On a truly momentous day for Indiana Hoosier fans, players and coaches, one that'll result in $40 Million making the long overdue renovation of basketball icon Assembly Hall a reality, where's The BigTenNetwork with any coverage and original content? Nowhere to be found! Isn't that supposed to be what THEY do?; @BigTenNetwork @DavidWoods007 @DustinDopirak @HoosierFaithful @IndianaMBB @insidethehall @iubbhoosiers ‏@IUBloomington @Justin_Albers ‏@OurIndiana @rickbozich

IUAthletics YouTube Channel video: IU Athletics Receives Historic Gift: Fred Glass and President Michael A. McRobbie. Uploaded December 19, 2013
http://youtu.be/ev5UgwK27PQ

"Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie today announced that IU Athletics has received a $40 million gift - the largest in its history - from IU alumna Cindy Simon Skjodt to provide much needed renovations to Assembly Hall and launch IU Athletics' ambitious and unprecedented $150 million "Catching Excellence: The Campaign for Indiana University Athletics" capital campaign. President McRobbie also announced that in honor of the landmark gift made by Catching Excellence co-chair Cindy Simon Skjodt and her philanthropic organization, the Samerian Foundation, IU will rename Assembly Hall the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall."

We thank Cindy Simon Skjodt for generous gift of $40 million to preserve legacy of @OurIndiana Hoosiers basketball! http://t.co/qRcCwceXhI
— Indiana University (@IndianaUniv) December 19, 2013

On a momentous day when Generosity, Hoosier Love and Big Bucks come knocking, IU Hoosier AD Fred Glass knows to open the door and welcome them in. Result? $40 Million to the IU Athletic Dept. and the over-due renovation of basketball icon, Assembly Hall. But where's the BigTenNetwork with any coverage? Nowhere to be found!

Below is the Indy Star's video of the complete 2:30 p.m. announcement, including remarks by philanthropic Hoosier Cindy Simon Skjodt, followed by links to their stories by Zach Osterman, @ZachOsterman https://twitter.com/ZachOsterman

By the way, in case you were wondering about the name and any prospective name changes in the future, IU's policies rule out corporate names, so at least that's a positive.

No worry about being changed to give some PR to insurance names, car parts manufacturers, et al, like has happened at Joe Robbie Stadium, which has been desecrated with awful corporate names -including bankrupt companies- over the past 20 years, none of which I use on this blog. :)

IU's Assembly Hall: Its origin and its future 

By Zach Osterman, zach.osterman@indystar.com 

1:28 p.m. EST December 19, 2013 http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2013/12/07/ius-assembly-hall-its-origin-and-its-future/3906225/

Includes renderings and schematics

IU icon to become Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall 

By Bob Kravitz and Zach Osterman, bob.kravitz@indystar.com 

8:30 p.m. EST December 19, 2013

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2013/12/19/indiana-university-assembly-hall-basketball/4123963/


So, did you see happen to turn your TV dial to The BigTenNetwork on Thursday to see how they were bringing its viewers around the country up-to-date on what happened in Bloomington on Thursday afternoon, a moment that could prove so very important to the future success of Hoosier Nation and its legion of fans and former players -and future fans and players- who want more consistent success, but with the requisite amount of class we've come to expect and demand?

No, of course not, because they didn't do a damn thing.
I'm writing and posting this online more than 12 hours after that press conference at Assembly Hall has been over, and there is still no original content of any kind about the story of a very generous IU alum with control over $40 Million knocking on the door and Fred Glass being smart enough to hold the door wide open.
And what might happen next as a result of that.

There's no original content of theirs of consequence about this subject on The BigTenNetwork website anywhere. 
Not even the video that most of us have now seen more than a few times.
Why?

I thought one of the principal reasons for the network being created in the first place, besides the need by the Big Ten office to make even more money from national and regional advertisers and give millions of that to the athletic departments, was to be able to directly service and connect fans and alumni from Big Ten schools, often located far from those campuses, like me here in South Florida, with what was actually going on.
The sort of thing that leads some fans to even finally start giving some money back to their schools, even if not quite $40 Million.

But here we are, more than six years after its creation, and all my doubts over the years about what they were actually doing, producing and seemingly settling for, have proven more true than I wanted in one big strikeout for Hoosier fans across the country.

