Sealy Remembered by Some 3,000 in Moving Service in Hometown

When Malik Sealy was 13, he joined the Riverside Hawks, a youth league basketball team that practiced in the bowels of a church not far from his Bronx home.

That church was filled Friday with remembrances of Sealy’s “reliability and loyalty” by family, friends, coaches and cohorts during a moving tribute to the Minnesota Timberwolf player killed in a car crash by a man charged with drunk driving. Sealy was 30.

Former St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca and current Coach Mike Jarvis were among the strong contingent from Sealy’s university at stately Riverside Church overlooking the Hudson River.

Timberwolf teammate Kevin Garnett was a pallbearer. He wore dark glasses and kept his head bowed, shuffling slowly down the aisle as a rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend” was sung during the processional.

Among the estimated 3,000 mourners were NBA Commissioner David Stern and dozens of players, including Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson and Chris Mullin of the Indiana Pacers, who are in New York to play the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

“There is one consolation that stands out--Malik touched many people,” Carnesecca said from the pulpit, looking out over a wreath of red-white-and-blue flowers designed to look like the NBA’s logo.

“Malik was the captain on my last team and made those last years a real joy by his example and leadership. I know the man upstairs will have a spot for him on the starting five.”

Sealy was remembered during the three-hour funeral for his generosity, someone whose basketball talent was superseded by his talent for touching others with a smile or kind words. His charitable work, particularly with children who use wheelchairs, was lauded.

Sealy helped the Timberwolves to their best season by averaging 11.3 points this season. He was returning from a birthday celebration for Garnett when he was killed early last Saturday in a head-on crash.

Sealy’s newlywed wife, Lisa, fighting tears, said Sealy was “a great dad--he cooked, he changed diapers, he did laundry--a great example” for their 3-year-old son, Malik Remington.

“He never got the big contract, he never got the accolades in the NBA, so give him a standing ovation as he leaves us,” she told the mourners, whose applause ricocheted loudly off the church’s vaulted ceilings.

“He’s going to be really missed. He added so much to our team on and off the floor,” Timberwolves’ Vice President Kevin McHale said. “From a management standpoint, he was one of those guys who made this whole business fun.”