By Mel Greenberg
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Friday night is for the seven inductees that make up this year's Class of 2008 to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Thursday night, however, belonged to Val Ackerman, the founding president of the WNBA and current USA Basketball president who recently had the thrill of watching the USA men's and women's teams both earn gold medals at the Beijing Games in China.
"I was a little worried about the depth situation and short time frame the women's team had to prepare, but they were magnificent and much deeper than I thought," Ackerman said.
She continued to vacation in China afterwards but left her family to get here in time for Thursday night's honor.
The Bunn award is considered the highest honor exclusive of being an inductee.
Here is the text of Ackerman's speech, though a few portions of the digital were slightly inaudible due to the Guru's table assignment for the dinner. Also forgive some mispellings, if you spot them. This is being written right into the blog:
"This is very special and an unexpected honor and I want to express my deep felt thanks to the ... Bunn selecton committee for making this possible tonight.
"I want to start off by tipping my hat to (Curt Gowdy Media Award winners) Dave Dupree and Bob Wolff, who really have had illustruous careers and their awards tonight are very well deserved.
"And I want to congratulate this year's class -- they're all basketball giants and together they represent an amazing group who have done so much for the game we love so much.
"Basketball is the No. 1 sport in the world. Sorry foosball, or whatever sport they call it. It really is the No. 1 sport in the world and the reason is the great people that are associated with our game.
"During the years I spent in basketball, I've had the privilege, and I mean that, the privilege to know and learn from and be inspired by many incredible people from so many different spheres in our sport.
"And I can tell you that for me just being part of the basketball continium has truly been an unparalleled honor.
"If somone had told me 20 years ago, or even 15 years ago, or even 10 years ago that would have the opportunity to work with people like (NBA Commissioner) David Stern, or David Gavitt, or Boris Stankovic, the longtime secretary-general of FIBA, or Pat Summitt, an incon in women's basketball, just to name a few, or that I'd be following in the footsteps of emminent people in our sport ... as president of USA Basketball, I just wouldn't have believed that.
"For me, just being part of this distinguished list, has been its own reward.
"Speaking of USA Basketball, I'd like to give a Yeee Howl gto my colleagues Jerry Coleangelo, but thank you for being here.
"I can tell you that a number of us have recently spent a lot of time in China where a great deal of work went into preparing our two teams for the Olympics
"And if you followed closely how much has happened, how much has changed in the world of basketball in the last 15 years, you would know and appreciate that the results that we had -- two gold medals was not only a very satisfying result but also an affirmation on the strength of American basketball at a time when the game continues to expand and the rest of the world keeps getting better, better, and better all the time.
"The changes in international basketball have, of course, been rivaled by the great changes in women's basketball and I feel very lucky to have been have to build on the foundation that has been laid by so many people in the women's game -- players, coaches, and adminstrators, front office people and members of the media, really, so many others who have worked so unselfishly to help bring women's basketball to its rightful place on the sports landscape.
"It has been a source of such great pride for so many of us to see the strides the women's game has made the past couple of decades and I know the progress will continue along with the efforts of the great young players in the game today and the ones that will follow, the great coaches, as well as the many people who serve on the front lines.
"There are three personal acknowledgements I'd like to make before I sit down -- My husband Charley, and my two daughters Emily and Sally are on their way back from China. We had an extended trip there -- 31 days -- and unfortunately couldn't be here.
"But I am accompanied by my mother Barbara, she's the one taking pictures on the front row. She's been a very enthusiastic supporter of all my pursuits including basketball, so mom, thanks for being here and what you have done for me and what you continue to do for me and my family.
"There are two other people without whom I know I wouldn't be standing here tonight.
"The first is Russ Granik. Russ is was just a privilege to work with you and learn from you and to try in a very rough way to emulate your style and your approach to decisiion making and problem solving, a very considered and practical approach, I might add, not to mention your way of dealing with others -- very inclusive and very respective at all times.
"So thank you for opening so many doors for me and being such a tremendous source of council and guidance and friendship over the years. So thank you very much.
"The second person I"d like to acknowledge is David Stern. Every now and then you hear how transformative and in the world of sports David has been that and so much more.
"I do not have enough superlatives, having worked with David for so many years, to describe what he has done for basketball -- to the modernization of the NBA, to his forward-looking approach to branding and globalization, to his support for the WNBA and by definition women's sports -- the list goes on, as there is very little he hasn't done or hasn't impacted.
"I'm kind of fond of saying David sees things that others can't but what really sets him apart is he doesn't just see things, he visualizes things, he doesn't just imagine things, but he actually goes out and gets them done. He makes things happen.
"I can tell you it has absolutely been just the highest of honors to be part of his world and ti try to keep up with him as he goes about his business. And I really thank him for giving me the opportunity to contribute even in a modest way to this great man.
"Again, I'm very greatful to the Hall for this honor and thank all of you."
-- Mel
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