Category Archives: Uncategorized

Best Practice at The British Golf Museum

Rebecca Prentice, Assistant Curator

Located beside The Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and the Old Course, St Andrews, the British Golf Museum is a must-see for any golf lover visiting the Home of Golf.

Caring for a collection of over 16000 items, recognised as Nationally Significant by the Scottish

Glove worn by Francesco Molinari at the 2018 Open

Government, the Museum maintains best practice in collections management and care to safeguard its objects for the future, and to continue celebrating the game’s history locally, nationally and internationally. The Museum presents the story of golf from medieval times to the present, encompassing the men’s and women’s games, British and international, amateur and professional. Collection highlights include the oldest-known set of golf clubs in the world, the first Open Gold Medal presented to Tommy Morris Jr in 1872, and the oldest footage of a golf match dating to 1894.  Museum & Heritage staff are also responsible for the care and display of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews collection.

The Museum is Accredited under the United Kingdom-wide Accreditation Scheme – required to follow Spectrum 5.0 procedures and meeting expected standards in collections management, engagement and interpretation of a nationally-styled museum.  Since 2015, the Museum has used the collections management system KE EMu to catalogue its collection, including objects, artworks, archives, library and multimedia.  Records are continually updated and refined for accuracy, to house new research and maintain terminology consistency.  A key benefit of EMu is supporting day-to-day museum practice, conservation and location control.  Pest traps are logged under an integrated pest management programme; given the volume of wood and textiles, any pest outbreak could potentially be very damaging.  Remedial conservation is outsourced to accredited ICON conservators and logged on EMu.  An 1894 portrait of Old Tom Morris, on loan from Glasgow Golf Club, was recently cleaned and repaired to reveal a much clearer picture of the ‘father of golf’.

Curators monitor environmental conditions of temperature, relative humidity [RH] and light levels. Given the breadth and depth of the collection, many items require special attention. The first Minute Book of the Society of St Andrews Golfers from 1754, laying down the Society’s thirteen Articles & Laws in Playing the Golf which form the basis of the Rules today, are displayed under low LED light levels to preserve the delicate ink and paper. The iconic trouser suit worn by Gloria Minoprio at the 1933 English Ladies Amateur Championship must be displayed under optimum conditions of RH – too high, there is a risk of mould, but too low raises the possibility of the fibres cracking.

 

Gloria Minoprio’s outfit at the 1933 English Ladies Championship caused quite a stir. She was the first woman to wear trousers at a major ladies’ championship. Her outfit was deemed inappropriate at the time and there was a fear that the wearing of trousers by ladies would result in a slip in standards of etiquette. Gloria’s ground-breaking fashion led to more freedom of choice for women.

Whether protecting the fragility of mid-19th century glass plate negatives; non-invasive identification of hundreds of golf balls; or the ongoing preservation of historic trophies still presented at championships today, curators seek to continually improve care of collections on display, in storage and in transit.

 

 

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Presents Class of 2019 Inductees!
December 3, 2018, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame announced their 2019 Class of Inductees. The inductees include athletes who are Olympians and World Champions, builders who have dedicated endless hours to develop their sports, a team who knows the meaning of teamwork, and a pioneer who has partaken and watched his sport evolve throughout the decades. The celebration of these inductees is a show of appreciation and acknowledgement to the growth of the sports to which they have contributed and to those they continue to inspire.
“Today, we recognize those who have inspired us through their accomplishments in sports in Alberta and throughout the world. The Class of 2019 Inductees have demonstrated their dedication, skills and commitment to their sports. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at the 2019 Induction Banquet on May 31st in Red Deer,” said Managing Director, Donna Hateley, on the day of the announcement.
The 2019 Inductees are:
Kreg Llewellyn Water Skiing Athlete
Mike Rogers Hockey Athlete
Lyndon Rush Bobsleigh Athlete

James Donlevy Hockey/Football Builder
Dorothy Padget Artistic Swimming Builder
Edward Thresher Wrestling Builder

Randy Ferbey Curling Team
Herman Dorin Pioneer Award, Wrestling
George Stothart Achievement Award, Multisport A/B
Rob Kerr Bell Memorial Award
These Inductees will become Honoured Members on May 31, 2019 at the 2019 Induction Banquet, hosted in Red Deer. More than 600 people from across the provinces and the United States attend this gala event to honour these great athletes, sport builders, pioneers, and media personnel.
https://ashfm.ca/events/induction-banquet

 

