Ex-Yankees Reliever to Run NYC Marathon for a Cause
Danny Burawa poses for a portrait on February 27, 2015.
Danny Burawa may be best known for his time as a Major League Baseball pitcher, but this fall he’s trading in his glove and fastball for running shoes and the streets of New York City. The Riverhead, Long Island, native will run the New York City Marathon on November 2 as part of a 33-person team raising money for animal welfare.
At 36 years old, Burawa brings a familiar competitive edge and discipline to endurance sport. He’ll be running with Team Animal League, North Shore Animal League America‘s charity group committed to helping rescued animals, and his participation shines a new light on his athletic journey beyond baseball.
A Cause That Runs Deep
Burawa isn’t running just for personal achievement; he’s using his marathon effort to raise awareness and funds for animals in need. As a member of Team Animal League, he is committed to supporting the rescue and care of Long Island animals, connecting his hometown roots to a philanthropic mission.
Founded in 1944, North Shore Animal League America is a no-kill shelter that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes tens of thousands of dogs and cats each year–often stepping in when overcrowded shelters or natural-disaster zones leave animals at risk. Over the decades, over 1.2 million animals have been saved.
In 2008, the rescue started Team Animal League for marathoners wanting to participate in the NYC Marathon to raise funds for animals in need. Scott Guber, an advocate for animal care and safety, has been the captain since Day 1.
“As a no-kill shelter, North Shore Animal League America gives every animal a fighting chance, regardless of age, background or condition,” Guber said. “Having spent a lot of time at the Animal League, I feel privileged to do anything I can to support the mission. Words cannot express the joy both the animals and the adopters experience when that special moment occurs.
“Knowing that simply logging miles can help make this happen seems like such a simple task compared to the tireless efforts everyone at the Animal League puts in each and every day.”
Transitioning from Pro Baseball to Endurance Running
Burawa’s background as a professional baseball player gives him a unique perspective as he tackles the marathon distance. Drafted by the New York Yankees in 2010 and making his MLB debut in 2015, his athletic foundation is built on power, speed and intensity.
Burawa’s professional career, also, included a brief stint with the Atlanta Braves. He spent several seasons across minor-league affiliates, refining his command and competing against future big-league talent. Known for his mid-90s fastball and aggressive style on the mound, Burawa embodied the intensity that defines relief pitching–quick bursts of power, precision under pressure, and the mental toughness to perform in high-leverage situations.
But the marathon requires different muscles–both literally and figuratively. It demands sustained endurance, pacing strategy and mental resilience. Burawa’s decision to run 26.2 miles suggests he is embracing a new kind of challenge, one that extends beyond the short-burst power of baseball into the long game of running.
Preparation, Goals & What to Watch
In preparing for the marathon, Burawa has likely shifted how he trains, fuels and recovers. Whereas baseball pitching emphasizes explosive effort and recovery intervals, marathon running emphasizes steady state, long-duration exertion and stamina preservation.
What will be interesting to watch on race day: how Burawa handles the terrain of New York’s five-borough course, how he adapts to the mental rhythm of the marathon, and how his finish in Central Park compares to his former finish zones on the diamond.
Ex-Celtics Guard Hires Trump Lawyer to Fight NBA Gambling Charges
Former Boston Celtics guard and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups has hired one of the nation’s most prominent defense attorneys to battle federal gambling charges that have rocked the NBA — and tied three former Celtics to the league’s biggest integrity scandal in years.
According to The Athletic, Billups has hired Marc Mukasey, a high-profile trial lawyer who has represented former U.S. President Donald Trump, to handle his defense against wire-fraud and money-laundering conspiracy charges.
Billups Turns to Prominent White-Collar Defense Attorney
Mukasey, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and the son of ex-U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, is widely regarded as one of America’s top courtroom strategists in financial and corporate cases.
According to The Athletic report, Mukasey previously defended Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of murder in 2019, and FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried during sentencing in his multibillion-dollar fraud case. Mukasey also served as a legal adviser to Rudy Giuliani’s 2007 presidential campaign and represented Joe Sanberg, co-founder of fintech firm Aspiration, in an NBA-related salary-cap case involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Sanberg later pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud after admitting to defrauding investors of $248 million.
Now, Mukasey is representing Billups — the 2004 NBA Finals MVP and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach — as he faces potentially career-defining criminal charges.
Federal Allegations and Celtics Connection
In the indictments reviewed by
The 49-year-old coach, arrested in Oregon, has been placed on administrative leave by the Trail Blazers while the case proceeds. His former attorney, Chris Heywood, said last week that Billups “would not jeopardize” his Hall-of-Fame legacy, his reputation and freedom.
Two other former Celtics — Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones — are also implicated in the widening probe. Prosecutors allege Rozier shared private injury information with a friend who then profited from insider bets, while Jones allegedly helped facilitate the illegal gambling ring.
From Boston Lottery Pick to Hall of Fame Player
Getty 25 Jun 1997: Guard Chauncey Billups of the Boston Celtics shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern during the NBA Draft at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Billups began his NBA career in Boston, drafted third overall by the Celtics in 1997, before going on to win a championship with the Detroit Pistons and earning the nickname “Mr. Big Shot.” He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield in 2024, a crowning moment for one of the league’s most respected figures.
Rozier, beloved by Celtics fans from 2015 to 2019, helped Boston reach the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, while Jones had a brief stint with the franchise during the 1998–99 season. Their shared ties to Boston have given the scandal an unsettling familiarity for local fans.
Badminton Betting Ban Mirrors NBA Investigation
The NBA’s ongoing gambling scandal comes as other global sports face similar integrity challenges. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) recently banned former Danish player and coach Joachim Persson for four years after he was filmed placing live bets courtside during a 2023 Japan Open match, according to
The similarities between the two cases are striking. Both involve allegations that individuals used insider access and confidential information for betting purposes. The incidents highlight the mounting challenge of maintaining sports integrity amid the rapid expansion of legalized gambling worldwide.
A Hall-of-Fame Legacy Under Scrutiny
For Billups, who spent part of his formative NBA years in Boston, the charges threaten to overshadow a Hall-of-Fame career defined by leadership and professionalism.
If convicted, Billups could face up to 20 years in prison per count, along with the potential loss of his coaching position and damage to his legacy.
The NBA continues to cooperate with federal authorities as the investigation broadens — with Boston fans watching uneasily as three familiar names fight to protect their reputations.
