MEET MS.CLARIZIO

By: Jack Kopera

  

                                                         Photo taken by Maria Clarizio

    Maria Clarizio, also known as Ms.Clarizo by her students, talks about her time as a professional cheerleader with the New Jersey Nets. Ms. Clarizio cheered from third grade to Senior year and attended a private college in NYC where she got a degree in merchandising and marketing. Ms. Clarizio then stated, “The college had no sports, and I didn’t want to give up cheerleading, so I heard that the Nets were having a tryout so I went.” Ms. Clarizio then got a call back from the Nets and was one of the 12 girls out of 100 to get a call back. Ms. Clarizio then went to William Paterson to get her Bachelors Four-Year-Degree but didn’t cheer for William Paterson so she stayed with the Nets. Clarizio then says, “I would go from college to the arena, and I would have the whole locker room and it was quiet so I would spread out all my books and would do my homework. Some players like knew I was always there and Darryl Dawkins would come in and ask what I was working on today. 

    Her favorite players watching were Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Dr. J. She told me about her story of meeting Larry Bird. Her story was, “The Celtics trainer, Fritz, always saw that I waited for a player and finally asked me, "Who’s autograph are you trying to get?’” and I told him Larry Bird and he said to follow him. At the end of the game he said meet me by the locker room door. So I go by the locker room door and there was a lounge in between the two locker rooms, and the door opens a crack and Fritz says come on in. So I ran in the door and ran into Larry Bird. I was star struck.” She then says that Larry was the sweetest and nicest person she has ever met. Her career lasted from 1983-1989, and I would say she had a great time.