Mr. Tannen & Mr. Saint Clair: How Sports Have Played Into Their Lives

Milan Howell (9-3)

Mr. Tannen’s Basketball Background

If you’ve ever had Mr. Tannen, one of Masterman’s math teachers, then you’ve undoubtedly played a game or two of “Trashketball”. For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a make-shift classroom game made by Mr. Tannen himself where one shoots a make-shift ball into a small trash can, loosely based on basketball. Ever since Mr. Tannen was in elementary and middle school, basketball has played quite a role in his life; from playing after school in his friend and Masterman graduate’s backyard, Mickey McGuire, to meeting his wife at The Philadelphia School! He’s also had a few run-ins with former NBA players Flip Murray, Dionte Christmas, and even Hakim Warrick while playing in the Alumni League of Philadelphia. Currently, he’s on paternity leave for the arrival of his newborn son, Keenan, until February 1st, but he managed to have time for this small interview. Make sure to congratulate him if you get the chance!

How did you first get into basketball?

I coached the JV boys basketball, not this year because of the baby, but the past 2 years. I used to coach at my old middle school on the girls’ team for about 4 years. I grew up in Philadelphia and went to Samuel Powel Elementary School, Masterman, also, and I’d come to play basketball after school in my friend’s backyard, who also went to Masterman. I just really loved the sport and I played in a youth league, Fairmount Basketball. Then, I ended up playing at Masterman on the JV for Freshman and Sophomore years, then Varsity for senior and junior years. Mr. Roach was my JV [coach] at Masterman.

At [The Philadelphia School], I played a once a week pick up game, “The Dad’s Game.” But, I was playing even before I was a dad because I was teaching at the school. That was pretty fun and it’s every Tuesday night I think. That was something I had done for the 4 years I was teaching at the school and I continued while I was teaching at Masterman; this is my 3rd year at Masterman. So, that was a fun way for me to keep playing.

Photo courtesy of Ethan Tannen

There’s also a Masterman team in the Alumni Basketball League in Philadelphia, where I had the jersey in the classroom because I was actually playing on an alumni team. It’s a mixture of public and private schools in Philadelphia teams called the Alumni League. It’s up at G and Erie in North Philly. There used to be a 28 age minimum or maybe 30. That was a lot of fun, but that’s kind of crazy because there are some former NBA players like this guy Flip Murray. He played for the Seattle Supersonics and was the star of the league. He played at Strawberry Mansion High School. He was there and so was Dionte Christmas and Hakim Warrick.

Editor’s Note: [Dionte Christmas went to school at Samuel S. Fels High School and then went on to play at Temple, breaking multiple basketball records within the school. Christmas has signed with a few different teams around the country, but was waived away (released before his contracts for the teams were over) afterwards (“Who is Dionte Christmas?”). Hakim Warrick was the 19th pick in the NBA Draft and played at Friends Central School during his school years. One of the earlier teams he played on was the Grizzly’s before being traded (his contract was traded to another team so he had to go play for them) around a lot in his later years.]

What position did you play?

I was primarily a forward center because I’m tall, about 6”4’. But I kinda like how positions are nowadays in basketball. I feel like back when I was growing up, people would try and have me play more in the paint. But now, I feel like they’re more encouraged to play anywhere no matter how tall you are.

How long did you play basketball?

I was just playing mostly in my friend’s backyard on Windsor Avenue, the street I grew up on. He was a year lower than me, but he also played on the (Masterman varsity basketball) team. Really good shooter. I mostly played with my friends for fun, on the roof. I loved playing on the roof during lunch. So, I know about all the different court politics, different social groups at different hoops.

I also played a little bit for a club when I lived overseas in France [this was for about a year]. That was a regional team. Every weekend, we’d have a game against another region. We’d travel up to an hour maybe and then practice during the week. They have a club system in Europe, even the professional teams. My club did have a professional team but it was the lowest rung in France. I was down below, like, just the regional, but it also goes down all the way to the Youth Team. Every once in a while, you’d have to go help coach one of the younger teams.

So when you went on your year long trip to France, that was your first experience being a coach?

Before then, I had coached soccer at the first school I taught in [Boys’ Latin]. I guess when my post-college years played out, I graduated, moved back to Philly, taught at Boys’ Latin Charter School, and I coached soccer there. I really loved it. I was coaching the JV soccer team by the time I left. Then, when I went to France, that was my first time coaching youth basketball. I wasn’t really coaching in games, but more going to help out at practices for different levels for really little kids… Then, another time, it was more high school age and I was mostly working with the big men at that point. So, yes, you’re right.

