The Musings of Ron Kapon

Bike & Roll

I have a NYC bike. It weights 50 pounds with a large basket, no gears (I walk it up hills) and only a foot brake. There are big tires, a wide seat and it is a dirty lime green color. One can spot it a block away. I ride it in Riverside Park mostly in the spring through the fall. Years ago I used it around Manhattan for appointments and errands but the city has become too congested and dangerous for bike riders. I tried the bike lanes but found delivery trucks blocking much of my Upper West Side lanes.

When the PR firm for Bike & Roll NYC sent me a press release re Segway tours of Liberty State Park I immediately signed up.

My 20 minute ferry ride from The World Financial Center ferry terminal passed by the New Jersey waterfront 9/11 memorial, the Wall Street financial firms high-rise office buildings and the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jersey City. There was a short pause to take the obligatory Statue of Liberty photo and a view of Ellis Island, which was our country’s primary immigration terminal from 1892 to 1954. When we docked at the 1,212-acre waterfront Liberty State Park there was a short walk to our 20-minute Segway riding lesson. Note- In NYC they are illegal to operate on the streets or sidewalks. It was then off for the 1 1/2 hour Segway tour within the park. It was great to see Manhattan from sea level less than a mile away. Richard my guide took me through the secret garden, along the bird estuary, wildlife habitats, open water, nature trails, playgrounds and promenade and next to the just concluded golf tournament- The Barclay held at Liberty National Golf Club. There were people fishing, picnicking and grilling and waiting to catch the boat to the Statue of Liberty (the lines are much shorter here).

The tour is $79 and departs twice daily at 10:30AM and 1:30PM. You must be over 16 and between 100 and 260 pounds, and not pregnant. I was told that members of a group that don’t or can’t use the Segway could rent a bicycle ($10 an hour) and follow along with the Segways.

For information about Bike & Roll many guided and self-guided New York City tours- www.bikenewyorkcity.com

 

Marty Glickman Documentary

If you have HBO and love sports watch the documentary- Glickman. It will debut on Monday August 26th at 9PM EDT.  It is the story of the late great sports broadcaster Marty Glickman (1917-2001). Saturday night there was a screening of the movie at the theater on the 10th floor of the Time Warner Center. The Glickman family & the writer, producer, director James L. Freedman attended, as well as many alumni of Syracuse University. Sponsored by the Newhouse School of Syracuse University it presented the first Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media to alumnus Bob Costas '74. Alumnus Marv Albert ’63, whose first job in broadcasting was as a high school student working for Marty Glickman, led the award ceremony. The event also marked the launch of the Newhouse Sports Media Center at Syracuse University.

 
There was some great, long lost footage of the 1936 Olympics that were held in Berlin. Marty made the Olympic team at age 18. He, along with a 2nd Jewish runner, Sam Stoller, were removed from the 400-yard relay race & replaced by Jesse Owens and a second black runner Ralph Metcalfe. Supposedly, to placate Hitler, who was mad that his elite white men could not beat Jesse Owens and other black US athletes. Owens asked to withdraw from the race & let Marty run but was refused by the US coach.

 
Marty was a local Bronx boy who graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn, playing football, basketball and running track. He went on to Syracuse University where he was a football All-American. He had a tryout with the NY Giant team and ended up playing for their minor league team in Jersey City. This lead to the start of his broadcasting career: Yonkers Raceway (12 years), NY Knicks (21), NY Giants (23), NY Jets (11), pre and post game for the Brooklyn Dodgers & NY Yankees (22 years). Marty was the voice of Paramount News for sports related highlights. If you grew up in the pre-computer era and went to the movies you watched the Paramount News reels. He loved kids and wanted to publicize the good that sports brought to the New York area youth with his televised high school game of the week.

There are interviews with Larry King, Bill Bradley, Jim Brown, Frank Gifford, Jerry Stiller, Giants co-owner John Mara and many other notables in the sports world. Mr. Freedman uses recordings of Marty and quotes from his autobiography. He was a Jewish role model who refused to change his last name, as did many other broadcasters. Marty Glickman retired from broadcasting in 1992 at the age of 74.

 

The Passing of a legend- Eydie Gorme

On a personal note I met both Steve & Eydie in the early 1960's through their musical arranger Joe Guercio. Joe was a friend of my father and shopped at our family liquor store. Joe also introduced me to Elvis Presley when he conducted his orchestra, both in Las Vegas and on his many TV shows. NOTE- Acker Merrall & Condit is the oldest wine & liquor business in America, having been founded in 1820. My brother Michael retired a few years ago and his oldest son John now owns it, as well as Acker Auctions, the worlds largest wine auction house.

Kenny Greenglass was their manager and Judy Tanner was their assistant. NOTE- I hope my memory gets all the names correct. I would go to their shows at Westbury Music Fair, The Concord and in Florida. It turns out Steve's birthday is a few days before mine in July (we are both 78). My ex-wife Donna also loved them and we would catch many of their shows in Las Vegas, Chicago (where we lived in the late '60's) and their annual visit to the state fair in southern Illinois. Steve briefly was in the spirit import business with a Gin that I believe was called Old Bailey. I went to the Charmer meeting when he spoke to the sales force.

Eydie was the better singer in their youth but Steve got better and better as he aged. The last time I saw them was at their house in Beverly Hills in the early '90's. They were on my holiday card list though the late 1990's and were an important part of my life from the 1960's through the 1990's. If anyone hears more about the service or a place to send a contribution in her name, please contact me.

Singing Legend Eydie Gormé Dies

www.people.com

She and husband Steve Lawrence helped make the '60s swing with their duets – and onstage banter