In a session led by the 49ers EDU Program, focusing on STEAM concepts, attendees were challenged to build an exhibit case using little more than pipe cleaners and rulers.  The Stadium’s Director of Engineering highlighted the sustainable features of the LEED Gold facility, and shared what happens when you flush 1,100 toilets at the same time! The team’s Director of PREP (youth) initiatives and Fan Engagement got up pumped up about the 49ers hands-on work with young athletes.
The conference sessions presented by ISHA members offered practical advice and showcased excellence in programming, exhibit development and collections management.  The impact of members’ innovation and passion is truly inspirational!
A special “Mistakes Were Made” confessional session allowed members to console each other, laugh about and learn from the mishaps, gaffes and unfortunate occurrences that are sometimes part of museum work.  The Open Forum was a great opportunity to share insights about best practices, crowd-source solutions for our institutions, and brainstorm ways to enhance the ISHA experience.
Keynote presentations by 49ers legend Keenah Turner and San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan highlighted lessons in leadership and teamwork – lessons that resonate with our own efforts as sports heritage professionals.
The Evening of Champions Celebration was a reminder of the power of sport.  Honors were presented to our ISHY Award winners, as well as the inaugural Legacy Award, recognizing Lou Spadia, former San Francisco 49ers President and founder of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.  Lou’s family, along with Kevin O’Brien current BASHOF president and CEO, recalled Lou’s commitment to honoring sports heritage and inspiring young people to participate in sports.
As always, the camaraderie during breaks, meals and social events demonstrated the strong value of ISHA membership and the partnerships formed between museum professionals, designers, and vendors.

By ISHA Member – Michelle Eisenberg, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts

Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois | 2018

Ryan-Walter Athletics Center (Perkins+Will BE & HOK, Designer) Xibitz Scope | 425,000 square feet
A state-of-the-art training, competition and recreation facility calls for experiential elements of the highest quality and exacting fit. That’s what Xibitz provided for Northwestern University – in the form of custom-perforated backlit metal ceiling panels evoking the branded letter “N”; an 86-foot-long solid surface enclosure with 7-foot-high custom dimensional letters; large-scale graphics, custom-printed and mounted to canted panels with the school color in a LED lighting wash; and canted glass enclosures highlighting action figure mannequins for seven Olympic sports.
Additionally, Xibitz created a 30-foot-long wall with two towers of touch interactive displays that provide statistics, video, images and descriptions of historic moments, and more; and a 70-foot-long Hall of Honor featuring students who have become professional athletes.
Financial & Project Management Contractor Management Facility Interface Coordination Design Solutions Mockups & Prototypes AV/Multimedia Integration Lighting & Electrical Integration Construction Drawings Fabrication & Installation

As legacies go, Lou Spadia’s is indelible.

Lou Spadia

From his childhood growing up in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco and starring on the baseball diamond at Mission High School, to his Navy service in World War II, to his 31 years helping to run the San Francisco 49ers, to his fundraising efforts through the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, Spadia left a permanent mark on his region.

But to define his legacy only by those accomplishments would be like leaving a painting unfinished. And Spadia’s completed work of art might just be worthy of Rome’s Galleria Borghese. The son of Italian immigrants, Spadia grew up modestly, but lived a rich life filled with family, faith and the 49ers.

His picture is only complete; however, when one factors in traits not included on a resume.

“He was such an amazing, interesting human being,” his daughter Louisa Spadia-Beckham – more affectionately known as Lulu – said. “Integrity was his best quality and humility was his middle name.”

So it is fitting that Lou Spadia is the inaugural recipient of the International Sports Heritage Association’s (ISHA) Legacy Award – one created to honor a person in the city hosting the organization’s annual conference. The 2018 conference is being hosted by the 49ers Museum in Santa Clara, Calif., from Sept. 26-28.

“We are honored that Lou Spadia was chosen for this very prestigious award,” said 49ers Museum director Jesse Lovejoy. “His contributions to both the Bay Area sports landscape and the history and trajectory of the San Francisco 49ers were wonderful and impactful, and he makes the perfect recipient for ISHA’s first Legacy Award”

Spadia died in 2013 at 92 years old, but his impact on the Bay Area not only lives, but also thrives. Lulu wept when receiving Lovejoy’s call to inform her of the honor. She also knows how her father would have reacted to receiving the same call.

“He would try to talk you out of it,” she said. “Not that he would be ungrateful, but he would want to defer the honor to [original 49ers owners] Tony and Vic Morabito.”

