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New York Post
04-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
St. James-Smithtown Little League adopts pregame ritual as battle to World Series continues
These boys found their inner path — and the basepaths. St. James-Smithtown Little League is taking a page out of peaceful Pedro Cerrano's 'Major League II' playbook, doing guided pregame meditations to shake off the jitters that come with big Little League World Series dreams. 'We turn the lights off, you lie down — or you can sit up — close your eyes, and listen and work on your breathing,' Bulls center fielder and de facto guru Kevin Moran told The Post from the Metro regional tournament in Bristol, Conn. Long Island's tantric team was surely prepared for an opening-round matchup against Rhode Island's Burrillville, rolling to an 18-0 win with an 11-run sixth inning that saw 17 batters at the plate on Saturday evening. 4 he St. James-Smithtown Little League team poses for a photo during practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025. The team recently won the New York State title and are now playing for a chance to go to Williamsport. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 'We were a little nervous at the start of the game,' Moran said. 'Then, just working on our breathing, we calmed down, and then we did very well.' Moran has been going soulful since late June, but more recently, his pal pitcher Jeremy Katz caught word during the New York State championship, where he won the home run derby. 'He heard I did it and has been doing it with me the last three games. Then Saturday night was the first time the whole team had done it,' Moran said. 'I feel like it calms us down and brings down our nerves. We get locked in,' he said of the group that finds dim-lit mindfulness in their dorm at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center. Now only two wins away from the Little League World Series in Williamsport, the serenity-now style is here to stay. 4 Manager Scott Santelli during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 'Since we won 18-0, we're definitely going to keep this up,' added right fielder Eric Hanson. 'It really helped me soothe before the game. I was very relaxed and ready to go.' That's not to say the 12-year-olds are going full-on Aaron Rodgers darkness retreat style; they're still mixing it up with out-of-state teams and making new friends, too — all in broad daylight. 'It's just such an awesome experience having fun with them,' said outfielder and designated hitter Hunter Falcone. 'Just running around, playing Wiffle ball, all that.' 4 Ryan Delgado #27 at bat during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post Particularly, the New Yorkers have gotten very friendly with the team from Delaware's Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Little League, who are playing in the Mid-Atlantic tournament on the same campus. Now in the semifinals versus Connecticut's Fairfield International at 1 p.m. Monday (ESPN), the Bulls' mission is simple: Stay calm on the inside and see red on the field. 'I just think we just have to play our game and keep our energy up,' said second baseman Dominic Ciminiello. 'Then it will be very hard to beat us.' Manager Scott Santelli quickly recognized that Connecticut's team, naturally, has a large presence in the stands — but the Long Island moms and dads have a 10th-man mentality that is steering their boys toward victory as well. 4 Ryan Delgado #27 at bat during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 'There's a lot of cheering in our crowd,' added Ciminiello, who recalled how loud their families were in the New York State championship against South Shore Little League on their home turf on Staten Island. 'It helped us win that game,' he said of the 7-2 victory over the 2024 LLWS Metro representative. Even on the home front, folks are pouring on support for St. James-Smithtown. The New York Islanders sent a good luck message to the squad, Smithtown's Philly Pretzel factory location started making special bull-shaped treats, and the local Bull Smith's tavern was packed for a watch party for the Saturday night win. 'It's just been crazy,' Hanson said. 'The support is coming from everywhere, even teams in the other tournaments cheering us on. It's just been great.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton reportedly receives warning from NBA for Game 2 celebration, but no fine
Tyrese Haliburton said he would "take that fine gladly" if any penalties were coming for his celebratory dance after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in the Indiana Pacers' Game 2 comeback playoff win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. However, he reportedly only received a warning from the NBA for emulating Sam Cassell and "Major League II" character Pedro Cerrano with his "big-balls" celebration, the Associated Press reports. The league has made no official announcement on the matter. Advertisement Haliburton said after Wednesday's game he'd been waiting for an opportunity to do the dance. There may have never been a better one than after a game-winning shot in a playoff game on the road. The shot came after Hailburton grabbed the rebound off his own missed free throw and dribbled the ball back to the top of the 3-point arc. With Cleveland's Ty Jerome defending him, Haliburton then freed himself up on a crossover dribble, jab step and stepback move for a clean shot that went in with 1.1 seconds remaining. "I've been waiting for that. I've been waiting for that, man,' Haliburton said, via the AP. "It was just right in the moment. It was right in the moment. Yeah, man, I've been waiting for that. I'll take that fine, gladly." The Pacers star had plenty of reason to believe he would draw a fine for what the NBA has previously called an "obscene gesture" and penalized players for doing it, including LeBron James, Fred Van Vleet, Julius Randle, Jameer Nelson and Eddie House. Fines ranged from $15,000 to $25,000. Advertisement Whether it was because Haliburton's celebration occurred in a playoff game or for presumably committing a first-time offense, he won't be joining that list. But there could always be a next time. Game 3 between the Pacers and Cavaliers is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Indianapolis. Indiana holds a 2-0 series lead.
