Meet Your Fort Lee Neighbor: Michael Klein

Simply put, Mike Klein is one of the most dedicated individuals involved with Fort Lee youth sports. He organizes and runs the Fort Lee Girls Recreation Basketball League, which includes 261 girls (grades 3 through 8), 47 coaches, 22 recreation teams and three travel teams. A daunting task by any measure, Mike nonetheless makes it look easy.

Klein was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Fort Lee at the age of five. He attended and has fond memories of growing up in Fort Lee. In fact, he is still friends with a tight-knit group that he met at School 1.

“I remember going to the 9W Bowling Alley in Englewood Cliffs and then to for lunch,” Klein said.

Sports were a major part of Mike’s upbringing in Fort Lee. He played basketball in the Boys Recreation League at School 1, and when he came home from school, he went right out to play stickball, even through high school.

Mike laments that today “kids go home right to their computers, cell phones and smart devices; they might not even know what stickball is." 

Mike spent his summer days at camp and evenings out on the ball fields and basketball courts of Fort Lee until dark.

He continued in the recreation league at and also played on a travel league at the Fort Lee Jewish Center. 

Mike said, “The Fort Lee JC gym was a big hang out after school.” 

provided a great experience and lasting memories in Mike’s life. Mike believes that back then, there was more social interaction among students, much bigger crowds at basketball and football games and just a greater sense of school spirit.

He would like to see greater participation in supporting Fort Lee sports, but, he said, “Technology is the big game-changer from 25 years ago, and there are more things competing for attention than going to a Fort Lee High School girls' basketball game.”

Upon graduation from high school, Mike attended the University of Florida, where he became a devoted Gator fan. At Florida, he coached a girls' sorority softball and flag football team. As a result of this coaching experience, Mike met Sandi.  They started dating, and after graduation, Sandi moved with Mike to Fort Lee, and they have been married for 23 years and counting. 

Mike graduated college with a degree in business and quickly put that degree to work. He returned to Fort Lee and went into the bagel business with his father, opening Third Avenue Bagels in New York. Mike worked long and hard hours for more than 15 years in the bagel business. 

As a result of Mike’s ownership of the bagel shop, he developed into a unique and long-term friendship. Being an avid Knicks fan, Mike attended a game at Madison Square Garden in 1994 wearing his Third Avenue Bagel jacket.  Hall of Famer, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, saw the jacket and told Mike, “I go there, and you have good muffins,” Klein recalled. 

The next day, Frazier came into the bagel shop with an autographed book and two tickets to a Knicks game. Since that day, Mike and Frazier have remained friends, speaking often and having dinner from time to time. Mike said that Frazier, who is currently an announcer for the Knicks, is “one of the nicest and generous people you can meet.”  Clyde dubbed Mike “The Bagel Man of New York,” and that was how Mike was known at the Garden.

Clyde not only uses his color commentary during Knick’s games, but in his daily life as well. One day Clyde called up Mike with his daily order and requested a banana nut muffin. Mike replied, "Sorry Clyde I am out of banana nut muffins." 

Clyde replied, “Hey, Klein, don’t be bluffin with the muffin.”

Back in Fort Lee, Mike began his coaching career when his oldest daughter was in fifth grade and wanted to play basketball. Mike was asked by then league president Jay Rosenberg if he would coach a team. Mike accepted and coached for the next six years. For Mike, coaching became a passion.

When Klein began coaching, the league was almost half its current size, with just 132 girls. Rosenberg groomed Klein to take over running the league. Jay moved on, and Mike took over in 2007. Having never run a league before, Mike was initially overwhelmed, organizing registration, player drafts and schedules. He also had to secure court time and recruit coaches.

After overcoming those initial bumps in the road, Mike gained his footing and enjoyed running the league. For Mike, “The biggest reward is watching a girl that goes through the league and then ends up playing varsity basketball for Fort Lee High School.”

Mike also believes that playing in the league is a rewarding experience for the girls. 

“They learn basketball skills, working as a team, and it provides a great social environment,” Klein said.

Playing in the league is also a self-esteem builder. Mike would like to see the girls practice basketball through the summer and not just pick up a ball when the season starts again.

Mike also said the 47 coaches this season "are the best crew" he's "ever had as league president." 

At least 10 of the coaches do not have kids in the league. Coaching is a component of the league that needs regular attention, as Mike needs to constantly recruit coaches for an ever-expanding league that has nearly doubled in size since he took over.

The rapid growth of the league also presents new challenges and issues; the biggest challenge being limited court time and space. Currently, most teams are constrained to one hour of practice once a week and one game a week. Mike also worked for the reinstatement of travel teams so that the girls will have the experience and skills to compete at the high school level.

Mike gives tremendous credit to the high school girls coaching staff headed up by varsity coach Stacie Zafiris, junior varsity coach Billy Straub and freshman coach Demba Mane.

Mike said, "Coach Z is doing an incredible job with the high school program" and hopes she stays "for many years."

Mike dedicates hours of his time running the league, fielding emails and phone calls on nights and weekends. When asked why he does it, he responded that “when I was a kid, I looked up to people who coached and ran leagues as community service. I want to give back to the town that has given me so much.”

Last but not least, Mike would like to give special thanks to Leah “Boss Lady Leah” Rosa, who makes the seamless running of the league possible. 

“Leah is a tremendous asset who keeps the kids in line, types all the player lists by grade for the drafts, helps with registration, oversees community service hours and much, much more,” Klein said. 

He also wants to recognize Ralph DiMeglio, the league's website administrator, for his significant contribution to the league.

Mike’s favorite part of the season is the playoffs. a.k.a. “March Madness at the Middle School.” 

Mike encourages everyone in Fort Lee to support girls basketball and come out and watch a playoff game.

In addition to all of his basketball responsibilities, Mike also coaches a recreation and travel team in the Fort Lee Girls Softball League. He is entering his seventh year as a softball coach.

Mike, thanks for all their efforts.

For more information on the Fort Lee Girls Recreation Basketball League, visit their website.