Time for Big Dipper to regain stature
It’s time to put the BIG back into the Big Dipper to regain stature among elite holiday basketball tournaments
For local boys basketball fans, the Big Dipper Tournament at Rich South was as much a holiday tradition as candy canes, eggnog and gingerbread cookies.
For local boys basketball fans, the Big Dipper Tournament at Rich South was as much a holiday tradition as candy canes, eggnog and gingerbread cookies.
The championship and third-place games routinely attracted standing-room-only crowds. Parking spots were at a premium.
That wasn’t the case Dec. 29, when Morgan Park and Farragut played for the championship of Big Dipper 46. The gym was half-full.
It was a sad sight.
Not even the star power of Morgan Park junior Adam Miller, who established a tournament single-game scoring record of 48 points while earning MVP honors, could attract a sellout.
“We have to get the attendance numbers up,” Rich South athletic director Danny Savage said. “We need to get the Big Dipper where it used to be.” That’s easier said than done. But the Dipper is worth fighting for — without a doubt.
Until three years ago, it was the hottest ticket in town, ranked among the best holiday tournaments.
It was a destination, a mustsee four-day event where you could watch the area’s best teams alongside other elite programs.
What also separated the 16-team tourney from its competitors was the 35-second shot clock, which prevents stalling tactics, encourages scoring and keeps the day’s schedule running like clockwork.
It also provided a safe, family-friendly atmosphere.
Over 43 years, former Rich South athletic directors George Egofske and Mark Hopman and athletic secretary Nancy Adduci built and nurtured the event.
Mike McGrone, who no longer works in the district, nearly destroyed the Dipper in two years.
I’ll never forget when he addressed the crowd prior to the 2015 championship game — his first as Rich South’s principal.
He waxed poetic about himself, sounding more like a politician than a school administrator. His bloviating turned off loyal Dipper supporters.
It was the beginning of a precipitous fall from grace for the tradition-rich tournament.
Teams such as Bloom, Marian Catholic, Tinley Park, Crete-Monee and Leo eventually left. And the fans followed.
Only four Southland teams remain: Rich South, Rich East, Rich Central and Thornton. The rest of the field consists of teams from Chicago and Indiana.
Two-time defending Class 3A state champion Morgan Park joined the field last year, which is a plus, but it’s not enough.
The Dipper needs more local teams.
In his first year as athletic director, Savage is determined to do so.
“I’m trying to make connections with other schools,” Savage said. “We need to make this is a South Side tournament again. We’d love to have teams who used to be in the Dipper come back.”
The best way would be to reach into the Dipper’s past. Call Hopman and Adduci, both of whom moved up their retirements in 2015 while toiling under McGrone. Adduci worked on the Dipper for 30 years, Hopman for 18.
Not only would this allow Savage to tap into their expertise, but it would demonstrate to local teams the Dipper is sincere in wanting to restore the roar.
I called Hopman, who sounded receptive about talking to Savage.
“Sure I would,” Hopman said. “The Dipper wasn’t a basketball tournament, it was a transcendent South Side event that was a source of tremendous pride for the Dipper family, District 227 and the broader community.
“It was our holiday jewel. It has been sad for Nancy and I to watch the jewel become tarnished.”
Savage confirmed he was going to reach out to Hopman. So there’s hope.
“We have a great administrative staff, a great principal (Larry Varn) and a supportive school board,” Savage said. “We all want to make this a great tournament again.”
“The Dipper wasn’t a basketball tournament, it was a transcendent South Side event ... ”
— Mark Hopman, former Rich South athletic director