Gus Blog
Gus Macker Dribbles Across the Country!
Ironton, Ohio...June 6-7The trip to Southern Ohio and Ironton is always a fun one. Our host organization, the Friends of Ironton provide the ultimate hospitality. The Macker Chairperson is Joyce Lynd...we call her Dr. Joyce. I don't think she has a Ph.D. or doctorate, but in the world of Macker....she's pretty smart. She has been a leader nationally among our local organizers, because she continues to create new and exciting activities at her tournament. This event has usually been in mid-May, but was moved to early June this year to bring more local youth teams unable to participate during Spring sports seasons.
The highlight for this year's event had to be our entrance at opening ceremonies in an ambulance with sirens blaring. The two EMT's, along with myself and staffers, Cindy and Julia pulled up to center court and raced out with a hospital gurney (bed). Event Manager, Randy Drewyor, and I had visited the hospital earlier in the morning to collect medical garb to outfit Dr. Joyce as part of the tipoff activities. I think Dr. Joyce was a little embarrassed about our antics...but she seemed happy to put on the scrubs and doctor's gear. I'm worried that she may not "show" at next year's opening ceremonies.
The world's greatest hometown, family-owned shoe store is onsite...Unger's Shoes. This fantastic establishment is located downtown Ironton on 3rd Street and is a customer-friendly store. Owner Joe Unger might be the nicest gentleman we've ever met on our national tour.
We really enjoyed interacting with the committee....Cheryl, Row Row, lil' Girl, Joyce, Dean, and others. They have a great time and really love their city. The new addition of a Special Olympics "Full-Court DreamCourt" on Sunday was a big hit. We have the best DreamCourt official on tour....Dean Dean the Dancing Machine...the public school Superintendent that rode into Mackerville on his Harley. I can't wait until next year's visit to Ironton...by the way, this city is adjacent to Ashland, Kentucky and West Virginia...where we took a short trip to see Marshall University's historic football stadium.
Ludington, Michigan....June 20-21
We enjoyed perfect weather this year at the beachfront tournament in Ludington. The site next to Lake Michigan has to be the best event location on the tour. My daughter Sam's team placed second in their division...she had a great time and the Belding families coming together for this "getaway" vacation tournament also had a fun time.
Chillicothe, Ohio....June 27-28
A comeback story....our objective this year was to "save the Macker" for this longtime Macker community. We really appreciate the efforts of Lana Corcoran, Randy Drewyor, Dusty Roads, and others that dedicated their time to keep the ball dribblin' in downtown Chillicothe. This was the first year in about three years that all ages were invited to participate. This city was Ohio's first capital and it has beautiful downtown streets for playing our event. I'm hopeful that we will find a new community, charity organization to take over the tournament once more. This city's mayor is probably one of the best hoopsters on tour....we played against him at the YMCA....back-in-the-day.
If you're a Chillicothe veteran, please pass on the word to the city officials and local media about the importance of this event for your family. We need a big campaign to find a group to work with and bring the event back. We love Chillicothe! This year marked our 19th visit and we would like to comeback many more times....because we know you, the players, want it back.
Norwich, New York....July 11-12
If you've never been to Norwich on the second weekend of July, then you haven't experienced the "ultimate" Macker tournament. This is one of the few towns that totally shuts down for our event. It reminds me of the "county fair"....we come once a year and everyone comes downtown for the Macker, whether to play or just to hangout and socialize with friends.
The Norwich YMCA organizes the tournament and they have the Macker system down to a science. We have to give credit to Jamie Mullen and Tom Revoir for the 14 years of history with this community. Norwich is an small Italian city in upstate New York...near Bingahamton and Syracuse. My mother and father inlaw, Annette and Tony Hill grew up in this town. My wife, Renee, has many family members still residing there....non more famous than Uncle Ang (Muzzy) and Aunt Hazel...our King and Queen of Norwich. Each year, Aunt Hazel prepares a home-cooked meal for the entire Macker staff and other local workers at their house on Saturday evening...wow, you haven't experienced life until you've had her meatballs!
The other Norwich highlight is opening ceremonies....this year, the Norwich Fire Department escorted our staff on the hook and ladder fire truck. Patty and my daughter Sam worked the sirens, while myself, Billy G., Meg, Mary, Julia, and Mike rode the top of the truck 5 + blocks into center court. I was allowed to wear Fire Chief, Tracy's fire helmet. Wow, what an honor....it was white, with a hood underneath. It was also "heavy"...kind of made my neck sore....but I was honored and will work on my neck exercises for next year. It was also my father inlaw, Tony's birthday....so we had birthday cake, sang happy birthday and had him shoot the traditional "Do or Die Shot".
By the way, the Norwich Fire Department has their building right onsite....a beautiful, renovated historic building/garage where we have the Macker MASH medical unit and the tournament registration and trophy area inside their garage bays. It works perfect....and brings great pride to the community to incorporate this city building into our activities. The fire employees also work the event....thanks to the City of Norwich for their dedicated support. I don't know of any other city on our tour with this much city interaction.
Norwich Fun Facts:
- downtown street lights allowed us to play much of the games at night-time, due to big rain storms during the day...first night Macker
- Nina's Italian Restaurant....Friday staff lunch every year
- McLaughlin's Department Store....not owned by Melvin "Sugar" McLaughlin's family, but it's a "sweet" store
- best local newspaper on tour....Saturday edition has all tournament brackets, is free and looks like our biggest Mackerville Gusette
- live national anthem....father and daughter duet...the Jackson family
- great food selection onsite....variety, great quality and quaint park setting
- Garf's Cafe has good latte mocha drinks, sandwiches, bagels, ice cream and breakfast items
- popular DreamCourt with our hostess, Downtown Julie Brown and Mother Hubbard....some teams say they have waited three years to get there
- 12-hour drive for our family and staff....like the trip to OZ in the Wizard of OZ movie...there's no place like Norwich....there's no place like Norwich
More to come....please stand by. Thanks for reading...next up....Muncie, Indiana's 20th anniversary. New generation, new feel...great dunks!
Scott "Gus" McNeal
Macker Basketball LLC