Cornwall never grows tired of the Harlem Wizards. The clowning basketball team returned to the high school gym on March 25, and played in front of a standing room crowd. Close to a thousand tickets were sold, and several people were turned away because there was no room.
The entertainment started with the opening tap. Middle school principal Kate Polumbo, a former SUNY Cortland star, was planning to jump for the faculty team. But the Wizards complained that she was too tall, and sent her back to the bench. In her place, they selected one of her teammates who was considerably shorter. Then they started playing before the ref tossed the ball up for the jump at mid-court.
Kids in the stands rooted for both teams. They roared for the Wizards’ dunks and behind the back passes, but they also cheered for the faculty. Several students brought signs supporting their favorite teachers.
Jami Strauss, a sixth-grade ELA teacher, was one of the most popular players for Cornwall. She braided her hair so it stuck out at right angles, like the storybook character Pippi Longstocking. Mrs. Strauss had colored beads dangling from each braid, and it looked like a strong wind might send her flying up to the backboard.
The Wizards had fun with Herb Wroten, the Lee Road security officer who played for the faculty. The visiting basketball players said he looked like recording artist Cee Lo Green. When Mr. Wroten displayed some ability on the court, the Wizards suggested that he was playing on the wrong team.
Neal Miller, Cornwall’s new superintendent of schools, watched the Wizards for the first time, and was impressed with Swoop, the team’s play-by-play announcer who kept everyone laughing. Swoop did the whole game, but he let the athletic director, Mike Kroemer, introduce the Cornwall players with his usual flair.
Mr. Kroemer, like everyone else, was impressed with the visitors. “They’re a class act,” he said after the game. The exhibition started late, because it took a long time for spectators to file into the gym and find a place to sit.
Before the clock started running, the Wizards promised to wait until every child had a chance to get an autograph. And at the end of the night, the Wizards lived up to their word.