The BigTenNetwork is NOT a Community College alternative radio station in the Quad Cities or a student-run newspaper run out of a Columbus office building by some silver spoon legacy whose father owns the building, they're supposed to be a professional media organization that has the resources and common sense to know in advance of a big story to ACTUALLY have people in place to cover the story and tell an original and compelling story that's different than the one told by the ambitious beat reporters for the school newspaper or the breezy comments offered by national reporters doing drive-bys on cold winter days.
So where were they?


WISH-TV, Channel 8, Indianapolis video: IU's Assembly Hall to be renamed after donation
By Jeff Wagner 
Updated: Thursday, December 19, 2013, 7:59 PM EST 
Published: Thursday, December 19, 2013, 2:38 PM EST
http://www.wishtv.com/news/local/iu-makes-major-announcement

13 WTHR Indianapolis

WTHR-TV, Channel 13 Indianapolis video: Philanthropist donates $40M for Assembly Hall renovation  
Updated: Dec 19, 2013 6:21 PM EST
http://www.wthr.com/story/24262048/2013/12/19/sources-iu-renaming-assembly-hall

My other blog, to be rejuvenated in the new year, is South Beach Hoosier:
http://southbeachhoosier.blogspot.com/

Hoosiers! And the day after my beloved IU Hoosiers win their first Big Ten regular season basketball championship in 20 years, we speak now of the other beloved "Hoosiers." New York Times film critic A.O. Scott on what makes "Hoosiers" not just a great sports film, but a great film for the ages

Opening scene and credits of MGM's 1986 "Hoosiers," with Jerry Goldsmith's iconic Oscar-nominated score. Uploaded June 1, 2012. http://youtu.be/tUqhPsZh93Y

NYTimes video: N.Y. Times film critic A. O. Scott reviews the beloved 1986 MGM film "Hoosiers" about Indiana high school basketball -and personal redemption- set in 1951, and why it still remains a film for the ages. Uploaded March 3, 2009. http://youtu.be/AzgOZ0xHCEA

And on the day after my IU Hoosiers win the Big Ten basketball regular season championship for the first time in 20 years, a game they appeared certain to lose to Michigan in Ann Arbor before coming back in the final seconds, we speak of the other beloved "Hoosiers."

In 1986, I was living in Evanston, Illinois, the suburban home of IU Big ten rival Northwestern University, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, a town full of bright and fully-engaged professional, academic and management types just north of Chicago, and a world separate and apart from the life I had known and led in North Miami Beach and in Bloomington.

Then as now I was a big sports fan and avid movie-goer, a lover of not only classic films, but the worlds of advertising, journalism, American and European history and politics.
And like many of you reading this today, a sucker for smart and knowing well-made films about comebacks and teamwork and overcoming adversity against all odds, including those of self-sabotage, as was the case with Dennis Hooper's character in the film, where he played former basketball star-turned-alcoholic father and assistant coach "Shooter" Flatch



In short, I was the perfect demographic for the MGM film that came out that year loaded with a cinematic all-star lineup and a narrative that was straight out of both Indiana and Hollywood, loosely based on a story I'd known for years since leaving South Florida in the rear-view mirror for the Cream and Crimson of the beautiful rolling hills of southern Indiana and Indiana University in Bloomington, late in the summer of the year that the film 'Breaking Away" had been released to popular and critical acclaim.

Because of who I knew and what my interests and passions were, I'd been hearing and reading about the film from the very beginning, even before it was ever shot, from friends in Los Angeles involved in the entertainment industry and thru my avid and copious reading of the film industry trades I usually bought most weeks, like Variety.

From the crucial initial choices made in on-screen casting as well as those behind-the-screen with respect to the writer, director and even the film's composer, I knew that it could be a very special film indeed if all the stars aligned, and yet you never know how these things will go, despite the talented team you assemble.

So, it was with all of that history and knowledge very much front and center in my mind that I found myself one cold night in Evanston literally leaning against a wall while in line outside of a movie theater, forced by timing to listen to a bunch of jaded and self-indulgent NU grad students blabbing about the film and story in ways that bore absolutely no resemblance to what the reality was or what was soon to come.

As ridiculous as it sounds now, they even joked about leaving after an hour because how could this story about Indiana high school basketball possibly turn out to be anything worthwhile, even with Gene Hackman.
Yes, they really said that.

But you know what I did?
I kept quiet.
I kept my mouth shut and refused to play the Marshall McLuhan card as Woody Allen had does in his Oscar-winning Annie Hall.
You know what scene I mean.



