By Ted Waddell
LAKE HUNTINGTON — January 17, 2006 – There’s tall, and then there’s too tall.
In Friday night’s hoops game, the Sullivan West faculty and alumni team consisting of hometown boys and local gals calling themselves the “Bad News Bulldogs” ran up against some tall timber in the form of The Harlem MagicMasters, a team of showtime hoopsters.
Mike Ellmauer, a SW high science teacher and coach of the girls’ varsity soccer and softball teams, was one of the primary organizers of the benefit event that thrilled an estimated crowd of 750 fans.
“It was a good show,” he said.
According to Ellmauer, proceeds of the ticket sales will go towards SW girls’ sports programs, including soccer, softball “and a little bit of basketball.”
Members of the “Bad News Bulldogs” included: Christine Gozza, Marlene Kinch, Kevin Mann, Danny Welton, Nina Verderber, Amy Schadt, Randy Armstrong, Bob Fife, Bobby Menges, Lionel Billard, Chris Reichmann, Kurt Scheibe, Rod McLaughlin, Cliff Kelly and Mike Ellmauer.
“I like working with the little kids,” said Shanod Burton of the MagicMasters. “Basketball comes second, school comes first.”
Arnold “Smidoo” Smith serves as the manager/coach of the MagicMasters team, which was formed three years ago by Jack Bryant.
“I’ve been in show basketball for over 25 years,” said Smith, who’s been with the Harlem Wizards and Marcus Haynes.
In his career, “Smidoo” has played the game of hoops overseas, including such countries as Argentina, Israel and Belgium.
After the fans enjoyed a few rounds of hot dogs and chips at halftime, the MagicMasters lined up a circle of kids to play “catch the ball.” In the wake of a couple of tricks, by the talented MagicMasters everyone was “back in their seats”, except 5-year-old Hunter Keesler of Lake Huntington.
When the game was all over, kids of all ages lined up to get team photographs and basketballs autographed by the MagicMasters.