NY Knicks Practice

On Monday, May 4th, 2011, Athletes for Charity was invited to bring our students from the High School of Sports Management to experience the Knicks team practice and their practice facility in Tarrytown, NY. 10 students were selected for this once in a lifetime opportunity and transported from Coney Island Brooklyn to the facility. We knew the trip was going to be amazing when the first person we see upon entering the building was none other than Spike Lee. You don’t just see him sitting courtside at the games but he seems to serve as a practice facility sideline coach as well – LOL. He was great and took some time to take pictures with the teens. Next up was meeting the Knicks Community Relations staff members Artie Bayes and Latoya Jackson as well as Director of Team Operations Chris Bernard, who each shared inspiring words with the teens about their educational backgrounds and careers in sports. The teens then watched the players practice and were later greeted by Coach D’Antoni and Anthony Carter. Following practice we were invited to lunch from the player cafeteria where students had a chance to meet Landry Field, Toney Douglas, Allan Houston and a number of others.

The students will never ever forget this experience and nor will we. We thank the NY Knicks for their continued support of our efforts on behalf of youth. We use such once in a lifetime opportunities to motivate youth to excel academically so not to be excluded from such experiences.