What started out as an internet search for fund raising ideas turned out to be a hugely successful and fun night. The Old Gray Mayor's Basketball Game (OGMBG) was born from an idea that Faye Lombardozzi got from that search. She passed it on to the other angels of the Alley Cat Aid Brigade. They joined forces with The Revitalization Committee and the idea turned into a planned event eight weeks ago. Two weeks later Faye asked her husband what he had lined up so far. Poor Sam. He told me he didn't realize he was in charge of getting it organized! He liked the idea. Encouraged it and gave both committees his blessing little thinking he was the point man.
Thanks to Sam and the spirit of cooperation between two communities, that were often rivals in the past, the event that had Medicare and their supplemental insurance carriers extremely worried got under way. It was a novel idea for the people of the ville and their neighbors up the river in the "pool". It was warmly accepted by everyone in both towns that was told about it. From my understanding Mayor Swogger & Mayor Surace were put in charge of lining up the basketball players. Surace told me he called Bevo and told him it's been a long time since he's seen his "sticks" in a pair of gym shorts and asked if he would help out. Bevo immediately offered to do what he could but told Joe he wasn't going to get into any shorts.
Vicki Burgess, of the Alumni Lip-sycn fame, took up the cause to get the cheerleaders lined up. Jim Swogger said about two weeks before the game that EL wouldn't have any cheer leaders. According to Sam Terry Sprague somehow heard about that and said leave it up to her. They showed up with about eight ladies, a mascot and a coach.
This past Friday evening the first annual Old Gray Mayor's Basketball Game was played. After listening to Dave Marshall speaking at the Chamber luncheon last week on behalf of LEEP I got the feeling that this charity event was the impression he was trying to get across. Dave told us that too often many in this area are "clannish" but there was certainly no evidence of that Friday. The media was immensely helpful in promoting the event. There was all kinds of pre-game hype. Chuck Greenwood came down to cover the game and wrote that the "Old Grays score for charity" in Saturday's MJ. Sam said there were 594 advanced tickets sold, not counting what was sold at the door. There was a full page in the program of all who donated items and gave of their time & talent. There was another full page of all the items that were donated for the Chinese Auction. There was no doubt that there were a lot of people that gave a lot of time just getting ready for this worthy cause.
Going to the game I didn't know what to expect. I've seen people get into fights just talking about the old rivalry from years ago. I went to the Thursday night practice to get some shots. They didn't tell me they modified some of the rules for these Golden Buckeye card carrying players. If you got caught running with the ball you were charged with traveling. If you missed foul shots you got the ball back out-of-bounds. It had you wondering. It was a little frustrating for some of the players that were serious. That instinct to win is always present even for aging jocks.
There were a lot of fun moments. Sam got a "parking ticket" for standing in one place too long. Quinny Carter put on an Oscar winning performance when the cop from EL pretended to taser him. We saw the two mayors hop and skip across the floor to greet the ville's First Lady. We saw Sally Dowling call a time out to show the guys how to shoot a foul shot. We saw Sam get the second loudest round of applause when he scored a bucket. Bevo got the biggest with a standing O when he was introduced. There was Aaron Roach taking a nap at half court. There were the pall bearing cheerleaders marching out the Potter "coffin" just before the tip off. Then there was Skip Hamilton playing timely sound bytes with oldie music. Even cash strapped Jim Swogger donated a dozen pot holes. All in all it was a very entertaining and enjoyable outing.
It was practically a packed house with very few empty seats. In fact just before the game I accused John Henry Martin & Larry "Zeke" Walton (Classmates of WHS Class of '55) of being traitors because they were sitting on the EL side. They politely pointed out there weren't any seats left across the floor. Oooppps!
Being good hosts we let the Potters keep a commanding lead for most of the game. The Bengals gave them a scare in the last few minutes but let them win by two points. We didn't want them going up Route 7 being mad at us!
Personally speaking I'd like to thank all that participated. It was gratifying seeing what I hope will be the first of many cooperated efforts between East Liverpool & Wellsville. There were guys playing with sore knees, pulled muscles and kidney stones but fortunately no purple hearts were rewarded. Maybe next year they'll supply Ben Gay & Tylenol to the participants.
This makes the 13th piece that I did on the game. Below are lots of pictures that I started publishing on Sunday. If you would like to see them all just keep clicking on "older posts" when you get to the bottom of the page. It took most of the morning on Saturday just getting the pictures organized. Working with Google I had to start at the bottom and work my way back to get it laid out like I wanted. If you want to copy any of the pictures feel free. You can put them on a disc to get photo quality copies. I don't mind sharing. You can click on any picture for a larger view.
You can also go to http://www.alleycataidbrigade.com/ to see Susie Haugh's pictures. WKMXlive taped interviews, the introductions and most of the game. That video is available for viewing at www.wkmxlive.com/player/Wellsville.php. WKMX is the internet station that web casts a lot of the WHS games. Both Susie & the folks at WKMX did a fantastic job.
If you were there I hoped you enjoyed it as much as I did. If you weren't there you missed it!
ole nib
5 comments:
Hopefully next year they will do it during alumni week since both schools are having their All Class Reunions?????
This is just an observation after talking with some people involved. it is not really important who thought of it or put it together until people start constantly taking credit for things that are not true. It always happens. If something is a success there are always glory-hounds that want to take credit for everything. I'm told that everyone on both committees worked very hard and many other people worked very hard..and none of those folks are constantly blowing their own horn about it because they know it causes resentment and hard feelings. Most people are gracious enough to remember they should dance with the person who brought em.
Having it during all school reunion week would be a great idea but you'd probably have to use a BIGGER gym!
And who cares who did what> it was a good event for some great causes.
Everyone involved deserves credit for this novel idea that was well received. There were a lot of man hours put into to this by many people for the benefit of two groups that worked hard to make this village a little nicer place to call home. Those two committees ask for nothing in return. They all deserve a kind word and a pat on the back.
Having it next year during the All Class Reunion is an excellent idea. I'm guessing there are a lot of alumni that would have loved to see the game.
Keep the suggestions coming. One idea they wished they would have thought of earlier was to have members of the Alumni Band there for a pep band. Unfortunately, it didn't cross their minds until it was too late. I'm sure the organizers would like to hear different ideas to make this a bigger & better event.
nib
I thought it was sort of unfair that, although ELO played and cheered, they got none of the proceeds. Maybe next year a charity in BOTH towns could benefit.
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