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Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – 9/7/25

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Celtics PR Man Jeff Twiss (left) with the NBA’s Brian McIntyre – the only two living Bunn Award winners from the Communications, Public Relations and Media Services industry (Photo by Tom Carelli).

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

UNCASVILLE (Connecticut) – The old Boston Garden was an interesting and historic place. Not only did it house the legendary NBA champion Boston Celtics but it also was the home of Bobby Orr and the great Boston Bruins. The building was old, the parquet beat up, the ice surface too small, the locker rooms cramped. In every corner of the arena, there were crazy characters to be uncovered and covered, tradition to be respected and there was always a surprise awaiting.

Sometimes, the surprise was a 98-degree, hazy, hot and humid summer night to play an NBA Finals game where 14,890 ticket holds and another thousand or more guests and mysterious navigators of hidden access to standing room situated throughout the building. Other nights, the Garden would fall down to a power failure during a Stanley Cup Final game.

During the change-overs from ice hockey to basketball or vice versa, innocent public relations staffers or media types risked being run down by the evil Boston Garden Bull Gang who took pride in inflicting pain, especially to the ankles or other parts of the lower body, as they rolled racks of chairs or sections of parquet floor. Every corner, every level, and pretty much every section, aisle or seat had historical significance.

Then, there were the people. From legendary coach, team general manager and Celtics patriarch – the late Red Auerbach – to the ushers and security guards to the tickets takers and the front office workers. One of those Celtics front office executives was in the building every single night. In fact, Celtics Media/PR Services guru Jeff Twiss missed only 11 games in 45 years of service to his organization.

This weekend, Twiss was honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with the most prestigious honor outside of Enshrinement as a player, coach, ref or contributor. Twiss accepted the John Bunn Award on Friday night and gave a perfect and inspiring speech to the basketball community and Celtics family.

“To my Celtics family for the last 44 years, what an amazing ride,” said Twiss. “As a 25-year-old intern in May of 1981, I watched the Celtics arrive in Boston after beating the Houston Rockets for the championship, they gingerly got off the plane after celebrating their victory. I assumed this is what the NBA is all about. Part of it is celebrations but I learned the meaning of teamwork on and off the court and as Red Auerbach said and we continue to believe today, the Celtics are not just a team, we are a family.

“I’m a kid from Vermont who grew up fascinated with how the Boston Celtics played, how they were coached and how they were so successful every year,” he said. “I’m living my dream working for this great organization. I’m so very fortunate to go to work every day and enjoy what I do.

“To those who found something in me and worthy of this distinguished award, thank you,” he said. “I will continue to do my very best to continue to fulfill what this award stands for. Mystique, pride, and tradition are words that are associated with the Boston Celtics. Red Auerbach, the person who hired me, said I wanted a certain type of player and worker for the Celtics, this is a true winner.”

The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the Hall’s first executive director, it recognizes those whose behind-the-scenes contributions had shaped basketball’s legacy.

In Twiss, the Bunn Award is perfectly illustrated. Honesty, integrity, reliability and dedication are the tent polls of every Hall of Famer. Of course, his longevity in doing an impossible job for what might be an impossible amount of time served, nights worked, road trips travelled and personnel trained and mentored.

On a personal level, your columnist started at the NBA in 1981, the same year Jeff Twiss was hired full-time at the Celtics. Our friendship began on the parquet but blossomed over the many years to the point where he and a handful of colleagues, like Celtics’ former CFO Joe Dilorenzo, marketing maven Tod Rosensweig, ticket directors extraordinaire x 2 in Stephen Riley and Duane “DJ” Johnson, and former GM Jan Volk welcomed a young league office guy into the family and adopted him when he moved to Massachusetts. I am forever grateful for the honor to simply stand next to them all, never mind call them all dear friends. In fact, it ws quite an honor to stand on the parquet, next to Jeff, when the Celtics were raising yet another banner.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Last week, you were promised a deeper dive into the NFL season. As this Sunday begins, there are two games in the books (Philly over Dallas, 24-20) and the (LA Chargers over KC Chiefs, 27-21). There’s a lot of football to be played until NBC Sports broadcasts the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026.

Here’s one look at how the upcoming season might go:

AFC East – Buffalo Bills

NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles

(Those are the easy picks)

AFC North – Baltimore Ravens

NFC North – Detroit Lions

AFC South – Houston Texans

NFL South – Tough to predict in September, but look for the Tampa Bay Bucs to rise

AFC West – KC Chiefs will battle the Denver Broncos and LA Chargers.

