Still hot to Trot
84th world tour begins in Harlem
Harlem Globetrotter legend Curly Neal was in New York this week to watch “The World’s Most Famous Team” prepare for its 2010 world tour — the team’s 84th — with its annual free game at the Harlem Armory for more than 3,000 Harlem grammar school students. The event, sponsored by the NYC Police Athletic League, gave Neal a chance to scout the team’s current showmen, including Kevin “Special K” Daley, as they follow in the famous footsteps of Neal, Meadowlark Lemon and Marques Haynes, among other Globetrotter legends.
And the most important detail for all for them, according to Curly, is that they make sure they don’t lose to the Washington Generals — which Neal vividly remembers happening in 1971 in Martin, Tennessee. “We were all having such a good time, running gags on the Generals and making the crowd laugh, and we just lost track of the score,” said Neal, who had his number 22 retired by the Globetrotters at Madison Square Garden two years ago.
“The next thing we knew, Red [Klotz, the Generals player-coach] hits a shot at the buzzer and we lost. We all just kind of looked at each other because we were stunned. So I always get a little nervous at the start of every tour, and I need to remind the guys to always keep an eye on the scoreboard. Because you never know when the Generals are going to get you.” On this day Daley and his teammates held off the Generals, 84-65, and sent 3,000 kids home happy.
Keith does it for mom
Keith Hernandez has come up big in the clutch once again. The Alzheimer’s crusader, who lost his mother to the disease at age 59 in 1989, has proudly christened the Jacquelyn Hernandez Adult Day Health Center, a service of Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill Health Center, in Bushwick, to provide quality care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients in the community. Keith’s mother was stricken when she was 45. “This pretty much reduced her to childhood,” he said.
She was a dream mom. “She was a sports mom,” Keith told The Rumble. “My brother and I played all three sports year-round. Lunch, and sometimes dinner and breakfast had to revolve around sports. She came to all the games. Even when she was really sick, she came to watch me play at Candlestick Park when I was with the Cardinals and Mets.” Keith Hernandez, still making mom proud.
One-track mind
Giants receiver Steve Smith heads into this weekend atop the NFL receiver list in catches (34) and receiving yardage (441), a shocking development for a young player starting for the first time in his three-year career. Perhaps it’s not so shocking, though, as Smith is a remarkably focused 24-year-old who all but wears blinders during the week. Forget about distractions. The guy is eating and drinking football. During a recent casual conversation, the David Letterman sexual escapade scandal was brought up and Smith looked as if the language had suddenly turned foreign. “I don’t even watch David Letterman,” he said. When asked about all the front-page headlines blaring Letterman’s name and his indiscretions, Smith offered only a blank look. “What’s going on with him?” Smith asked. “I have no idea.” Informed what’s going on with Letterman, Smith offered the following advice: “Trust in the Lord and you’ll be OK.”
Catch of a lifetime
Could it be 40 years since Ron Swoboda made his miraculous grab of the Brooks Robinson line drive in Game 4 of the World Series to save the Tom Seaver pitching gem, and ultimately vault the Amazin’ Mets to the 1969 world championship? Yes, this Wednesday, Oct. 15, marks the date, and Swoboda will be at
the observation deck atop the Empire State Building for the occasion, after also playing a round in the Fordham Athletics Golf Outing at Winged Foot
on Tuesday. “After 40 years,
I’m still thanking Brooksie for not hitting the ball right at me,”
says Swoboda. “People are always asking me about it. I still
have the glove. Did the play change my life? You bet it did.”
Fans can email Ron at NiceCatchRon@gmail.com for his recollections.
Sightings
Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs talking NFL football, along with Jets kicker Jay Feely, at Abe and Arthur’s in the meatpacking district. . . .
Lawrence Taylor and Jeremy Roenick holding court at the
bar at Standard Hotel. David Ortiz at Southern Hospitality BBQ on Oct. 3 at the launch of his line of hot sauces called Big Papi “En Fuego.”
Reggie rates ’em high
Asked before the playoff series against the Twins opened this week if this edition of the Yankees was the best since the World Series club of 2003 that lost to the Marlins, Reggie Jackson didn’t blink before answering. “The ’03 team? No comparison,” Mr. October said. “Even the next year, neither team had the pitching that’s here. Those other teams had pitching but we got these guys in their heyday. This is the best since 2000 and 2001 when [Andy] Pettitte and Rocket [Roger Clemens] were in their prime.” . . .
Fritz Peterson’s plans to sign autographs this week from a casket were killed. He was hoping to have a book signing while in a casket in front of Gate 2 of the Old Yankee Stadium before Friday’s second game of the ALDS, but the former Yankee pither told Kevin Kernan: “Sorry to say the Parks Department turned down our request for the permit to have me sign books out of the casket. They’re no fun!”
Out and about
Rangers alumni Dave Maloney and Pete Stemkowski will join Russ Cohen, John Halligan and Adam Raider Thursday at 6 p.m. at American Legends in Scarsdale to mark the release of “100 Ranger Greats” (John Wiley & Sons). . . . Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spends much of his working hours these days in New York researching a book on the Hall of Fame New York Renaissance (Rens). . . .
David Lee, Nate Robinson and Danilo Gallinari will host 30 kids from Garden of Dreams Foundation partner The Children’s Village tomorrow for a private tour and clinic at the MSG Training Center, then head to the Children’s Village court to paint lines/logos in the court and enjoy a BBQ party. Lee, Gallinari and Al Harrington were at the NBA Store with pal Dwight Howard on Tuesday to give 100 fans with the first copies of EA Sports’ NBA Live 10 video game. . . .
The new David Clowney Foundation will host Bowling with the New York Jets from 6:30-10 p.m. Oct. 19, at Jersey Lanes in Linden. Call Jeanette Owusu at (817) 269-6206 for more information.
Go get him, Chris
First, Chris Evert won all four of tennis’s Grand Slam events, the U.S., French and Australian Opens and Wimbledon. She can now concentrate on completing romance’s grand slam. First, she was engaged to American Jimmy Connors, then was married to Brit John Lloyd and now she has split with Aussie Greg Norman. If she can hook up with a Frenchman . . .