Guru’s Gowdy Award Countdown: Time to Head to Event Central Early in the AM

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

As the space astronauts years ago were first seen on the way to reach the heavens departing to ride the vehicle to the launch pad, in the early AM Thursday 9-9-21 on the 52nd anniversary of the Guru’s hire at The Philadelphia Inquirer down Broad Street from his alma mater Temple, he heads on the four-hour ride to the home of the WNBA Connecticut Sun at Mohegan in Uncasville driven by his longtime friend from the University of Tennessee and USBWA photographer William ‘Willbill” Ewart, who flew into here for the honor as final preparations are made to receive the Curt Gowdy Media Award for print.

The immediate family will be coming up later in the day.

Many of us Thursday night as previously  mentioned will hang at Tom Urbans open late with lots of space in the property.

Quinnipiac coach Trish Sacca Fabbri, a native of Delran, N.J., across the Delaware from the Guru’s longtime previous home in Northeast Philadelphia will be stopping by as well early arrivals, including those of John Bunn winner Carol Stiff, who couldn’t get enough in Knoxville, Tenn., several weeks ago when she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Incidentally, inductee Villanova men’s coach Jay Wright checked in a little while ago, apologizing for his delayed communication response, recapping his summer with the ending, “l’m a mess.”

TV COVERAGE

Finally, the answer to the question many have asking all of us.

NBA TV will air the entire weekend beginning Friday night.

The awards to the seven recipients and presentations of jackets and wings to the 16 Hall of Famers in groups of four runs from 8 p.m. till 10. The Guru is the fourth overall of the seventh  and final of the three Gowdy  recipients.

The day’s coverage begins 2 p.m. Friday with press conference for the inductees though the Guru and his executive producer/director Lindsey Moppert will be in the room considering four inductees are Big East Commissioner and founding WNBA president Val Ackerman, past WNBA stars Yolanda Griffith and Lauren Jackson (being represented) who again as in the recent WBHOF ceremony was forced to remain in Australia because of Covid protocols, and early scoring sensation Pearl Moore. 

The Gala taped delay times are Friday 9 p.m. for one hour, then the full two hours Saturday at 4 a.m. and 12 p.m. and then 4;30 p.m. for 90 minutes.

Between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. airing live as the scene switches to Springfield, Mass., and the home of the hall, the red carpet arrival - yes Lindsey and your Guru will be walking the red - to the Mass Mutual Center for the inductions airing between 7 p.m. and 10.

The Speech Topics

The guest list will be in the next post to avoid this going real long and there is a lot of sharing going on - yes Villanova’s Lynn Tighe and Harry Perretta will be in the crowd Friday.

The speech has been signed off at this end but there may be some trimming at Friday’s rehearsal with the teleprompter.

In print it’s three pages and the test audience for reading all gave enthusiastic approval.

The attempt was to time line and call out groups and representatives but there will be an event in Philly in the fall with more flexibility.

Here is the flow as of this hour.

Thanks to the hall staff 

Thanks to the Gowdy committee

A quip

Why l got into WBB coverage.

Noting the Gowdy company - shouting out tenple classmate Dickie Hoops Weiss, USBWA leader Malcolm Moran, Jackie McMullan, Doris Burke (the two women)

Congrats to the new Hall of Famers citing the four women and Jay Wright.

A quip leading into Immaculata snd Theresa Grentz (who will be there).

Citing being the first women’s winner.

A quip.

Noting working relationship with Val and Carol and covering Renee Montgomery.

A quip

Recalling Lauren Hill and noting Pat Summitt.

Transition and quip.

Immediate family.

The Famers from WBB - the ones in the room Van Chancellor , Sylvia Hatchell, Sheryl Swoopes, Barb Stevens, Tina Thompson, Jody Conradt (geno coming sat) - locals regrets rush, Muffet, C. Viv, and Dawn.

Quip.

CoSIDA - Rosa Gatti (in the room) Mary Jo Haverbeck, Joyce Aschenbrenner.

Northeast High  Class 123.

Temple - journalism school being manager harry litwack don  casey big five palestra beating Cousy’s BC team for 1969 NIT.

Big Five shoutouts in room Don Di Julia, Jill Bodensteiner, Harry Perretta, Lynn Tighe.

Fran Dunphy with a quip.

The Inquirer - Gene Roberts.

A quip.

Inquier in room - John Quinn, Jim Jenks and wife Kim, Claire Smith, Joe Juliano - regrets Mike Jensen, Jonathan Tannenwald.

Jay Searcy approaches about doing poll. My response. AIAW policy on polls.

Dick Weiss, Mike Flynn.

Gene Foreman,, Sue, Debbie Ryan, Dawn Staley.

Evolvement technology from typewriters to zoom.

AP - Terry Taylor Chuck Schoffner Paul Montella plus Doug Feinberg (hes there).

NCAA - Scotty Rogers Rick Nixon.

USA bb — Carol Callan, Caroline Williams. WBCA.

WNBA - Ron Howard in the room. Conn. Sun and Jenn Rizzotti have a table.

Quip involving David Stern, Val and Donna Orender.

A list of names keeping secret.

Sweet ending.

The guests the next 24 hours.

‘ 

.