NFC West – San Francisco 49ers

AFC Champion: Buffalo Bills

NFC Champion: Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl Champion: Buffalo Bills

IT’s JUST A FANTASY: Once every football season, readers are bored to tears reading about my fantasy football squad. The SWFL is a difficult league to compete. It’s only eight teams, so everyone is stacked. The rules include the requirement to play two quarterbacks but roster only three. Receivers are rewarded with a 1/2 point for every reception. And, a great rule is to allow the teams to simply park their Team Defense/Special Team unit and Place Kicker on bye weeks, instead of needing to make a cut to make room for another Defense or Kicker for one week.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, for 2025 – here’s TL’s Lovetrons who owned the second pick in the draft:

Overall Pick, Player:

2. Josh Allen (QB Buffalo)

15. De’von Achane (RB Miami)

18. Kyren Williams (RB/LAR) – Strategy was to go 2 RBs, since WR position is deeper

31. AJ Brown (WR/Philly)

34. Jackson Smith-Njigba WR/Seattle) – a No. 1 level wide-out

47. Brock Purdy (QB/SF) – Nix was taken one pick ahead… bummer

50. James Conner (RB/AZ) – best avail RB

63. Xavier Worthy WR/KC – was shocked he was still there

66. Caleb Williams (QB/Chi) – best avail… Other top QBs were off board

79. Devonte Smith (WR/Philly) – backed up AJ in case

82. Kaleb Johnson – (RB/Pitt) – RB position was thin, a nice gamble

95. Khalil Shakir – (WR/Buff) – surprised he was available

98. Jacobi Meyers – (WR/LV) – will probably sit on bench except for a bye week

111. Can Skattebo – (RB/NYG) – total wild card pick

114. Broncos D – (Was best scoring D last season) – Balt went down pick before

127. Jake Bates – (K/Det) – top rated on many draft boards; Indoor FG not terrible

130. Trey Benson – (RB/AZ- the hand-cuff to Conner, in case of injury

Earlier this week, AJ Brown (WR) of Philadelphia was limited to one catch and a 0.5 output. The next night, KC’s Xavier Worthy (WR) went down to a shoulder injury early in the game. The Lovetrons are already struggling.

The team nickname, Lovetrons, is in honor of the late Darryl Dawkins of the Sixers, one of the all-time great players and characters of the game of basketball – not American Football.

DRYDEN: Some bad news came across the sports wires over the weekend. Former NHL and Montreal Canadiens goalkeeper Ken Dryden passed away after battling cancer for quite a while. He was 78.

His NHL career was nicely honored by league Commissioner Gary B. Bettman:

From the moment Ken Dryden joined the Montreal Canadiens as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise and the goaltending position. After playing in only six regular season games during that first year, Ken proceeded to lead his team to a Stanley Cup while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player. It is almost incomprehensible to believe that he accomplished all of that the year prior to winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s best rookie in 1971-72.

“Ken’s early success was only a harbinger of what was to come. In eight years with the Canadiens, Ken would lead a team filled with future Hall of Famers to six Stanley Cup championships, quickly becoming a beloved figure in his adopted hometown of Montreal. He won five Vezina Trophies as the league’s top goaltender, including four consecutive awards from 1975-76 to 1978-79. Named as a member of the League’s Greatest 100, he was the NHL’s dominant goaltender during the 1970’s.

“His work in hockey extended to the Front Office of the Toronto Maple Leafs where he served as President of the organization. Ken was also a prolific author whose works chronicled the sport including the critically-acclaimed “The Game” and “Home Game: Hockey and Life in Canada.”

“Ken’s love for his country was evident both on and off the ice. He was a key member of the 1972 Canadian Summit Series team that thrilled the entire nation with an historic win over the Soviet Union. As a member of Parliament, Ken continued to serve Canada. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

“On a personal note, Ken was a fellow Cornellian (Cornell University alum) whose career ranks among the greatest runs in collegiate hockey. Ken compiled a 76-4-1 record over three years and famously led the Big Red to the 1967 NCAA Championship.

“On behalf of the National Hockey League, we mourn the passing of a legendary Canadian and extend our sincere condolences to his wife Lynda, family and many friends and fans all over the hockey world.”

TIDBITS AND NUGGETS: Since Halloween candy is already avAilable in the grocery stores, it’s not too early to pass along Blue Ribbon College Basketball bible’s Top 25 for the 2025-26 collegiate basketball season. Yes, I must point out, St. John’s is ranked a rather high No. 6.

1. Florida

2. Purdue

3. Houston

4. Duke

5. Connecticut

6. St. John’s

7. Tennessee

8. Kentucky

9. Michigan

10. Louisville

11. Alabama

12. UCLA

13. Auburn

14. Texas Tech

15. Arkansas

16. BYU

17. Iowa State

18. Kansas

19. Creighton

20. Illinois

21. Wisconsin

22. Arizona

23. Gonzaga

24. Texas

25. North Carolina

SOX UPDATE: The Red Sox have 21 games and 7 series remaining in the 2025 regular season. They’ll play 12 road games (six games, 9/5-10 and six games, 9/19-25) and nine home games (six games, 9/12-18 and three games, 9/26-28). Boston will play nine very important games against AL East clubs (three vs. NY Yankees, three at TB Rays, three at Toronto), six against the Athletics (3 home, 3 away), along with the current series at Arizona. The regular season will conclude with a three game finale vs. Detroit. Boston has nine games remaining against sub-.500 clubs (ARI-3, ATH-6) and 12 against teams with a record of .500 or better (DET-3, NYY-3, TB-3, TOR-3).

THIS JEST IN: According to courtside reports from the 2025 FIBA Euro Cup by the Associated Press, Finland’s Elias Valtonen scored eight points in the final two minutes to help his Finland national team stun Serbia and (All NBA center) Nikola Jokic, 92-86, Saturday in the round of 16 at the World Championship qualifier EuroBasket tournament. Jokic finished with a game-high 33 points, but it was Finland that came up with the big shots late to spring the biggest upset of the tournament so far. Serbia scored six unanswered points to take a 77-75 lead in the fourth quarter, but Valtonen’s 3-pointer with two minutes left put the Finns up 82-78. He then added a tip-in and another trey to help Finland pull away.