I found myself there at that point in time because I'd had the good sense and foresight many months before to call in some IOU's from folks I knew around the Chicago area who were very much, yes, "in the "Loop" in the Loop.
The sort of people who know things before the masses and have unusual access because of who they are or what they do.
Since I wasn't afraid to reciprocate, I was also never afraid to ask for favors when it came to something important, as long as it was legal and above board.

I told them, these media and business mavens, that I wanted to be in the audience for the sneak preview of "Hoosiers " weeks before the film actually played in Chicagoland, and if possible, somewhere near Evanston.


View Larger Map

That's how I came to be standing in line with a special pass from a film-related concern to attend a special sneak preview of "Hoosiers" at a then-extant movie theater on Central Avenue, located across the street from the Wildcats' athletic facilitiess, the-then Dyche Stadium and Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Hickory High head coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) gives his underdog Huskers some pregame reminders and encouragement just moments before the start of their championship game against South Bend Central. Preacher Purl (Michael Sassone)  delivers a message that seems tailor-made for the upset-minded team. Uploaded February 13, 2011. http://youtu.be/3gKbrj2nZis

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen."

- Preacher Purl encouraging the underdog Hickory High basketball team before the state title game against heavily-favored South Bend Central in 1986's Hoosiers 

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechhoosiersfinal.html

The rest as they say is history.

I've seen this film well over 25 times from beginning-to-end, less than some, but surely more than most.
Though that's still less than I've seen "Breaking Away," a film that I know inside and out like I know the smiles of my three adorable nieces in any large crowd.

The #8thStar fell in Alabama! Hoosiers’ Quest For Eight is Mission Accomplished! Hoosier goalie Luis Soffner pitches third shut-out in a row in leading Hoosiers to 1-0 win over Georgetown to earn their 8th NCAA soccer title; Jordan Hulls shows Hoosier Pride!; #Q48, #8thSTAR, @JordanHulls1

Today, when you go to the IU Athletic Dept.'s website, you're now greeted by this great photo of lots of happy Hoosiers celebrating their well-deserved NCAA title yesterday afternoon.

The way that IU was dominating Georgetown in the first-half with their sharp, up-tempo offense that saw them control the ball in front of the Hoya goal for minutes at a time, I actually thought the score could very well turn out to be something like a 4-0 rout.
But 1-0, on Nikita Kotlov’s lone goal in the 64th minute of play yesterday off a nice header by  Eriq Zavaleta, proved more than enough with Luis Soffner in goal for the Hoosiers to shut-out the Hoyas, his third shut-out in a row.

One minute-video of title game highlights at: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/soccer-men/d1

I must admit to feeling very dumbfounded at how little actual video of the game is available online the day after, as the Indy TV stations have nothing and neither does ESPNU, despite the fact that they were the ones who televised the game.

Defense drives Indiana's title run
By Greg Ostendorf, ESPN.com
Updated: December 9, 2012, 8:05 PM ET
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8730456/with-stingy-defense-little-luck-indiana-won-national-title-men-soccer-college-cup

http://www.indystar.com/article/20121209/SPORTS0601/121209010/College-soccer-IU-captures-8th-national-title-1-0-win-over-Georgetown

http://btn.com/2012/12/09/track-live-indiana-plays-georgetown-for-ncaa-soccer-title/


Andrew Wittry YouTube Channel: Indiana Men's Soccer National Championship Reception Postponed. Uploaded December 9th, 2012. http://youtu.be/RpJAVPws_qE
Above, the great Chuck Crabb , IU Assistant Athletic Director, explains to some disappointed Hoosier fans last night why the planned 8:30 p.m. reception for the team at Assembly Hall was postponed, owing to bad weather in Nashville, where the team stopped on their way from Birmingham back to Bloomington. More on Chuck at bottom..

It was great to see that Hoosier basketball star Jordan Hulls was in the stands for yesterday afternoon's game, and drove the 8 hours down to Alabama after the Hoosier basketball game Saturday night  against Central Conn. State, the school that my friends and I had never heard of, but which at Spring Break in FTL during early 1980's boasted a disproportionate amount of the most good-looking coeds.
Jordan Hulls @JordanHulls1  twitter.com/JordanHulls1


IU soccer championship gear is here: http://iuhoosiers.cbscollegestore.com/store.cfm?store_id=406 

-----
This is what I wrote about Chuck on my other blog, South Beach Hoosier, when I started it in 2007: 


The IU sports administrator most responsible for helping me make sense of all things Cream & Crimson, was IU's do-it-all, 24/7 Renaissance man, Chuck Crabb. 
With equal amounts of enthusiasm, hard work and patience, Chuck lovingly and masterfully managed IU's Student Athletic Board, an organization to which I devoted many thousands of hours to -and loved every minute.