Fighting back tears, she added, “He would say that he was so incredibly proud and honored to have been part of the 49ers, but he was equally proud of his with work with the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF). It feels like an honor that he so deserves.”

Lulu would know. The youngest of four Spadia children, she was always around the 49ers during her father’s tenure with the team that spanned 31 years from 1946 to 1977. She traveled with the club and spent summers at training camp at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

“I remember when I was 16 years old at training camp one summer,” Lulu began. “My parents would go out to eat and I would eat with the team. One night I’m out by the pool around 10 p.m. and out walks someone with a bag of money and a list of food orders. This is when Dick Nolan was the head coach. So they give me the keys to [defensive end] Cedric Hardman’s red Cadillac Eldorado with the license plate ‘Nasty,’ and Mike Nolan and I head out to pick up this loot.

“We’re at a stop light and we see my parents. I slumped down in the seat, but my dad honked his horn and started shaking his finger at me. I was told, ‘This is your last summer at training camp.’ But I think I went two more times.”

She laughed as she shared that memory, and it is one of many she has of her dad, who started with the 49ers upon their founding by Tony and Vic Morabito in 1946.

After finishing his Navy service following World War II, Spadia was struggling to make ends meet when he read in the newspaper that his former commanding officer, John Blackinger, had been named the 49ers general manager. So he hit him up for a job.

Blackinger apparently figured that because Spadia had learned shorthand and could type, he would be useful in the office. He convinced the Morabitos to hire Spadia, who accepted the position for a reported $275 per month. Once in the door, Spadia handled some office duties, but helped with team travel, equipment, bed checks, contracts and whatever else was needed.

“You name it, he did it,” Lulu said.

Former 49ers President Lou Spadia poses with Jane and Josephine Morabito.

He did it for three decades, eventually buying five percent of the team (with his wife, Maggie, buying five percent as well). He became chief executive officer and general manager in 1964 and team president in 1967.

In 1968, he hired Dick Nolan as the 49ers head coach. Two years later, the team started a string of three straight NFC West titles. Spadia never took credit for such accomplishments. He gave it to the Morabitos and anyone else he could.

“It was always understood that dad would downplay his decisions,” Lulu said. “That humility was instilled in my siblings and me (Lou Jr., Kate, Dorothy and Lulu). Our dad went to Mass every day and we were taught to respect what we had. We were blessed and lucky but our parents were adamant about staying out of the limelight.”

Spadia’s will and spirit were tested throughout the 1970s. Maggie Spadia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1970 and fought for six years before succumbing to the disease in 1976. In the meantime, Lou lost his father in 1973 and his mother in 1974. The 49ers were then sold to the DeBartolo family in 1977 and Spadia retired when Joe Thomas was hired to run the team.

“It was a really tough time,” Lulu stressed.

But in so-called retirement, Spadia dedicated himself to helping underprivileged youth participate in sports. He started the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame as a way to raise money to give back to kids in need of an opportunity.

There was no brick-and-mortar structure because a building was expensive and needed to be maintained. Spadia wanted all of the money raised to go to the kids.

“He grew up without much money and he was that that kid,” Lulu said. “He wanted to give those kids a chance. It was about providing an opportunity for kids more than honoring athletes so that those kids could become those athletes.”

Since its inception in 1979, BASHOF has distributed millions of dollars to hundreds of local youth groups, fulfilling Spadia’s goal and then some.

That legacy, the one for which he is being honored at the year’s ISHA Conference, never waned.

“He was riding in an elevator at the Fairmont Hotel when a little boy and his dad get on,” Lulu said. “The dad is whispering to the boy about who it was in the elevator. The boy looks up and says, ‘Didn’t you used to be Lou Spadia? So my dad reached into his pocket, grabbed his wallet, showed the boy his license and said, ‘It says here I still am.’”

And who he was is why he is being honored by ISHA as much as for what he did. But then again, what he did was because of who he was.

 

 

 

 

 

Frisco, Texas – (May 31, 2018) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame introduced its 2018 class today with a series of surprise announcements in five different cities across the country. The newest members of the National Soccer Hall of Fame include Cindy Parlow Cone (veteran), Dr. Bob Contiguglia (builder), Brad Friedel (player), Don Garber (builder, elected in 2016 but deferred enshrinement to 2018) and Tiffeny Milbrett (player).