By the way, the United States held on to take the Bronze (90-85 over Canada) last week at the AmericaCup tournament. Brazil defeated Argentina in the Gold Medal game.

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: Go figure? USA President Donald Trump will watch the United States Open men’s tennis final from Rolex’s suite in Arthur Ashe Stadium, a person with knowledge of the details said but could not be identified as they were not authorized to divulge the President’s schedule and plans. It will mark Trump’s first appearance at the Grand Slam tournament in Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY since 2015 — before his first run for the White House. The irony will be the fact Trump will be a guest of the Swiss watchmaker just weeks after his administration imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss products.

Jalen Rose Wins Impact Award

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SPRINGFIELD – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and popular rap star, film producer and actor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the BIG3 basketball league, Ice Cube, have announced that former player, TV analyst, and philanthropist Jalen Rose will be honored with the 2025 Ice Cube Impact Award.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with the Ice Cube Impact Award,” said Jalen Rose. “Cube is family, and we share an unwavering dedication to giving back to the communities that raised us. Basketball created opportunities for us in different ways and has allowed both of us to make a lasting impact beyond the court. I’m grateful for this recognition and proud to be celebrated in the Hall’s museum.”

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Rose’s impact extends well beyond the basketball court through his unwavering commitment to education and community development in his hometown of Detroit. In 2011, he founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA), an open-enrollment, tuition-free public charter high school focused on academic excellence and family. JRLA prides itself on being a 9-16 model, to and through college, and offers AP courses, college tours, summer programs, and dual enrollment opportunities. Rose remains hands-on as the president of the Board of Directors and is actively fundraising to bridge the funding gap, raise dollars for college scholarships, and support a $20 million capital campaign to expand the school. Jalen also has a scholarship endowment at the University of Michigan.

Beyond education, Jalen serves as a volunteer Board Member for the National Basketball Players Association Foundation and partners with New Era Detroit, a community organization that focuses on community engagement, resource distribution, and safety initiatives. His dedication to Detroit and beyond is reflected in the time, resources, and leadership he continues to invest in the city where he was raised.

“Throughout his entire career, Jalen has consistently been a force for good,” said Ice Cube, who was recognized last year with the inaugural award. “Not only does he give back to his communities through fundraising, education, and, most importantly, through basketball, but he leads by example, championing the exact values this award was created to celebrate. His impact can be felt deeply in Detroit, and his commitment to building up the next generation is inspiring. I could not be more honored that we have named Jalen Rose this year’s Ice Cube Impact Award recipient and thank him for his tireless dedication to lifting up communities through the beautiful game of basketball.”

The Ice Cube Impact Award was created in 2024 to recognize individuals making substantial contributions to their communities through basketball. As the eponymous recipient, Ice Cube was honored with the inaugural award for his creation of the BIG3 basketball league alongside Jeff Kwatinetz in 2017. The league plays the premier global version of professionalized 3-on-3 basketball and is committed to increasing the opportunity, entertainment, diversity, and growth of the 3-on-3 game. The Ice Cube Impact Award is permanently housed in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s museum and recognizes honorees through a dedicated exhibit and in-depth storytelling.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see Ice Cube and the Hall of Fame come together for something this impactful,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “Ice Cube’s influence goes way beyond entertainment—he’s a cultural icon who’s using his platform to uplift communities through education and philanthropy. This partnership represents a modern, meaningful opportunity for the Hall to celebrate not just basketball excellence, but the power of the game to drive real change. Jalen Rose is a remarkable selection for the Ice Cube Impact Award, embodying the values this honor was created to recognize.”

The Ice Cube Impact Award will be presented to Jalen Rose at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame during Enshrinement Weekend festivities on Saturday, September 6, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Hoophall To Enshrine 13 for 2024

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GLENDALE – (Staff report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 13 inductees in the Class of 2024 to be celebrated during this year’s Enshrinement festivities to be held on August 16-17. The Class Announcement was made at a press conference conducted at the site of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four,

Without a shadow of doubt, the accomplishments of the 2024 class stand as a testament to unparalleled excellence,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “From showcasing unrivaled prowess on the courts and sidelines, spanning the high school, collegiate and professional ranks, to steering the course of basketball across an entire continent and to orchestrating a pair of dynasties, we are honored to pay tribute to these remarkable individuals alongside our esteemed award recipients.”

The Class of 2024 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, as well as the Mohegan Sun Resort/Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, on August 16-17.

North American Committee Inductees:

CHAUNCEY BILLUPS [Player] – Nicknamed “Mr. Big Shot” for his ability to deliver crucial plays in pivotal moments, Billups was a five-time NBA All-Star and the 2004 Finals MVP after leading the Detroit Pistons to their third NBA championship. During his 17-year career, Billups’ averaged 15.2 points and 5.4 assists per game, while his  89.4  free throw percentage is sixth best in NBA/ABA history. Billups was drafted third overall in 1997 by the Boston Celtics after earning Second Team All-American honors at Colorado. He is the current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

VINCE CARTER [Player] – Renowned for his high-flying dunks, the former North Carolina standout was an eight-time All-Star in his 22 NBA seasons (1998-2020). Carter, who won the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, was named the 1998-99 Rookie of the Year and is the only player in NBA history to play in four different decades. Carter averaged 16.7 points per game (21.3 as a starter) and also played a pivotal role in the success of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, clinching a gold medal with the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team. He currently holds the single-season franchise scoring record for the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors.