Both the more difficult times, like trying to manage things and stay dry during downpours at IU soccer games at Bill Armstrong Stadium, and those that were more fun, like helping out with the logistics of running the lengthy IU cheerleader and pom squad tryouts, up on the HPER's beautiful second floor wooden gym, with very precise routines all set to Prince's genius music, circa 1982, which was blaring out of the speakers. 
Fun and hard work!

After all those hours and hours of watching those carefully choreographed routines to his music -routines that I can STILL see in my head- I could never hear Prince's songs again without thinking of those tryouts and smiling. 
And of all those eager but flushed and exhausted Hoosier faces, anxious to help project Hoosier Pride to Hoosier Nation.

Quest for 8: IU's Soccer Hoosiers battle Georgetown today at 2 p.m. Eastern for 8th NCAA Mens Soccer title; @IUMensSoccer, ‏@HoosierArmy, @KirkwoodBar in Chicago

#16 Indiana Hoosiers (15-5-3) vs. #3 Georgetown Hoyas (19-3-3)

2:00 p.m. Eastern from Regions Park, Hoover, Alabama.

ESPNU, DirecTV Channel 208

Encore airings at Midnight, and 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday

Chicago-area alums should all head to Kirkwood Bar at 2934 N Sheffield for telecast at 1 p.m. Central. @KirkwoodBar, near the Wellington El station, http://www.kirkwoodbar.com/

Press conference video with IU head coach Todd Yeagley: http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/allaccess/?media=357529

IU Mens Soccer, @IUMensSoccer, is at twitter.com/IUMensSoccer

IU Hoosier Army, ‏@HoosierArmy, is at https://twitter.com/HoosierArmy

http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Q48

There's enough room for an eighth NCAA banner:

http://twitter.com/HoosierArmy/status/246610743468900353/photo/1

In case you missed it, my last post on IU Soccer and my own Hoosier Soccer memories was on Friday December 7th, titled, IU's Soccer Hoosiers face Creighton in NCAA College Cup 2nd Semifinal at 7:30 p.m. tonight on ESPNU for record 18th College Cup appearance; Georgetown plays Maryland in opener at 5 p.m.
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/ius-soccer-hoosiers-face-creighton-in.html

Oklahoma's plays in his head, but IU's players on the field: ex-Sooner OC Kevin Wilson begins his coaching reign at Indiana rather ignominiously

IU Athletics video: Indiana University football head coach Kevin Wilson's press conference after the Hoosiers 27-20 loss to Ball State at Indy's Lucas Oil Stadium, his first game as Hoosier head coach. September 3, 2011.

http://youtu.be/GPRkx_-9eXU

Above, the crimson-colored "Win with Wilson" IU t-shirt I decided NOT to buy a few weeks ago. I decided that I would sit on my enthusiasm just a bit longer and wait and see via ESPN3 how my "Great Expectations" looked against Ball State Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy, five months before the Super Bowl is played there.

After all, you can't judge these things based on watching video and practices via the Big Ten Channel and the official IU Athletics YouTube Channel.

Good thing my intuition is so good!

Shirt is available at http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/

Well, he's got Oklahoma's plays in his head, but IU's players on the field: former Oklahoma OC Kevin Wilson opens the Wilson coaching era at Indiana in rather ignominious fashion, losing to Ball State and looking lackluster in doing so.

But then me being me, the optimist, I remember that things started out VERY BADLY for Joe Gibbs his first year with the Redskins, too, losing his first five games in 1981.

Bob Kravitz of the Indy Star starts his Sunday column on the ballgame in a rather droll way, perhaps to ward off the uncomfortable silence of a losing effort that was closer on the scoreboard than it was on the field.

Wilson era opens with dud

In theory, the Kevin Wilson era at Indiana could have started in a more ignominious fashion.

For example, the team bus could have gotten lost on the way from Bloomington to Lucas Oil Stadium, or the club could have arrived with its red uniforms instead of its road whites.

But this was pretty ignominious.

Embarrassing is another word.

Ball State 27, IU 20.

It wasn't just the result; it was the way it was achieved.

