Beloved Upper West Side sports coach, Castelli Laflotte, better known to locals as Coach Stelli, is the founder of the children’s sports league, Momentum Sports NYC, which holds team sports and classes for children up to 10 years old.
This past Friday night, Stelli attended the Knicks game and made a stellar half-court shot, winning himself $1,000 and a brand new Kia.
This week, we caught up with Coach Stelli to get all of the details about his big win.
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“While I was walking around the concourse with my wife before the game, I saw this guy staring at me. I was expecting him to say, ‘you look like LeBron,’ because that’s what everyone says! Instead, he asked me where I was from and if I played basketball. I told him that I used to, thinking maybe he remembers me from somewhere, but instead he told me that there was a contest going on and they would be selecting a few people to participate. They’d enter my name in a raffle and if selected I’d have the chance to shoot to win $1,000 and a new car. I said, ‘okay great.’ Then, the game is about to start and I’m informed that I’ve been selected to shoot.”
What was going through your mind when you were actually chosen?
“Immediately, I froze and said to myself, ‘Oh my God, this is real.’ Then I started panicking and I barely watched the game. I had NO idea what the score was! The anticipation was just building and building.”
How were you feeling when it was finally time to shoot?
“As soon as I got onto the court I couldn’t feel my fingertips and I couldn’t feel the ball. I just made the shot from muscle memory. I’m thinking, ‘I’m a basketball coach so if I don’t make these shots, I will get a lot of heat.'”
“I had to make 4 shots in 40 seconds, and then attempt the half-court shot. When it came time for the half-court shot, as soon as it left my hands I thought it was an air ball. I fell while shooting the ball, and then I looked up to find where it was and I watched it go directly into the hoop! Then the entire 7th Avenue Squad all rushed at me!”
What was your reaction when the ball went in?
“I was in complete shock. I couldn’t feel my knees. It was such an adrenaline rush that I couldn’t breathe. When the 7th Avenue Squad rushed at me, I felt like I made a game-winning shot in a real basketball game. They helped pull me back up, and I wouldn’t have been able to stand up again if it wasn’t for them. It was a very surreal moment.”
What did you do after you made it?
“I pointed at Jaylen Brunson and found Ben Stiller in the stands. I went up to Stiller, gave him a big hug, and said, ‘thank you, I love you.'”
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That’s an incredible moment for you. What made it so special to you personally?
“I never thought I would ever, ever, ever be on the Madison Square Garden court. I love basketball. I’m a huge Knicks fan. I’ve been following them and Patrick Ewing since I was 6 years old. My first time playing basketball was the Junior Knicks program at the Queens YMCA. Basketball was the first sport I got introduced to and that’s why I teach it to all of my students now.”
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Why did you become a sports coach?
“I just loved the game, and I always wanted to be a coach or do something related to the sport. My mom wanted me to be a doctor, but eventually I got a job at the Marlene Meyerson JCC as a part-time basketball coach and I fell in love with teaching kids.”
What if anything do you plan on doing with the prize money?
“I’m going to put it into my son’s account, and let it grow as far as it can for him. He will be able to have that for college.”
How did Momentum Sports NY come about?
“I became the full-time athletics director at the JCC. I also worked with other sports programs until Covid hit. I wanted to do something special so I created Momentum, which is tailored to the way I thought sports should be taught to children. Now, it’s been 5 years doing it on the UWS.”
Has business changed at all since your big shot?
“Yes! It has been amazing for business. I’ve been talking to the Today Show and CBS about being on their shows. Over the past six days I’ve also had tons of people asking about classes from all over NYC. I hope that this will lead to expanding my business.”
What will that expansion look like?
“Hopefully, it will allow me to do more with the kids by adding another class or two and hiring more coaches. But I try not to bite off more than I can chew. The most important thing is knowing your limits and growing at your own pace so as not to sacrifice the quality of the kids’ experience.”
How has the Upper West Side community supported you in this achievement?
“They’ve just been celebrating. The UWS has been amazing. Everyone has been congratulating me, from parents to nannies. This is my community—I do everything here: work, eat, work out. This is a dream come true.”
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I was there. Got it on video from a box, too. It was the best part of the game. (Other than the opening two shots of the game!)