The most recent Big 5 Hall of Fame inductees (l-r) John Giannini, Amy Facer, LaKeisha Eaddy, Courtney Mix, Ira Bowman, and Mike Jensen were honored at halftime of the championship game of the Big 5 Classic on Saturday, December 7. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
December 12, 2024
The new Big 5 format has been a success, but there are a few changes that can make it even better.
Foremost among the fixes is bringing back some sort of luncheon, dinner, or banquet to honor the inductees into the Big 5 Hall of Fame. On Saturday, Saint Joseph’s Amy Facer, Temple’s LaKeisha Eaddy, Villanova’s Courtney Mix, Penn’s Ira Bowman, former La Salle coach John Giannini, and Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer walked to center court of the Wells Fargo Center.
A PA announcer read a brief bio on each. The crowd applauded. The inductees waved. Photographers snapped a quick pic. And, then, they walked off. That was it. Seemingly before it began, the ceremony was over.
Similarly, last year Saint Joseph’s DeAndre’ Bembry, La Salle’s Tyreek Duren, Villanova’s Fran O’Hanlon, Penn’s Dionne Anthon, Mike Kern and Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News, and former Saint Joseph’s and Temple SID Larry Dougherty received the same tepid treatment.
It is not enough, not for individuals who are the greatest representatives in one of the greatest traditions in college basketball history.
“That’s not right, either,” former Saint Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli said recently on an interview with the Big 5 Podcast. “We, the basketball community, have to change that. You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you were.”
In the past, there was a luncheon at the Palestra or tribute at a postseason Big 5 banquet. The Hall of Famers would come, along with friends, family, former coaches, and anyone else who impacted their ascent. There were handshakes and hugs, laughs and some tears. The honorees went to the podium, said a few words, shook a few more hands, gave a few more hugs, wiped away a few more tears, and then went on their way. It was meaningful. Gave the honorees a chance to thank a few people who helped them.
Now, you have to dig to find their reaction.
“That’s not right, either. We, the basketball community, have to change that. You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you were.”—former Saint Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli
Jensen posted on Facebook, saying in part, “They do include writers in this Hall and for joining that group I am deeply honored. I looked up the list, scanned to the writers. I learned from them all, became close with so many. The list: Vetrone, Scheuer, Hochman, Greenberg, Lyon, Jasner, Weiss, Jerardi, Kern. … These people, giants of my business, helped me beyond words…”
I interviewed Facer and Giannini and published those stories to this site.
Facer said, “I had hoped that this would happen. It was nice when I found out. I’m very happy about it. It’s an honor because the Big 5 is amazing. Just to be among the others who have been inducted is quite an honor.” (Click HERE to read the full story.)
Giannini said, “I didn’t think that was even a possibility. The rationale that I was told was that we did something that is really hard at La Salle that contributed to Big 5 history that is not common. I’m very honored that someone would think that.” (Click HERE to read the full story.)
La Salle also recognized Giannini’s accomplishment with a touching pregame video tribute before its game against Temple on November 30 at Glaser Arena. Many former Explorers players and coaches were there, something that moved Giannini deeply.
“The company I had at La Salle (November 30th) and that I got to coach with makes you want to cry out of appreciation,” he said.
Why The Change?
So, why the change from the Palestra luncheon/postseason Big 5 banquet to the Wells Fargo Center wave?
As I understand it, it was largely a financial decision and I get it. Higher education institutions, generally, are under tight budgets due to rising costs and declining enrollment. In college athletics, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has tightened purse strings. Fundraising efforts are endeavored to keep schools operating and keep players from transferring. Neither the luncheon nor the postseason Big 5 banquet, which also went by the wayside in recent years, is as high on the priority spending list these days.
Frankly, it also doesn’t help that the Big 5 does not have an executive commissioner anymore to steer the ship. Overall, the six schools have done a good job of stewarding the Big 5. Understandably, they all have their own individual interests to look out for and those interests are different for each school. So, getting everyone on the same page isn’t the easiest. Clearly, there’s not much of an appetite from the group for a luncheon or banquet that won’t break the bank but costs enough, apparently, that the money could be better saved and used elsewhere.
What Can Be Done?
So, what can be done?
Of course, it’s easy for people like the one writing this to spend other people’s money. My first thought is for the Big 5 schools, in coordination with Comcast, to find a corporate sponsor to bankroll the Big 5 Hall of Fame. Call it the XYZ Corporation Big 5 Hall of Fame. Or the Big 5 Hall of Fame presented by XYZ Corporation.
Use the sponsor’s money to bring back some kind of ceremony, in addition to the halftime honor of the last two years. Ideally, a Friday luncheon at the Palestra before Saturday’s Big 5 Classic tripleheader would be best. There, not only would the Big 5 Hall of Famers be honored and share a few words, but all six schools would be represented with the head coach and at least one player for press conferences and interviews to help hype up the next day’s event.
Market it and make it a big deal. Make it an event. The Comcast Spectacor folks are great at that. It seems to me like it would be a win-win for everyone, as the advance publicity surely couldn’t hurt ticket sales. The sponsor would get lots of plugs through words and signage.
The Friday luncheon/Saturday halftime recognition idea requires a two-day commitment, something that might not work for everyone being honored. Another idea would be to have some type of reception on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center in one of the many rooms there built just for these types of events. Maybe a 4 o’clock dinner that will wrap up in plenty of time to walk out on the court around 8 o’clock for a wave. The downside here is that it’s not at the Palestra and you lose the opportunity to hype up the following day’s tripleheader. But this sure beats what has happened the last two years.
Maybe others have better ideas than these two. Whatever the case, there should be a change for next year’s class. The inductees should do more than just walk out to center court. Additionally, the Big 5 Hall of Famers mentioned above should be invited back to next year’s lunch/dinner/banquet to say a few words if they’d like.
A halftime clap certainly is nice. But it’s just not enough.
For all they have done on and off the court, inductees into the Big 5 Hall of Fame deserve more. At least, they should be able to say thank you to whomever they choose.
Just as we should be saying thank you to them for all that they have done and accomplished. Getting back to a lunch (or dinner) ceremony that is more fitting of their honor would be a good start.
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.