MICHAEL COOPER [Player] – Cooper was named to eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, taking home First-Team accolades five times and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1987. The former third-round draft pick (60th overall) out of the University of New Mexico spent his entire 12-year NBA career (1978-90) with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships while routinely matching up with the opponent’s top shooter. Following his playing career, Cooper entered the coaching ranks and earned WNBA Coach of the Year accolades in 2000 with the Los Angeles Sparks before winning back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001-02.

WALTER DAVIS [Player] – The all-time leading scorer in Phoenix Suns’ history was a six-time All-Star (1978-81, ‘84, ‘87) during his 15-year NBA career with the Suns (1977-88), Denver Nuggets (1988-92) and Portland Trail Blazers (1991). Before Phoenix chose Davis with the fifth pick in the 1977 draft, the standout player from North Carolina won a gold medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics. He then averaged 24.2 points per game in his first NBA season and was named the 1978 Rookie of the Year. The late Davis had his No. 6 retired by the Suns, and in 2004, he was enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor.

BO RYAN [Coach] – Ryan went 747-233 (.762) in 32 seasons as a collegiate head coach with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (1984-89), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1999-2001) and University of Wisconsin (2001-15), including a 364-130 (.737) ledger in 14-plus seasons in Madison. Ryan, honored four times as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, led Wisconsin to unprecedented success, clinching four Big Ten regular-season titles, winning three Big Ten tournament championships, and making back-to-back Final Four appearances (2014-15). The four-time Division III champion (1991, ‘95, ‘98-99) was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

CHARLES SMITH [Coach] – Smith is Louisiana’s all-time winningest high school head coach, surpassing the previous mark of 1,071 in 2020. With nine state championships to his name, Smith’s coaching tenure at Peabody Magnet High School began in 1985 after starting as a math teacher in 1975. He guided the Warhorses to a pair of perfect seasons, going 41-0 in 2004 and 2010 and earning national top-five rankings. Smith, ESPN’s National Coach of the Year in 2010, was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021. In addition, Smith served as head coach at the McDonald’s All-American game in 2020.

Women’s Committee Inductee:

SEIMONE AUGUSTUS [Player] – Augustus, who was selected first overall in the 2006 WNBA Draft, was a four-time champion and eight-time All-Star during her 15-year WNBA career (2006-20). The cornerstone player for the Minnesota Lynx, where she spent 14 of her 15 seasons, averaged 15.4 points per game and was named the 2006 Rookie of the Year and 2011 Finals MVP. At LSU, Augustus led the Tigers to three straight Final Four appearances and won the Naismith College Player of the Year and Wooden Awards in back-to-back campaigns (2005-06).

Men’s Veteran Committee Inductee:

DICK BARNETT [Player] – Barnett first gained prominence at Tennessee A&I University, where he led the Tigers to three straight NAIA national championships (1957-59), the first historically black school to claim a men’s basketball title. The “Skull” played 14 NBA seasons with the Syracuse Nationals (1959-61), Los Angeles Lakers (1962-65) and New York Knicks (1965-73), winning a pair of titles in the Big Apple (1970, ‘73) and making his lone All-Star team in 1968. The Knicks retired his No. 12, and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame honored his 1957–59 Tigers squad in 2019.

Women’s Veteran Committee Inductee:

HARLEY REDIN [Coach] – Redin went 431-66 in 18 seasons leading Wayland Baptist’s women’s basketball program and captured six AAU National Championships. He coached the Flying Queens to two undefeated women’s seasons (1956, ‘57), 17 top-five finishes, and went 110-2 during his first four campaigns at Wayland Baptist. The late Redin also coached the Women’s U.S. National Team in 1959, the 1971 Pan-American Games, and the 1963 World Championship tournament in Peru. He was the recipient of the Jostens-Berenson Service Award by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for his lifetime of service to women’s basketball in 1992, inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999, and honored with the Naismith Award for Outstanding Contribution to the game of women’s basketball in 2000.

International Committee Inductee:

MICHELE TIMMS [Player] – A trailblazer in Australian women’s basketball, Timms became one of the best point guards in the world, representing the Australian national team throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Timms won a pair of Olympic medals with the Opals, winning bronze in 1996 and silver in 2000, and was the first Australian, male or female, to play professional basketball internationally when she suited up for Lotus München in Germany. In addition, Timms spent five seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, guiding the team to a berth in the 1998 WNBA Finals and earning an All-Star selection in 1999. The Sport Australia Hall of Fame inducted her in 2003, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. The Mercury retired her No. 7 jersey in 2002.

