THE NEW ENGLAND BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

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held at Mohegan Sun, go to www.dcphotopro.com.
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2009 New England Basketball Hall of Fame Dinner a Huge Success

The October 9, 2009 New England Basketball Hall of Fame Ceremony was thought of by many as the greatest sports dinner they had ever attended. The common theme expressed in countless emails and letters was that the evening was defined by basketball camaraderie at its best.

The next New England Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony will be held in October, 2012. Nominations will be accepted beginning in spring, 2011. Nomination details will be posted on this website at that time.

What follows is a sampling of the dozens of emails and letters received following the 2009 dinner and ceremony, a well written "New England Basketball Hall of Fame Philosophy" by Bob Stiepock, and a memorable "Opening" speech by Bob Cousy.

• "It was the greatest basketball reunion I have ever been involved with." – Ron Perry, College of The Holy Cross
• "It was truly a special night. The amount of work and preparation involved in pulling all the pieces together is a remarkable achievement." – Ed Reilly, Director of Athletics, Worcester Academy
• "What a great night!" – Tony Camilliere, Chief Consultant, World Youth Peace Summit
• "A wonderful night. It really does mean a lot to the honorees. I heard many say that it was a reunion in some ways, as they were seeing folks they played with and against." – Jeff Hathaway, Athletic Director, University of Connecticut
• "An outstanding job!" – Bob Zuffelato, Toronto Raptors
• "Beyond belief! Friday was really spectacular!" – David Hixon, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Amherst College
• "A wonderful night for New England Basketball. Division III does not get much respect, but sure does at the New England Basketball Hall of Fame!" - Dick Quinn, Sports Information Director, Williams College
• "The affair the Mohegan Sun was fantastic. Everyone had a great time." – Bill Lynch, Chair, Rhode Island Democratic Party
• "The venture of honoring so many deserving contributors to New England Basketball is a staggering, but worthy undertaking that I am sure all involved greatly appreciate. I can attest that all representatives of Middlebury College thoroughly enjoyed the evening!" – Noreen Pecsok, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Middlebury College
• "The event was an incredible reunion of magnificent basketball people and just plain old terrific fun. The dinner was so well-organized and well-run, even with 1600 attendees. Unbelievable!" – Russ Tyler, 2009 Inductee

The New England Basketball Hall of Fame Philosophy

The New England Basketball Hall of Fame casts a wide net over the accomplishments of the region’s renowned basketball participants, including players, coaches, administrators and officials at all levels.

The idea for the New England Basketball Hall of Fame sprang from the notion that among all the places basketball developed, from the concrete courts of New York City to the backyard hoops of Indiana, the initial seedbed for basketball was New England. A game that took root in middle Massachusetts is now played all over the world.

The Hall of Fame recognizes the people whose excellence has contributed to the rich legacy of New England Basketball. The categories that envelope all the people who make up this storied past are necessarily varied. The Division III female player, the Division I star, and the Basketball Hall of Fame Coach all weave colorful threads into the fascinating tapestry of New England Basketball.

So those who share a love of the game and whose memorable basketball accomplishments deserve special recognition gather every three years in a new spirit of goodwill and camaraderie to congratulate one another and to enjoy with one another the profound satisfaction of being part of the distinguished heritage of New England Basketball.

- Robert Stiepock

A Magnificent "Opening" Speech by the Legendary Bob Cousy

On October 4, 2003, New England Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, the great Bob Cousy, delivered the following address at the second ceremony:

Good Evening!

My function tonight is to welcome you, as briefly as possible, to the 2nd annual New England Basketball Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies. It should be mentioned, on top, that none of us would be here, were it not for the prolific imagination and boundless energy and enthusiasm of Mr. Dan Doyle. Dan is the executive director of the Institute for International Sport here at the University, which is listed as his full-time job, however he somehow finds time to dabble in a few other projects as well. So last year his dream for a New England Basketball Hall of Fame for the game he loves dearly was created!

