Illinois has a long, rich legacy in the sport of basketball; from high school memories and legends of the IHSA tournament, to the NBA title runs of the Chicago Bulls, basketball is deeply rooted in the state's culture. But unlike other nearby states with similar traditions, there is not yet a museum devoted to the state's history in the sport.
Bruce Firchau is among those leading the charge to give the sport a repository for its basketball keepsakes and legacy; he spoke to Rotary on behalf of the Basketball Museum of Illinois, which is scheduled to be open and ready for use in Pontiac by the fall of 2019. This is an effort sponsored by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association; Pontiac was chosen out of a number of candidate cities, mainly because of its ongoing effort to become a "City of Museums" -- it already hosts several other museums, and the proposed site (a converted K-Mart) will share space with a transportation museum.
Firchau says he and his colleagues have interviewed many former players and coaches, to gather and preserve their stories for generations to come. They have recounted tales from the glory days of high school basketball, including the championship run of Hebron and the near-miss for tiny Cobden; Loyola's push for the NCAA title in 1963; and the struggle of those who were left out in the early days of the game, including girls and African-American youths.
While he says they will deal equally with the good and the bad of the sport's history, the aim is to inspire future players and coaches; many who didn't find success on the hardwood, still used the lessons of hard work, sacrifice and teamwork to inspire them in their careers and their lives.