| |
TONY BIBBO INDUCTED into NEAAU HOF
by Tony Bibbo | May
17, 2011 | 5:27pm
This is a very special year for girl's AAU
Basketball as it marks the 30th Anniversary
of its start. This was at a time that the
NCAA was not recognizing girls basketball
and I believe it was four years later that
NCAA Women's Basketball was sanctioned. We
were fortunate that Leo Papile was then
heading the AAU Boy's Basketball and unlike
the Board of the NEAAU, he was not
threatened by what the NEAAU Board felt was
competition that they did not want. The
NEAAU indicated that Basketball was a boy's
game and also were concerned that the girls
might take away some of the funding.
Leo approved the girl's program and on the
Sunday that John Havilcek was honored at the
Garden with his retirement, Don Fay and I
went to the NEAAU Headquarters on Causeway
Street. I signed on as the First
Chairman of NEAAU Girl's basketball, with
Don Fay as the first coach. We had 111 girls
from throughout New England try out for the
11 slots on the team. It was difficult for
Don and his assistants but they did put
together a great team. (finish
story) |
|
|
|