Golf brings sports legends to Friar's Head
Sports legends, from left, Bill Russell, Julius Erving, Jim Brown in clubhouse at Friar's Head in Riverhead for Mentor's Champions Golf Challenge Monday. Credit: Robert Walker
This would make the cut in anyone's idea of an amazing day of Long Island golf: Before the round on Monday, two of the biggest names in sports history greeted each other in the Friar's Head clubhouse, Long Islander to Long Islander. Julius Erving of Roosevelt shook hands with Jim Brown of Manhasset and said, "Welcome home."
This wasn't bad, either: As the field in the Mentor's Champions Golf Challenge posed for a group shot at the Riverhead club, Reggie Jackson -- sitting between Ahmad Rashad and Rick Barry, two down from Joe Morgan -- told the photographer, "You'd better have a wide angle because there are some big names down at this end, too."
The glittering outing was hosted by NBA legend Bill Russell and Long Island business executive Geoff Boisi to raise funds and awareness for Mentor, the national mentoring program that has become Russell's great passion. He and fellow sports legends also indulged their passion for golf.
Brown, sitting alongside Russell for a private interview, praised the concept of mentorship by recalling Ed Walsh, his high school coach. "He took an interest in me, both academically and athletically. He gave me someone who could guide me and someone I could trust," Brown said. "He basically saved my life."
The man who is arguably the greatest running back ever said he never was a golfer growing up. "They don't have too much golf in the projects," Russell said, adding his famous, infectious laugh.
Brown became a golf enthusiast during his Hall of Fame career with the Browns. Among the many fine places he has played is Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, owned by Michael Pascucci, who used to block for Brown on Manhasset High's offensive line. "It's a fantastic venue, and he's a great man. He's done a lot of wonderful things," Brown said.
Erving never played golf as a teen, or even when he led the Nets to two ABA titles at Nassau Coliseum. He took up the game late in his NBA career. "After 16 years of running and jumping, I wanted to do something where I didn't have to run and I didn't have to jump," he said, "although I always found myself tempted, when my ball was on the other side of a creek, to jump over there and hit it. And maybe I did a little running when I had my hole-in-one."
He has since played a fair amount on Long Island, at Atlantic, Meadow Brook and National Golf Links of America, where he, Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler had a 54-hole day. "I like to think I'm a 12 handicap, but I probably play more like a 16 because I don't practice enough," Dr. J said.
When Barry was the star of the Nets on Long Island, he played at Garden City Golf Club and "wherever I could get a game," he said, adding that he doesn't play much anymore. Still, he has won his division three times in a national long-drive competition.
Looking around at Friar's Head, Barry said, "I had never heard about this place, but what a job Ken [Bakst, the owner] did. This is a very, very special place. This reminds me of some of the holes at Cypress Point."
Rashad acknowledged pride in having been a club champion at Atlantic in Bridgehampton. "It's the best trophy I ever won," the former Super Bowl wide receiver said.
But it was Charles Barkley who upstaged everyone with his quirky swing and ebullient personality. "I'd never been here before. I've had a great time. The people in Riverhead have been fantastic," he said. "I have fun, bro. I come out here, smoke cigars, drink beer. It's beautiful to be out on the golf course every day. All the other suckers are at work."
