The Florida Sports Hall of Fame museum is not normally open on Monday’s, but will be open for this special event. Admission to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame is free and the museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The Grand Opening and ribbon cutting of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame will take place on Tuesday, June 22 at 10:00 a.m. at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale and will be followed by the induction of the 2010 Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class that evening at The Lakeland Center. The hall of fame will be open until 2:00 p.m. that day, closing in preparation for the induction at 6:15 p.m. that evening. Hall of Fame members scheduled to appear at the event include: Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Doug Sanders, Charlie Owens, Don Garlits, Fran Curci, Jimmy Carnes, Roger Strickland, Hubert Green, Pat Borders, Catie Condon and Ruth Alexander. “We are so excited to be able to share this grand opening with the Hall of Fame members, the people who make this new building what it is,” said Florida Sports Hall of Fame Chairman, Rick Dantzler. “This promises to be a star-studded, memorable event for everyone who attends,” Dantzler added.

Following the grand opening, four new members will be inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. The 2010 Florida Sports Hall of Fame class consists of Lake Wales native and baseball standout Pat Borders, Olympic gold medalist Catie Ball-Condon, long time sports columnist Jack Hairston, who will be inducted posthumously, and professional golfer Hubert Green. The induction ceremony, which will also feature the Polk County All Sports Awards, will be aired live on Bright House Sports Network.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing at 863-551-4750.

1. With your career starting here in Winter Haven (at Winter Haven High School) what does it mean to you to come back to where it all started to be inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame?

What a tremendous honor it is to be inducted at this time and at this place.  The history of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and prior inductees  such as Rick Barry, Dave Cowens, Paul Warfield and the others make this a special event and time for me.  And so much greater being near my hometown.  I have many fond memories of Winter Haven and the time spent here growing up; where it all started.

2. As you look back on your career, would you ever have imagined that the game of basketball would take you this far?

I never did.  My first sport was baseball;  and in high school, I played football.  After an injury during fall practice, I went out for the basketball team and made it.  I had thoughts of attending college and/or a university, but I did not think I would receive a basketball scholarship to further my education.  Being the second pick in the draft after my senior year began my professional career in the sport.  Since retirement from the NBA, I’ve enjoyed entrepreneurial success (related to basketball), corporate success (related to basketball and other sporting events) and have managed two professional teams to league championships (ABA Arkansas RimRockers and CBA Oklahoma Calvary).  I did not imagine the game would afford these opportunities.  By the way, I’m a free agent now with an impressive resume and can assist teams with management on the professional level in attaining “that ring!”.

3. You hold a number of records at the University of Houston, your number is retired and did so much for the basketball program there, what is your fondest memory of your time there?

I must mention the relationships forged and now maintained with my roommate Jim Perry as well as my other teammates and friends.  Jim and I STILL talk on the phone as if we live next door to each other.  I met my gorgeous and intelligent wife while matriculating there (she’s a TCU grad), and of course playing for Legendary Coach Guy Lewis of whom I could go on and on and on about his leadership on and off the court.  My fondest memory revolves around meeting the players in the NBA that played on our floor at the University of Houston (Hofheinz Pavilion) before the Summit was built.

4. So many kids look up to athletes today, and certainly many will want to attend this event to see the superstars that will attend. What advice do you give kids today trying to make it to the NBA?

1) Education, 2) education and 3) education.  You must learn the SKILL of basketball as well as the SKILL of living.  Living requires an education.  This can be achieved with dedication and commitment and you will find skills learned in team play apply to living. 4) Enjoy playing the game of basketball, it is meant to be fun!  Bring your dedication and commitment to the game.  Your passion for the game, coupled with skills greater than the next guy/girl will show through in your efforts to achieve the level of play required for the NBA.

5. What are some things you remember about Winter Haven and what are you most looking forward to when you come back in August?

The things I remember center around the sense of community and well-being provided to me while growing up in Winter Haven.  I receive calls from high school teammates and friends and we instantly are able to go back to the things that bring us together as opposed to the things that can tear us apart.  I look forward to seeing the members of the community, friends, family (especially my mother), the weather and great home cooking!
6. There is so much talk about how the game of basketball has changed and is different than it used to be. How do you think the NBA game changed since you were in the league?