New members of the 2018 class were informed of their election by current Hall of Famers who either played, worked with or currently work with the Inductees. In Foxborough, Mass., Friedel’s former U.S. MNT teammate Tab Ramos (Class of ’05) surprised the Revolution head coach at the conclusion of a training session, while in Raleigh, N.C., UNC head coach Anson Dorrance (Class of ‘08) informed Parlow Cone during a North Carolina FC Youth staff meeting. During a National Soccer Hall of Fame technology meeting in Manassas, Va., former U.S. Soccer Secretary General Hank Steinbrecher (Class of ’05) informed Dr. Contiguglia of his honor. To close out Induction Announcement Day, in Portland, Ore., Brandi Chastain (Class of ’16) surprised former U.S. WNT teammate Milbrett during a gathering with friends and family. The day kicked off in Manhattan with MLS Senior Vice President of Competition and Player Relations Jeff Agoos (Class of ’09) surprising Garber during a MLS staff meeting with a commemorative scarf and coin that each of the recipients received.
Click HERE to download b-roll and sound of each of the surprise announcements.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame voting committee determined the 2018 class from a list of 32 finalists on the Hall of Fame player ballots, nine finalists on the Hall of Fame veteran ballots and seven finalists on the Hall of Fame builder category.

The Class of 2018 will be enshrined during a induction ceremony held Oct. 20 at the brand-new National Soccer Hall of Fame located at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. Click here for more information about the National Hall of Fame Induction Weekend presented by Budweiser.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2018

Cindy Parlow Cone, Veteran

  • Midfielder – U.S. Women’s National Team (1995-2006), University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (1995-98), Atlanta Beat (2001-03)
  • Head Coach – Portland Thorns FC  (2012-13)
  • Currently – North Carolina FC’s Durham-Chapel Hill Girls Director

Cone has a decorated history with the U.S. Women’s National Team. She retired as the squad’s 5th all-time leading scorer during an era in which she helped the U.S. women win the World Cup in 1999 and third place in 2003. Her 158 caps and 75 goals also earned her two Olympic gold medals and a silver medal and, to this day, she remains the youngest soccer player (male or female) to win an Olympic gold medal and a World Cup. Prior to her international career, Cone was a two-time NCAA Player of the Year and two-time NCAA National Champion at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Cone continued her Tar Heel career as an assistant coach where she helped guide the team to four NCAA Championships. She then went on to win the inaugural NWSL Championship (2013) as the head coach of the Portland Thorns. She also served on the coaching staff for the U.S. U-14 & U-15 Girls’ National Teams (2010-2013).

Click HERE for b-roll and sound of Anson Dorrance informing Cindy Parlow Cone of her election into the Hall of Fame.  UNC assistant women’s soccer coach Bill Palladino, Cindy’s former USWNT teammate Carla Overbeck as well as her husband, John, and son, Steve, were also in attendance for the announcement.

Dr. Bob Contiguglia, Builder

  • Former President, U.S. Soccer (1998-2006)
  • Former President, U.S. Youth Soccer (1990-1996)
  • Currently – Enjoying retirement and coaching a U-12 soccer team

Dr. Bob Contiguglia served as President of U.S. Soccer from August, 1998 until March, 2006. U.S. Soccer reached several important milestones during his tenure, including a U.S. Women’s National Team victory in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal won by the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The Great Neck, NY native and Denver, CO resident also served as the President of U.S. Youth Soccer from 1990-96.

Click HERE for b-roll and sound of Hank Steinbrecher informing Dr. Bob Contiguglia of his election into the Hall of Fame.

Brad Friedel, Player

  • Goalkeeper – U.S. Men’s National Team (1992-2005), UCLA (1990-92), Newcastle United (1994), Brondby (1995), Galatasaray (1995-96), Columbus Crew (1996-97), Liverpool (1997-2000), Blackburn Rovers (2000-08), Aston Villa (2008-11), Tottenham Hotspur (2011-15),
  • Head Coach – U.S. U-19 MNT (2016-17), New England Revolution (2017-present)

Brad Friedel had a decorated club career that spanned more than 20 professional seasons, including 17 in the English Premier League and 13 years with the United States Men’s National Team. Between 1997 and 2015, Friedel made 450 league appearances in England’s top flight with four clubs: Liverpool (1997-2000), Blackburn Rovers (2001-08), Aston Villa (2008-11), and Tottenham Hotspur (2011-15). As a U.S. international, Friedel collected 82 international caps and was a member of three United States World Cup squads in 1994, 1998 and 2002. The Lakewood, OH native represented the United States at two Olympic Games in 1992 and 2000. Friedel played collegiately at UCLA where he earned the Hermann Trophy in 1992 which is awarded to college soccer’s best player. Friedel was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Click HERE for b-roll and sound of former USMNT teammate Tab Ramos informing Brad Friedel of his election into the Hall of Fame.

