Dr. Don Games

Fun and frolic turns 14

Dr. Don Games celebrates its 14th year of youthful Olympic hijinx

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY - By the time this story hits the newsstands, Dr. Don Simkin will be in Beijing, China, keeping his perfect attendance record at the Olympic games. Simkin, who once carried the Olympic Torch through Mamaroneck, NY and who fashioned the mouth guards for the U.S. Olympic Hockey team, has an unbridled passion for the Olympics, be it the winter or summer games.

So does his son Vinny, who is committed to becoming a member of the U.S. luge team. The young Simkin is well on his way toward that goal as he continues his training in Lake Placid this coming year.

Don Simkin’s love of the Olympics has had great local fallout. For the past 14 years in midsummer, he has hosted the Dr. Don Games, a zany set of tasks for kids that gives new meaning to the word fun. So, on July 26, somewhat earlier than usual due to his imminent sojourn to watch the world’s greatest athletes compete, Simkin and his usual cohorts converted sedate Rotary Park into the venue for an annual rite of passage known as the Dr. Don Games.

Nestled neatly between the Empire State Games and the Olympics, the Dr. Don Games also bring new meaning to the word sports. While the former are replete with seriousness and rife with resonant competition, the Dr. Don Games are a lighter fare. Smiles, laughter and wholesome frolic are the order of the day.

Exercising certain timeless traditions is a requisite part of the tradition. Kids from tots to teens get to participate in a day of unusual sports.

Where else could you find a Shoe-kick Relay? Kicking off a shoe or sneaker is a part of any kid’s bag of tricks, but seeing how far you can fling it off one’s foot, now, that’s food for thought. Then, there’s the Flood Management Game of toting water (appropriate for the flood-prone Manor, whose last major inundation in 2006 gave rise to this game). Needless to say, the real flood is no laughing matter.

While a tug of war is an activity often found elsewhere, at the Dr. Don Games it takes on a whole new look. Since kids love mess and goo, nothing can compare to the renowned George Silverman Brush ‘Em Up Game, wherein a table becomes a metaphor for white enamel and is tartared up with molasses and cleaned with toothbrushes in the true spirit of oral hygiene.

A photo favorite is the Sports Suitcase Relay, which involves donning (no pun intended) and un-donning sports gear galore from a duffel bag in no particular order. The highlight of the day is the pyramid, judged by local notables for its form and structure.

A hot dog feast from master chef Tom Babich, the lighting of Simkin’s genuine torch and the singing of the national anthem serve as a prelude to the wide world of wacky sports as the green and red teams go at it. Winning has nothing to do with these games. It’s all about the fun.

Summer would just not be the same without the Dr. Don Games. And while the world turns to watch what will happen in China, for the kids who took part in this year’s local locomotion, the glory, the joy and the memories derived from Dr. Don’s day of fun are apt to have far greater meaning than how many medals were won on the world-wide stage.