Dime Business: MSG Summer Ball Anchor Maria Clifton
Maria CliftonIn general, the Dime Business section of our mag has been reserved for guys who have developed a niche in the basketball industry without putting on a uniform - agents, barbers and sneaker designers have all been in our pages. In Dime #44, we sat down with another hoop-industry success story - but this time, a charming young woman named Maria Clifton who has parlayed her basketball skills into a sweet gig in the Knicks’ community relations office and as an anchor on MSG’s show Summer Ball.
Reprinted from Dime #44…
Don’t let the lipstick fool you. While Maria Clifton drops jaws during her day jobs as a beautiful host of MSG’s “Summer Ball,” as a member of the Knicks’ field marketing/community relations team, and as a model, she won’t hesitate to bust your ass if you step between the lines with her.
“I’ve been in the park where guys are saying, ‘You’re too pretty to play,’” says Clifton, 24. “I’m just like, I can do it both – I model on the side and I can play ball. I can do it all. I actually like that, it makes me want to prove them wrong.”
A lifelong New Yorker and basketball junkie, Clifton parlayed her experience on the court into a career with the Knicks’ organization. After four years at Division I Franklin Pierce University (Rindge, NH), Maria had an opportunity to take her game overseas. But instead of signing one of the offers to play in Portugal or England, she opted to shift gears in the basketball industry and ensure a lifelong opportunity to work in a field that she loves.
Maria Clifton (photo. Kelly Kline)“It was the best thing to happen because I’ve grown up loving the Knicks, playing basketball and watching,” says Maria, “so to actually work for them is a dream come true.”
Even though she’s made the transition to the front office, Maria hasn’t stopped playing. She’s on the court during the summer at New York’s most competitive women’s playground – West 4th, and she still tours with her lifelong AAU team, Exodus. That’s where she built her rep as a defensive juggernaut, using her size (5-11) and athleticism to shut down the opposition’s best player. Clifton still ranks sixth all-time in blocked shots at Franklin Pierce.
“That’s my thing,” says Clifton. “I’ve never been afraid – I don’t care who it is, I’ll guard you, I’ll go up against you. Sometimes I get a little scuffed up and bruised – as long as they don’t touch my face – I can cover up bruises on my arms and legs.”
While Maria saves that tough-as-nails mindset for the court, it’s because of her playing experience and hoop knowledge that she’s holding it down as an anchor on MSG’s “Summer Ball.” Though her charm and good looks were reason enough to give her a microphone for on-camera interviews last summer, she’s been successful because she’s got a ballplayer’s brain behind her beautiful smile.
When she isn’t working the camera, Maria doubles as a voice for the Knicks organization in the greater New York area as a member of the field marketing/community relations team. She helps to put the Knicks product out to the community to make a difference in kids’ lives. And Maria’s the perfect fit to work with these kids – not only can she teach the game, but she can also help to guide the next generation about how they can follow in her footsteps to break into an industry that they love.
“Half of the places I’ve reached in my life I owe to the people that I met through friends, work or basketball,” says Clifton. “So make sure you get out there and venture in different areas even things you never tried before because you never know where that path or person might lead you.”
October 8th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
MAYO~ 4~ROY says:
Damn she’s fine! Damn…she fine…
October 8th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
GEE...Hooligaaaaaaanss! says:
Finally DIME drops a real Dime! Nice one please keep that up!
October 8th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Sam I Am says:
I WANT TO MARRY HER
October 8th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Duke says:
I cannot wait to hear about this sexual harassment lawsuit.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
dapro says:
Damn she’s fine
DIME I put this out there awhile ago but why not do this monthly family?
Dime should feature DIME women who either are (celeb fans, work in the league or ncaa, and models and cheerleaders
Think about it…
October 8th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
D-NICE says:
dapro took tha words straight out my mouth…..DAMN SHE FINE
October 8th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Dime Magazine says:
We actually did a have a feature previously called Dime Piece - check some of the earlier issues available for sale in our online store. We promise they will not disappoint.
October 8th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
SteveNash says:
DIME NEEDS A “DIME” Section!!!!
October 8th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Al says:
I could make good money putting that shorty out on the track
October 9th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Alex Reed says:
Hey DIME,
I have been trying to get with your team for a while now. I have been emailing you guys to see what I can do for your mag (any little thing at all) but I haven’t gotten anything back. I have my resume at the ready if you guys want to check it out.
-Alex
October 9th, 2008 at 1:32 am
BKS says:
How long until Starbury bangs her in the back of his truck?
October 9th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Shujen says:
thats the only two shots we get? more damnit.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:35 am
OC says:
Never been a Knick fan, but she could convince me otherwise. DAMN!
October 9th, 2008 at 9:57 am
T41 says:
This reminds me of the “Honey of the Day” back in the hoopstv days. Only OG readers will know what I am talking about.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:15 am
uneeda says:
She looks like a lizard. The only reason you think she is hot is because Dime told you so, you bunch of fish…
October 9th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Ronald M. says:
if there were more women looking like her in the WNBA, I would watch it more. She is every ball player dream. A fine woman who can play ball.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:59 am
that's whats up says:
@ post 15.
I got NO PROBLEM tappin’ that Lizard Azz !!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Pskila says:
Man it is a lot simps on this blog..She is an 8 at least …lol..She wouldn’t get kicked out of the bed for eating crackers..I guess tricking is at all time high for you cats..lol..
October 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Mrbball says:
Give Alex the unpaid intership job. You know the one where you empty trash, run errands, clean up etc. for a year all unpaid to see if he wants it.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
bobbito garcia aka kool bob love says:
maria is a class act. yes, she can play ball. our PR Pride squad actually put her on our men’s team for one game at hoops in the sun at orchard beach. she didn’t score, but she didn’t play herself on the court, either. and she wasn’t scared. her squad at uptown express in harlem is always in the running for the chip.
one correction, she is not the anchor of msg ’summerball,’ myself and boobie smooth are, however the features she hosts are very much popular to say the least. shout out to maria and her whole crew. she’s one of the coolest peoples you’ll ever meet, having nothing to do with her looks.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:10 am
dueces says:
October 9th, 2008 at 10:59 am
that’s whats up says:
@ post 15.
I got NO PROBLEM tappin’ that Lizard Azz !!!!
^^^^^^^
comedy.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
hasim williams says:
i know her and everything i got her number!!!!
October 13th, 2008 at 12:46 am
hasim williams says:
I dint write i have marias number that was probably my gay ass brother
March 19th, 2009 at 2:17 am
Abel says:
Just saw her tonight at blockbuster renting some movies with John Starks..
very nice looking couple