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http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=3&aid=59774
Several state lawmakers are facing some tough competition, but not on the campaign trail, on the basketball court. For the past 10 years, they have played a team from a Queens school for the deaf, and as NY1’s Josh Robin reports, the politicians faced some tough opponents this week.
Politicians don't like to lose elections. That's obvious. But steps from the state capitol, a group of kids from the Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens are learning that lawmakers' elbows can be equally sharp on the basketball court.
Like on one play where Assemblyman Ruben Diaz of the Bronx grabbed his own rebound and after the ref's whistle, plowed into a defending player.
It's competitive, but all for fun. For the past decade, the Jackson Heights-based team travels once a year to Albany, where they tour the capital and learn about state government.
Then they play a heated game against a group of legislators twice their age, replete with boasting about which team is better, as cheerleader Julian Acevedo says through an interpreter.
“They actually said that on the floor – ‘We're going to beat you. Lexington is Number One,’" he says.
Like any ballgame, this one has plenty of pre-match trash talk. But both sides say the point of it all is to have a good time, and let the legislators go back to work in basically one piece.
"They're a lot younger than us, so we have to play hard to be competitive,” says Queens Assemblyman Michael Gianaris. “Try not to pass out before halftime, that's the strategy."
For the past three years, the legislators have won. This time, Lexington had a further disadvantage of not practicing since the season ended in the winter.
“The competition has really been spirited over the years. They have come ready to play, and sometimes our old guys rise to the occasion," says Queens Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry.
There is no difference in rules from any other game. Where most basketball players call to each other on the floor, Lexington players say they use their eyes to sense locations, says Gilberto Ramos.
"We kind of look towards each other and we have that feedback, with expressions, with signs, and we'll understand each other because of what we do," he says.
When it was over, the kids from Lexington snapped their losing streak, and basked in beating their lawmakers. There wasn't too much gloating.
Several state lawmakers are facing some tough competition, but not on the campaign trail, on the basketball court. For the past 10 years, they have played a team from a Queens school for the deaf, and as NY1’s Josh Robin reports, the politicians faced some tough opponents this week.
Politicians don't like to lose elections. That's obvious. But steps from the state capitol, a group of kids from the Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens are learning that lawmakers' elbows can be equally sharp on the basketball court.
Like on one play where Assemblyman Ruben Diaz of the Bronx grabbed his own rebound and after the ref's whistle, plowed into a defending player.
It's competitive, but all for fun. For the past decade, the Jackson Heights-based team travels once a year to Albany, where they tour the capital and learn about state government.
Then they play a heated game against a group of legislators twice their age, replete with boasting about which team is better, as cheerleader Julian Acevedo says through an interpreter.
“They actually said that on the floor – ‘We're going to beat you. Lexington is Number One,’" he says.
Like any ballgame, this one has plenty of pre-match trash talk. But both sides say the point of it all is to have a good time, and let the legislators go back to work in basically one piece.
"They're a lot younger than us, so we have to play hard to be competitive,” says Queens Assemblyman Michael Gianaris. “Try not to pass out before halftime, that's the strategy."
For the past three years, the legislators have won. This time, Lexington had a further disadvantage of not practicing since the season ended in the winter.
“The competition has really been spirited over the years. They have come ready to play, and sometimes our old guys rise to the occasion," says Queens Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry.
There is no difference in rules from any other game. Where most basketball players call to each other on the floor, Lexington players say they use their eyes to sense locations, says Gilberto Ramos.
"We kind of look towards each other and we have that feedback, with expressions, with signs, and we'll understand each other because of what we do," he says.
When it was over, the kids from Lexington snapped their losing streak, and basked in beating their lawmakers. There wasn't too much gloating.