On the basketball court or the baseball diamond, Scott Davidson played to win. He was known as a fierce competitor who, without seeking personal glory, drew awards and accolades like a magnet in a box of thumbtacks.
Mr. Davidson of Tottenville, one of the firefighters among the thousands missing in the World Trade Center attack, capped a four-year career at the College of Staten Island as captain of the basketball team.
He also played four years at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, where he was named most valuable player in the Jaques Classic All-Star High School game in 1986.
Although he attended PS 32, Great Kills, he played for St. Clare's School's CYO teams and won the Great Kills school's Eddie Hemsworth Memorial Award.
In baseball, he was an all-star in the Great Kills Little League's Major League. "Scott was a true team player," said his father, Stephen. "He was fearless and known for his defensive play. He always went the extra mile."
In February 1990, Advance sports columnist Jay Price devoted an entire column to Mr. Davidson. The headline, "Still Crazy After All These Years," was a tribute to the competitive spirit Mr. Davidson seemed to have been born with.
Price wrote that Tony Petosa, coach of the CSI Dolphins, didn't recognize him right away "because Davidson was standing up." He quotes Petosa: "I coached him in the Big Apple games when he was still in high school. He and Tim Reardon, all they'd do is dive for loose balls . . . they'd bang heads going for it."
"Some things, anyway, don't change," Price wrote. "Davidson still leads the country in floor burns."
Mr. Davidson was born in Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island with his family in 1970. After earning a bachelor's degree in history from CSI, he obtained a teacher's license, but his goal was to be a firefighter.
He attended graduate school while working at various jobs, including tending bar at the Armory Inn, West Brighton, until he achieved his goal in March 1994, when he joined the Fire Department.
Mr. Davidson was assigned to Ladder Co. 118 in Brooklyn Heights, which responded to the Trade Center site after the second hijacked airliner struck.
"When they arrived on the scene, they parked their rig at West and Vesey streets, then vanished into the thick, cloudy smoke and soot," said his father, who spoke to police and fire officials. "It is believed they were on the 15th floor in the north tower, on the way up, when the building collapsed. Only their truck was recovered and has been restored and put back in service."
"Scott was the kind of person with a warm and charming personality who had touched many lives," said his mother, Carla DiMaggio.
In recent years, Mr. Davidson did some substitute teaching and tended bar in W's, Tottenville. He also spent time with his son, Peter, who will be 8 next month, and his daughter, Casey, who will be 4 next month.
"He has passed on his inherent love of all sports to them," his father said. "Peter has been active in football, baseball and basketball and Casey already shows athletic promise."
Mr. Davidson -- CSI's Male Athlete of the Year in 1990 when he also won the Melvin Barmel Memorial Award -- never lost his love for playing. He played basketball in several leagues, including for the Fire Department and the Jewish Community Center League. He coached basketball in intramural and CYO programs at St. Clare's School, and served as a referee. He also coached the freshman team at Moore Catholic High School, and played in the North Shore Softball League. (Staten Island Advance, 10/10/01)