Sports

The Rumble

NBA vet teams up with L.I. pal for MSG’s Knicks coverage

Long Island’s Wally Szczerbiak never got the chance to don a Knicks uniform during his 12-year NBA career, despite harboring such desires. But he finally is employed by the Garden, hired for the Knicks telecasts on MSG Network, teaming in the studio with fellow Long Island schoolboy, Alan Hahn.

“I always loved the Knicks growing up, taking the LIRR four times a year,” Szczerbiak told The Rumble’s Marc Berman. “I always thought in the back of my mind I’d put on a Knicks jersey and make 3’s at the Garden. Unfortunately my career ended prematurely and [I] never got the opportunity. But I’m joining the MSG family, and it’s the next-best thing, getting to follow all the buckets and stops on the defensive end. It’s going to be an exciting year.”

Szczerbiak, who rose from the Cold Spring Harbor playgrounds to an NBA career as a sharpshooting 3-point demon with the Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Celtics, retired after the 2008-09 season after his knee surgery when it was discovered he was “bone on bone.” Ironically, his new teammate is an old acquaintance on the Long Island courts. On Sundays back in the day, Szczerbiak and Hahn competed against each other in pickup games at C.W. Post arranged by Walter Szczerbiak, Wally’s father. who played in the old ABA and Europe.

Hahn, a former newspaper beat writer, played for Division II C.W. Post before also sustaining a major knee injury. Meanwhile, Szczerbiak was a Cold Spring Harbor High School superstar on his way to a full ride at Miami (Ohio).

Hahn modestly would tell his fellow Knicks beat writers he didn’t think Wally much remembered their pickup battles.

“I recall it,” Szczerbiak said. “He was a high-energy guy, good inside player — 6-6, pretty mobile. After that, I followed his writing and always admired his work.”

Szczerbiak, 35, who replaces Kelly Tripucka, also does college basketball for CBS Sports Network.

‘Goose’ knows burgers

Florham Park’s Tony Siragusa remains larger than life in his post-NFL career. Now, “The Goose,” in addition to his work on FOX, is working to come up with a new burger that is, like him, a little outside the bun.

The Ball Park Brand has branched out beyond hot dogs with their first-ever Flame Grilled Patties and went to Siragusa, ex-Jet Jason Taylor and Deion Sanders to come up with their own custom burgers to share with fans and encourage fans to create their own concoctions that can be made from the microwave in about a minute. Siragusa’s choice? The Sizzling Siragusa Burger, a patty topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and rigatoni placed atop a toasted Italian roll.

To enter the “Burgers Across America” Facebook challenge, visit the Ball Park Brand Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BallParkBrand.

Giants Ghana do their part

With help from the Super Bowl Giants, the Health & Humanitarian Aid Foundation will team up Friday and Saturday at Basketball City for their second annual Mobile Food Pack Event, sponsored by global marketing communications agency DRAFTFCB and global networking organization, Young Presidents Organization (YPO). They will pack and send more than 150,000 meals to feed the malnourished children in the central region of Ghana.

“Every year this event gets bigger and HHAF couldn’t be more thankful for all of the support we have received,” HHAF humanitarian director Jane Zaretsky said.

Last year’s event was filled with surprise guests and performances, including guest appearances by some Giants.

To volunteer for the event, visit http://www.FMSC.org and select the Mobile Food Pack Event for HHAF in New York City. Basketball City is located at Pier 36, 299 South Street.

ESPN runner to anchor

After finishing the ING New York City Marathon in 2010, ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor John Anderson was fairly certain he had accomplished two goals: his first and his last marathon. On Nov. 4, he returns to New York — this time as a commentator for the race, which will be broadcast live nationally for the first time in 20 years.

As he neared the proverbial marathon wall, Anderson, who was running for the Pat Tillman Foundation, found motivation in a strange place.

“In the moment I was really hurting I got passed by a guy in a banana suit,” Anderson said. “I was not getting beat by a guy in a banana suit. You take your motivation where you can find it — it turned out that mine was that banana.”

Anderson and co-anchor Hannah Storm’s broadcast will be available live on ESPN2, at WatchESPN.com and via the WatchESPN app. ABC will have two hours of coverage beginning at 4 p.m.