NORWICH – East Main Street has been blocked off, the downtown P.A. systems hum with the sound of rock n’ roll, and the sidewalks of Norwich are filled with men, women and children wearing gym shorts and carrying basketballs. These signs can mean only one thing: Gus Macker weekend has officially begun.
As the 16th annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament gets underway, anticipation and excitement buzz through the streets of a city which seems to have doubled its population in a day. People from all over the state of New York, and some from even farther, all seem to share the same feeling. “It’s better than Christmas!” said Dennis Oralls, a senior at Norwich High School.
Oralls and his teammate Josh Whaley were just a few of those who took advantage of the hoops set up a day early for some last-minute practice Friday. Both have been participating in the event for the last couple of years and agreed on its importance to the community.
“It’s really unique,” said Whaley. “And it raises the reputation of Norwich.”
It’s not just the players who look forward to Gus Macker, which will have 421 teams participating this year. James Mutabiilwa detailed the importance of the event while cheering on his son from the sidelines.
“It’s good for the kids’ health ... and it’s good for the economy of the community,” he said. “People get the real feel of a small town and community ... they get to appreciate how people here can connect.”
The 3-on-3 tournaments will be played on 32 courts with age groups from “8 and under” to “40+” and will begin Saturday morning. Of course, those basketball fans too young to make it onto the regular courts will still have a chance to hone their skills on a number of “Little Tykes” basketball hoops and two bounce houses.
For those who crave more and/or different ways to compete, there will be a few separate competitions spaced throughout the weekend. The Norwich Cheerleading Booster Club will be hosting a free-throw competition, the proceeds of which will go towards keeping the cheerleading program alive in the school system.
There will also be a women’s three-point competition Friday and Saturday evenings and a slam-dunk competition Saturday night on the center court, which will be hosted be Mid-York Press.
The biggest attraction, however, is the Frontier Dream Court which will be in the Frontier parking lot. The Dream Court will give certain teams a chance to play on a court with announcers following the action and giving a play-by-play of each game.
“The enthusiasm for the Dream Court is second to none,” said Scott McNeal, a.k.a. Gus Macker, who will be one of the announcers on the court. “It takes on more of the social and festival aspects of the event.” A big part of the fun on the Dream Court is due to the fact that everyone who plays has a nickname which is how they’re identified during the game.
“My friends gave me the nickname Gus Macker when we used to play,” said McNeil. “[On the Dream Court] you become a superstar for a minute.”
Although basketball is certainly the axle around which the Gus Macker wheel turns, the activities don’t stop just because you’re not holding a ball. There will be a number of booths and vendors and Gus Macker participants need only show their wristbands to many of the merchants around town to receive various discounts or deals.
Of course, with the weather as beautiful as it is, and basketball being quite an energy-consuming sport, there will no doubt be many who need to stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner and possibly 3 to 4 meals in between. This year, due to the ongoing construction in the park, the “food court” will be located across Main Street in the Hayes parking lot.
According to Macker director Tom Revoir, there should be no problems in the new location and end-result of the park renovation will be well worth the switch for one year. “Hats off to Friends of the Park for what they have done to improve the look of Norwich,” he said.
Anyone interested in purchasing Gus Macker merchandise can find a tent at the north-west corner of Tops parking lot which was brought along with all the rest of the Macker gear by a group of people working out of Belding, Mich. and Buffalo. This group is led by Event Manager Bill Gorman, who is celebrating his 10th year with the company.
“This is one of my favorite cities by far,” Gorman said. He explained that the excitement, thrill and dedication Chenango County residents put in to this tournament is the exact reason it happened in the first place. “It’s one of the few cities where the tournament seems to start on Friday. As soon as we have the hoops up ... every court is taken.”
Gorman said he was proud to be celebrating his 10-year anniversary, both with Gus Macker and in Norwich.
“I’m really happy to be here ... the way we’re treated and welcomed with open arms,” he said. “I wish every city could be like that.”
For more information on Gus Macker, visit www.macker.com.