Slam Dunk!
Slam Dunk!
Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament returning to Olean next month
OLEAN - THE MACKER IS on the schedule in Olean! Entries are now being accepted for the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament, to be played August 20th-22nd on Delaware Avenue in downtown Olean. The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce and its 46 corporate sponsors are co-sponsoring this event in Olean.
More than 3,000 registration postcards were mailed out last week to team captains from tournaments held in Norwich, Hornell, Warren, Buffalo, and Olean last year. An additional 7,000 were sent out in late May to schools in Allegany, Chautauqua, McKean and Cattaraugus Counties. Entry deadlines for teams interested in this year’s tournament are Friday, July 30th for applications that are submitted by mail, and Monday, August 2nd for internet entries. The entry fee for a four player team is $140.
The three-day festival of basketball begins on Friday, August 20th with a Corporate Cup Basketball Contest and early registration, and continues through the division championships on Sunday, August 22nd. The tournament is open to players of all ages and experience levels who are computer-matched by age, height and experience so that all participants can be competitive.
Meme K. Yanetsko, GOACC COO reported, “Gus Macker National was not sure how 2021 would play out across the states in regards to tournaments. In a normal year, the Macker would be played in 35-45 cities. Macker staff met with the six New York State city hosts early in Jan/Feb. Olean was always planning to host if allowed. When the 2021 Macker calendar hit online, it showed Ithaca and Olean as the only two in New York State. Just recently, we were told that Ithaca was moving to 2022 – leaving Olean as the sole site in NYS.”
How does this leave Olean’s thinking? Yanetsko added, “We always pull from our ‘sister’ communities that host Mackers in NYS. We rely on each other for teams, refs, and even sponsors – it’s a little intimidating to be the only one in 2021. Our big concern is trucking. Each city has to go out and get the baskets and such from the city(ies) earlier in the schedule and get them to Olean. So easy peasy – sending two semis up to Ithaca - now we have to go to Belding or Otsego, MI!”
The tournament, based on basketball played in driveways throughout the U.S., will include players who have no experience to those who have played college and semi-professional basketball. Primarily based on their age and level of experience, players will be placed in divisions where they will be most evenly matched. Depending on the number of teams placed in a specific division, players and the teams they’re on will be playing for first, second and third place trophies. Also, teams that finish last in their divisions could receive “Toilet bowl” trophies
In addition to the Chamber’s corporate sponsors, other major support for the event is being provided by Sparky Pizza, Third Base Bar & Grill, Universal Primary Care, Duggan and Duggan, Paul Brown Chevy, Financial Services, Howard Hanna Professional, Fairfield Inn, Olean Area Federal Credit Union, and Peacemaker Mediation. Additionally, the important roles of media sponsorships are being provided by WBRR, WMXO-FM and WPIG-FM
Every player in the Macker is guaranteed at least three games, so no matter how you fare the first time on the court, you’re not out by any means. Those who do make it to the championship rounds can look forward to trophy presentations for first through third places. All registered players also receive t-shirts for participating in the event, which is made by possible by area sponsors.
Registrations forms are available online at www.macker.com. Offline forms for registration via U.S. mail will be available at the Greater Olean Area Chamber office. For more information on the Gus Macker tournament, sponsorships and volunteer opportunities, please contact the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-372-4433 or email info@oleanny.com.