Contributor Committee Inductees:

DOUG COLLINS – Collins’ versatile career in basketball is marked by significant achievements in roles ranging from player to coach to broadcaster, underscoring his wide-ranging impact on the sport. Following an NBA career where he was a four-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers, he transitioned into coaching and accumulated over 400 wins with the Chicago Bulls (1986-89), Detroit Pistons (1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03) and 76ers (2010-13). Collins, who coached Hall of Famer Michael Jordan in both Chicago and Washington, also served as an analyst for various NBA-related broadcasts for CBS, NBC, TNT, TBS, and ABC/ESPN, along with working for NBC Sports at the Summer Olympics.

HERB SIMON – Simon, the longest-tenured governor in the history of the NBA, purchased the Indiana Pacers, along with his late brother Mel, back in 1983. Under Simon’s stewardship, the Pacers won numerous Central Division titles and made the franchise’s first NBA Finals in 2000. Throughout his ownership period, the Pacers have been home to legendary players like Jermaine O’Neal, Rik Smits, and Reggie Miller (Class of 2012). Beyond ownership, Simon’s influence extends deeply into the heart of the Pacers’ organization, shaping its identity and impact both on and off the court through his philanthropic endeavors and civic engagement.

JERRY WEST – Previously enshrined as a player and as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team, West also established himself off the court as one of the most successful executives in pro basketball history. West played a pivotal role as the architect of a pair of Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasties during the 1980s and 2000s, drafting key players like Magic Johnson and James Worthy, acquiring Kobe Bryant, signing free agent Shaquille O’Neal, and hiring head coach Phil Jackson. He totaled eight NBA championships in Los Angeles (1980, ‘82, ‘85, ‘87-88, 2000-02) and was named Executive of the Year twice (1995, 2004). Following his time in the Lakers’ front office (1979-2000), West served as GM of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002-07 before earning two additional NBA championships as an executive with the Golden State Warriors (2015, ‘17). West is the first member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to be inducted as both a player and a contributor.

NBA Finals Rivals Enter Hall Together

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SPRINGFIELD –  (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After going head-to-head in the NBA Finals in 2006 and 2011, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki found themselves on the same side for once on Saturday night.

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Wade and Nowitzki were among those enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., part of a loaded 2023 class that featured a total of 12 new inductees.

Wade led the Heat to a title in 2006, being named Finals MVP after averaging 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists as Miami toppled the Mavericks in six games.

Dallas got its revenge five years later, though, beating the Heat in six games for its only championship in franchise history. This time it was Nowitzki’s turn to secure Finals MVP honors, as he went for 26.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

Twelve years removed from their latest clash on the NBA’s biggest stage, the two have gotten to know each other as people as opposed to competitors.

“For Dirk and me, it’s been therapy,” Wade said about his post-career journey with Nowitzki and some of the other inductees. “Who would have thought that we would be on the same team after all of our battles, but here we are, and it’s one of the greatest teams I’ve ever been on.”

Wade, 41, went on to win two more titles by the time his 16-year NBA career was all said and done. He was a 13-time All-Star and posted career averages of 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists, spending most of his time with Miami, where he spent 15 seasons.

After coming up short in the Finals in 2006, Nowitzki, 45, was named league MVP following the 2006-07 campaign. A 14-time All-Star, Nowitzki was a beacon of loyalty for over two decades, spending his entire 21-year career with the Mavericks. He averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 1,522 games (1,460 starts).

If Wade and Nowitzki weren’t battling each other, they were often trying to fend off the Spurs. San Antonio was well-represented on Saturday night, as guard Tony Parker and longtime coach Gregg Popovich were also part of the Class of 2023.

Parker, 41, won four titles during his 17 seasons with the Spurs. Popovich, 74, was at the helm for all four of those championships, plus a fifth in 1999. Next season will be his 29th as San Antonio’s coach, and he heads into it with 1,366 regular-season wins along with 170 in the playoffs.

One of Popovich’s disciples, Becky Hammon, was also inducted to the Hall of Fame on Saturday. Following a successful playing career in the WNBA and overseas, the 46-year-old Hammon worked as an assistant on the Spurs’ staff from 2014-22. She is now head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, who currently own the best record in the WNBA at 26-3.

In her first season as coach of the Aces, Hammon led Las Vegas to its first title in franchise history.

“You’re a man of principle and excellence,” Hammon said to Popovich. “I know you weren’t trying to be courageous when you hired me, but you did do something nobody else in professional sports has ever done.

Basketball Hall Names Presenters

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of Hall of Famers scheduled to present the Class of 2023 at the Enshrinement Ceremony to be held Saturday, August 12, at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, the “Birthplace of Basketball.”

Organizers expect 45 Hall of Famers are to be in attendance for the ceremony, including all presenters.

Members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 were asked to select previous inductees to accompany and present them to their peers. The choice is solely the decision of the incoming Hall of Famers or their family members if recognized posthumously.

