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The Fairfield County Sports Commission this morning announced its Hall of Fame Class for 2011 …

Here’s the release from executive director Tom Chiappetta:

The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame announced its new class of inductees, naming six prominent sports figures into its three wings. The Hall of Fame, which is overseen by the Fairfield County Sports Commission, Inc., will honor the newly elected Hall of Famers with an induction ceremony at the Commission’s 7th Annual Sports Night awards dinner, Monday, Oct. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. With the six new inductees, the Hall of Fame has now recognized 45 county sports legends.

Two Hall of Famers were selected in each of the three HOF Wings: Jackie Robinson Professional, James O’Rourke Amateur and J. Walter Kennedy Community Service. In the professional category, the new inductees are JOHN BAGLEY (Bridgeport)) and BENNETT SALVATORE (Stamford). The amateur wing selections are JOE DESANTIS (Fairfield) and CECI HOPP ST. GEME (Greenwich). Community service winners are CHARLIE BENTLEY (Bridgeport) and the late ALBIE LOEFFLER (Westport).

With four of the honorees being recognized in the sport of basketball, it is the first time in the Hall of Fame’s history that there has been that number of recipients for the same sport in one class of inductees.

Bagley played 11 seasons in the NBA, the first five with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who made him their first draft pick and the 12th overall in 1982. When the 6-foot point guard was traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1987, he left as the Cavs’ all-time and single season assist leader, as well as averaging a team record 9.4 assists in 1985-86. The Harding High great played two seasons with the Nets, averaging a career-high 12.0 points per game in his first year, and then spent three years with the Boston Celtics before ending his career in Atlanta in 1993. He sat out the entire ’90-91 season due to injury, and averaged 8.7 points and 6 assists for his NBA career. A member of the Boston College Hall of Fame, Bagley played three years for the Eagles, twice averaging more than 20 points per game. As a sophomore in 1981, he led BC to the Big East regular season title and the NCAA Sweet 16, earning Big East Player of the Year honors. Bagley, inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004, helped the Eagles reach the NCAA Elite Eight in his junior campaign.

Heading into his 30th year as an NBA referee, Salvatore is one of the premier officials in pro basketball. He has worked 25 NBA Finals games, 228 playoff games and over 1,650 regular season games. The Stamford Catholic graduate began his NBA officiating career in 1981, after spending two years working in the CBA and 10 years of high school basketball. Salvatore has two All-Star game credits (1993 & 2002) on his resume, and worked international tournaments for the NBA in Germany (’93), Mexico (’97) and China (’04). A three-sport scholastic athlete, Salvatore was an all-state quarterback in 1967. He is the son-in-law of the late NFL Hall of Famer Andy Robustelli, also a Stamford native.

DeSantis was one of Fairfield University’s all-time great basketball players. A four-year letterman from 1975–79, he completed his collegiate career with 1,916 points, then the school’s all-time leading scorer and now currently second. He averaged 18.4 points per game for his career and his 667 assists are also second on the Stags’ career list. DeSantis tops the Stags’ record book for career free-throw percentage at .849. In the 1977-78 season, DeSantis led the Stags to one of their best seasons ever with a 22-5 record and an NIT appearance. He was drafted by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the 1979 NBA Draft before playing in Venice, Italy, for one season. The Bronx, N.Y. native completed his professional playing career in the Continental Basketball Association. In 2004, DeSantis was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. The Tolentine High graduate also had an accomplished coaching career with 26 years of Division I experience. He played a crucial role in elevating the Quinnipiac program from the Division II level to a respected Division I mid-major during his 11-year stint as head coach. The Trumbull resident kept close ties with his alma mater, gaining his first coaching experience as an assistant at Fairfield from 1981–88 and is now the radio color commentator for Stags basketball games.

One of the best female distance runners in U.S. history, Hopp St. Geme has been a top level competitor for more than 30 years. She made her name as a scholastic star at Greenwich High, winning the National Cross Country championship in 1980 and following up with a National title in the 3,000 meter run as a senior. She still owns four FCIAC outdoor records and two state milestones. Hopp St. Geme continued her success as a collegian at Stanford, by winning the NCAA 3,000 run as a freshman in 1982 with a time of 8:57, still an American Junior record. In 1992 & 1996 she qualified for the Olympic Trials in three events, while winning the USA Track & Field national championship in the 5,000 meters event in 1994. Hopp St. Geme, who graced the cover of Runner’s World magazine seven times, remains one of the top female Masters runners and is active in 5K runs. She has been the assistant cross country and track coach for the past nine years at Corona del Mar High in Newport Beach, CA.

