Great basketball players...great basketball stories...all at the Hall of Fame this summer!
The "60 Days of Summer" program at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield offers 60 consecutive days of family oriented interactive museum programming. Starting on July 1 and running through August 31, the Hall of Fame will host various appearances, autograph signings, magicians, trick dribblers and jugglers, mascot days, giveaway days, and much more! Best of all, these appearances are FREE of charge to all museums guests. Information about these events is updated daily so be sure to check www.hoophall.com to see what exciting programming the "60 Days of Summer" has to offer. All appearances are at 1 p.m. and feature an autograph session following the players’ stories about their careers in basketball. Here are 5 Great appearances from the lineup:
Muggsy Bogues. Gary Payton. 1. July 2 – Antoine Walker. While in college at the University of Kentucky, the former Boston Celtic won the 1996 NCAA Championship and was named the SEC Tournament MVP, named to the All SEC First Team, named to the All SEC Tourmament Team and the All NCAA Regional Team. Come hear his stories!
2. July 3 – Rick Barry. A 1987 inductee at the Basketball Hall of Fame, Barry is a retired basketball player considered to be one of the greatest forwards the game has ever known. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in history by the NBA in 1996, Barry is the only player to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), ABA and NBA in scoring for an individual season.
3. July 19 & 20 – Muggsy Bogues. Hear stories from one of the greatest ball handlers ever to play the game. Bogues played at Wake Forest University where he was given the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award his senior year. After that he played for the Washington Bullets and the Charlotte Hornets. Not bad for a guy who stands 5’ 3” and is the shortest player ever in the NBA.
4. July 25 – Spud Webb. Currently the president of basketball operations for the Texas Legends, Webb started playing at North Carolina State University, and was then drafted in the 4th round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Detoit Pistons. Next came the Atlanta Hawks, and in 1986, he became the shortest person to compete in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Webb then became a starter for the Sacramento Kings, where he enjoyed his best years statistically.
5. July 29 – Gary Payton. Known as “The Glove” for his defensive prowess, Payton was a nine-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection. He was an All-NBA First Team selection in both 1998 and 2000 and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996. He’s also won two Olympic Gold Medals and an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat. Payton is going to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with the Class of 2013.