NATIONAL NETWORK BEGAN...
....in 1989 when actor Jim Davidson and then actor Richard “Rick Clements” Cohen met on a callback for a TV commercial for Budweiser. They were the final two guys up for the role of a decathlete for a national TV spot. Jim won the job, but through the competition they struck up a friendship. During that day they realized a few common threads. They both went to Pennsylvania colleges. They both played football—Jim at Lehigh and Rick at University of Pennsylvania. And finally, they had a huge passion for all sports, especially baseball. After mulling over the idea of playing again, they decided to run an ad in “BackStage.” “All actors with baseball experience please show up in Central Park on Saturday...” Many actors did. Few were good. One was exceptional. Chris Bruno. Between the three of them they set out to recruit a team of actors to compete in the Queens Alliance league of the MSBL (Men’s Senior Baseball League, over 18+ division) and find a playable field in Manhattan to play on. Thus, “National Network” was found.
At the time, Rick lived in the Hell’s Kitchen section of NYC. He remembered seeing a field on the West Side of town not far from where he lived. He set out to secure that field-- DeWitt Clinton H.S. on 58th street and 12th avenue. The field was in such bad shape that every Sunday morning before the games (doubleheaders) the team had to take Jim’s brother’s truck and drag the all dirt infield of rocks, pick up crack vials and broken glass and pull weeds up in the outfield just to get it in playing shape.
That first season was magical. They were the underdogs of the league. They were ridiculed and called pretty boys by the other teams. They survived a brawl in Bed-Sty section of Brooklyn when the team they were beating’s fans attacked them with bats. Throughout all the adversity, National Network wound up winning the Queens Alliance Championship that first year. Friendships were formed for life. On that team, along with Jimmy, Rick and Chris was professional poker player Chad Brown.
A few years later, all the actors on the team moved to the “Left Coast” to continue in pursuit of their dreams; first Rick, then Jimmy, then Chris and finally Chad. They spent years jumping from team-to-team to find a game. Sometimes they played together, sometimes they didn’t. Throughout those years they had confronted the many trials and tribulations of life: Divorce (Rick and Jimmy), sickness and injuries (all of them), death of loved ones (Chris’s mother, Jimmy’s father, Rick’s beloved grandfather), loss of jobs/career (all of them), financial strain, etc. Through it all, they could always count on baseball to pick them up.
These 4 players have all won league and city championships in both the MSBL and NABA. However, none has ever won the illusive World Series Title. In 2005 in the NABA 28+ World Series the Storm entered the tournament for one last run for glory. Despite an opening day loss to San Diego the Storm were able to win the next 6 games and make the championship at HoHoKim stadium in Scottsdale, home of the Chicago Cubs. Down 8-2 early, the Storm “stormed” back to close the gap to 9-8, only to lose to the Dallas Diamondbacks, 10-8. Somehow they thought it was over. They could never repeat the magic of last year. They were right. With a more complete roster in 2006, and father time creeping up on their dugout steps, they gave it another run, falling short in the semi-finals to a more youthful Sacramento team.
THE ATLANTA BULLS
The Atlanta Bulls have been a mainstay in Atlanta since the 1990’s thanks to the efforts of two men-- Steve Rosenberg, founder of the MSBL in Atlanta, and former manager of the Atlanta Bulls, and Jeff Boyer, current manager of the Atlanta Bulls. They were/are Atlanta baseball. Together they started the Bulls in 1991 and they have been a national force ever since. In April of 2006, Steve learned he was dying of lung cancer. He went out and pitched a nine-inning game, then passed away 6 weeks later! His best friend, Jeff Boyer, took over the Bulls and tried to win a national championship in Steve's honor last year at the 2006 MSBL World Series. Although favored to win the 38+ in Tampa, they were upset in the quarter-finals. Jeff still struggles with the loss of his best friend. Several of these players are members on the National Network team: Rick Cohen, Josh Davis, Pat Zapp, Terry Loe, Bob Atwater, and the recently deceased Manny Vargas.
MANNY VARGAS
When I started the idea of a new Network team again back in March of 2007,
one local player that I had played with on the Atlanta Bulls had caught my
attention. Manny Vargas was a Gulf War veteran from the Bronx with a
monster bat, cannon arm and a big smile. I had interviewed Manny in Tampa
of last year at the MSBL WS with the Bulls and he seemed like someone I was
glad was on my team and had as a teammate. I asked Manny if he was
interested in playing with a team I was considering on taking to Phoenix
that would consist of both LA and Atlanta players. Manny said he would love
to go to Phoenix and I put him on our roster.
In April, the Bulls went to Birmingham to play in a tournament. In the
First game of the tourney, Manny was rounding third and pulled up lame with
a hamstring injury. Although he was injured and his back was hurting him,
he continued to play and lead us to the championship game against Memphis.
After the game, Manny told me not to worry. He'd get healthy and be ready
for Phoenix in September.
In May, much to our dismay, Manny Vargas had a heart attack. Although Manny
was slightly overweight, he seemed to be in decent baseball shape. Manny found out that
his heart had been damaged and that he was being put on the heart donor
list. I spoke with Manny when he was able to receive calls shortly after
and he seemed in better spirits. He was hoping that his heart would get
strong enough where he wouldn't need the transplant. I told him that I
would love to get another interview with him later on. It would be an
inspiring story if he actually came back from an injury/illness like that to
play ball again. Manny politely declined and said that he wasn't ready for
another interview yet but that I could check in with him at the end of the
summer.
On August 29th, I called Manny to see how he was doing and if he
was well enough to grant me an interview. I got his voicemail but I did not
leave him a message. Figured I'd call him again tomorrow. Tonight, Rick
Kimberly of the Bulls called me. Manny Vargas passed away this morning at
the age of 39. He left a 12 year old son and a fiance'.