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Jay: I've been meaning to drop you a line for weeks...Just wanted to thank you for running a great league; our sixth grade River Vale team had a lot of fun competing in the Army division. Took a few lumps from Old Tappan and Hillsdale, but won five games and beat Cresskill, a very strong team.....You run a first-class operation.....regards,
Ian O'Connor, Bergen Record columnist..
Jay & Dick
I am sending you both a thank you together because I know how closely you work together to make the BTBL such an outstanding league. I have said this before, but this is coming from someone who a long time ago lost count of how many youth teams he has coached, but the BTBL is the best run league around. From the game scheduling, to the website, to the reasonable flexibility on various issues that always seem to pop up, this league would not work as well without the two of you. The overall officiating doesn’t get any better at this level, the refs are always there, they give a good effort and it seems that more often than not, you have good, qualified HS refs that I know of doing the kids games. Sometimes even college refs. What I am always impressed with is how your refs more often than not seem to do a great job of adapting to the level of play.
We played close to 80 games this year between my two travel teams, so we experience and see an awful lot. With the BTBL games, the only thing I have to focus on is coaching my kids and trying to give them the most enjoyable experience possible. Unfortunately that is not always the case when we play in other environments.
I know unfortunately the only time you tend to hear from people it is when there is a problem or a complaint. I just wanted to thank you for handling all the administrative stuff and giving our Old Tappan teams such a great league to play in.
Thanks,
Jim McLaughlin
Jay,
I wanted to thank you again on behalf of Glen Rock and especially my 5th Grade Boys on a fun filled season of basketball.
Best wishes & enjoy the Spring!
Justin Finkel
Glen Rock Basketball
Hi Jay,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you on behalf of all the teams from Haworth for the 2008 season. Once again we found the league to be extremely well run. The refs were prompt and knowledgeable, Dick did a great job with any scheduling changes and the championship games were well organized and fun for everyone.
We are looking forward to participating again next year.
Dan Larsen - Haworth Basketball Town Coordinator & Coach
Jay
Thank you very much for this past basketball season. You run a first class league. The refs were professional and always on time. I have two kids in the league and they had a great time. Thanks for all your hard work.
Regards
Andy Lazarus
Coach 4th and 6th grade Woodcliff Lake Boys
Jay,
On behalf of Oradell Basketball and as a fellow volunteer, I want to thank you for all of your time, energy, and commitment to the travel program. It is Oradell’s 2nd year in the program, and we have nothing but great things to say about the job you do.
It’s work just running a town’s program. I can’t imagine the amount of work it takes to run Bergen Travel. You enjoy what you do, and it shows.
Many thanks from all of us here in Oradell.
Sincerely,
Guy Angione
Oradell Basketball
Jay, I wanted to thank you and your gang again for putting together a great and fun tournament. Both my kids and their parents, as well as us coaches, had a great time and look forward to doing it again next year. All the coaches were professional and cordial and the gamesmanship was what it should be. Thanks again and be well.
Ed Powers
Secaucus Basketball
Jay,
I wanted to give you some feedback on the Championship game. It was extremely well run. The 2 officials assigned to the game were the best I have seen all year. They let the girls play. The team enjoyed the trophy presentation and the 5 minute picture taking was key. It was a great move to let the 4th graders play on 10 foot baskets all year. It was an awsome experience.
Paul Trager
Demarest Coach
Hi Jay.
I wanted to let you know that every one of the coaches I encountered this season in our Navy schedule was a real gentleman and a pleasure to deal with.
It made for an enjoyable season for me and for all of the players.
Thanks for having us in the league.
Jim Toolen
Waldwick
Jay,
My girls are really exited that they made the playoffs and they want to
make a banner to run thru at their game. I think they are just as
exited about the banner as the game. Is it ok to do this with them???
Again, thanks for all yr efforts, this has been so positive.
Les H.P. 4th grade girls
Jay:
I couldn't agree more! You are looking ahead, and have also done a great job with the league this season. Kudos to you.
Stephane Zavidow
Jay,
Once again, thanks for your help this season. The boys and coaches had a great time, and the league was well run.
Thanks,
Vic
Head Coach - Cresskill 4th Grade Boys
Jay,
Thanks for a great season, everything ran real well couldn't ask for a more competitive division everyone had chance to win.
Ray
Coach River Edge 7th Grade Girls
HI JAY
MY NAME IS HOWIE BONGIORNO AND I AM THE COACH FOR THE NORWOOD 5TH GRADE
B-BALL TEAM AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR A GREAT YEAR AND COMMEND YOU ON
A VERY WELL RUN LEAGUE.
THANKS AGAIN HOWIE
Jay,
By the way, you did a great job running the league. Everything ran perfectly throughout the season. Thanks for the time that you put into this.
DAVID
Jay,
Just a quick note about the BTBL league this season.
Our kids enjoyed a great year of basketball in '07.
The league grew by a couple teams this year which allowed us to play a variety of teams throughout the year.