Indianapolis Star
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton warned but not fined for celebration dance after Game 2 vs Cavs
INDIANAPOLIS -- Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has received a warning from the NBA about his somewhat vulgar celebration dance after his game-winning 3-pointer to beat the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday, but he will not be fined according to a league source. The news was first reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. Haliburton got his own rebound off a missed free throw and stepped back beyond the 3-point arc to hit the game-winner with 1.1 seconds to go to give the Pacers a 120-119 win. He turned around and let his hands hang down below his waist and cupped them to suggest he was carrying an enlarged part of the male anatomy. It's a celebration that was brought to the NBA by long-time point guard Sam Cassell, who played in the league from 1993-2008, but he got the idea from the 1994 baseball comedy movie Major League II. Pacers news: NBA says it missed 3 calls in final minute of Pacers vs. Cavs Game 2; some were important Haliburton said after the game that he was waiting for the right moment for the celebration. He pulled it off after the Pacers came back from down 20 points in the third quarter and down seven with 48 seconds to play. He also did it in Cleveland, home of the baseball team formerly known as the Indians, the protagonist team in both Major League and Major League II.
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton could face fine after lewd celebration following clutch 3-pointer
Tyrese Haliburton pushed the Indiana Pacers' second-round series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers to 2-0 after his incredible three-point shot on Tuesday night. But how he celebrated may result in a fine from the league – he's perfectly fine if it happens, too. Haliburton stunned Cleveland on their home court, getting the rebound on his own missed free throw and proceeding to bury a stepback 3-pointer at the top of the key with one second left to beat the Cavs, 120-119. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON During the main TNT broadcast, Haliburton's celebration was off frame. A replay showed exactly how he celebrated, and he used the infamous "big-b---- dance," which was made famous in "Major League II" and brought to the league by former NBA guard Sam Cassell. In the league's eyes, though, fines have been dished out for those replicating it in the past. After the game, Haliburton said it was one he was "waiting" to use, and will take whatever fine may come. "It was just right in the moment," he told reporters. "I'll take that fine gladly." TYRESE HALIBURTON MAKES LAST-SECOND 3 TO COMPLETE PACERS' WILD COMEBACK, TAKE SURPRISING 2-0 LEAD OVER CAVS Haliburton's response shows that he knew the risk of the celebration well before using it, which is why he's had it in the holster for the right moment. Haliburton has had quite the NBA Playoffs run already, especially when it comes to clutch shots in crunch time. In the Pacers' first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, he drove past Giannis Antetokounmpo and made a layup just before time expired to close out the series in five games. Now, on the road, the Pacers have taken down the top-seeded Cavs twice, and Haliburton's 22 points in Game 1 helped Indiana's case before his heroics in Game 2. If the playoffs didn't add enough motivation to perform, Haliburton has also been drawing some from an NBA players poll, which had him as the most common answer for most overrated player in the league. He said, "Overrate that," when he ended the Bucks' chances at lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. "That one was unexpected," Haliburton said in that series when asked about the overrated chants he was hearing. "I didn't know we had beef. I think now that that label is there, it's going to be that every time we play somebody on the road. It'll probably follow me until the next poll comes out. Overrate that." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The series heads to Indianapolis now, where the Pacers have a comfortable 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven bout with Cleveland. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Tyrese Haliburton's dream playoff run continues for Pacers: ‘That boy cold, man'
CLEVELAND — Missing a free throw, then getting your own rebound and making a game-winning 3-pointer all in the span of 12 seconds? It's the stuff basketball dreams are made of. 'It's a special feeling, man. It's a lot of fun,' Tyrese Haliburton said. 