Tonight my friends, may be very bit as meaningful to me as last year when our 1947 Holy Cross NCAA Championship Team was inducted because in looking over this year's list so many of my friends, teammates and former and present coaches who I've had a relationship with, including a sports writer and even a couple of officials, are being acknowledge. I was going to recite their names, but when the number got to 18 - I decided that would not be prudent. I'll simply say it gives me great joy to have you all on board and included. It's well deserved.

In 1957, I co-authored a book for Prentice-Hall with Mr. Al Hershberg called "Basketball is My Life." I was 29 years old and at the mid-point of my playing career with the Celtics and had no way of knowing how prophetic that title would become and what a meaningful role this "child's game" would play in every facet of my life and my families.

So as I stand before you at 75 years old, I hope you'll allow me to elevate this game, this way of life, this addiction that bonds us so intimately, to a level, I sincerely think it deserves. When it is executed properly with the necessary passion and intensity, it becomes in my judgment a thing of beauty; it literally becomes an art form.

Its been said that art is in the eye of the beholder so when I look back over the years and some of the things or performances that have moved my senses, caused me to react emotionally, I think of a Sinatra ballad performed hauntingly in the stillness of a darkened venue, or Streisand bringing tears to the listener's eyes with her beautiful rendition of "Memories," or James Mitchner literally transporting the reader vividly to one of those far away places he wrote so brilliantly about. I think about how the great actors and actresses of our time, the John Wayne's, Spencer Tracy's, Bogart or recently departed Katherine Hepburn moved us in those darkened theatres and brought us to tears or laughter or evoked in us a sense of patriotism or simply motivated us in generally a positive way. I think of my friend Don Hall, an exceptional person and poet who sometimes can touch your soul with his prose. An I see a streaking Nureyev fully extended in mid-air in a classic ballet pose and I say to myself, how is that different from Michael leaving the foul line, in his prime and literally floating, endlessly, through the air and elevating, Peter Pan-like, to the basket to complete this incredible athletic feat and bring 20,000 people to a state of ecstasy and delirium. How does it differ from Dr. J and his amazing mid-air acrobatic moves followed by a gentle laying of the ball in the basket, or Bird with two defenders clawing away at him aggressively and his making an exceptional pass to an open man while seemingly ignoring the presence of the defensive people. I think of the wonderful body language that Magic would display to disguise his eventual "on the money" look away pass to the "wing man" for a spectacular finish, and finally I think of my friend and teammate, Bill Russell, in a moment that would have eliminated us from the playoffs, picking himself out of the crowd where he had ended up after finishing off a lay-up that had put us up by one with 7 seconds left and with the most incredible athletic feat I've ever witnessed on a basketball floor, covering the entire length of the floor to catch and trap Jack Coleman's winning lay-up shot at the buzzer. The 6'10" Coleman had stayed at half court, received the immediate inbound pass after Russ's lay-up and with a 45 foot head start was, he thought, on his way to eliminating the mighty Celtics from that year's competition.

Yes, this game has a unique beauty of its own. I recently heard a radio and TV commercial being aired by a money managing firm which has the old Jazz great, Ellis Marcellis telling us that what gives Jazz its beauty was the improvisation, the fact that the artist was almost making it up as he went along and I thought how well that description "fits" basketball.

When it's performed at its highest form, in my judgment, at any level, when it truly becomes art, is when the imagination of the players is given free rein, a basic structure is required but after that, the synchronization, the development and creation of each movement down court, especially in the minds of the viewers, the fans, must be unpredictable, when this free flow is complimented with the proper chemistry and intensity, it is wonderful to behold and be part of.

And that my friends, is why each of you who are being honored tonight should be especially proud, knowing that all of you have been part of the evolution of this great game, this beautiful Mosaic that has been created for all of us to enjoy.

Welcome and Congratulations!