Twist of Kait’
Former Miss America contestant hosts new show
SNY has hit another home run.
Meet the Mets Insider Kaitlin Monte, who will be hosting a new magazine format show debuting March 31 (6 p.m.) filled with in-depth features on a variety of topics, including episodes focused on the Mets draft and prospects, player profiles and “Where are they now?” and All-Star game segments.
Monte, an actress, model, former Miss America contestant and professional advocate specializing in anti-bullying and youth leadership, said she is eager to take Mets fans behind the scenes in her effervescent style.
“I would like to think that I’ll come across as an odd mix between an Anderson Cooper and a Wendy Williams,” Monte told The Rumble. “It sounds crazy. But I love Wendy’s candor in expressing her opinion and interacting with people, and I love how Anderson is compassionate to what his viewers want to see and hear and also compassionate to those he’s working with.
“So I hope I’m able to make everyone look good. I hope I’m able to give everyone what they want, but I hope it’s very honest and fun and energetic. … I really want to put personality, and I want to do it in a way that enables the players to express their personality. … I want to get them to open up.”
Monte , a natural in front of the camera, finished third in the 2012 Miss America pageant, representing New York.
“I didn’t want to win Miss America, I wanted to become Miss America.” she said. “Miss America’s a woman who maximizes herself on a variety of levels, whether it’s her physical fitness or intelligence, her profession, her communication. I don’t need a crown to do that. So I feel the experience taught me everything I need to know, and my job is to now act on that, and live up to the potential that I found.”
Viewers will find Monte’s glass-half-full outlook refreshing.
“If you don’t start filling your glass, no one else will — especially in New York City,” said Monte, who grew up in Rochester. “So, you gotta believe in your own glass.”
Sounds like Mets manager
Terry Collins should let Kaitlin Monte give the next pregame speech.
Met award fits Azinger to a tee
The last few weeks have been tough for Paul Azinger.
About a month ago, he was involved in a motorcycle accident and last week his dad Ralph passed away at the age 82.
Azinger, the 53-year-old former U.S. Ryder Cup captain and TV golf analyst, broke his wrist and injured his shoulder while riding his bike near his home in Bradenton, Fla. It was his second motorcycle accident in three years.
But Azinger, a cancer survivor who won the 1993 PGA Championship, is on the mend. And he has been named the recipient of the Gold Tee Award by the Met Golf Writers at their 62nd annual dinner on June 18 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.
Other honorees include Met PGA executive Charlie Robson and longtime WCBS-Radio sportscaster Ed Ingles, and the event will be MC’d by WNBC’s Bruce Beck. Contact Kate Keller at (914) 347-4653 for more information.
Knicks lend hand in 3-on-3 event
Backyard Sports Cares was created to fill the void in sports programming and mentoring experiences for a special group of children in Westchester and Southern Connecticut, providing soccer, baseball, basketball and tennis for children with special needs.
To help increase consumer awareness, Backyard Sports Cares is holding its inaugural Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament at the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh on March 17 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The event will feature Knicks alumni, the Knicks City Dancers and a halftime scrimmage with a cadre of Backyard Sports Cares special needs athletes showcasing their skills.
For more information, visit http://www.byardsportscares.org or call Danny Bernstein at (914) 304-4052.
ALS benefit dinner is a ‘Grand’ affair
Curtis Granderson is putting his mouth where is heart is.
The Yankees outfielder, out until at least May with a broken forearm, is scheduled to appear at the seventh annual ALS fundraiser dinner at NYY Steak at 3 p.m. on April 28, hosted by Chris Scandaglia, whose grandfather Frank Gallinaro was lost to ALS.
The event will benefit Kelly, Scott and Bill Hill of Staten Island, who lost their mother Diane Hill to ALS in December. Last year’s event raised more than $10,000 for Joanna Chiarulli and her son Nicholas after the passing of Joanna’s husband to ALS.
Scandaglia said he hopes Derek Jeter also can attend, though right now the Bombers shortstop is focusing on getting ready for Opening Day, after breaking his left ankle in the ALCS last season.
Tickets are $125 per person. There will be raffles for Yankees autographs for $20 per entry for those who can’t attend. To purchase tickets to the dinner or the raffle, visit http://www.chris4lou.org.
Trainer says Pacquiao will
be ready for Marquez rematch
Legendary Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is certain it will be a highly motivated Manny Pacquiao out for his revenge in a grudge match against Juan Manuel Marquez.
“Manny understands winning and losing better than anyone I’ve ever seen,” Roach told the Rumble. “He took that loss much better than I did. He told me, ‘If you don’t think you can get knocked out in this sport, you picked the wrong sport.’ ”
Roach has been in the corner of so many top-notch boxers, so it is a natural fit that the Hall of Fame trainer is “A Brother in your Corner,” for Jagermeister’s social responsibility campaign and consumer competition.