NORWICH – Anyone who has spent a summer in Norwich is most likely familiar with the name Gus Macker. Every second weekend in July, the name can be found almost everywhere in the city – hanging from banners, flyers and displayed on the dozens of basketball hoops crowding the streets. But who is the real Gus Macker, the man behind the moniker?
Scott McNeal hails from Lowell, Mich. and has proudly carried the name Gus Macker since his friends started calling him that over 30 years ago. It was in Michigan where one year he and his friends decided to liven up their regular basketball games during March Madness.
“We each threw in a dollar,” he said. “Then everyone signed up and we did a draft and set up the brackets.” According to McNeal, many in the group had nicknames. One day his mother was typing up the list of names and suggested they put his nickname, Gus Macker, as the name of the tournament. “It sounded good ... just kinda stuck.”
McNeal explained that the first year there were around 18 guys playing, the next year there were 30 and the next they were up to 36. By the fourth year, they had gotten so big they had to move from the driveway to the street. They also decided to switch the prize money to a trophy.
“We had two courts ... then five courts ... then 12,” McNeal said. “By 1986 we had 88 courts ... logistically it was scary.” Therefore in 1987 the group decided to move the tournament to nearby Belding, Mich. which was more accommodating for the ever-expanding group.
In 1985, the tournament was noticed by a reporter for Sports Illustrated who wrote an 11-page article on the group.
“Really, [the reporter] just wanted to come and play ... but he wrote the article in between games,” explained McNeal. The coverage was what McNeal needed to take the tournament to the next level. In 1987, Gus Macker began traveling around the country.
Each year the number of tournaments grew. This year, according to McNeal, there are 40 tournaments scheduled for around the country. He hopes next to schedule 60.
“The point is ... anyone can play,” he said. “Young and old, rich and poor, black and white and any other color.” McNeal’s organization’s slogan is “Making the world a better place to live.” Many would agree that he is doing just that.
Today, the Gus Macker organization has 8 full-time employees, an additional 4 in the summer and around 85 who travel to each location. Each location is sponsored by a different local agency or organization such as YMCAs, girls and boys clubs and Chambers of Commerce.
“Basically, we package the tournament and rent it out to whomever sponsors it,” said McNeal.
For the past 16 years, it has been the Norwich YMCA which brings Gus Macker to Chenango County and McNeal describes the experience as consistently pleasant.
‘Their passion is what I think you need to have in each market,” said McNeal. “You need someone that passionate to get the job done right and that’s Jamey [Mullen] and Tom [Revoir].”
For more information about Gus Macker (the organization) or Gus Macker (the man), visit www.macker.com.