Press

ALBANY – A trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame and panel discussions featuring panelists from the worlds of professional sports, media and college athletics are among the programs planned by the New York State Museum in the coming months to complement two new sports exhibitions opening October 15th.

The exhibitions are Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and Miracles: New York’s Greatest Sports Moments, organized by the State Museum. All programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Miracles will feature the top 10 moments in New York State’s sports history selected by Times Union columnist Mark McGuire. McGuire, who writes a sports column for Times union.com and co-authored two books on baseball, faced a daunting task, choosing from the many historic events. A panel of area sports experts will convene on Tuesday, November 15 in the Museum Theater to discuss “Did He Get It Right?” Panelists will include McGuire, TV Sports Directors Rodger Wyland (WNYT), Rich Becker (Fox 23), Doug Sherman (WRGB) and sports writers Pete Dougherty (Times Union) and Bob Weiner (Daily Gazette).

Another panel will discuss “Breaking What Barriers? A Discussion on Color, Race and Ethics in Sports” on Friday, Dec. 9 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Museum Theater. Panelists are Dick Barnett, former NBA player and current assistant professor of sports management at St. John's University; Walter Chattman, former pro football player and retired associate commissioner of the New York State Department of Correctional Services; Mario Bosquez, anchor of "CBS 2 News This Morning"; Bill Daughtry, co-host of "Sports Desk" on the MSG Network; Trina Patterson, head women's basketball coach at the University at Albany; Dr. Harold Merritt, director of athletics and athletic facilities at the College of Staten Island and Dr. Lee McElroy Jr., director of athletics and recreation at the University at Albany. Moderator will be Dr. Joseph Bowman Jr., a regent of the University of the State of New York and director of the Center for Urban Youth and Technology at the University at Albany.

FOX 23 Family Sports Weekend will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5-6 from 1 to 4 p.m.

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This program will provide opportunities to meet sports professionals, visit with Rowdy, the Albany River Rats mascot on Sunday, participate in family-friendly competitions, games, and arts and crafts.

The Museum will sponsor a Trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown on Saturday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hall of Famer and former Dodger Tommy Lasorda will be at the baseball museum for a series of programs including a Baseball As America book signing. Participants will buy lunch on their own in historic Cooperstown. The trip is limited to 52 persons. Pre-registration is required. The fee is $40 for members and $44 for non-members. The fee includes morning refreshments, transportation, and admission fees. Registration and payment are required by October 19. For information and reservations call (518) 473-7154 or email psteinba@mail.nysed.gov.

“Design a Putt, Design a Golf Course” on Sunday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. invites competitors to design and build their own miniature golf course. Participants will bring in a completed design (no more than 40 x 30 inches) to the Museum’s fourth floor Terrace Gallery and let the visitors choose which course they would like to play on. The Museum reserves the right to select which courses will be displayed.

“Sports Bowl” on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14-15, 2006 will feature a sports trivia competition for adults 16 years of age or older in the Museum Theater. Participants will enter their team of four players in the preliminary round on Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The final challenge will be on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Pre-registration is required by December 30. To register call (518) 473-7154 or e-mail psteinba@mail.nysed.gov.

A Sports Film Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 28-29, 2006in the Museum Theater for adults and children. Films will be shown at noon and 2:30 p.m.

“Pajama Games,” a girls’ night out to enjoy sports and watch movies, will be held for girls ages 10-13 on Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Museum. Pizza and popcorn will be provided. Pajamas and stuffed toys are encouraged but optional. There is a $5 fee and pre-registration is required.

To register call (518) 473-7154 or e-mail psteinba@mail.nysed.gov."

The New York State Museum is a cultural program of the New York State Department of Education. Founded in 1836, the Museum has the longest continuously operating state natural history research and collection survey in the U.S. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

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