For 33 years, Bentley has been the head coach of one of the country’s top high school basketball programs at Harding High, where he coached 2011 FCSC Hall of Famer John Bagley. During his tenure the Presidents have made 14 state title game appearances, winning nine championships, including five straight from 1983-87. He also has won 16 conference crowns, 11 in the MBIAC and 5 FCIAC. His total of 645 victories is second all-time in the state. Bentley’s accomplishments have been recognized numerous times in his illustrious career, including being named to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame (2003), awarded a Gold Key by the state sports writers’ alliance (2007) and election to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association HOF (2009). He also was the longtime cross country coach at Harding.

Loeffler was the legendary soccer coach at Staples High, but his impact on soccer there and across the country was more than just as a mere coach. Loeffler came to Staples in 1952 and originally coached basketball (12 years), baseball (11 years) and track because the Westport school did not have a soccer team. He founded the program in 1958 and shaped it over his 20 years as head coach into one of the nation’s finest. When he retired in 1978, he had amassed a then national high school record 314 wins and was twice named National Soccer Coach of the Year. Staples won 13 FCIAC titles, including five in a row, and seven state championships with five of those coming consecutively from 1969-73. The respect he commanded in the Staples soccer community, which knew him as Mr. Loeffler, not Albie, was also felt nationally as Loeffler was one of the pioneers of soccer officiating at both the scholastic and collegiate levels for 13 years. He worked five NCAA Division I finals, including the first one, and was part of the referee duo of the first two-man system in college soccer. Loeffler, who passed away at the age of 93 in September 2009, also was involved in writing the national soccer officials handbook. He is a member of the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame as a referee and was one of the inaugural 13 members of the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.

With the addition of Bagley and Bentley, Bridgeport now has the most inductees with nine. A total of 15 different towns are represented in the Hall of Fame.

The list of previously enshrined FCSHOF inductees follows:
JACKIE ROBINSON PROFESSIONAL WING

• 2005-Julius Boros (Fairfield), Kristine Lilly (Wilton), Calvin Murphy (Norwalk), Steve Young (Greenwich)
• 2006-Bobby Valentine (Stamford), Mo Vaughn (Norwalk)
• 2007-Mike Gminski (Monroe), Charles Nagy (Fairfield)
• 2008-Chris Drury (Trumbull), Tim Teufel (Greenwich)
• 2009-Jennifer Rizzotti (New Fairfield), Charles Smith (Bridgeport)
• 2010-Garry Cobb (Stamford), John Hirschbeck (Stratford)

JAMES O’ROURKE AMATEUR WING

• 2005-Dorothy Hamill (Riverside), Bruce Jenner (Newtown), Bill Toomey (New Canaan)
• 2006-Joan Joyce (Stratford), Walter Luckett (Bridgeport)
• 2007-Jerry Courville, Sr. (Norwalk), Donna Lopiano (Stamford)
• 2008-Gary Liberatore (New Canaan), Lou Saccone (Bridgeport)
• 2009-Pete Demmerle (New Canaan), Dick Siderowf (Westport)
• 2010-Alvin Clinkscales (Bridgeport), Amanda Pape (Stamford)

J. WALTER KENNEDY COMMUNITY SERVICE

• 2005-Dave Bike (Bridgeport), Jerry McDougall (Trumbull)
• 2006- Ray Barry (Norwalk), Frank Vieira (Bridgeport)
• 2007-Nick Koules (Stamford), Bruce Webster (Bridgeport)
• 2008-Ralph King (Norwalk), Tom Penders (Stratford)
• 2009-Joe Benanto (Shelton), Terry Lowe (Greenwich)
• 2010-Mickey Lione, Jr. (Stamford), Vito Montelli (Trumbull)

The Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame is housed at the University of Connecticut Stamford Campus in downtown Stamford. The Hall of Fame is open 6 days a week from 9 am-5 pm.

