STEALING THE SHOW Ludin a big hit at Jewish sports hall ceremonies
National Jewish Sports Hall of Famer inductee Craig Ludin addresses a packed house. Photo by Joy Rubenstein
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Commack, L.I. -- On a day in which the likes of high-jumper Dwight Stones, the late Howard Cosell and a holocaust survivor were honored, a 31-year-old Special Olympian just about stole the show at the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Sunday.
Craig Ludin, who has overcome Down Syndrome by excelling as a Special Olympian, was among 11 men and women who were inducted into the Hall at the organization's 15th annual induction ceremony at the Suffolk Y Community Center.
The soccer community might be familiar with Ludin, who has participated in the Long Island Junior Soccer League's Special Children program for the past two decades.
But what many people might not realize is that Ludin became quite proficient at other sports, including cross-country skiing, power lifting, golf, floor hockey and swimming.
In fact, the Huntington, L.I. resident won recently won two bronze medals and one silver medal in the swimming competition at the recent national Special Olympics
So, there were many reasons for Ludin's induction.
That wasn't lost on the other honorees.
"To have you up here representing your coaches and family is incredibly inspiring to me," Stones told Ludin during his induction speech.
"I am here to honor my student," Rabbi Mark Gellman said during the invocation, "and in ways he'll never know, my teacher."
Master of ceremonies Barry Landers called Ludin a "third son."
In a touching and eloquent speech laced with humor, Ludin remembered when he first heard about his election. He brought up the late Tug McGraw's slogan, "You gotta believe."
"I can't believe I'm up on this stage that I'm receiving this honor," he told a packed house in the auditorium.
He said that he couldn't believe the news. "The next few weeks were, 'Oh my God!' "
Ludin said that Special Olympics have "taught me to be a good team player . . . with a good attitude."
Ludin has worked in the mailroom at North Fork Bank for the past 11 1/2 years.
"I have a fulltime job with benefits!" he said. "I love my job and I feel like a valuable employee."
He thanked his role models -- his brothers Brian and Evan, who played soccer and became Special Olympic coaches.
"They are hard-working, responsible guys," Craig said.
He also thanked his parents, "for all their hard work and patience."
Ludin remembered a "golf adventure" he went on with his father, Michael, and brothers. An errant shot by his father hit him in the shins.
"I didn't cry because I wanted to act like an adult," he said. "I really hurt."
Some time later, he had another opportunity to go golfing with his Dad.
"As I went downstairs, Dad noticed I had a shin guard under my arm," he said. "He said, "We're not playing soccer, but we're playing golf.' I said to him, 'I know. But I am playing golf with you!' "
The crowd laughed.
With the likes of Stones, long-time NFL game official Jerry Markbreit, body builder Dan Lurie, Madison Square Garden photographer George Kalinsky, boxer and holocaust survivor Harry Haft, North Carolina basketball star Leonard Rosenbluth and commentator Bonnie Bernstein getting awards and in the audience, Ludin basked in the moment. He remembered reading the already inducted hall of fame biographies at the community center.
"I never dreamed I'd been hanging those walls, too," he said. "Not literally."