Don Garber, Builder

  • MLS Commissioner (1999-present)

Don Garber was named Commissioner of Major League Soccer in 1999 after 16 years at the National Football League where he served in a variety of senior leadership positions. During his tenure, MLS has expanded from 10 to 26 clubs, added 22 new owners and secured long-term broadcast agreements with ESPN, FOX and Univision along with major broadcasters in Canada, Europe, Asia and South America.  Garber has also led efforts to develop 19 soccer stadiums in the United States and Canada, and five more soccer venues will open in the next few years.  In addition, Garber serves as CEO of Soccer United Marketing, the commercial arm of MLS and multiple soccer properties, including U.S. Soccer. In 2011, the Los Angeles Times named Garber one of the nation’s top sports commissioners. He has been named among the top 50 most influential people in sports business by the Sports BusinessJournal every year since 2005. The Queens, NY native was originally elected into the Hall of Fame in 2016 but opted to defer his enshrinement until 2018.

Click HERE for b-roll and sound with Don Garber and Hall of Famer Jeff Agoos.

Tiffeny Milbrett, Player

  • Forward – U.S. Women’s National Team (1991-2006), University of Portland (1990-94), Shiroki FC Serena (1995-97), New York Power (2001-03), Sunnana SK (2005), Vancouver Whitecaps (2006-08), Linkopings FC (2006-07), FC Gold Pride (2009-10), Bay Area Breeze (2011)
  • Currently – Colorado Storm Director of Coaching U-16 & U-17 Girls and ECNL

While playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team, Tiffeny Milbrett earned a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games, a silver medal in the 2000 Olympic Games and was a member of the squad that won the 1999 Women’s World Cup. She earned 206 caps, scored 100 goals and played in three World Cups. When not playing for her country Milbrett played professionally for clubs in Japan, USA, Sweden and Canada from 1995-2010. The Portland, OR native and Denver, CO resident is the University of Portland’s second-leading goal scorer (103) and is fourth all-time in assists (40).

Click HERE for b-roll and sound of Brandi Chastain informing Tiffeny Milbrett of her election into the Hall of Fame.

About the National Soccer Hall of Fame

The National Soccer Hall of Fame was originally founded in 1950 by the Philadelphia Old-Timers Association to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to American soccer. In 1979, the National Soccer Museum, as a physical entity, was established in Oneonta, NY. It was officially recognized as the National Soccer Hall of Fame by the U.S. Soccer Federation in 1983.

In June of 1999, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a 30,000 square-foot museum in Oneonta where it housed a collection of more than 80,000 items and artifacts such as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy, the oldest soccer ball made in the U.S. and the 1994 FIFA World Cup U.S. archive. The facility closed in February of 2010.

In 2013 FC Dallas owners Clark and Dan Hunt launched a campaign to bring the Hall of Fame to Frisco where it is currently under construction in the south end of Toyota Stadium. Their late father, Lamar Hunt, was inducted in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1982. In 1999, he received the Hall’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor. He remains one of only three individuals to have won the award.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame will open October 20, 2018 with the Hall of Fame Weekend presented by Budweiser.

TORONTO (June 1, 2018) –  Mark Spector, President of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, and Chuck Kaiton, President of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association, announced today that Larry Brooks will receive the Elmer Ferguson Award for excellence in hockey journalism, and Joe Bowen will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Larry Brooks began his hockey writing career as a beat reporter at the New York Post, covering the New York Islanders and New York Rangers in the 1970s.  His insight caught the attention of the New Jersey Devils, who hired the rising star to serve as the team’s vice president of communications and radio color commentator.  After ten years with the Devils, Brooks rejoined the New York Post and began his current streak of 22 straight seasons covering the Rangers.  Since 1995 Brooks has also been the Post’s national NHL columnist.

“Over the years Larry Brooks became the most important read on one of the NHL’s most important beats, the New York Rangers,” said Spector.  “Beyond his edgy, colorful and on-point coverage of the Rangers, Brooks’ weekly Slap Shots column has become destination copy for readers across the hockey world.”

Joe Bowen began his broadcasting career calling hockey games for his hometown Sudbury Wolves. After a short stint with the American Hockey League’s Nova Scotia Voyageurs, Bowen began a 36-year run as the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Currently teamed with Jim Ralph on TSN 1050 and Sportsnet The Fan 590, Bowen has described the action for more than 3,000 games to some of the world’s most dedicated hockey fans.  As passionate in the community as he is on the airwaves, Bowen has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Leukemia research, and was named an ambassador for the city of Sudbury in 2002.  Bowen also received the George Gross Award as Sports Media Canada’s broadcaster of the year in 2013.