The ticket prices and arena business practices have enlarged the benefits of ownership which in turn have enlarged the salaries.  More importantly, the biggest change I have seen in the game since I was in the League is the emphasis on individual play versus team play.  The players appear to be more interested in individual achievements rather than team achievements.   Although Michael Jordan reminded us all there is an “I” in win, his statement should be kept within the context of how great a team player he was, how he made his teammates better players and he never sacrificed the team for selfish purposes.  When I was in the League, team-play was the only play.

Tickets are still available for the 2008 Florida Sports Hall of Fame induction. The event is Saturday, August 16 at Cypress Gardens. Call 534-2500 for more information or to purchase tickets.

2007 Class
Bill Buchalter was a sportswriter for more than 30 years with the Orlando Sentinel. He is a University of Florida graduate who primarily covered high school sports. He holds awards of distinction from the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, and he is a previous inductee in four Halls of Fame: Florida Track; Golden South Classic; Central Florida Sports; and Florida Citrus Sports.

Chandra Cheeseborough is a Jacksonville native and attended Ribault High School where she won the 100- and 200- yard state title from 1975-1977, setting national records in both. She won a silver medal in the 400 meters, and a history-setting gold medal in each of the women’s 4×100 relays (400m and 1600m) at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 (both races were held less than one hour apart). She also won the golf medal in the 200 meters at the 1975 Pan American Games. Currently, she is planning to serve as an assistant track coach for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team and is a member of the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Hulk Hogan is a Tampa native and is perhaps the most recognizable performer in pro wrestling history who also became a mainstream personality through his roles on television and movies – including a notable role as Thunderlips in ”Rocky III.” Hogan was chiefly responsible for resurrecting professional wrestling in the 1980’s and won the WWF’s Wrestlemania in 1984 and won the title seven years in all. Known by his given name, Terry Bollea, he pitched Little League baseball, attended St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of South Florida, and wrestled his first professional match in Fort Pierce on Aug. 9, 1977.

Michael Irvin was most recently selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February. Irvin attended high school in Fort Lauderdale, and helped lead the University of Miami to the 1987 national championship. He played professionally with Dallas, where he was an integral part of three Super Bowl championships, and set an NFL record with 11 games of 100 or more receiving yards.

Tino Martinez was a former Jefferson High standout and one of the top-fielding first basemen in Major League Baseball throughout the 1990s. He began his 16-year major-league career with the Seattle Mariners in 1990 and ended with the New York Yankees in 2005. His career also included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Martinez was a two-time All-Star (1995 and 1997) and also helped lead the Yankees to World Series championships in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He compiled a career batting average of .271 with 339 home runs and 1,271 RBIs.

2008 Class
Otis Birdsong led Winter Haven High School to the Class 4A state title in 1973, averaging 32 points per game. At the University of Houston, he was a consensus All-American in 1977 and led his team to a NIT runner-up finish. He was named the Southwest Conference Player of the Decade for the 1970’s and went on to play in the NBA for the Kansas City Kings, New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics. He scored more than 14,000 career points and was a four-time All-star.

Darryl Dawkins was a prep All American center at Maynard Evans High School in Orlando where he led the Trojans to the 1975 state championship. He was the first player to bypass college and enter the NBA draft, where he was taken by the Philadelphia 76ers later in 1975. “Cohocolate Thunder”, as he was often called, also played for the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons before joining the Harlem Globetrotters. Dawkins went on to coach in the USBL and ABA.

Hubert Mizell has one of America’s deepest, most spectacular resumes as a sports journalist. For more than 40 years, he wrote for large newspapers including the St. Petersburg Times and also served as a featured analyst for Associated Press based in Miami and New York. Born in Georgia, he was raised in Jacksonville. Hubert’s list of assignments has been stunning, including 10 Olympics, 32 Super Bowls, 25 baseball World Series, 30 NCAA basketball Final Fours, 9 Wimbledon tennis championships, 22 Kentucky Derbies, 23 Daytona 500s, 25 different college football bowls and 40 Masters plus 50 other major golf championships. He was named national sports columnist of the year in 1982 from among America’s largest newspapers and eight times was voted Florida Sports Writers of the Year. Mizell is a member of the College Basketball Writers Hall of Fame.

Start making your plans to go now. I know I will be there with my yellow Hulkamania t-shirt and foam Hulkster finger. It is going to be a special event that you won’t want to miss! For tickets and more information call Polk County Sports Marketing at 863.534.2500.