The 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters:

  • 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, presented by Ann Meyers (Class of 1993), Nancy Lieberman (‘96)
  • Becky Hammon, presented by Sheryl Swoopes (‘16), Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19)
  • David Hixon, presented by Jim Calhoun (‘05), John Calipari (‘15)
  • Dirk Nowitzki, presented by Jason Kidd (‘18), Steve Nash (‘18)
  • Dwyane Wade, presented by Allen Iverson (‘16)
  • Gary Blair, presented by Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19), Van Chancellor (‘07)
  • Gene Bess, presented by Chris Bosh (‘21), John Calipari (‘15), Roy Williams (‘07)
  • Gene Keady, presented by Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Tom Izzo (‘16)
  • Gregg Popovich, presented by David Robinson (‘09), Manu Ginobili (‘22), Tim Duncan (‘20), Tony Parker (‘23)
  • Jim Valvano, presented by John Calipari (‘15)
  • Pau Gasol, presented by Toni Kukoč (‘21)
  • Tony Parker, presented by Manu Ginobili (‘22), Tim Duncan (‘20)

Hall Names Abdul-Jabbar Watch List

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named its 20-member watch-list for the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, NBA legend and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top center in men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“Rounding out the Men’s Starting Five Watch List is the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. The student-athletes on this list should feel tremendously proud of all they have accomplished to be associated with basketball’s all-time leading scorer,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “With his focus on both education and athletics, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s perspective is cherished by our committee when evaluating talent each year.”

The winner of the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward) and the Karl Malone Award (Power Forward), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award are Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), two-time winner Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).

Hall Names “Dr. J.” Watch List Members

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named its 20-member watch list for the 2023 Julius Erving Award. Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year ABA/NBA professional basketball player Julius “Doctor J” Erving, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“As we look to the new season starting, we are excited to watch the stars on the watch list take the court and showcase their abilities which led to this recognition,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We are honored to have the great ‘Dr. J’ assist our knowledgeable selection committee as they evaluate these student-athletes.”

The winner of the 2023 Julius Erving Award will be presented this spring, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guards), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guards), Karl Malone Award (Power Forwards) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Centers), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Julius Erving Award are Wendell Moore Jr, (Duke, 2022), Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (2021), Saddiq Bey, Villanova (2020), Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga (2019), Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).

Hall Names West Award Watch List

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named the 20 watch-list members for the 2023 Jerry West Award. Named after NBA legend, Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“Each of the student-athletes nominated for this honor has emulated Jerry West’s skillset on the court and should be extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Our committee, alongside Mr. West, are honored to watch this exceptional group this season.”

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds, starting Friday, October 28. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2023 Jerry West Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just five. In March the five finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

The winner of the 2023 Jerry West Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center) in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award are Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (2022), Chris Duarte, Oregon (2021), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).

Hall Names Cousy Award Watch List

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named its annual 20 watch-list candidates for the Bob Cousy Award.  The honor is named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtics guard and Holy Cross standout, in the popular legend, Bob Cousy. Now in its 20th year, the Hall recognizes the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.

A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“The Hall of Fame is honored to present the Bob Cousy Award to the best point guard in the collegiate game for the 20th consecutive year,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “This year’s class of point guards that have been named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List truly embody the style and reputation of the ‘Houdini of the Hardwood,’ and we look forward to watching their playmaking ability take center stage this season.”

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds starting on October 28. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

The winner of the 2023 Bob Cousy Award will be presented this coming spring, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Collin Gillespie, Villanova (2022), Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011) and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2004).

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Sept. 11

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Sunshine daydream

Walking in the tall trees

Going where the wind goes

Blooming like a red rose

Breathing more freely

Ride out singing, I’ll walk you in the morning sunshine

Sunshine daydream

Sunshine daydream

Walking in the sunshine

– Music by Bob Weir, Words by Robert Hunter and Bob Weir

The Foundation of the Basketball Hall of Fame = Family

By TERRY LYONS

UNCASVILLE – Dreams can be both wonderful or frightening. To the contrary – daydreams are delightful, like walking in the sunshine or walking through the woods as sunshine drips through the trees to the point where you can see the beams of light breaking through.

Picture yourself as a child growing up in Bahía Blanca (White Bay), Argentina, a city of 300,000 southwest of Buenos Aires and the futbol crazy country. While the masses are happily playing their favorite game, you’ve taken a road less travelled, following your family ties to the sport of basketball.
Manu Ginobili (Getty Images)

You dream of making the local pro team – Club Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca – maybe hitting the winning shot in the Asociación Bahiense de Básquetbol local league. Your first stop, however, is with Andino Sport Club of La Rioja in the 1995–96 season. Your dream might now travel as far as making the Argentine national team and competing in the Suda-America world qualifiers, or the Olympic Games or the FIBA Worlds.

You’ve heard of the National Basketball Association and have watched a few highlight tapes, maybe the NBA Finals but your dreams are realistic. You don’t go so far as to daydream about winning an Olympic Gold Medal or an NBA Championship. You’ve never even heard of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the game.

The game, like the song, takes you where the wind blows.

After two years with your local pro team, in 1998 you make your way to Europe to play for Reggio Calabria in Italy where the magnolia and palms are as wonderful as you’ve ever seen. Instead of the Atlantic Ocean views of Bahía Blanca, you’re playing ball at the tip of the toe of italy, ready to drop-kick the futbol, still prevalent over the basketball, right through the uprights to the Island of Sicily.

You’ve made it big, but the daydreams continue.

It’s off to the EuroLeague and in the year 2000, you sign with Virtus Bologna, a championship contender in Italy’s Lega A and in the EuroLeague.

