One of the nation's most impressive gatherings of current and former sports legends, including New York Mets legend Keith Hernandez, will provide the attraction for the 39th Annual Celebrity Sports Night at the Albertson-based National Center for Disability Services (NCDS) on May 19.

The dinner fundraiser benefits NCDS employment, education and training programs that serve many thousands of people with disabilities around the world.

This year's event honors Joseph C. Tranfo, Esq., of Tranfo & Tranfo, L.L.C, Bruce E. Geismar, Senior Managing Director of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. as Sportsman of the Year, and the event is chaired by Scott Neher, publisher of Elements magazine.

"Celebrity Sports Night puts the focus on abilities - and turning dreams into reality," said NCDS President and CEO Edmund L. Cortez. "The athletes who join us share our belief that people with disabilities can and should enjoy all the benefits society offers. We thank them and all our supporters who play such a vital role in helping create a fully integrated world of equal opportunity."

The event features a lengthy reception with scores of stars - more than 50 - from professional baseball, football, basketball, hockey, figure skating and other sports. Guests can bid on rare sports memorabilia in a live and silent auction. A lavish dinner is included, spiced with a live, original musical comedy showcasing selected athletes side-by-side with students with physical disabilities from the Henry Viscardi School at NCDS.

Olympic figure-skating bronze medallist Jo Jo Starbuck, who owns her own production company specializing in figure-skating shows, returns to direct the show, one of Celebrity Sports Night's most cherished traditions.

Hernandez, the former New York Met and St. Louis Cardinal, will be joined by former New York Yankee Rich "Goose" Gossage, one of the all-time great Major League relief pitchers, and Jim Abbott, the fireballer who overcame his disability of being born with one hand to complete a stellar pitching career, which included a no-hitter for the Yankees.

The expected 850 guests will be seated at some 90 dinner tables along with the celebrities. In addition to Hernandez, Gossage and Abbott, attendees will enjoy the evening with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Tom "Terrific" Seaver, along with many other household names.

Olympic champions Sarah Hughes, of Great Neck, and Oksana Baiul will join Starbuck from figure-skating world.

Hockey will be represented by New York Islander hockey great Bob Nystrom, a Sports Night regular, and Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert.

World Wrestling Federation champion Mick Foley, a Long Island native, returns to the Sports Night stage.

Gail Goodrich, the Los Angeles Laker legend, will be among the basketball stars on hand.

Broadcasters guests will recognize include Kenny Albert and Bob Wolff, the News 12 legend who has covered the event with live reports for the past two decades.

The event's auctioneer will be New York Jets "Sack Exchange" lineman Marty Lyons, and former Jets defensive back John Dockery will once again serve as the evening's master of ceremonies.

"This is the hottest ticket in town-a once-a-year extravaganza not to be missed," concluded Cortez.

Celebrity Sports Night gets under way at 6 p.m. on May 19 at the NCDS campus, located at 201 I.U. Willets Road, corner of Searingtown Road in Albertson.

Individual tickets are $450. Tables of ten begin at $4,500. For more information and to reserve tickets, call Nicole Darrell at 465-1595.