Just over a month ago, we talked about Gary Williams' being selected for induction into the Hall of Legends in Baltimore on September 30th. The event will be taking place at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore. The Hall of Legends is part of the Sports Legends Museum in Baltimore. If you've never been there, you need to go. The museum is located right next to the B&O Warehouse at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. If you're a Terps fan, and especially if you're also a Orioles, Ravens or old Baltimore Colts fan, you'll be blown away with the exhibits they have honoring all of the sports programs in Maryland. Definitely worth a visit.
The "Hall of Legends" event will be honoring the sports legends that have been significant to the state of Maryland. Other members in the inaugural Hall class include Babe Ruth (he was born and raised in Baltimore, in case you didn't know), Johnny Unitas (best QB ever), Art Modell, Jim McKay and Brooks Robinson (best 3rd baseman ever). That is some pretty select company. Here is what Mike Gibbons, Executive Director of the Sports Legends Museum, had to say about the Hall of Legends event:
"The Hall of Legends will be reserved for those individuals who have contributed above and beyond at the top echelon of state and national athletics. Coach Willaims and the other inductees will be permanently featured in our new gallery at Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards and celebrated for the accomplishments they have achieved on the highest of levels."
There are going to be a lot of people coming out for this event, including: Walt Williams, Steve Francis, Tony Massenberg, Johnny Rhodes, Jimmy Patsos, Len Elmore, Tom McMillen, Johnny Holiday, Jim Boeheim, Tubby Smith, Jay Wright, Jay Bilas, John Feinstein, and Gary's former MD teammate, Billy Jones. That's an all-star cast and I think it shows the respect Gary has among the college basketball coaching circle.
I think one of the coolest aspects of the event is that fans can attend. Tickets to the induction ceremony are $40-60 and can be purchased from Ticket Master. For $150, you can also attend a cocktail reception where all of the above mentioned people will be walking around and mingling. That's pretty tempting to be able to talk to all of those people. And since the event's primary sponsor is the Ravens, you can bet Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, a good friend of Gary's, will probably be there as well. And I wouldn't be surprised if General Greivis made an appearance as well.
The event is a unique opportunity to interact with your favorite Terps coach and it's definitely a cool event to attend if you're available on the 30th. It's also a well deserved honor for the person who pretty much saved the basketball program at the University of Maryland. Terps basketball is pretty much THE basketball team in the state of Maryland, so I think it's a well deserved and very appropriate honor for the Sports Legends Museum to bestow upon Gary Williams. Hope some of you can make it.