By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
After the events of June 13-15, it is apparent we stand on the precipice of losing yet another of Indiana’s prized basketball traditions. The annual Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series drew only slightly over 5,000 fans to Conseco Fieldhouse last Friday. The crowd that attended Sunday’s game in Louisville made 5,000 seem like a very large number.
There are several theories floated for the waning popularity of this event. However, the ultimate question is not what is wrong, but rather who will, or can, fix it. One thing is clear: Losing the All-Star series would be another in a list of serious blows to Indiana’s most prized sporting tradition.
There are people who will tell you the series is suffering from the general drop in popularity of high school basketball within the state. They point to the IHSAA’s decision to institute class basketball as the crippling blow to our storied tradition. Frankly, they are, at least to an extent, correct in their view.
Others point to the increased popularity of other sports, specifically football. This makes no sense to me at all. Unless someone forgot to send me the rules, even football coaches do not believe that being a fan of football is mutually exclusive to a love for roundball.
Critics argue that the commitment from the Indianapolis Star, which has long sponsored and managed the event, is not what it once was or should be. Again, there is probably some legitimacy to that opinion. However, I believe it is unfair to point fingers at local personnel at the Star.
The paper is no longer locally owned and, with the state of the newspaper industry in this country, ownership has far more important matters than a charity sporting event to worry about.
The retirement of long-time game director Pat Aikman, for whom the games were a life-long passion, is yet another commonly stated reason for this crisis. That may well be true. However, anyone who is highly critical of the job done by first-year game director Pete Smith needs to undergo a reality check.
Smith was handed the keys to a crumbling castle and told to try to keep the ceiling from falling on his head. He did the best he could do.
Regardless of the reasons for the decline, the question remains: What can be done to revitalize this series? Let’s start with the one thing we CANNOT do.
Those of us who treasure this state’s basketball heritage cannot simply throw our hands in the air and wistfully utter, “Oh, well.” We have already done that about a half-dozen times too many.
The renewal process can begin with the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association taking a more high-profile stance in promoting the game of high school basketball. That group has for too long adopted an attitude of “it exists, therefore they will come.” Compare the promotional efforts, organization, and passion of the IBCA with that of the corresponding group in football, and you begin to see some of the things that need done.
High school coaches need to do a better job of marketing the game to youngsters in Indiana. They need to make a concerted effort to ensure that players understand the honor and historical significance of being named an Indiana All-Star.
The selection process for the All-Star team needs to be far more publicized, competitive and, above all, open to equal amounts of influence from all parts of the state. Whether the perceived snub toward certain parts of the state is real or not, we are trying to generate increased interest statewide, and all parts of the state need to feel they are an important piece of the process.
Perhaps it is time to direct the proceeds from the series to a more high-profile charity. Perhaps the benefiting charity should change annually. The series has always been for the benefit of the Star’s Blind Fund, and it is a wonderful organization. However, partnering with a more visible charity could enlist the marketing help of some powerful publicity machines housed within those groups. A more visible and widespread promotional effort is crucial to the survival of the event.
Along those lines, this state is home to some of the most legendary basketball players of all time. Many of those have worn the All-Star jersey. Surely, one of these individuals would take a lead role as a way of paying back.
Maybe the first step is a summit of those people who have devoted their lives to basketball and might be willing to help. I speak of people like Gary Donna of Hoosier Basketball Magazine, Roger Dickinson of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Indianapolis radio personality John Michael Vincent, and others.
Certainly, we at Hoosier Authority stand ready and willing to participate in any meaningful way.
In the end, this very valuable part of our heritage will only find a renewed existence if those of us who treasure Indiana’s basketball history begin to equally value the game’s present and future.
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