To be a “Hall of Famer” is an honor reserved only for the best of the best.
This summer, beloved Nets Superfan Bruce Reznick, known lovingly to fans as Mr. Whammy, etched his name among basketball’s elite, as he was recognized by the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame in the James F. Goldstein Superfan Gallery.
What You Need To Know
Bruce and Judy Reznick, aka Mr. and Mrs. Whammy, are now two of just eight fans in the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery at the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame
“It’s something you don’t believe, it’s like a fairytale,” Reznick said. “If somebody read you a fairytale, you would dream about that. This is a dream come true.”
At Nets home games, when players from other teams shoot free throws, Mr. Whammy heads to his spot under the hoop and puts a magic hex he calls “The Whammy” on players to make them miss
“It’s something you don’t believe, it’s like a fairytale,” Reznick said. “If somebody read you a fairytale, you would dream about that. This is a dream come true.”
“I can’t describe it. Fabulous wouldn’t be enough. It was just incredible,” he added.
He and his wife Judy, aka Mrs. Whammy, are now two of just eight fans — Spike Lee and Billy Crystal among them — to be recognized as the best fans in the sport.
“People from all over the world came to visit my wife and me,” Reznick said.
While most fans cheer on their teams from the sidelines, Mr. Whammy swears it is the magic hex he puts on players from other teams when they step up to the line to shoot a free throw that can actually be the difference between a Nets win and loss.
“I won that game by the way. We were losing all along, and I did a Whammy and I got two misses and we won by two,” said Reznick.
He’s witnessed countless greats on the court, but says fans deserve the Hall of Fame, too.
“There’s no basketball without the fans,” Reznick said.
He says attending this summer’s induction ceremony was one of the best days of his life.
“Carmelo Anthony made a beautiful speech. There were so many speakers, but I like him particularly, even though he was a Knick,” said Reznick.
Only one thing would have made it truly perfect.
“How badly do you wish she was here with you?”
“Oh my god, now you’re going to make me cry,” answered Reznick. “The first thing I did when I got back to New York, I went to the cemetery. She knew already of course, she’s upstairs, and I can hear her dancing in heaven. The girl was dancing and I was so happy for her.”
Mrs. Whammy passed away two years ago. She was 87 years old.
“They only die when you stop talking about them, otherwise they never die. They’re always with you,” Reznick said.
A loyalty to his wife — just like that to his team — that is truly worthy of immortality.
“I didn’t do this for self aggrandizement, I did this because I love the fans, I love the game, I love the players, and that’s why I do what I do,” said Reznick.
The Nets are planning to honor Mr. and Mrs. Whammy being recognized in the Basketball Hall of Fame as Superfans at the home game at Barclays Center, Wednesday Oct. 29.