Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio, Inducted into Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame

LongIsland.com

Recognized for his cultural significance for his work in martial arts with Karate Kid movies and Netflix series Cobra Kai.

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Ralph Macchio at the Raleigh Supercon 2018. Photo: Supercon Conventions, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Background image: Shutterstock.

When Daniel LaRusso kicked his way into notoriety after he confronted school bullies in the first Karate Kid, no one could have predicted the immense impact that the 80s film would have on American culture almost forty years later. With the huge success of the Netflix revival series Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio’s character is still impacting the martial arts scene.

 

The series’ popularity might have something to do with Macchio being inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame this year.

 

The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame launched in 1990 to honor outstanding people, living or deceased, who gained prominence and have made substantial contributions in the fields of professional and amateur sports on behalf of themselves and Suffolk County. Although not inducted for his athleticism, Macchio received special recognition for what the Hall of Fame said was his culturally significant work in martial arts with Karate Kid and Cobra Kai.

 

This year’s class is the largest in the organization’s history with 21 total inductees.

 

“This induction class packs a heavy punch of historic significance,” said Chris R. Vaccaro, Executive Director of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. “From athletes to journalists, coaches to local icons and officials, the class has an amazing blend of individuals who have made their mark and have reached the pinnacle of success in their respective disciplines.”

 

The Hall of Fame has exhibits at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, the home of the Long Island Ducks, Town of Huntington Townhall, the Section XI offices in Farmingville, Long Island Sports and Rehabilitation in Holbrook and Long Island MacArthur Airport.

 

The induction is scheduled for May 18 at East Wind in Wading River.

 

List of 2022 inductees

 

  • Sam Apuzzo: West Babylon native, Tewaaraton Award winner and All-American at Boston College where she is an assistant coach
  • Charlie Bunger, historic inductee: Surfing pioneer and legend from Babylon known for Bunger Surf Shop
  • Linda Cohn: ESPN broadcaster and longtime host of SportsCenter from Newfield High School
  • John Daly: 3x Olympic skeleton racing from Smithtown
  • Olivia Galati: Prolific softball player at St. John the Baptist and Hofstra University, where her number is retired
  • Chris Fallica: ESPN producer most known for his work on College GameDay from Westhampton Beach
  • Keri Farley: U.S. National Handball standout, Cornell basketball record holder and Sachem Athletic Hall of Famer
  • Myles Jones: All-American lacrosse player and champion at Duke and all-star in the Premier Lacrosse League out of Walt Whitman High School
  • Paul Longo: Suffolk County’s winningest high school football coach from William Floyd High School
  • Kevin Harrington:  John Glenn High School girls volleyball coach, one of the winningest high school girls volleyball coaches in New York State history
  • Billy Koch: Former major league closer with 163 career saves; was named American League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2002 with the Oakland Athletics
  • Ralph Macchio, special recognition inductee: Mount Sinai resident and culturally significant icon for his work in martial arts with Karate Kid and Cobra Kai 
  • Tina Moon: One of the winningest field hockey coaches in Suffolk County history at Sachem High School, and an All-American player at Centereach and UConn
  • Joe Pellicane: Deer Park resident and Longtime college hoops coach with more than 540 victories; current women’s coach at Molloy College
  • AJ Preller: President of Baseball Operations and General Manager of San Diego Padres from Walt Whitman High School
  • John and Allison Pfeffer: Longtime Bay Shore High School head coaches of multiple sports, including lacrosse and gymnastics 
  • Matt Senk: Longtime Stony Brook University head baseball coach with more than 870 victories and a trip to the College World Series
  • Kia Wright: One of Long Island’s highest scoring girls hoops players at Copiague High School and a member of St. John’s University Hall of Fame for outstanding college career
  • Darrel Young: Former NFL running back with the Redskins, current Director of Player Personnel with the Steelers out of Amityville High School
  • Steve Zimmer: Smithtown resident, veteran NFL referee, including many high stakes games like the Super Bowl