Facebook App
I received dozens of e-mails in response to my blog in which I argued that the caliber of high school basketball in Illinois isn't as good as it used to be.
Most of them agreed with me. But Chief Chalie had an opposing view. He wrote a very eloquent retort. Unfortunately, he didn't provide an e-mail address so I couldn't respond directly to him. So, in accordance with a policy that I established when my blog was introduced last October, I deleted his missive.
But I want to respond. We will probably agree to disagree on this point. But that's what debate is all about, well intentioned and intelligence conversation, not name-calling and back-biting.
Chief Chalie writes that Chicago continues to produce great college players who are represented in every conference, particularly point guards, "which is a position that requires fundamentals."
"I have lived all over the country and I have to say IHSA basketball is still the best I have seen regardless of the recent scandals," Chief Chalie e-mailed.
"You really sound like a bigger grandpa. The 1970s were almost 40 years ago. Yes, we should honor those teams and players alike. But come on, man. How many times will you blog about Buckner or the great Quincy teams of the past?
"I would be more understanding if you mentioned the Peoria teams of the 1990s or the (Thornton) team that featured Randle El, Ely and Napoleon Harris. Or even Chris Head's Westinghouse teams. Those were fundamental teams. Or even the St. Joseph team that beat King with Leon Smith and Imari Sawyer and East St. Louis with Darius Miles. Or even the Schaumburg team that beat Eddy Curry's team.
"Get a grip, man. The best high school basketball is played in Illinois right now. We don't have the corrupt prep schools with revolving doors."
So Chief Chalie had his say. Now I'll respond, point by point.
1. I didn't say high school basketball in Illinois today isn't of good quality. I said it isn't as good as it used to be. It may be as good or better than any other area of the country. But it isn't as good as it used to be in Illinois. There aren't as many elite teams or as many elite players being produced annually. The state tournament isn't what it used to be and I don't blame the four-class system for that.
2. Whenever I have mentioned the great teams in state history, Peoria Manual's 1997 team always in included on the list of the top 10. Thornton in the 1990s was good but never won a state title. If you are a rational and objective evaluator of state basketball, and you saw them play (otherwise, you don't qualify to cast a vote), you can't dismiss the fact that Thornridge 1972 and Quincy 1981 were the two best tams in state history. In fact, I rarely have a conversation with anyone who argues the point.
3. You're right. St. Joseph 1999 probably accomplished more and received less credit and props than any state champion this side of Schaumburg 2001. Neither team had star power, which is why I suppose neither one ever is ranked among the best of all time. Even St. Joseph coach Gene Pingatore admits he produced at least four or five other teams that were better than 1999, including his Isiah Thomas teams of 1978 and 1979, but none ever won a state championship.
4. No corruption in Illinois high school basketball? What planet are you living on? Transfers -- legal, illegal, unethical or immoral -- have become a cottage industry since the 1950s. Remember Bumpy Nixon? The practice has become more widespread in the last two decades with the proliferation of AAU and summer competition. Some teams, even state finalists, have two or three players who list false addresses and live in other communities. And academics? Student-athletes? You must work for the NCAA. There were kids playing in Peoria who think X's and O's refer to their signatures.
Chief Chalie, I've been watching and covering high school basketball in Illinois since 1952. I've watched games in nearly every gym in the Chicago Public and Catholic League, the great gyms in the suburbs from Thornton to Lockport to Bloom to East Aurora to Hinsdale Central to Proviso West to Proviso East, and Downstate from Collinsville to Edwardsville to Quincy, Champaign, Springfield, Decatur, Galesburg and Pontiac and a lot of other places in between.
I still prefer shorts to skirts and I still think the great players of the 1950s and 1960s and 1970s...Sweet Charlie Brown, Paxton Lumpkin, Abe Booker, Bobby Joe Mason, George Wilson, Tom Hawkins, Cazzie Russell, Quinn Buckner, Rickey Green and others...could make the transition to whatever style they are playing today.
C'mon, Chief Chalie, did you ever experience more excitement than the Proviso West tournament during the Isiah Thomas/Mark Aguirre/Doc Rivers era in the late 1970s? Or Hebron's Cinderella team in 1952 and the state tournament in old Huff Gym? Or Anthony Smedley's steal and game-winning shot in 1963? Or Laird Smith's game-winning shot in 1976? Or underdog Maine South's drive to the state title in 1979? Or the triple overtime thriller in 1989?
Those were the good ole days. I haven't seen their like since. When I do, I'll be sure to let you know.
Cell Phone Alerts
I was surpsised to log on and see my name in your title. With that being said I do respect you intimate knowledge of the history of the game, in particular IHSA. You are right we will have to agree to disagree.
However I did not say that there was not any corruption in the IHSA. I said in comparison to some of the things that go on in other states (reclassifying, questionable transfers) the problems faced by the IHSA are not that bad. There are States and regions where the rules are not enforced at all. For example in the DMV area (DC Maryland and Virginia) kids tranfer between schools and between states often with no penalty. No sitting out at all.
Loren Jackson was crucified for creating Boys to Men ( I am not supporting Mr. Jackson) yet there are numerous "prep" schools opening everyday on the east and west coast with shady dealings going on all the time. The grass is not always greener.
Personally I believe the best IHSA ball was played in the 90's, but thats just my opinion. I do respect the guys playing now, I also believe that the parity in IHSA basketball has increased, which may cause some players to not appear as dominate as some of those past greats. Seriously basketball is as popular as it has ever been, and a lot more kids aspire to greatness on the hardwood than in days past. The results, more competition, more individual talent ( we may agree the team play is not as good and I didnt see the teams of the 70's play, so I guess i can't speak on them). Quin Buckner would probably be a consensus top 50 player today, maybe even a MCD All- American, however I would venture to say his performance wouldn't be as dominant as it was then. Would George Mikan average the same numbers in the NBA today? Would Wilt? We will never know but I would say no.
With that being said keep up the good work Mr. Bell, though we dont agree on everything I respect your opinion and I appreciate the response!
Taylor,
I have watched Illinois HS March Madness since the days of Cazzie Russell. I played against Bob and Tom Kivisto, Dave Butz, watched Bob Lackey dominate the playgrounds of Evanston. Taylor, sadly your dead on. Up until the late 90's Illinois was producing as many blue clippers as any state in the country. In the "USA Today" national high school polls during the 80's and 90's Illinois was always well represented. One year Peoria Manual ended up #1 with Thornton #2 and Whitney Young #8. All in the same year!
Just look at the top 150 players in the country this year. Illinois has but a few. The same was true last year and the year before that. What talent there is is being produced is in the greater Chicago land area and those numbers are down . Rockford isn't what it use to be. I don't see any Tom Parkers, Kevin Stallworths or Doug Collins being turned out in southern Illinois either . Will this change? I don't know.
The old Public League Tournament of just a few years ago that sent its champion downstate was once an event not to be missed. But the principles killed it. A ticket to the State finals use to be a more difficult score than going to the NCAA Final Four!
You don't have a great event when you can walk up to a ticket window in Peoria and buy a ticket to the State Finals the same day of the event!! The principles killed that too.
And sadly there aren't as many Chief Chalies filling up the seats either. Chief Chalies use to be in every barber shop from Batavia to Cairo talking trash. Maybe thats a bigger problem!!