'Any basketball fan, or anybody who's involved in basketball at all … has imagined being a kid, being in the driveway, being in the living room, time winding down in their head, shooting it, missing, and putting more time on the clock. I'm just having fun out there. And winning is fun.' On Tuesday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers built a 20-point lead in the second half and looked like they were going to even up the second-round series. They led by seven with less than 50 seconds to go. But then the Haliburton stepback 3-pointer that will live in Indiana Pacers history happened, and Indiana defeated the Cavs 120-119 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It took a series of perfect and improbable events to set up the shot that silenced the raucous crowd in Rocket Arena. Donovan Mitchell made two free throws with 57.1 seconds left to give the Cavaliers a 119-112 lead. That would be the last time they scored. First, Aaron Nesmith came running from the top of the key with a tip dunk after a missed free throw by Pascal Siakam. Then Siakam hit a layup with 27.1 seconds left to make it a three-point game. Next, Andrew Nembhard got a steal when the Cavs' Max Strus lobbed an inbound pass. Haliburton was fouled with 12.1 seconds remaining. He made the first of two free throws and grabbed his own rebound. 'It's funny how it works out sometimes,' said Haliburton, who scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. 'The ball came off. I jumped to grab it. I was going to shoot the floater right there. I kind of was looking around, but I just wanted to get out to the top.' Indiana had a timeout remaining, but coach Rick Carlisle didn't call it, choosing instead to trust his star and let the game flow. Haliburton dribbled beyond the arc before launching with a second left on the clock. 'And then I just saw me and Ty Jerome at the top of the key,' he said. 'I had space, and I just tried to make a play. I felt comfortable there. And, you know, just knocked it down.' After the shot, Haliburton celebrated by paying homage to former NBA guard Sam Cassell and the movie 'Major League II' in what has previously been deemed an obscene gesture by the NBA. 'I've been waiting for that, man; it was just right in the moment,' Haliburton said. 'I'll gladly take that fine.' As the final buzzer sounded, Pacers players surrounded Haliburton and celebrated as the home fans booed. Indiana came into Cleveland hoping to at least split the first two games, and instead walked away with a 2-0 advantage on the top-seeded Cavs. 'We've been in a lot of these situations this year and down the stretch of the season,' Carlisle said. 'We did a really good job situationally at the end and obviously had to get lucky.' With the late-game heroics, Haliburton became just the second player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) with multiple go-ahead field goals in the final two seconds in a single postseason. The other? LeBron James. It was the kind of performance, Haliburton's teammates have come to expect from him. 'He's been making big plays,' guard Bennedict Mathurin said. 'People are still surprised, shockingly. He's been making big plays at big, big times.' 'Quite frankly,' Pacers center Myles Turner added, 'that boy cold, man.' Cleveland was missing three key players. Darius Garland (left big toe) missed his fourth straight postseason game. NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (left ankle) and De'Andre Hunter (right thumb) were injured in Game 1 on back-to-back fourth quarter possessions. Despite being shorthanded, Cleveland came out of the gate with force. They led 32-15 after the first quarter and took an 11-point lead into halftime. 'We expected a punch like that,' Turner said. 'We wanted to be the ones that throw the first punch. But it doesn't always go that way. They picked up the pressure, picked up their physicality.' Early in the game, the Cavs defense made it difficult for Haliburton to get assists or score. 'They made an effort to cut off his blood flow,' Carlisle said. 'They were making it hard, and they were hitting them, and they were doing physical things. They had set a tone.' It was the fourth 20-point comeback win of this postseason, the most in a single playoffs in the play-by-play era. 'I still can't even really process it,' Nembhard said. 'We talk about playing it out to the end and never, never giving up. I guess that's what we did.' Nembhard had eight of the Pacers' 17 turnovers. But he also had 13 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds and two steals. Nesmith and Turner each scored 23 points. Mathurin, who was critical to the comeback, added 19 points off the bench. And Siakam had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. It was yet another game in which the Pacers had at least six players in double figures. 'That's a total team win for us,' Haliburton said. 'That's who we are. We're not a one-man show. We have so many guys who can chip in getting double figures. We had six guys in double figures tonight, and that's been the theme for us and our success many times.' During the game, chants of 'Overrated' rang out from the crowd, a reference to Haliburton being voted the league's most overrated player by peers in The Athletic 's NBA player poll. Mitchell tried to quiet the home fans in the first half. Mitchell quieting the 'overrated' chants aimed at Tyrese Haliburton in the first half 🤝 — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 7, 2025 'That one was unexpected,' Haliburton said. 'I didn't know we had beef. Good for them. That came out of nowhere. I think now that the label's there, it'll probably follow me. Until that next poll comes out, we'll see if I'm No. 1 again. For me, I just control what I can. 'Overrate that.' (Photo of Tyrese Haliburton celebrating with Aaron Nesmith, left, and Myles Turner: David Richard / Imagn Images)