The Fairfield County Sports Commission, Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit organization that promotes fitness, an active healthy lifestyle and personal development through sports. The Commission, other than the executive director position, is an all-volunteer group dedicated to creating and supporting programs for fitness awareness education, primarily centered on the 110,000 school age children in the 15 communities it serves. It’s newly created Chelsea Cohen Fitness Academy is the countywide umbrella for all of its programs. For more information, go to www.fairfieldcountysports.com.

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FAIRFIELD – The table with the nine core values of the First Tee – Respect, Honesty, Integrity, Courtesy, Judgment, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance and Sportsmanship – emblazoned on a dark blue table cloth, was covered with hats and T-shirts.
Pretty soon, all the hats and T-shirts would be gone, handed out to over 60 kids from five different community centers around the greater Bridgeport area who had come to the Patterson Club to take part in a free golf lesson but to also learn those life lessons from someone who lives those lessons every day.
J.J. Henry, who grew up first learning how to play the game of golf at the Patterson Club’s practice facility, conducted a free clinic for those 60-plus kids, along with hosting his second annual Henry House golf tournament and cocktail hour, to raise money for the eventual construction of a First Tee practice facility and later, a permanent clubhouse at the Fairchild Wheeler golf course.
“To me, it’s all about being home and kind of remembering where I came from and to be here with the kids. When I was talking to them, I remember being in their shoes 20, 25 years ago,” Henry said. “As someone that grew up in the area but more importantly, teaching the nine core values, to be able to use those not only on the golf course but every day. To see what the First Tee has done in the last decade, I’m just grateful to be able to use my golf as a platform to give back to these kids.”

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FAMILY GOLF CHALLENGE – The Family Golf Challenge will take place at the Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Family Golf Challenge is an amateur skills event, featuring a putting and a long-drive competition, designed to introduce women and children to the sport. The competition consists of two-person teams of adults and kids (ages 7 to 17) comprised of father/son, mother/daughter, uncle/neice. Proceeds will benefit the First Tee of Fairchild Wheeler.
The entry fee is $15. Families can register on-line at www.familygolfchallenge.com.
Fairchild Wheeler golf course is located at 2390 Easton Turnpike in Fairfield.

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Here’s some video of Kemba Walker’s reaction to being drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats

Kemba Walker draft video

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By Chris Elsberry

Staff Writer

NEW YORK — The whirlwind that has been the last two months is all but over. Thursday night, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., a New York City kid will see his dream come true. From those early days on the playgrounds in the South Bronx, days pretending that he was Michael Jordan, putting on the Chicago Bulls jersey and making the game-winning shot, Kemba Walker now will hear his name called, walk across the stage, shake hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern and think to himself, “I’ve made it.”

It has been a dream over a decade in the making. From the moment he first picked up the game — when he wasn’t hip hop dancing in the basement of his family’s apartment building — Walker, like so many other kids on the playground, put his heart and his soul into becoming the best player he could be. UConn Coach Jim Calhoun saw enough of that desire and determination to offer Walker a scholarship and then spent three seasons helping to sharpen the kid’s skills to the point where Thursday night, Walker just might hear his name called as a lottery pick in the NBA draft.

“It’s going to be a special feeling. I’ve had some great things happen this season to me and my teammates at UConn, but now it’s time for me to move on and hopefully I can go to a team that fits me,” Walker said Wednesday at the Westin Hotel. “I’m really excited to make this next jump.”

Where he lands when he takes that next jump remains to be seen. Walker worked out for five teams, Charlotte, Toronto, Detroit, Sacramento and Utah. He feels each workout was solid. None of the general managers, however, told him much more than that.

“I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know where I’m going,” Walker said. “I felt good about every team that I worked out for. All the staff’s were really good and I got to know them. Everyone was great but I have no idea what’s going on in the GM’s head and I really don’t care. I just want to be in the NBA.”

That will be a certainty. Walker is projected to be one of the Top 10 picks in tonight’s draft, and some see him going as early as No. 5.

“I’m anxious, I’m excited, I’m nervous and I’m ready,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where I end up. I’m going to be happy wherever I go.”