Photo courtesy of Ethan Tannen

Was your basketball past what inspired you to come up with the class remix, trashketball?

We tried to play trashketball virtually. I would try to tell students to set up a laundry hamper or a trash can, then you just shoot it on the camera to see if you make it or not. It was okay, not as exciting because everyone gets riled up in the class.

Are you looking forward to shooting some hoops with Remy and Keenan [Tannen’s children] once they get a little older?

Yeah, I’m excited to play with both of them. My wife and I kind of met playing basketball. My wife loves basketball too. She’s a good player. I met her because when I started at the Philadelphia School, my 2nd school, I started Friday Faculty Basketball. So, right now, my wife teaches kindergarten. She did at that time, too, and that’s kind of how I got to know her. She started coming to play and the rest is history. We’ve got the little tikes hoop already too! We play basketball at the park sometimes too while Remy runs around. But, sometimes, I’ll pick him up and he can put it in or he likes bouncing the ball.

Do you have a favorite basketball-related memory?

One fun memory was at my wedding day, we held a basketball game the morning of the wedding. We got married at my old school and they had a little performing arts space and a garden. That’s where the wedding was later, but across the street in the gym, we had a morning wedding event where anyone could come play some relaxed basketball. We had donuts and coffee for everyone because it was fun to play with people… and let everybody enjoy the game that I enjoy… On my last birthday actually, before the pandemic because [I have a] February birthday, I kinda did the same thing. My wife talked to her school to see if anybody was using the gym and we had a nice basketball game there and Mr. Gilken came. I’ve got good basketball memories. He also helped out with JV basketball sometimes.

Mr. Saint Clair’s Roaring Rowing Career

Did you know that Mr. Saint Clair, middle school dean and Math Enrichment teacher, has been on five different national rowing teams? From 1985 to 1988, he raced in Europe before taking a bit of a break to try his hand at coaching and then returned in 1993, ending up as his team’s spare. His accomplishments were made through years of vigorous daily training two to three times a day. Often, he would end up injured from participating in so many sports at once and other genetic limitations like his bad ankles. After recovering, contrary to his doctor’s recommendations, he continued to promptly return to sports. He acknowledges in hindsight that he probably should’ve listened. It could’ve made him a more successful rower, but it wouldn’t feel right to let down his team and coach (his dad) like that. “That is, first and foremost, what the sport is about; loyalty to your teammates.” He continuously tries to pass philosophies like this onto his children, secondary children—his students—both present and past, and future ones to come!

Photo courtesy of Kevin Saint Clair

When did you start to row [solo] or join crew [rowing with a team]?

High school, college, I did a couple things primarily and I started seriously after college. I learned to row when I was younger, in 8th grade, but my brother was rowing at the time. He was a national team horseman, so that’s how I got introduced. My dad dabbled in rowing and some other stuff in the 1950s, but he was an All-American runner mostly. Back then, all the boathouses also had running clubs, swimming clubs, and before [crew] I was also a part of the running club. Pent AC boathouses put me in the boathouse to row. They were converting athletes from other sports like ex-football players to boating since the pool was and still is small. I rowed a little bit, but I was a decent runner. I did cross country, track, and was a decent runner in high school. Then, I ran in college and I was coached by my dad, which was interesting. I kept getting injured, a mediocre college athlete, nothing to write home about, but I did my best. I always had a dream of representing our country in the Olympics or something… I realised I wasn’t good enough half way through college, so when I graduated, I started rowing. In two years, I made my first national team rowing which was really cool because I got to represent that year even though I was a spare. I’ve been on 5 national teams, I got to row in three world championships. They didn’t have Olympics for lightweight rowing! I raced in Europe from 1985 to ‘88 and then started coaching, rowing and then I decided to make a comeback, but I was injured a lot. I wound up being a spare in ‘93 also.

How come you had so many injuries?