Now, the dreams are so good you feel as though you can sell them, they’re all coming true, in two-year cycles, as in 2002, after San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich and team GM R.C. Buford have seen you play dozens of times, including a first glimpse in 1998-99 when you played for Reggio Calabria while their Spurs were competing in the McDonald’s Championship in Milan. The Spurs laid claim with a second round NBA draft selection in 1999, the 57th overall pick of the NBA Draft.

It’s off to San Antonio where you’ll meet the son of a guy from Chicago who played some ball at Loyola Chicago and in France became a TV commentator for the NBA on FR-1. As the sport goes global, you realize you’ll join forces with a kid named Tony Parker, Jr., born to a model in Bruges, Belgium and brought up by a basketball-loving Dad to play with a taller kid named Tim Duncan who grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands and played some college ball at Wake Forest. There will be an Admiral in your dreams. His name is David Robinson who played his ball for Navy, sat-out a couple years and then was joined by Duncan.

Daydreams often include good fortune and you’re about to experience it.

Meanwhile, when you start to count your blessings, you realize that your original group of players from Argentina toiled on the courts for 18 years, all together and good enough to win the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. You and your buds upset the great American teams at the 2002 Worlds and again in Athens. The top row of the podium awaited as your Spurs teammate stood, annoyed, on the bronze medal level while your Spurs coach, Coach “Pop,” watch from the sidelines assisting Larry Brown in his agony of defeat.

Your name is Manu Ginobili and to a great extent, all your dreams came true. Except, you never-ever dreamt of being inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Ginobili also became only the second player, joining Bill Bradley, to win an NBA title, a Euroleague Championship and an Olympic gold medal.

Argentina’s win in Athens was the greatest basketball accomplishment ever, but this weekend, Manu Ginobili’s induction to the HoopHall is a solid No. 2 moment and all of Argentina, all of San Antonio, all of Bologna and all of Reggio Calabria will celebrate his success. They were all along for the ride – the dream of dreams – and through Manu’s outgoing personality, his game and his simple smile welcomed all of his many fans around the world onboard. Even Charles Barkley loved SCREAMING his name.

GINOBILI! – a Hall of Famer and rightfully so.

BREAKING NEWS: The USA AmeriCup team lost Saturday in the semifinals to Argentina, 82-73 at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup tournament at Geraldo Arena in Recife, Brazil. Since 1992, Team USA had won 10 of their previous 12 matchups.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: While Ginobili headlined a large and diverse Class of 2022 for the Basketball Hall, all enshrined Saturday evening, there were others honored on Friday night when the powers-that-be, the trustees of Dr. Naismith’s joint in Springfield, drove down CT-Route 2 to the land of the Mohegan Sun in basketball-crazy Connecticut. … The new Hall of Famers were quizzed by the media and later presented with their Hall jackets while honors were bestowed upon others, such as College Basketball Coach Reggie Minton, former coach at Dartmouth and Air Force and the longtime head of the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches). … Additionally, the Hall honored early African-America pioneers, and Manny Jackson Basketball Human Spirit award winners who, in turn, were paying tribute to the work of Hall of Famer in Coach John McClendon and his foundation.

The evening took a turn to the skies for the final honoree. Surprisingly, the great Charles Barkley, Hall of Fame player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and even better commentator for Turner Sports, asked for the honor to introduce Dick Ebersol, former Chairman of NBC, architect of NBC’s longtime partnership and coverage of the Olympic Games and the man behind the glorious years of the NBA on NBC.

Barkley began his remarks, delivered in a speedy six minutes, with special thanks to all of the black players who played ahead of him and did the “heavy lifting” in terms of fighting racial bias and paving the way for the players of today. He also recognized Sue Bird and Silvia Fowles who are both retiring from the WNBA this season after illustrious careers on the college and pro level. Then, Charles got serious.

“I want to thank every Hall of Famer and every contributor who is in this thing tonight because we are a family,” said Barkley. “We all do something that’s important to the game, whether you play the game, talk about it on radio or TV or newspapers. We’re all part of the same family, so a thank you to everybody who plays a part in it.

“So why am I here now,” asked Barkley, proposing the question to a packed auditorium and to himself. “Dick Ebersol, I love you,” said Charles as he drifted into a slight tangent.

(Hall of Fame Coach) “Rudy Tomjanovich, I always have to say thank-you because my last couple years in Houston, Rudy treated me great. I couldn’t “Play Dead” but Rudy treated me GREAT. And, the reason I knew I couldn’t “Play Dead” was because Dick Ebersol came up to me and said, ‘Hey, what are you going to do after you retire? I think you should go into television.”

“I was like, ‘Damn, I thought I could still play,’ and clearly, I couldn’t.

“He said, ‘I think you should really think about going into television,’ but I said, ‘I don’t really know what I’m going to do when I retire.’ He said, let’s get together and we did, but he said, ‘I think you’re going to be in trouble all the time because you’re honest, but I think you’re going to be good on television.’

“People say they want to hear the truth but they really don’t want that,” noted Ebersol at the time. “They want to hear that they’re team is great and their favorite player is great. That’s all the fans want.”

“I said, ‘I’m gonna come work for you.’ I’m going to NBC.”

But then, there was a change of heart.

Barkley explained in detail, “A friend of mine, Michael Jackson (then an exec with Turner Sports just out of Georgetown) said he needed a favor. ‘I need you to meet with the people at Turner.’

