediate rerun while writing this.I was a Yankee fan from childhood. My memories go back to a 1960 season that ended with Pittsburgh Pirate Bill Mazeroski's World Series winning home run. My love affair with the Bronx Bombers included all those lean years between 1962 and '77, when my team finally reclaimed the World's Champ title. I stayed with them afterwards, but only until beloved Thurman Munson's neck was snapped in an Aug. '79 small plane crash, then I emotionally walked away from the game. Seeing this miniseries was a golden chance to relive those last sweet days of my Yankee obsession.'77 was a magic year for the NY tri-state area, with one of our ballteams finally on the ascendence, but it was also a crazy time of discos, punk rock, freaky fashions, sex clubs like Plato's Retreat and on the down side, unexpected violence. What makes this eight-part ESPN minseries so unique is yes, the actors who bring to life all those great Yankee characters, but also the story's digressions to reflect on such events as a daring young fellow who successfully scaled one corner of a World Trade Center tower, the Big Apple's Democratic mayoral race between several candidates, and a partial Con Ed blackout that led to tragedy on a hot summer night. Yes there were some heroics from volunteer citizens that powerless dark night but alas, the surfacing of arsonists and looters who broke into stores for what they deemed "Christmas in July" reflected the despicable side of human nature.These real occurrences are represented by contemporary news footage, but the show's second story, that of "Son of Sam" serial killer David Berkowitz, is told through shooting reenactments and the tireless work of police detectives who ultimately apprehended this maniac because of a parking ticket he got on a night of a "Sam" killing. The Berkowitz saga ends with Chapter Five, then we get to concentrate on a ballclub that had been in turmoil for months but was finally coalescing into a winning team, yet always not without some bumps in the road.Oliver Platt's portrayal of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner as a duplicitous, grudge-holding blowhard may or may not be accurate, but it sure is enjoyable. A real highlight is when he and John Turturro's Biily Martin film a Lite Beer commercial (check out the original at YouTube). Despite his weird glued-on elephant ears, Turturro does a wonderful job as the volatile, deeply troubled, hard-drinking Martin. Daniel Sunjata as Reggie Jackson is a marvel. He manages to capture Reggie's giant ego that's a brittle shell over an easily injured psyche. I openly loved Thurman Munson and the actor who plays him, Erik Jensen, does a terrific job. Kudos also to Kevin Conway as Gabe Paul. How this team GM survived all the grief Steinbrenner put him through could be a story in itself. You really feel for the man.Even the peripheral characters are well-treated.Joe Grifasi breathes life into coach Yogi Berra, the man who has more World Series rings than all the rest.There's no mention in Mickey Rivers' WIKIPEDIA bio of his addiction to horse betting beyond an afterthought that he now trains thoroughbreds. Leonard Robinson portrays Rivers as a man who importunes fellow players for hundreds to plunge on Aqueduct ponies, this because wife Mary (Janine Green) has the team send Mickey's paycheck directly to her.And there's other fine performances.Loren Dean's Fran Healy was from the start Reggie's only friend on the team, and he seems like a good one to have.Mather Zickel's Lou Pinella is an even-natured peacemaker whose well-controlled temper explodes after an important loss.Some big name actors are cops in the many Son of Sam segments, including Dan Lauria, Stephen Lang, Nestor Serrano and Casey Siemaszko. Michael Rispoli nails Jimmy Breslin's New Yawk accent.There is so much to enjoy in these eight hours that this ongoing second viewing is better than the first.But now, I'm giving the last three chapters my full attention.To all baseball and especially Yankee fans (past and present), do *not* miss THE BRONX IS BURNING!