“Joe Bowen’s contagious enthusiasm in the booth has entertained Toronto Maple Leafs fans for decades,” said Kaiton. “The voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs is an extremely worthy recipient of the 2018 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award.”

Brooks and Bowen will receive their awards at the “Hockey Hall of Fame NHL Media Awards Luncheon” in Toronto on Monday, November 12, 2018, and their award plaques will be displayed in the Esso Great Hall at the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside past award recipients.

Recipients of these awards, as selected by their respective associations, are recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame as “Media Honourees” ─ a separate distinction from individuals inducted as “Honoured Members” who are elected by the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

The 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend begins on Friday, November 9, 2018, culminating with the Induction Celebration on Monday, November 12, 2018.  This year’s inductees will be announced on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

Named in honour of the late Montreal newspaper reporter, the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award was first presented in 1984 by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association in recognition of distinguished members of the hockey writing profession whose words have brought honour to journalism and to the game of hockey.

Named in honour of the late “Voice of Hockey” in Canada, the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award was first presented in 1984 by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and to the game of hockey.

For more information:

Mark Spector

Professional Hockey Writers’ Association

[email protected]

Chuck Kaiton

NHL Broadcasters’ Association

[email protected]

Former All-Pro football guard Conrad Dobler, gold medal winning swimmer Rachel Komisarz-Baugh, retired basketball player and current University of Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak and national golf long drive champion Evan “Big Cat” Williams have been elected into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame for 2018.

The 46th Annual Induction Banquet will be Thursday, June 21, 2018, at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan.  Tickets for the banquet, which begins at 5:30 pm., are $125 and can be ordered by calling (313) 407-3300.  Information on the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame is available at www.polishsportshof.com.

Conrad Dobler played college football at Wyoming from 1968-71 where he starred as an offensive tackle in his second and third years and then played at defensive end his senior season.  Named to the all-conference and all-academic team, he was taken in the 1972 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 5th round.  Dobler played with the Cardinals (1972-77), New Orleans Saints (1978-79) and the Buffalo Bills (1980-81).  Playing at right offensive guard, he started every game but four in his 10-year career.   For six of his NFL years, the offensive lines anchored by Dobler led the league in fewest sack allowed.  The 1975 Cardinals set the NFL record for fewest sacks in a season by only allowing only eight the entire year.  Dobler was selected for three consecutive Pro-Bowls in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

Rachel Komisarz-Baugh was a three-time Southeastern Conference champion and a seven-time NCAA All-American swimmer at the University of Louisville from 1996-1999.  Swimming freestyle and butterfly, she was named SEC swimmer of the year in 1999.  Komisarz-Baugh was a member of the U.S. National team that won two Olympic medals and 13 World Championship medals.  In the 2004 summer Olympics, she won a gold medal in the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, and a silver medal in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay.  In the 2003, 2004 and 2005 World Championships, Komisarz-Baugh won Gold medals in the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, and in the 2008 World Championship, she won a Gold medal in the women’s 4×100-meter medley.

Larry Krystkowiak played basketball at the University of Montana where he still holds the school career records for points and rebounds. The 6’9” forward was named conference MVP three times (1984-86) and was a two-time Academic All-American.  Krystkowiak was selected by the Chicago Bulls as the 28th pick in the ’86 draft. He played nine seasons in the NBA with the Spurs, Bucks, Jazz, Magic, Bulls and Lakers where he averaged eight points and five rebounds per game. After his playing days, Krystkowiak coached Montana to two conference tourney championships and two NCAA tournament appearances. He joined the NBA coaching ranks as an assistant with the Bucks before being elevated to head coach in 2007.  Krystkowiak is currently in his seventh season as head coach at the University of Utah.

Evan “Big Cat” Williams is credited by many with creating visibility for long drive competitions, putting the sport on the map by virtue of his back-to-back U.S. National Long Drive Championship titles in 1976 and 1977.  With a blast of 353 yards, he defeated, among others, Jim Dent, considered the longest driver on the PGA tour.  His winning drive stayed on the books as the championship record for 18 years.  Big Cat brought long drive competitions to the forefront of sports with exhibitions in 26 countries.  Over the years, Williams won national long drive titles in the United States, Australia and Bermuda.