Chicago 2016 tying fame (hall of) and fortune

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Dream Teamers Scottie Pippen, left, Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler are among the nominees for the class of 2009 in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Credit: U.S. Olympic Committee

By Philip Hersh
A few minutes before becoming one of the first four voters in the election that began Thursday for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class of 2009, Chicago 2016 bid chairman Patrick Ryan pitched everyone -- the business community, unions, John Q. Public -- to buy tickets for the banquet that will accompany the Aug. 12 induction ceremony at McCormick Place West.
Why? The affair has been designated as a Chicago bid fundraiser called ‘Sprint Through the Finish.’’
So my first question was whether that meant Chicago 2016 has not yet raised the $49.5 million budgeted for its campaign to win the 2016 Summer Games in the Oct. 2 vote of International Olympic Committee members.
‘We’re raising money for World Sport Chicago, our legacy project, which continues whether or not we get the Olympics,’’ Ryan said. ‘There is an infinite amount we would like to raise for youth sport and Olympic sport in this city and country.’’
And my next question was, ‘But do you have the $49.5 million?’’
‘Basically, yes,’’ Ryan said. ‘There are a few odds and ends and collection things.’’
In the five years since Allstate’s sponsor participation revived a USOC Hall of Fame that had not added athletes for more than a decade, proceeds from induction ceremony tickets basically went to cover expenses -- until last year, when the event contributed $100,000 to the refurbishment of Stony Island Park after it was renamed Jesse Owens Park.
Tickets to this year’s event will set you back, since the cheapest is $500 for an individual. Tickets for last year’s ceremony -- but no dinner -- at the Harris Theater were $250.
This year, the big bucks may allow you to hobnob with Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler and the other members of the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball ‘Dream Team,’’ since they should be a lock for USOC Hall of Fame election in the team category.
Voting is open to the public between now and June 16 at www.teamusa.org/hallof fame. Five Olympians (of 15 nominees), one Paralympian (of five) and one team (of five) will be selected.
If I were voting, my choices would be the Dream Team, for its impact on the worldwide growth of the sport; Paralympian Jean Driscoll of Champaign, Ill, winner of four Paralympic track gold medals and eight Boston Marathon wheelchair titles; and Olympians Michael Johnson (track), Mary T. ‘Madame Butterfly’’ Meagher (swimming), John Smith (wrestling), Teresa Edwards (basketball) and Picabo Street (skiing).