I said, ‘Mike, I’m going to go work with the people at NBC.’

He said, “Just do me a favor. It’ll make me look good that I could get Charles Barkley to come down and interview at Turner.”

“So I go down, and we end up smoking cigars and drinking,” explained Barkley, adding, “I know that’s gonna shock y’all. About 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, I’m telling them about what my game-plan is, what I want to do on television. I want to talk about social issues and everything.”

“They said, ‘You can do whatever you want.’

“So I called my agent at 2:30 in the morning and said, ‘I got a problem. I think I want to sign with Turner. They were really awesome tonight. NBC just does the games on weekends, I think I want to sign with Turner.”

My agent says, ‘Think about it and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

“I go to bed but woke-up about three hours later and said, ‘You know, I can’t sleep, I’m so nervous.’

He said, “What do you want to do?”

“I want to sign with Turner,” recalled Barkley. “And, my agent said, ‘Do you want me to call Mr. Ebersol?”

I said, “I’ve got to be a man and do it, and this is the reason I’m here tonight and why I love this guy,” Barkley cut to the chase, as Ebersol’s wife, Susan Saint James began to tear-up with emotion at Ebersol’s side while Barkley’s voice quivered.

“Mr Ebersol, can I talk to you? I need to really talk to you, I’ve got something going on.”

“I want to thank-you for talking me into going into television, and I don’t know how to say this, but I think I’m going to go to Turner.

“You know what he said to me? He said, ‘Charles, I think you’re going to be great on television. Those guys at Turner are awesome and if you ever need me, just pick-up the phone.’”

“I was … I had cried, getting ready to make that call,” recalled Barkley. “When he said that to me, it just lifted such a weight off my shoulders. So, I want to thank you for making me feel better because I was so devastated. You are the reason I’m in television and television has been great.

“I love working with Turner. I love Ernie (Johnson), Kenny (Smith) and Shaq (O’Neal), but it’s all because of you.”

NBA ON NBC/DICK EBERSOL DRILLED THE GAME-WINNER: “Nothing is more important to me in the whole world than relationships, said Dick Ebersol as he began his speech accepting the Curt Gowdy Transformative Media award Friday night. “Relationships with your own family, relationships with the people you work with or the people you go to school with.

“Then you meet people who don’t exactly fit in the mold and you’re blown away by them and you stick at it – over and over again – and then you come to a night like tonight and this awesome human being gets up here and says all these wonderful things.

“I know we have people here from all over the world of basketball, but I want to say, as a resident of Connecticut, how proud I am of the basketball fans of this State. This State, along with Tennessee, has made women’s basketball the icon it is in all sports in America, and you’re all to be congratulated and thanks for all the passion you’ve brought in supporting these Connecticut teams.

“I also would like to talk about two of the people I miss most in the world and I want to talk about both of them for just a little while,” said Ebersol. “One was Bill Russell who was a great, great, great friend. A year ago, he was up here on this stage and I was watching at home, on television, in Litchfield, Connecticut.

“I think now, this giant, this man who set the standard for how African-American athletes in this country would be treated. He stopped at nothing to keep pushing it and pushing it. He encouraged so many other athletes whether they were still in college or others who followed in his footsteps.

“We were just at his funeral, and I feel fortunate to have been there because it was such a small gathering, but here tonight, I’d like everyone in this room to stand-up for five seconds and salute William Felton Russell.

“The other person I’d like to talk about, I’m sure many of you in this room are aware of his legend, his unbelievable imagination and as much as anybody in the professional game, has shaped-up what has made the NBA second only to the National Football League. Five years ago, maybe ten years ago, that, too, might have been unimaginable, except to David Stern.

“I’d like to ask everyone to stand again for David Stern who made our sport the highlight of American sport.”

“There are so many others to say thank you too, in my family, in this glorious State, in these United States of America, but let me send you home tonight by saying thank you for supporting this great game the way you do, from pee-wee to high school to college and to all the people, many seated over here, who coach these young people to become the champions they are, not only on the court but how they become great examples for the youth of our country.”

LEGENDS OF SPORTS: The previously featured Legend of Sports podcast (LOS) has been on a slight hiatus this summer but was at the Basketball Hall of Fame activities to compile a wealth of big time guests. Click below for a sampling:

LOS on KOBE

LAY-UPS, JUMP SHOTS AND SUGGESTION BOXES: The Halls of Fame of the three major American sports need to work together to make August “Hall of Fame Month.” … The month could begin with the sport of Baseball paying tribute to their class of Hall of Famers in Cooperstown, NY on the first weekend of the month. … From there, the National Football League can host the first exhibition game of the year and conduct ceremonies for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on the second weekend of the month. … Passing the baton for the third weekend of the month, the legends of basketball would gather in Springfield, Mass for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction, before they head-off to the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut for some golf and additional festivities. … The Hockey Hall of Fame has traditionally conducted their induction in November at the Hockey Hall in Toronto.

Embed from Getty Images

BLUE RIBBON: College basketball fans, don’t let too much time pass in ordering this year’s edition of the Blue Ribbon College Yearbook. While the hard copy edition is at the printer and will be ready to ship in about a month, you can order the digital edition at blueribbonyearbook.com