Walker opened a lot of eyes this past year by having a season to remember. He scored 965 points, averaging 23.5 points a game as the Huskies reeled off 11 straight wins to capture the Big East tournament title and the national championship. Not only did he make a last-second, game-winning shot to eliminate Pitt, Walker also helped the Huskies to wins over Georgetown, Syracuse and Louisville — four straight wins over nationally ranked opponents in the Big East. Once on that roll, there was no stopping the UConn express as it plowed through the NCAA field, beating Butler to win the title.

And as great as Walker was during that final run, his young teammates were just as good. Freshmen Jeremy Lamb, Roscoe Smith, Shabazz Napier, Niles Giffey and Tyler Olander, along with sophomore Alex Oriakhi, improved by leaps and bounds, and that’s one talent Walker is looking forward to bring with him to the NBA.

“I bring leadership, I bring great character. I bring a winning attitude, that’s what I bring to the table, he said. “I just try my best to make sure whatever team I’m on, I make my teammates better. I’m all about winning, I just want to do whatever’s possible to win. I’m going to try and bring my hard work and my will to win.”

UConn assistant coach Kevin Ollie, who spent 13 years in the NBA before returning to the Huskies, expected point guard Kemba Walker to be drafted early.

“I’m just hearing he’s definitely going to be a top 10 pick,” Ollie said. “He’s just comfortable, taking it all in. The place he’s at right now is great. He deserves everything he’s going to get. He’s just going to be a great player when he gets to the NBA because of his drive.

“His ability to win is off the charts. Every level he’s been at he’s been a winner, and I don’t see that changing when he gets to the NBA.”

Ollie said he spoke to Walker during the season about taking his game to the next level.

“We talked throughout this year,” he said. “Now he’s just enjoying the process, listening to his agents and I’m sure he’s called coach Calhoun. (I’m just) letting him enjoy this. This is his time and it’s going to be a great, great opportunity for him to hear his name called by Commissioner Stern.”

Tom Moore, the Quinnipiac coach and a former assistant at UConn, said he wished Walker the best. “I think he’s going to be terrific,” Moore said.

“I think he has a little extra inside,” Moore added, pointing to his heart. “It will allow him to have a long career and a successful career.”

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They can’t sing, they (really) can’t dance and they’re style of clothing leaves a lot to be desired but the “Golf Boys” certainly are throwing themselves into their side project … a music video.
In case you don’t know, the “Golf Boys” are 2010 Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson, Ben Crane, 2007 Travelers champ Hunter Mahan and Rickie Fowler. And just to show that they are more than golfers (but not much more) they put together this music video that can be found on www.bencranegolf.com and on YouTube.
Next week, three of the “Golf Boys” — Watson, Fowler and Mahan will be in Cromwell for the 2011 Travelers. Maybe we can get them to perform before the Eddie Money (Wednesday) or Huey Lewis and the News (Saturday) shows.
Anyway, here’s the video: enjoy

The Golf Boys video

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Tim Clark’s loss is J.J. Henry’s gain.
Henry, who barely missed out on qualifying for the U.S. Open a couple of weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio and was tagged as an alternate, got into the field when South Africa’s Tim Clark withdrew with an elbow inujury. That means, Henry, from Fairfield, will tee off from No. 1 on Thursday at 8:28 a.m. with Justin Rose and Jason Day. On Friday, the threesome will tee off from No. 10 at 2:08 p.m.

Henry shot solid rounds of 68 and 69 at the Brookside Golf & Country Club and the Lake Golf & Country Club and was the No. 1 alternate to get into the field if a player withdrew. When Clark did that Sunday night, Henry was in.

This will be his seventh start in U.S. Open. Henry’s best finish is a tie for 26th at Oakmont in 2007.

Henry’s Majors

2002
PGA Championship 63rd 78-70-77-76

2004
U.S. Open 64th 75-69-86-76

2005
U.S. Open T57 73-73-76-74

2006
U.S. Open CUT 77-77
British Open CUT 73-73
PGA Championship T41 68-73-73-74

2007
Masters T37 71-78-77-76
U.S. Open T26 71-78-75-72
British Open T27 70-71-71-74
PGA Championship CUT 71-75

2008
PGA Championship CUT 76-74

2009
U.S. Open CUT 73-74
PGA Championship T63 72-73-80-73

2010
U.S. Open CUT 79-72