I avoided doing so many other things and I kept doing it like playing basketball, frisbee, soccer, lots of different things to [stay in shape]... in high school and college, I got hurt because atomically, I wasn’t best for running since I had bad ankles. Never a healthy season, high school through college. But I wasn’t going to give up, even though my doctors told me otherwise. I mean, in hindsight, I probably should’ve. But, I had a loyalty to the team and my dad-coach. I would’ve felt really bad doing that… Even though I probably would’ve been a much more successful rower. I have a lot of loyalty to people and organizations. That is first and foremost what the sport is about, loyalty to your teammates and team. I was always able to contribute [though] I never was in a position to achieve anything more than being a mediocre college athlete. Working out twice a day, sometimes three times a day, is a full-time job. Today, more athletes do running/rowing as their full-time job. But when I was rowing, I was teaching as my full-time job… I would get up at 4 am to go row because I had to be at school at 7:30, get to bed by 9, and start over again. It beats you up. But, if it’s something you love to do, you deal with it. Coaching at Masterman has always been fun because I try to impart that and my philosophies to my athletes, the same views. It’s what the team is, not the individual.

Why did you start it?

My dad was big on it, but he never told me to do it. Everyone assumed I was running since I was born, but no, I wasn’t! But if you do something, you do it well. Once you start something, you don’t quit and I try to impart that to my children and secondary children (students and athletes). I was attracted to rowing because I didn’t get hurt and I'm not trying to be conceited, but I was pretty good starting out… It’s easy to stay in something when you’re successful right off the bat. Thank God I was given the abilities to do what I’m able to do. I wouldn’t change anything. I know my running background made me a good athlete even though I wasn’t the best runner. I can’t stop competing and I didn’t want to keep running because I was just mediocre, and midpack, and I loved to compete. I had success at rowing, so I hung onto it and now, I race my bike a lot and I’m a mediocre racer, but it’s very challenging and hard and hopefully, I’ll keep racing until you come to my funeral! At least that’s the goal.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Saint Clair

Do you still go rowing occasionally or meet up with your old crew?

Heck no! Honestly, I don’t know how I did it (woke up early to train and workout) because oftentimes, I wasn't getting 8 hours of sleep because with teaching, you have things to do, 2nd work out in the afternoon, and we wouldn’t finish until like 9:00. Then, I'd run home and have to try and shove something down for dinner and get some sleep, starting over the next day. It was well worth it, but I don’t do that now. If I have races early in the morning, that’s easy to get up for. But training… I'll wait till it gets a little warmer and a little lighter. I still have friends that do get up early and I’m like “Have fun!” I’ll do it, but I’m not going to kill myself like I did before. And, as you get older, you can’t. Your body doesn’t recover like you used to.

[I haven’t met with my crew] recently, but we get together every so often. They’re far around the country so, phone calls, group texts, and everybody joins in to bust on people turning 60 or whatever or win a master’s race and joke about old man racing. Also, now that I have a grandchild, that would be more my focus than in other things. I have friends from all over the country that I’ve road with because when we road in the summer, everyone just came into a spot to row and then would go back home.

Back then, did you know you’d be a teacher?

I vowed never to be a teacher because my dad and brother were teachers and then, I went into college being an Accounting major and I liked it but I didn’t feel fulfilled. So, midway through college, I decided, no, I guess I do want to be a teacher. So, I switched majors, went into teaching, taught high school in New Jersey for 4 years, and, well, my little brother passed away when he was younger.

So I decided to try teaching grammar school. I taught at a Catholic school since I wasn’t certified to teach Elementary, 27 years ago. I’ve been teaching 5th and 6th grade for the past few years as dean. But I can’t imagine me not ever teaching, like being a teacher as my career. I hate being a cliche, but when you love what you do, you've never worked a day in your life, it’s true. Something I’ve always enjoyed, every day. Getting up for and seeing people every day. Every time I say good morning and good afternoon, I truly mean it. But, I just hope other people, you students, get a lot of the same things I do out of activities. It doesn’t have to be sports. It could be music, it could be other things where you’re enjoying yourself and being a part of something other than just yourself.

Do you have a favorite memory or accomplishment from when you rowed?

First one was obviously in 1997, we won the bronze medal at the world championships so that was the highlight of my career per say. But what surpasses that is in 1993, when I told you I was a spare on the team. Well, one of my athletes who I was coaching right before this actually won the gold medal in the lightweight championships which I was a spare for. So, to me, that was probably the thing I’ll remember the most even above what I may have done. If I can get my athletes to be better than I, I always thought that was the coolest thing. Today, I just got off the phone with Julian Degroot, one of our kids that graduated in ‘15. He would always call me when he beat a record of mine when I ran in college and it always made me very proud.