13th Annual Dr. Don Games

Dr. Don games come of age at 13

Zany fun-filled Olympics are an annual rite of late summer

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY - Dr. Don Simkin has a passion for the Olympic Games. It doesn’t matter if they’re held in winter or summer, in Atlanta, Georgia or Nagano, Japan, Simkin, who once fashioned the mouth guards for the U.S. hockey teams, will be there with his son Vinny, who is currently on the fast track to becoming a future Olympian luge competitor.

Simkin’s love of the Olympic spirit was key in his creation of the Dr. Don games, a zany series of unusual challenges for kids that began 13 years ago. This year, the games celebrated what Simkin musingly referred to as their “Bar Mitzvah Year,” with 17 kids ranging in age from two-year-old Stephanie Meade to 17-year- old Alan Yeneic.

The day’s festivities began with a hot dog feast masterfully created by Tom Babich, replete with lemonade and cole slaw. The start of the games is usually ushered in by a trumpeted rendition of The Star Spangled Banner artistically rendered by Gary Siegel, but this year Siegel’s absence brought Simkin’s voice to the forefront as he led the crowd in singing.

Suffice it to say, he’s a far better dentist.

Lending an air of authenticity to the games is the lighting of an actual Olympic Torch that Simkin carried through Mamaroneck as it made its way to the summer games in Atlanta in 1996. Once lit, the torch was held by several kids, including nine-year-old Jennifer Meade.

The children, who had already registered, were divided into two teams and given either a red or green Dr. Don T shirt and a name tag. Simkin explained the day’s schedule, and the energetic horde quickly adjourned for a run at Flood Management, a game instituted in 2006, a year during which Livingston Manor had to deal with the ravages of a flood, which was no laughing matter.

Kids ferried cups of water from one bucket to another at the opposite end of the venue, and in no time, the red team had filled their bucket and was declared the victor of the event. Actually, winning and losing has absolutely nothing to do with the Dr. Don games. It’s all about fun.

The groups then parted ways, as one went to listen to 13-year veteran George Silverman give them the lowdown on how to play the Brush ‘Em Up Plaque Buster game. Silverman covered the vinyl tablecloth adorned with a picture of pearly white teeth with yucky molasses and shaving cream. The kids then dipped a toothbrush in water and proceeded to brush the “plaque” away, trying to do so in record time.

Later, their time would be compared with the other team’s to see who did it the fastest.

Meanwhile in another Dr. Don venue, the opposing team was involved in the Sports Suitcase Relay. The task: unpack a zipped duffle bag and put on all of its contents, including a catcher’s chest protector, a hockey mask, shorts, a goalie’s glove, etc. Once all of that paraphernalia was on the contestant, he or she then had to remove it all, repack it and zip up the bag so the next team member could repeat the process.

Great photo opportunities prevailed as kids figured out new and bizarre ways to adorn themselves. While some two-year- olds might have trouble putting on a shoe or a hat, Stephanie Meade zipped through the entire task with the ardor and verve of a teenager. The crowd went wild.

The teams then switched places to afford everyone an opportunity to test their skills at brushing and donning (no pun intended).

Subsequent games involved the legendary shoe kick, involving the wearing of an untied shoe, which is then launched into the stratosphere with passion and force and measured for distance. A shoe once launched by Vinny Simkin in the 2005 games was spotted by the crewmembers of the shuttle Endeavor yesterday.

The games reach their denouement each year as the teams practice to arrange themselves in pyramids that are judged for their structural and artistic merit. A tug of war and an official closing ceremony follow thereafter.

All that is missing is an orchestral rendition of Aaron Copland’s Theme for the Common Man.

A recording of that could well be added to next year’s proceedings, or failing that, perhaps Simkin might elect to sing it. Or not!

Summer just wouldn’t be the same without the Dr. Don games, which joins the Strawberry Festival and the Trout Parade, both held prior, and the Antique Car Show, which will take place on September 2, as days not to be missed in the delightful town on the banks of the Willowemoc.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of photos from this year’s Dr. Don Games.