Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 26, 2021 Malden: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday – Bridge Recovery Center By Peter F. Levine A few weeks back, I wrote about the Bridge Recovery Center and the work of Callahan Construction. A slip by me, but I neglected to tell the story of the real heroes who were essential in making this valuable resource happen in our community: the Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation. Since their formation in 1927, this amazing organization has been instrumental in helping countless Malden organizations find the funding to advance their missions. A large tip of the hat goes out to these unsung heroes of Malden. When you’re involved in youth sports, or actually anytime you have the opportunity to mentor youngsters, it’s always gratifying when somebody you coached or taught or counseled gets to the highest level in his or her profession. I did extraordinarily little coaching, mentoring or counseling in years past, but the little I did came with mixed results. Example one: Frankie Molis cajoled me into coaching a youth basketball league team at the Y in 1985. “Danny” was my team leader. Physically mature range half jumper. Point taken. I don’t remember if it went in or not, but that was the last time I tried to manage our offense. Or Puggy. But, as usual, I digress... Those, sadly, are my only two examples in my coaching career. But you know who has a larger sample size to choose from? Ya, I knew you already knew – Bob “Mr. Knight” Rotondi. Bob likes to make me look good. He sent me this gem; take it away, Bob: “When one of your players you have coached, be it baseball or hockey, makes it The Bridge (Courtesy Photo) at 14, he competed on a much higher level than the rest of the boys. We did well that summer. We had good chemistry, and he was a good listener. At age 18 I see Danny doing the perp walk into the Everett Police Station on gun charges. Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Example two: I like to brag to my brother Joe that I was the impetus for professional football player Breno Giacomini’s success. Short story shorter, when Joe and Dana (Brown) were running all those great youth basketball leagues at the Salemwood, I helped coached a team one year. Breno was on my squad as a (I believe) 12-year-old. At well over 6 feet tall, he dominated. He would easily rebound the ball, sprint down the court each and every time for an uncontested lay in. After the 10th or so time, I called a timeout. My directions were simple: Breno was to secure the rebound, look for the outlet to the point guard, follow the ball down the court and run a play. Everybody shook their heads in agreement. The shot goes up, Breno snags the rebound and bounds down the court for another lay in. At that point I said, why mess with perfection? Puggy Forbes did something similar in the men’s hoop league one time. My team is stacked that year. I have rounded up the usual talented round ball suspects, such as Mark Burns, Greg Phaneuf, Joe Levine, Steve & Dave Johnson and Jerry & Danny Lynch. But this season I did some outside recruiting. The league was becoming much too competitive to stand pat. I needed a few ringers. I asked Malden High School Hall of Fame hoopster Puggy Forbes (drafted by the C’s – look it up) to join us. He had a caveat: We also have to include Billy Greeley and Johnny Salmon. Twist my arm, Puggy. Like I said, we were stacked. So, we’re playing Henry’s Restaurant early in the year. Henry’s has talent up and down their roster – Meffa studs like Tommy Ryser, Mike Hognet, Stan Fiumma, Mike McCormack and Steve Krasker. They go on an early run and put us in a hole. Our offense is in disarray. An abundance of great players, too few balls. I call timeout. I explain to Puggy that he cannot bring the ball up the court and shoot every, single, time. I continue to explain that he needs to let Danny or Jerry bring the rock up. You set up in the corner or the top of the key big guy and they will feed you the ball. Everybody agrees. The ball is inbounded, but to Puggy’s outstretched arms. Rodney proceeds to dribble the ball up the court and launch a mid‘big’, it is extremely rewarding. I have been blessed to enjoy that feeling many times with people in both sports. Likewise, when one of your former charges becomes a police or fireman, or elected to school committee, or city council, or even mayor, equally great feeling. Well, I want to include one of my former players who has just got a book on the market selling briskly. It’s called ‘The Pickle Ball Murder,’ a whodunnit, by Harvey Caras. Harvey is a retired successful businessman now living with wife Joanna, in Port Lucie, Florida. His wife also has written a couple books and has a weekly TV show on cooking. Harvey was the Knights team co-captain with former Malden Police Captain, Angie Scacchi. They batted 3-4 in a lineup that won the championship in 1964. Harvey was the catcher, and a terrific field general. This was Harvey’s second book on the market by the way. He hailed from Bainbridge Street in his playing days. He and Joanna have 3 children; two sons, and a daughter - and as Harv says; they have given me 12 delicious grandchildren. A couple years earlier I had another catcher who wrote a great book on old Suffolk Square. Richie Klayman from Essex Street, I think, became a college professor. Both Klayman and Caras autographed the inside covers of my book with similar comments. It warms your heart. Of course, Maldens’ Dave Caiazzo also has a book on the market, which I also had him sign. So, you see, it is not just the ones that become ‘pros’ and I’ve had a bunch; it’s also the many others that leave their mark in a diverse field of success. It is all part of my ride, and I absolutely love it.” “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end” – the Adelaide MALDEN: TODAY | SEE PAGE 11
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