Basketball skills played second-fiddle to entertainment value as a collection of Hillsborough kids, residents and officials suited up Saturday night in a Joes vs. NFL Pros game at Hillsborough High School.
The NFL stars, organized by former Buffalo Bills player Lonnie Allgood, knew their role in giving ordinary people a chance to compete with professional athletes. But they were also loose with the ball on purpose, weren’t loathe to hoist Stephen Curry-like three-point shots and took it easy with their size and athletic ability.
The evening was all for fun and profit for the Hillsborough/Municipal Alliance, whose mission its to provide educational awareness and info for the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse in the community. Also in the spotlight was BoroSafe, which tries to raise community awareness about that suicide is preventable.
On the court, Hillsborough ran ahead in the first 8-minute mini-game on a scoring spree by the Hi-Tops, the township Special Olympics team. Other portions were played by teams of high and middle school students, township police officers and “local Joes,” whose names were picked in a raffle.
A squad of township officials, featuring the entire Township Committee and Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, inherited a slim lead. With the scoring prowess of Township Committeewoman Gloria McCauley, they held the final score to a 63-63 tie despite a gruesomely played final stanza that had James Naismith rolling over in his grave.
Names from New York Jets and Giants pro football teams played in the benefit.
On the roster for the game were former Jets running back Kareem Huggins (Hofstra University), Giants fullback Darian Barnes (Hampton University), Jets cornerback Aaron Beasley (West Virginia University) and Giants cornerback Brandon Bing (Rutgers University) and a player on the XLVI Super Bowl champion team in 2012.
Also attending were former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Chad Plummer (Cincinnati University), New England Patriots wide receiver Tony Logan (Maryland University), Denver Broncos defensive tackle J’vonne Parker (Rutgers University) and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Barrett Brooks (Kansas State University), who played in the Super Bowl in 2006.
Two people were recognized with “hometown hero” awards. One was Minda Maggio, a life skills coordinator in the school district. As the secretary of the Alliance, she was cited as “the glue that holds things together” in the organization.
Also honored was former police chief Paul Kaminsky, recently retired after 26 years as a policeman here, who supported the organization in his job and private life.
VIP tickets included food by Angelo’s, Jersey Mike’s and Applebee’s and a meet-and-greet with the NFL players in the Commons. Kids lined up with clothing and footballs to be signed by the professionals.
A half-time show had the Hillsborough Rockettes and Rocket going retro to rock and roll tunes, and Flair Dance Academy portraying a circus show on the court. Vendors sold sports clothing, signs, caps,The Municipal Alliance supports several township programs, including Every 15 Minutes, iRun, Life Skills, BoroSAFE, 15 Minute Child Break, Red Ribbon awareness, Project Graduation and family unity nights.