It continues to be a well run and officiated league.
Keep up the good work, we all appreciate it.
Bruce Besserer
4th grade boys
Old Tappan
Dick,
Thanks. This is the last Glen Rock game I'll need to coordinate with you this season. I appreciate all of your help and flexibility this year. The refs overall have been great, and have contributed to a very successful season for all of our teams.
Thanks again for all of your assistance.
Rob Costello
Glen Rock Basketball
Jay,
As you know this will be my last year with BTBL.
I wanted to thank you for the high level that you have maintained with the league, even though we have recorded tremendous growth. The league is very organized, fair and includes great competition. The referees are always there and generally do a real good job, Dick Davis does a great job coordinating them.
The Norwood program has grown a great deal during the past several years & even though we've done a lot to accomplish this, it would have never happened without the leadership from the BTBL.
You do a great job running the league, do your best to listen & to be as fair as you can be. I will miss the times I've had with the boys I've coached, the coaches & friends (even Dick Davis...just kidding).
Best regards,
Pete Daniele
Norwood Basketball President
Jay the Westwood girls and the girls from the other towns on my team had a great time yesterday.Thanks it was alot of fun. Jim Castle Westwood 5-6 coach
Jay,
My name is Greg Boyle and I am one of the coaches for Oradell's 6th grade teams. I thought attending last nights meeting would probably be a waste of time. Boy was I wrong! I learned about 20 things I just did not know. Not just about the league but about coaching and sportsmanship at these ages and I have coached many years. I played Division One Basketball in College. (Marist College) And the best advice I ever got as a child, high school player and college player was not to take on refs. Both as a player and as a coach. You qualified this and I was so happy to hear your comments about this subject. We teach our kids, at least on our team that the refs are in the background and they are the ones who make the game official and therefore fun! In my 30+ years of playing and coaching, calls always equal out 50/50. Worry about yourself as a player and as coach and leave the refs alone. That's our rule, no exceptions!
I have one suggestion. I would like to hear you speak more about your experiences re: coaching and running a league. You were very interesting and put all issues into perspective because you seem to know about all the twists and turns. It really does help a coach who is interested in teaching, what fair play is and how to grow kids!
Thanks again for the meeting. Very positive, very informing!
Greg Boyle
Oradell 6th Grade Black - Navy
Jan 9, 2007
Jay -- It's Jim McLaughlin.
Unfortunately I can't be at the meeting
tonight, but I want to congratulate you. I think the league is great and
you do an unbelievable job!
Thanks for all you do and if you need anything let me know.
Best,
Jim McLaughlin
Gents,
Greetings!
I appreciate everyone’s flexibility with the rescheduling of this game.
Thanks again Jay for resolving this conflict so smoothly and quickly.
Very respectfully,
Kedric
Dick,
My compliments to you and all the referees who did the games for the travel league,both regular and playoffs.In my 45 years of coaching I have never been more impressed by a group of officials.Thanks for a great job
Pete Eckert
JAY,
THANKS AGAIN FOR A GREAT TOURNAMENT AND A GREAT LEAGUE!
Very truly Yours,
David S. Waller
President and CEO
J.A.B Real Estate Investment Group, LLC.
Thanks for a great season.....you did a fantastic job....see you tonight.
Barry J. Zeller
Executive Director
Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.
Our coaches and kids had a great season. League was competitive and well run. Thank you for all your hard work.
Jeffrey Love, Esq.
Sills Cummis Epstein & Gross, P.C.
Jay, You are to be commended for taking action to try and make this work for the kids…..many people say that sports is for the kids……few actually mean it…you are among the few……regards and thanks for your efforts…….Craig Sharf/Closter
Jay -
Thanks for a fun game on Sunday. I think all of the boys on both teams had a good time.
Rich
you're unreal, Jay.
thanks so much!
it's been a great season... terrific league.
Jmoldow
I know our boys had a great time, and it seems to me all the teams and coaches would say the same. The coaches all seemed to get it, i.e. that this was all about introducing these kids to playing in games, learning how to do so, and being part of a team. Thanks from the Lakers from Woodcliff Lake...
Rich Wolfin
Jay I was traveling yesterday on business in FL, but I just wanted to confirm our 6th Grade boys game with Tenafly has been rescheduled to Saturday 3/12 at 5 PM.
Also, I want to compliment you again on how this league is run. I have been doing this for a while, I had my first CYO team 25 years ago and somehow this year I'm coaching 5 youth teams, and this league is the best run league I have been associated with. And you were right in one of your previous e-mails; a large part of it is due to the referees. You are right to pay these guys a little more, and it is worth it.
Thanks for everything!
Jim McLaughlin
McLaughlin & Associates
Thank you for your hard work and congrats on another great season. Both my boys had a great time, as did their respective teams (4th and 6th grade). I hope the rest of your year is happy and healthy.
Kevin Shanman
Vice President
River Edge Boys Basketball League
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