Visiting New York's sports halls of fame

BY BETH DECARBO | Special to Newsday

5:49 PM EDT, July 27, 2007

There I was, perched on a folding chair, eating raisin toast in the lobby of a Days Inn in upstate New York. Quietly sipping orange juice next to me sat Marlon "Magic Man" Starling, the world welterweight boxing champ in the late 1980s. On any other day, in any other place, it would be unlikely that I would be eating breakfast alongside a prize fighter. But in Canastota, N.Y., home of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Museum, this was induction weekend, when boxing legends such as Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran and Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker were in town to be honored.

Of course, when sports fans hear "induction weekend," Cooperstown comes to mind. Indeed, today baseball greats Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn will be inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. But in New York, it ain't just about baseball. The state boasts 11 halls of fame devoted to a particular sport. Inside each are photos, artifacts and other memorabilia to mark the games' greatest players and plays. A two- or three-day driving trip can hit a majority of the halls -- perfect for my husband (a sports fanatic) and myself (a history buff). Touring the circuit also would make a great long family weekend.

Our three-day, two-night journey began in Goshen, about 60 miles northwest of Manhattan. On Main Street, amid historic stone churches and brownstone storefronts, sits The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. The brick Tudor-style museum -- once the Good Time Stable -- sits at the edge of a working racetrack, where trotters hitched to sulkies glide by during morning workouts. Inside, the stalls have been converted into display areas, where visitors learn about harness racing's Long Island roots. In 1665, New York Gov. Richard Nicolls commissioned a race course on the Hempstead Plain, which was used continuously until 1774.

Other exhibits honor Hambletonian. Born in 1849, he's the granddaddy of all Standardbred horses racing in America today. Not really into horse racing? Not to worry. The legends and lore make the time worthwhile. Learn about Goldsmith Maid, the winningest horse in the history of harness racing. Then there's Sleepy Tom, the world pacing champion in 1879 who also happened to be blind.

There is a fair amount of racing lingo used throughout, but eager guides patrol the museum to answer questions. So when an exhibit says horses are fed "flakes" of hay, the guide describes how much hay is in a flake (anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds).

For a hands-on experience, sit on a sulky, the carriage pulled by racehorses. Record yourself calling a race in the style of animated track announcers. Or visit a 3-D theater to experience the feel of the track on race day -- complete with blowing winds and rumbling seats.

The Hall of Fame portion of the museum honors the horses, drivers, trainers, owners and others who devoted their lives to the sport. The lifelike miniature sculptures of the inductees complete the picture of harness racing's rich history.

For a quick bite, try the egg sandwich at Elsie's Luncheonette (128 W. Main St.; 845-294- 5765). Goshen Gourmet Bakery and Delicatessen (14 W. Main St.; 845-294-2800) offers sandwiches on freshly baked bread.

Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame: 240 Main St., Goshen
845-294-6330
harnessmuseum.com
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter.
Admission: Free

Oneonta, about 100 miles northeast of Goshen, is home of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, a contemporary concrete structure that honors a sport with more than 18 million active players in the United States.

Thousands of kids play soccer on the museum's four regulation-size fields throughout the year, yet only a relatively small fraction wander into the cavernous museum, completed in 1999. That will change on Aug. 26, when thousands are expected to attend the induction ceremonies for soccer legends Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, both two-time Olympic gold medalists and two-time World Cup champions. Hamm and Foudy will join 264 other players and coaches already honored in the hall's rotunda of inductee plaques.

Visitors looking for Long Island ties will find the induction plaque of Michael Windischmann, who attended Adelphi University and later was captain of the U.S. soccer team that qualified for the 1990 World Cup. Also honored is Peter Collins, who took the Long Island Junior Soccer League from 300 teams 20 years ago to more than 1,200 teams today. The hall also houses artifacts, including the sterling silver Dewar Cup, the oldest team trophy in the United States (first awarded in 1912), the last jersey Hamm wore in competitive play (Dec. 8, 2004) and the ball used to score the winning goal when the U.S. team beat England 1-0 for the World Cup in 1950.

Kids more interested in the experience than the history can go upstairs to play in sporting cages. Slalom dribble a ball past cutouts of U.S. national team veterans. Take a power shot against an image of goalkeeper Jeff Cassar and try to match the pros' 50-mph ball speeds. In other words, bring your sneakers.

Afterward, enjoy world-famous Brooks' Bar-B-Q Restaurant (5560 State Hwy. 7; 607- 432-1782). For Italian, the locals like Sabatini's Little Italy Restaurant (4158 State Highway 28S; 607-432-3000). And for a menu that will please any palate, go to the Neptune Diner (5001 State Hwy. 23; 607-432-8820).

National Soccer Hall of Fame: 18 Stadium Circle, Oneonta; 607-432-3351
soccer hall.org