BY ROBERT ELKIN | Major league all-star games don’t come often to a venue, due to different circumstances and rules governing that sport, whether it be in baseball, basketball, hockey or football. The last time a basketball All-Star Game came to Madison Square Garden was in 1998 when capacity crowds turned out to watch the likes of Kevin Garnett and Michael Jordan, just to name a few.
This All-Star Game is called the best of the best from the Eastern and the Western conferences. But the three-day program doesn’t only contain an All-Star attraction. It encompasses a rookie game, slam-dunk contest and other individual-player skill performances, both at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
While the game itself takes place Sunday night at the Garden in Manhattan and is usually an offensive showcase, the National Basketball Association will host activities at other sites, as well.
An “old-timer” who expected to be on hand for some of the activities, especially the ones the Knicks are involved in, is Cal Ramsey, who nowadays goes around in a wheelchair as a result of a knee tear. Therefore, he plans to be at his residence watching the game on TV. With his disabilities, he is still able to perform his duties for the Knicks and also be an assistant coach for New York University.
Ramsey at age 77 is still very much involved with basketball, although not as much on the actual court as he used to be. He is an alumnus of N.Y.U.
He was an All-American star forward for the Violets in the late ’50s. He is the all-time leading rebounder at N.Y.U., collecting 1,101 caroms.
His stellar college career was followed by a brief run in the NBA with the St. Louis Hawks, Knicks and Syracuse Nationals, where there were simply better players.
In 1998 he underwent knee surgery, but still stays as active as he can for both the Knicks and N.Y.U., and tries not to miss a game. He has somebody usually take him around in the wheelchair.
At half time of the games, he advises the N.Y.U. head coach and assistant coaches what to do differently in the second half, whether it be getting players to hit the boards harder, cut down on turnovers or step up their defense. He also helps the Violets on an individual level to improve their skills and basketball IQ.
Off the court with the Knicks, Ramsey, a force behind the team, stresses education for the kids, is involved in a goodwill program for youth and a stay-in-school program. He is an ambassador for Madison Square Garden and is a familiar figure at all of the team’s home games. In addition, he is involved in their summer camp for kids. Ramsey is a director of special projects and a community-relations representative for the Knicks.
He also formerly served as a color commentator for the Knicks. And he still helps in recruiting high school players for the N.Y.U. team.
Ramsey played at Commerce High School, which later became Brandeis High School, and in various summer leagues, but not the W. Fourth St. League.
“I am not impressed with the W. Fourth St. League, because the court is too small,” he said. “But I do watch some games there.”
On the upcoming All-Star Game, he thinks it’s a great idea to bring it to New York again, for this is the mecca of basketball, and everybody wants to play here.
“We expect a great enthusiastic crowd,” he said. “We’ll enjoy the game. New York City will be booming. Fans from all over the world come here. Nowadays, we have many players in the NBA from different countries.”
On the current Knicks, Ramsey stated bluntly that they don’t have a good team. Phil Jackson had wanted to improve the team’s roster at the start of the season, by bringing in players who he wanted, Ramsey said. Of course, injuries to key players hurt the team.
“We had a new coach and a new plan,” he said. “But if you’re not healthy and don’t have good players, you’re not going to win.”
While the Knicks are struggling, the current N.Y.U. team is off to a decent start. They recently put on a thrilling game against Rochester but lost, 64-60. Still, this team seems to be good enough to go to the NCAA Division III tournament.
The Violets are led by forwards Evan Kupferberg and Costis Gontikas, along with guard Kaheem Harris, a very strong player, and have a chance to go all the way. Harris was recently named Player of the Week. Except for maybe a few games, the coaches have been very impressed with their team.
“We developed a good inside-outside combination with Kupferberg and Gontikas, the big guys down low who can score, and an outside presence with Harris and Ross Udine, who can dribble and shoot well,” said a team spokesman.
