INTRODUCING “THE BASKETBALL BUGLE” PUBLISHED BY THE NEW ENGLAND BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME.
The New England Basketball Hall of Fame held its inaugural induction ceremony on October 4 2002 at the University of Rhode Island. The event was a sell out and featured an eloquent keynote speech by Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy. Over time, NEBHOF ceremonies have attracted some of the largest sports dinner gatherings in America.
From the outset, NEBHOF has been committed to recognize exceptional achievement in such diverse categories such as the Division I men’s player, the high school women’s coach, the hearing-impaired player, the referee, and the championship high school team.
“The Basketball Bugle” has been created to serve as the NEBHOF’s chief means of communication and to pay tribute to exceptional accomplishments of various NEBHOF inductees.
Phase I
Phase I will feature ten articles on past inductees, one per month, commencing on February 1st with a celebratory piece on former Taconic Regional High (MA) and American University star Hollie Steinman. American International College legend Frank “Moose” Stronczek will be the subject of the March 1st presentation followed by an April 1st story on record setting Emmanual College Women’s Coach Andy Yosinoff. Other Phase I subjects include the transformational “Boston Six” and Coach Ronnie Perry, the remarkable 1963–64 Worcester Academy New England Championship Prep School Team Coached by Dee Rowe, Pioneer Kristen McDonnell, boy’s basketball Coach at Norwood High (MA), and renaissance man George Wigton (Bates College and UConn). Phase I will also pay special tribute to Jim Nelson, Athletic Director Emeritus at Suffolk University and Paul Procopio, former boy’s Basketball Coach at St. Joseph High (MA). Many of the articles will be written by the Sports Information Director or the Communications Director of the subjects Alma Mater.
Phase II
Phase II of “The Basketball Bugle”, which will embark in November 2021, will publish monthly features on two or more NEBHOF inductees. Phase II will continue to welcome the key roles of college and university SIDS and Communications Directors. Beginning in Phase II family members, friends, and schools will be invited to nominate inductees as feature article subjects.
Hollie Steinman, February 1st 2021
Frank Moose Stronzek, March 1st 2021
Andy Yosinoff, April 1st 2021
Vision
In the Summer of 2021 “The Basketball Bugle” will publish the future vision of NEBHOF. The vision will address various future events including induction ceremonies and the continuation of the NEBHOF Scholar-Athlete games. The inaugural game, played at the legendary Saint Mary High’s Gym in Worcester, pitted young men representing Team Boston against young men representing Team Worcester. The victorious Team Boston was later feted at a Boston City Hall reception hosted by Mayor Marty Walsh. The Scholar-Athlete game program was inspired by Tom McCarthy, Andy Yosinoff, Jim Nelson, Dan Lebowitz, Massachusetts State Representative Kevin Honan and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross.
Trivia Question!
Which member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame is also a member of the NEBHOF Hall of Fame? Here’s a hint: “Fear strikes out”
A Few Highlights:
Submitted by Maureen Baron, Creative Director of the Basketball Bugle
