How Jackson played key role in the return of pro

The Karate Dojo graduates first black belt class over four years in the making Great Adventure Stadium

The Karate Dojo of Jackson created Sensei Fischbach, Sensei Connito, By Phil Stilton marily to host home games for the it's first Black Belt Class on Saturday, Master's Kii and Araje L'bert. Master minor league baseball team, Six Flags April 23rd after a gruel- Doug Paik and Mr. Lewis, Today, New Jersey is home to eight said the facility would also serve as ing day long test of en- both friends of the dojo minor league baseball teams. In the host to community based events, durance, skill and disci- served as guest judges. late 1980’s however, it had been youth sport clinics and for hosting pline that challenged some 40 years since New Jersey was regional college, high school and little students. The cold and The test pushed the stu- home to a team, league baseball games, band compe- rain didn’t help the situa- dents to their limits and the . The Bears played titions and other ceremonies. tion for students who forced them to dig deep from 1926 to 1949 in the Interna- have been training and inside themselves to tional League. Six Flags was chosen primarily for its practicing for over four overcome the challenges built in customer base of nearly two years for this day. they faced. Their test lasted 8 hours in total and On June 20, 1989, Six Flags made an million regional visitors per year, but The day started with a 3 at the end, they received announcement that sent chills down also because of the growth boom in mile run (2 miles for the kids) in the the true honor of becoming the the spines of baseball fans up and Ocean and Monmouth Counties. The rain at 8am at the Jackson Liberty school’s first Black Belt class. “From down the Jersey Shore. The com- stadium was never built, but the con- High School track. School owner and this day forward, they will no longer pany announced their intent to build a cept was the seed that influenced the sensei Master Eric Alders ran with be addressed in the Dojo by their first 20,000 seat minor league baseball return of minor league baseball to the class to share the experience with names. Instead they will be referred stadium at the site of their Great New Jersey. In 1994, the New Jer- the candidates. “I was very touched to as "Mr. or Ms." and their last Adventure amusement park, here in sey Cardinals and by the many families that showed up name.” Alders said. Jackson. baseball teams heralded the return of in the rain early on Sat- professional baseball to New Jersey. urday just to show sup- The nine new black belts Six Flags President Ray Williams an- port to our candidates are Mr. Dan Chandler, Mr. nounced the company was in the They were followed by seven others, and cheer them on with Michael Schiazza, Mr. Bill market for a Double A or Triple A including the Lakewood BlueClaws in each lap they com- Schiazza, Ms. Madison team. Construction was scheduled to 2001. Today, only seven remain. pleted.” Alders Comire, Ms. Amber Ogno, begin in the fall of 1989. The team The Cardinals, now the Sussex Sky- said” This was a com- Mr. Ryan Palmer, Mr. was to take the field on opening day sox, Newark Bears, Camden River- pletely selfless act to Nicholas Palmer, Mr. in 1990. The stadium was intended sharks, Lakewood BlueClaws, Somer- support their brothers Nicholas Gawron and Mr. to secure Great Adventure’s position set Patriots, and and sisters on their Jake Schindel. “It was an as the leading family destination for Trenton Thunder. The Atlantic City quest to achieve black emotional day.” Michelle tourism in the Northeast United Surf, an Independent League team belt and to me was a demonstration Ogno, mother of 8 year old black belt of the true meaning of martial arts.” Amber “One that we will remember States according to Williams. Unlike left New Jersey after the 2008 sea- forever.” today’s regionalized minor league son. However for Jackson, minor After a short break the test continued teams that service different areas of league baseball never came and the at 10am at The Karate Dojo’s training “Their test was not just this one day the state, the Great Adventure team town has since unofficially adopted facility, located in the Jackson Cross- but the last 4 1/2 years of training and would be billed as “New Jersey’s the affiliate Lakewood ing shopping plaza. Parents were of it continues every day of their life.” Team”. During the same time pe- BlueClaws as its home team. were full of emotion for this big day as Alders said “To live their life every riod, there was also talk of the New they watched their young candidates day as a Black Belt is their new chal- York Yankees also coming to New Had the project been successful, Six who looked ready to go. Alders was lenge and I know they will all suc- Jersey. Flags also said plans were in the joined on the Black Belt panel by ceed.” works for a hotel on the site. It The stadium was to be called Great would have been an economic wind- Adventure Stadium and was to be fall for the township and could have built in the current location of Hurri- possibly been the nudge necessary cane Harbor. Initially, it would be for Jackson Township to attract the built to accommodate 5,000 fans, commercial ratables each governing with two phase expansion plan that body in the twenty years since has increased capacity to 8,000 the fol- been waiting for. Today, the plan for lowing year and up to 20,000 seats in the hotel has been on hold. Great the future depending on the success Adventure still brings in over of the project. It would consume 50 2,000,000 guests per season and the acres of property owned by Six Flags. Jackson Premium Outlets are a re- gional shopping destination, but we Construction was to have been a pre- can only imagine what could have cast concrete and still structure with been, had professional baseball come ten luxury boxes. While built pri- to Jackson township in 1990.

28 Advertise your business in JTOWN Magazine Call 609-529-8862 or email [email protected]