Ode to Summer Classic
By Beth Hanning
I recently saw a post advertising the 40th birthday of the St. Francis de Sales Summer Classic. For those of you who might not know, the Summer Classic is a local basketball league that is quite amazing. I have fond memories of playing in the classics, coaching and the best memory: my mom.
Best things about Summer Classic:
- The championship long sleeved t-shirt. I do not know exactly what year the t-shirt started but for many Rockaway basketball lovers, the long-sleeved championship tee is sort of a quest similar to attaining the Holy Grail! I never won a long sleeve as a player, but I was fortunate enough to win one by coaching the 6-8th grade girls’ Rockaway WISH team. I was also lucky enough to coach alongside one of my best friends! A bad memory was when we lost at the buzzer in the Women’s Open League “B” League championship. (B league … it was more like A-).
- The camaraderie and social aspect. You can move out of town and go to one night of Summer Classic and see so many Rockaway legends either coaching or spectating. Sometimes, they have become spectators of their grandchildren after watching and coaching their children for many years. I know of one grandfather, who coached his children, is now coaching his grandson! You can also move out of town and have your child play and again you get to run into many childhood friends and acquaintances.
- The competition. For years, Summer Classic has been an intense league where people come from all over New York City and Nassau County. One year, my daughter had a girl on her team from Long Island and her only connection to Rockaway was her dad who was a firefighter from the Beach 116th Street Firehouse! He knew it was a good league for her to enhance her skills!
- The old shorts. For the first few years of Summer Classic, everyone received a t-shirt and a pair of navy-blue shorts. I am sure if anyone has a pair left, they could be sold on an auction page. They were the best shorts. They even became beach shorts for the tomboys in the 1980s! Bring back the shorts!
- The people who make the league amazing. It would be impossible to list everyone who has had a hand in the Classic for 40 years but the name synonymous with the Summer Classic is definitely Keith “Bugsy” Goldberg. I was walking past last week and no games were playing yet, but Bugsy was out there getting the courts ready.
- The memories. As I was writing this column, I got quite nostalgic about how this is something still around that my mom was a part of. I can remember riding bikes together to Beach 129th and can see her sitting on the metal bleachers like it was yesterday. I am sure many people can remember fond memories from the schoolyard under the lights.
So, shout out to St. Francis de Sales Summer Classic on their 40th birthday! Thank you to ALL who have made it possible and continue to make it possible for our kids to enjoy this amazing pastime.
I would love to hear some great memories. Email me at