About The Tiger Tribune
I’m Steven Zaitz and I’ve been writing about and shooting sports since high school. I was the Sports Editor of my college paper in Buffalo and have been freelancing in the New York City and Long Island areas for many, many years (as you might be able to tell from the old style camera I’m using in this photo.)
Recently, I added to my raft of New York State Press Association Awards by winning second place as Sports Writer of the Year for 2021. I have won a boatload of photo awards in previous years as well and will bring all of this excellence to my coverage of your Tigers.
When my family and I moved to Long Island’s North Shore a few years ago, one of the first things I did was reach out to local papers. Soon after, I was asked to take photos of the girls basketball team in Northport. At that time, I didn’t even know where Northport was and frankly, didn’t have much interest in girls basketball. Both of those things changed very quickly. Those Lady Tigers won the Suffolk County championship that year and also won my heart in the process. They were a hard-working, unselfish bunch and of course were led by the ever-entertaining and talent-maximizing Coach Castellano. That team was my gateway into Northport Athletics. Since that time – after all the cancellations, lockdowns, quarantines and games in empty gyms – here we are. It’s almost as if, in 2021, it is September that springs eternal.
There is a quiet confidence steeped in every Northport team. They simply win – and in the rare instances when they don’t, they act with dignity and grace. It’s something that everyone at the school and in the community takes pride in, and I feel honored to be a part of it in my own small way.
I endeavor to share my thoughts about all things Northport athletics with the same pride, enthusiasm and class that the coaches and athletes exude and I hope you enjoy this content – S.Z.