From the Publisher: February/March

February 07, 2007 08:37 am

— In the fall of 1985, I was attending Butler University in Indianapolis . All the buzz on campus was about a movie they were filming on campus at the legendary Hinkle Fieldhouse.
For those not from Indiana, the excitement of a Hollywood film crew in the neighborhood was fantastic. For those of us from Indiana, especially those who loved ‘Hoosier Hysteria’ this was almost magical. The fact that they were making a movie about the Milan Indians’ championship of 1954 brought legitimacy to our love affair with high school basketball, which is truly something unique to Indiana.
Fast-forward more than 20 years, and we see that many things have changed across the Hoosier state. The one class state basketball tournament has gone away, replaced by class basketball. The very act of following the tournament is tougher now. In the old days, you could go to one gym and see virtually every local team play over the course of a couple nights. Now, you would end up at several sites and spend enough money on gas to make you question even going. Staying home and listening isn’t as easy as it use to be either. Just a few short years ago, you would hear a wide array of games over the radio on any given Friday night. Now you have to fight the crackles of AM radio and maybe you’ll find one or two.
Fan interest is down statewide, which translates to money. Money generated from the state basketball tournament helped to fund all the other high school sports available. Since attendance is down, finances have become tight for many high school athletic programs around the state.
As the line in a Billy Joel song states, “The good old days weren’t all that good, and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.” But the romance of the past, of our history is gone and I know I’m not alone in admitting this fact.
Bobby Plump keeps romance alive regarding Indiana high school basketball. Through his retelling of his now famous shot, the movie Hoosiers and Plump’s restaurant in Indianapolis, people from all over the world can see what it was like when Indiana created ‘Hoosier Hysteria’.
As always, I want to thank you for taking a trip down along our little country road. I do hope you enjoy the story on Bobby Plump, along with the other offerings in this month’s issue. Have you got an idea for a future issue? Don’t be shy, and email or call me with your ideas. I can be reached at (812) 663-3111 ext. 7001 or at:
pete.vanbaalen@cnhimedia.com.