Hoop Dreams Come True

I remember my first thoughts when the thought of returning to Southern Illinois became a possibility.


John A. Logan College is seven miles from my alma mater. That means I could be ten minutes away from Missouri Valley basketball.

My mind immediately went to a place where I owned season tickets on the floor….wear a maroon pullover sweater…..and act like an alum. The whole idea was intoxicating to a self-proclaimed junkie of college basketball.

Growing up in St. Louis was not the best place to become addicted. I became a huge Kansas basketball fan with the help of KU’s recruitment of Dave Taynor in 1971. The Jayhawk disease has spread to the next Dreith generation and we have established a tradition of annually making the pilgrimage to Lawrence to worship at the altar of Naismith….Allen Fieldhouse.

The once proud Saluki program hit the skids in 2011 and the athletic department was forced to make a change in coaches. From Texas, I delighted at the announcement of Barry Hinson as the new basketball coach at SIU. I loved it because-------he left the job as director of basketball operations at Kansas to come to Carbondale. Someone who knew the formula for ultimate college basketball success was coming to help make things better.

This weekend-- the dream came together. Actually it started falling in place this past spring when I was hired to be the president at JALC. Next, Hinson was hired. Then outgoing JALC President Bob Mees said he had two season tickets for sale. Ahhhh, Karma. Yes, I said to him.

Carol is not what I would call an enthusiastic hoops widow.

She tolerates my addiction.

Her only sports passions include Cardinal baseball and a love of college football. But the thought of about 20 John A. Logan games….and about 18 Saluki games….and another hundred or so televised games….leaves her a bit cold.

The culminating moment for me was having Alex, my youngest; make the trip to Carbondale Saturday to watch the exhibition opener for the Salukis against a team from Lincoln, Missouri. Not really a basketball power……not really a Missouri power. They weren’t very good….but SIU did hammer them as expected. It was the first time since renovation that I had entered the Arena. It is beautiful.

I loved it.

And while SIU probably won’t win ten games this year…..I have lived out that vision which entered my mind back at the beginning of the year.

I am home. Carol is a short ride to Fairfield where the porkburgers are plentiful and the farm provides an inviting escape. I am growing to love my new job….I can see my kids weekly and my grandson as he grows into a basketball player….and I am in section 108, row 5, seat 6 at the SIU Arena where I will be stationed when Illinois State, Northern Iowa and Bradley come calling.

This is one happy guy.

Dreams can come true.

Dream.