Taking a break from packing for my early departure to Knoxville tomorrow morning to bring in a quick update about the plans.
Acacia, Mel, and I will be arriving in Knoxville during the day tomorrow. I've been talking to some of Mel's colleagues and contemporaries and will continue to do so while we are down there, so we can post some thoughts and opinions about his induction. I've got a few to start off with today, including words from a subject in one of the photographs in the post below.
Mel will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2007 with Andrea Lloyd Curry, Pamela Kelly-Flowers, Daedra Charles-Furlow, Bridgette Gordon, and Andy Landers. Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer will be escorting Mel down the grand staircase during his induction.
Anticipated highlights of our time in Knoxville?
-A black-tie induction ceremony Saturday night (Mel has confirmed that he will be wearing a tuxedo)
-A Pat Summitt-hosted poolside barbecue
-Temperature highs in the nineties...
-Several WBB/Induction related events
We'll be back with a full schedule tomorrow.
Some quotes in Mel's honor -- starting, of course, with one from him:
Mel on his choice of C. Vivian Stringer as his escort:
"Throughout both our careers, we usually ended up in the same place when she's had her biggest moments. Last March was typical of that when (Rutgers) made their Final Four Run. Now I thought it's time to turn the tables and we can be together again -- this time for one of my biggest moments."
University of Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma on Mel:
“Mel Greenberg has been an integral part of the Women’s Basketball community for so long that I don’t remember the time when he wasn’t. Mel, more then any other member of the media has shown an appreciation for the game that goes above and beyond the bounds of just doing his job. His passion for the coaches the players and all that the game stands for is unmatched. His desire to help promote the game will always be noted as one of the driving forces that have made women’s basketball what it is today.”
Villanova Coach Harry Perretta on Mel (they've known each other 25 years):
"He’s the guy who did stuff for women’s basketball when nobody else was really doing anything. He started the top 25 poll. I thought that was really good, and he wrote articles about women’s basketball when nobody else was... My cell phone rings at all hours of the day. I keep it next to me because I know Mel could call. Since I have children, though, he’s been a little more lenient on me."
La Salle Coach Tom Lochner on Mel:
"As I have gotten to know him though my 20-plus years as a coach, with him being so close (in Philadelphia), is that as great as he is professionally, and as much as he has done for women’s basketball, he is an even nicer person."
Do you know Mel (or just read and appreciate his work) and want to add to this? Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email by clicking on my name on the sidebar and your thoughts will be posted here.
Stay tuned for more updates from Knoxville tomorrow!
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