The night began at the New York Athletic Club with a rousing cheer as the 2012 NY Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were ushered into the club’s spacious ballroom. This year, NCAA Final Four hero-turned-Garden City-dentist Donald “Red” Goldstein goes into the hall alongside fellow Big Apple ballers Ray Felix, Connie Simmons, Ricky Sobers and Charles Yelverton along with high school coach Chuck Granby. As Goldstein made his way toward the podium alongside famed New York Post sports columnist Peter Vecsey, the crowd of New York basketball royalty, family and friends responded with a standing ovation. During his acceptance speech, the humble Brooklyn native spoke of the first time he got goose bumps upon hearing Louisville Assistant Coach John Dromo give the pep talk at the 1959 NCAA Tournament Final Four. Louisville, led by Goldstein, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history when they defeated No. 2 Kentucky, 76-61. His lucky streak continued when later on that year he joined forces with fellow superstar collegians and future NBA Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Jerry West to win a gold medal in basketball at the 1959 Pan American Games. In a show of humility that those closest have come to expect, Goldstein failed to mention this equally impressive accomplishment.