1977 was a very tumultuous year for both Baseball, in particular, the Yankees, and the City of New York. The events that gripped both baseball and the city itself are captured very well in the mini series that was originally broadcast on ESPN in August of 2007 (appropriately enough, the 30th anniversary of the events that took place). The Yankees' drive to the AL Pennant and the World Series is put very well into perspective with the other events that were capturing the collective imaginations of New Yorkers in the Summer of 1977. To this day. I remember those events as though they took place yesterday. At the time, I was a 15 year old living in Westchester County and I followed everything that was going on in the pages of the New York Daily News. In fact, reading "New York's Hometown Paper" became part of my daily routine. You had the massive manhunt for David Berkowitz, who was first known as The 44 Calliber Killer and then became the self-proclaimed, "Son of Sam". I remember vividly people wondering where he was going to strike next. Then there was the Great Blackout, which reminded people of the previous blackout in 1964. The blackout didn't stop The Daily News from publishing. The paper was printed at a plant in Queens until operations returned to normal. Finally, there was the New York City Mayoral Race. Four main candidates emerged from the field - each with a very different personality. There was Mario Cuomo, the by-the-book politician who had the backing of Governor, Hugh Carey. There was the outspoken Feminist, Bella Abzug, vivacious and outgoing in her colorful hats. Then, there was The Quiet Man, Ed Koch - a little known Congressman from Lower Manahttan who had the backing of former Miss America, Bess Meyerson. Finally, there was the incumbent, Abe Beame who had very nearly run New York City into the ground. In the end, it would be Koch who would emerge victorious. All of this provided an exciting background to the three-way race in the AL East that was taking place between the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox would experience a collapse in 1977 that was similar to, but not as noteworthy as the one they experienced the following year. The Orioles, few people realize, got into the race very late. The stars of the mini series played their roles to the hilt. John Turturro as Billy Martin was dead on. He had Billy pegged from the cowboy outfits he always wore to the affected Southern drawl with which Billy sometimes spoke. But, the thing that really made him shine in the role the way he played Martin's firey temper. One scene that comes to mind was a scene during the 1977 AL Playoffs when Yankee Second Baseman Willie Randolph was taken out on a slide by a Kansas City Royals base runner. The umpire called it a clean slide and Turturro, as Martin, gets up in the ump's face (just as the real Martin would have) and says, "Clean Slide? Clean Slide, my a**!!!" Daniel Sunjata as Reggie Jackson had his character down pat. He was a dead ringer for Jackson with his 70's-style Afro and the round John Lennon-type glasses. He also perfectly portrayed Mr. October's swaggering attitude. Oliver Platt (although he was a bit chunky for the role) was perfect as Yankee owner, George Steinbrenner. He portrayed Steinbrenner just as Steinbrenner really was - the guy that wanted a winner and who wanted to run a tight ship. One particularly amusing scene was the re-creation of the famous Steinbrenner/Martin Lite Beer commercial from 1977 - the one that ends with George saying, "Billy...You're Fired." and Billy saying, "Not Again." I would recommend this series to anyone - Yankee fan or otherwise (I'm a Cardinals' fan myself). The series was further enhanced by the soundtrack provided by The Ramones, who, at that time, were regulars on the CBGB's scene in Lower Manhattan and were just coming into their own as one of New York's leading Punk Rock bands.

I've just finished watching this excellent miniseries, and what memories it brought back. When the non-baseball events depicted in the series were unfolding in 1977, I had just entered my teens and was quite shocked and frightened by the Son of Sam murders and the rampant lawlessness that broke out in America's largest city during the July blackout. It made me envision NYC as being some modern day Hell on Earth.Most of the series is about the roller coaster ride the Yankees took their fans on during that memorable season. I think the series was very well done. The acting of the big three is very good, but I should say the big four as the actor who portrays Yankee GM Gabe Paul figures prominently in the series as the buffer between George and Billy, George and Reggie, and Billy and Reggie.One thing that surprises me is that a sequel to this series hasn't been made. Arguably, the '78 Yankees were more of a three-ting circus than the '77 squad. Think about it. The voice of reason and calm in the organization, Gabe Paul, leaves for the Indians before the season begins. Reggie and Billy clash mid-season and Billy is sacked.The Yankees trade for a manager and somehow manage to overcome a 13 game lead by Boston and defeat the Red Sox in a tie-breaker. The Yankees then go on to repeat as World Series champs. The sequel writes itself.Love them or hate them, the Yankees in the late 1970s were never dull. Most importantly, despite the constant turmoil the team was locked in, they could find a way to win whenever they had to.

Anyone interested in the 70's version of the Yankees should view this ESPN serie.John Turturro playing Billy Martin is simply awesome. The pace is good, the actualgame footage mixed in with the actors play is well done.I really enjoyed Thurman Munson and Mickey Rivers has they were portrayed.What is most interesting is the way the reporters played one player againts the other and making headlines or controversy out of nothing when all was calm.Sure Reggie had a way of selling himself, but the reporters were only too happy to oblige.

Esta genial la edición limitada de The Bronx is Burning, cuenta con varios items y funciones especiales, me gusto mucho.