Hall of Fame evening for two local men
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
A wonderful day on the golf course last August led to a fantastic opportunity a few weeks ago for two County men.
MEET THE COACH — Neal Griffeth and Curt Anderson, both of Caribou, were able to meet with Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. The meet and greet, before a Boston Celtics home game, was arranged by Carlisle’s former coach at the University of Maine Skip Chappelle. Shown, from left, are Griffeth, Carlisle, Anderson and Chappelle.
Neal Griffeth played in the inaugural Maine Basketball Hall of Fame Golf Tournament at Aroostook Valley Country Club. He also stuck around for an auction after the round of golf to raise money for the hall of fame to be located at the under construction replacement Bangor Auditorium. Up for auction were tickets to a Boston Celtics game and a sit down with Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle.
The opportunity was made possible thanks to former University of Maine basketball coach Skip Chappelle, who coached Carlisle at U-Maine, and is a driving force behind the proposed basketball hall of fame.
Griffeth and his friend Curt Anderson, both of Caribou, reviewed the items up for bid and decided they should try to win the tickets.
They did and on Jan. 11 the pair made a 26-hour trip to Boston and had a 45-minute conversation with Carlisle and Chappelle before the game.
“The conversation ranged from Rick’s playing days at U-Maine and the University of Virginia to his team’s recent visit with President Obama at the White House,” said Anderson. (The Mavericks won the NBA Championship last year, thus the White House visit.)
“Coach Chappelle and Carlisle obviously have a very high regard for one another as their unique player-coach relationship has endured for more than 30 years,” Anderson said.
Anderson also said Carlisle appeared to be very supportive of the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame.
The trip was a complete success, except as Anderson recounted, “It was a losing night for the C’s.”
The success of the first Maine Basketball Hall of Fame Golf Tournament is leading to another. The date has been set for Aug. 3.
Chappelle said there will be more auction items like the Celtics tickets and visit with Carlisle this year. He also added progress is being made on the Hall of Fame.
“We still plan on being in the facility once the replacement Bangor Auditorium is complete in 2013,” said Chappelle.
For more information about the golf tournament, contact Larry Gardner at 551-5001. For more information about the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, go to www.mainebasketballhalloffame.com.
