BY ROBERT ELKIN | Despite posting a below .500 record, the New York Knicks have had some bright spots during this dismal season. Some of them, however, have been off the basketball court.
Every month during the course of the regular season, the Knicks give out a Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award. It’s named after the former Knick, who in 1950 became one of the first African Americans to play in the NBA.
The award recognizes individuals, male or female, who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. The award winners are chosen by members of the Knicks’ front office staff.
Last Friday night during the third quarter of the Knicks’ game against Minnesota, Antonio Aponte, director of educational services at the Boys’ Club of New York, was the latest to receive the honor. He was presented with a check for $2,000 to denote to a charity of his choice.
The son of Puerto Rican immigrants, he grew up in the East Village, playing hoops on the neighborhood’s courts and other sports in its streets.
Former Knick great John Starks presented Aponte, 58, with the check. Aponte has chosen to give the funds to the Latino College Expo, which today administers more than $85,000 in grants to deserving high school students of Latino descent.
“I’m honored getting the Sweetwater Clifton Award,” Aponte said. “My reaction was not shocked, but humbled. It was nice to get recognized. I help young people further their education. I help provide scholarships for them.
“Some 25 years ago, I started a program called the Latino College Expo,” he explained. “It’s an event or organization that brings together over 150 colleges and over 1,500 kids in college workshops. It’s very important to me that these kids learn all the options that they have. Since I went to a boarding school, it’s about ‘giving back.’ ”
Speaking of giving back, it so happens that the Knicks’ associate athletic trainer is Anthony Goenaga, whom Aponte helped get his start.
“I accepted him, and at the time the Knicks were training at Purchase College,” Aponte recalled. “At the time, Mike Saunders, a trainer on the Knicks, helped to get him a student internship with the Knicks. First he worked part-time and now he works full-time. It shows what work can be accomplished when given the chance.”
Aponte grew up mainly around Tompkins Square Park, but he would go anywhere to play basketball. Yet, ultimately, playing hoops wasn’t the dream that he pursued.
After playing ball at a boarding school in Providence, Rhode Island, Aponte went on to Syracuse University where he majored in theater and psychology. He attended ’Cuse during the era of players like Louis Orr and Roosevelt Bouie, and Bernie Fine was associated with the hoop staff.
But, while he was glad for his experience at Syracuse, he realized playing on the basketball team there wouldn’t be part of it.
“I was more of a Division II or Division III college player,” he admitted.
Aponte has been with the Boys’ Club of New York since 2001, and since 2005 has been in his current position. The club has three buildings in Manhattan, including the one at 287 E. 10th St., on Avenue A, just across from Aponte’s old Tompkins Square stomping grounds.
“Basketball is a great thing for me, because it opened a lot of doors,” Aponte reflected. “At a young age I was tall.
“I coach kids about life and education. That’s my coaching experience.
“And about the Knicks,” he added, “I see light at the end of the tunnel for them.”
