One was the wizard of the hardwood, parlaying a scholastic hoop career into collegiate success, and then professional and international fame. The second was a high school jack-of-all-sports, never really taking a school-year break from practice, going from the football field, to the basketball court, to the baseball diamond annually. The third has made his mark not so much for his own playing abilities, but for his ability to teach athletics to others.
What do the three have in common? They are all current or former Bayonne residents, and they are all proudly joining the ranks of the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame via an induction dinner on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Jimmy Chakey
From 1975 until 1979, James “Jimmy” Chakey was the pride of Bayonne High School, a multi-talented athlete who could beat you on the football field with his speed, on the basketball court with his ball handling or shot making, or on the baseball diamond with his bat or glove. He was Bayonne’s Athlete of Decade for the 1970s.
Following a successful run with the Bees, Chakey kept playing, leading a Biscayne College team into competition for four years.
Rather than take credit for his own skills or plays, Chakey instead rewards his coaches and teammates, and even competitors, for continually raising his level of competition during his sports days.
The coaches and mentors included his late dad, his first grammar-school gym teacher Phil Baccarella, Jerry Clougher, Cliff Jacobson, and football coach Don Ahern. There were many.
“Arnie Levan [in basketball], Tom Bugnowski in baseball; these were great, great teachers,” Chakey said.
“I think of great people on these teams. We had some really great football players,” Chakey said. “In basketball, there was Danny Liebman and Bobby Thomas, and so many others.”
Many sports and life lessons were learned from Chakey’s dad, a well-known basketball coach and hall of famer, and his mother.
“Mom helped him recharge my batteries” after a tough game or practice, Chakey said.
At about 5’8”, Chakey was handed nothing.
“I put in a lot time in to achieve what I did,” Chakey said. “I was never the best football or basketball player out there. But nobody worked harder than me, I think.”
His best moment in sports?
“I think it was the coming down the hill to cheers at Veterans Stadium to play our football night games,” he said. “It was really cool.”
Chakey is honored to be joining the others in the hall.
“I’m extremely humbled,” he said. “Some great players have come out of Hudson County and the city of Bayonne.”
Ed Murphy
Ed Murphy was another basketball standout. He was able to take it to the next level after high school and college, playing in several professional leagues in Europe, and excelling there too.
Following great runs at Marist High School and Merrimack College, where he led Division II in scoring and was a three-time All American, Murphy moved on to professional basketball in Europe, where he became a league MVP and played on championship teams.
He played in France, Holland, and Belgium.
“I was the MVP of the French League,” Murphy said. “It was an honor, but it was nicer winning the championships. It’s just a special feeling, winning with a group of guys. I did it in three countries. It’s not easy to be on one championship team. I got to be on three.”
His greatest day in sports was when he won the European Championship, beat Drazen Petrovic and his Yugoslavian team. Petrovic later played in the National Basketball Association.
A high point for him was returning from championship play in Italy and he and his teammates being honored with a parade in France. And although Murphy won quite often, it wasn’t all about that.
“For me it was playing the game,” he said.
Getting recognized in Hudson County, where it all began for Murphy, is satisfying.
“It’s an honor,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played, and it reminds me of all the good times I had.”
When in Europe, few people back home heard of his exploits. There was no internet for the public yet. There was no publicity.
“For me, it’s a great honor because I remember [heavyweight boxer] Chuck Wepner and the Hudson County days and all the great basketball players growing up,” Murphy said. “I remember [St. Anthony High School coach] Bob Hurley. I remember rooting for his kids while overseas. I remember playing [college standouts] Jim Spanarkel and Mike O’Koren.”
John Valdora
After 22 years of coaching special needs children in sports and life, you might think John Valdora would be spent. But you would be wrong.
Valdora’s passion for the Bayonne Recreation and local Special Olympics programs he’s been involved with much of his life has never waned.
His selection to the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame is an achievement.
“I’m honored to be selected,” Valdora said. “The Special Olympics is a program very near and dear to my heart. I’ve been doing it for a long time, so this is special award.”
Not looking for recognition for himself, somehow Valdora has found it.
“I do it because I love the program,” he said. “I like seeing children grow and mature and succeed.”
Valdora is a special education teacher in Bayonne, where he still lives.
“People see the end product of my work,” Valdora said.
He’s been coaching for 34 years.
When Valdora got the call for the hall, he was surprised.
“It is one of the top two or three highlights of my sporting career,” he said. “I was shocked when I got the letter. I had no idea.”
Family and friends are happy about his honor.
“They’re all excited,” Valdora said. “They know how important this is to me. It’s a select group.”
Valdora also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Special Olympics of New Jersey in 2005.
E-mail joepass@hudsonreporter.com.