Read the rest of the column at:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110904/SPORTS15/109040362/Wilson-era-opens-dud

Terry Hutchens at the Star's Hoosier Insider blog doesn't bother trying to humor IU fans and gets right to what bothered them -us- the most.

Where do we begin? The new Indiana under Kevin Wilson Saturday night looked a lot like the old Indiana.

Read the rest of the post at:

http://blogs.indystar.com/hoosiersinsider/2011/09/03/looking-back-at-iu-ball-state/

You don't have to know much about Indiana Hoosier football to know from reading those two sentences above to know that isn't a good thing, and if you do know the subject like I do, it's like a chill going down your back.

That sense of unknown dread out there lurking below the surface...

The history of choking in the clutch... an errant throw right when you are close to pulling off the upset...the dropped pass in the end-zone in the first-half that you never get back...the huge second-half leads that you blow in consecutive weeks on the road against Northwestern and Iowa -last year.

This coming Saturday is the football home opener at Memorial Stadium against UVA, where niece #2 goes to school. They beat William & Mary 40-3 Saturday, so they must be looking forward to coming to Bloomington.

IU-Ball State highlights video: http://btn.com/2011/09/03/ball-state-knocks-off-indiana/

Recap of IU-Ball State game:

http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090311aae.html

http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/IUAthletics

http://blogs.indystar.com/hoosiersinsider/

http://twitter.com/#!/indystar_hutch

http://www.youtube.com/user/InsideIndiana

http://indiana.247sports.com/

http://btn.com/

http://btn.com/schools/indiana/

http://bleacherreport.com/indiana-hoosiers-football

If you watch the NFL Pro Bowl on Saturday from Iowa, look for this TV ad by students imploring Hoosier governor Mitch Daniels to run for President

My Man Mitch [HD]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-TPHzH-gHA

No need to worry, Chris Good of The Atlantic Online is on the case.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/mitch-daniels-is-the-man-in-this-girls-life/70366/


CBS News Early Show segment on Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, April 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFlc4W1bL6Y

See this opinion piece from the FoxNews Channel's website:
Mitch Daniels for President In 2012
By Liz Peek
Published January 13, 2011
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/01/13/mitch-daniels-president/


Fox Business News - Should Capitol Hill Listen to Indiana? Jan 3, 2011 - 7:30 - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels on his success in reviving the state's economy and abilities to curb union power.
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4483750/should-capitol-hill-listen-to-indiana/


C-SPAN founder and Purdue grad Brian Lamb interviews Mitch Daniels for Q&A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNy7Dz_1OzI

Draft Mitch Daniels for President 2012 YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/draftdaniels

Website: Students for Daniels
http://www.studentsfordaniels.com/


http://www.in.gov/gov/


Governor Mitch Daniels YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/INGovernor

-------
Later in the day... it turns out that if you can see this TV ad in Iowa on Saturday-or anywhere else for that matter- you have latent superpowers, because the Pro Bowl, whcih I haven't watched on TV since the early 1990's, is actually on SUNDAY!
Mea culpa.

June 3 is 'IU Day' on the Big Ten Network; Isiah Thomas

June 3 is 'IU Day' on the Big Ten Network, DirecTV Channel 610

TV schedule is below some of my icons borrowed from my

South Beach Hoosier blog,

http://www.southbeachhoosier.blogspot.com/

GREAT SCOTT, IT'S INDIANA!

Scott May Shoots Down Michigan, April 5, 1976

THE CHAMPS!

Hoosier Hero Isiah Thomas, April 4, 1981

IU All-American and Olympian StevE Alford on the cover of the 1987 Media guide

INDIANA HOOSIER SPIRIT AT ASSEMBLY HALL

IU cheerleaders doing a 360° circle turn at half-court.

IU head basketball coach Tom Crean at his press conference

in Bloomington. With his hiring, South Beach Hoosier's prediction

-and wish- came true!

Now, we can finally get back to the IU tradition: an emphasis on

playing smart, playing hard, playing as a team -and winning with class.

And graduating!

No more one-and-done recruits!

The Championship Banners: 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987

Assembly Hall, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

------------------------------------ http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/c-varsityclub/spec-rel/060309aab.html

Today is 'IU Day' on the Big Ten Network

June 3, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - June 3rd on the Big Ten Network has been named "IU Day,"

and all programming on Wednesday will be involving the Indiana Hoosiers!

COMPLETE PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
6:00 a.m.- The Big Ten's Greatest Games: 1990 - Kentucky @ Indiana [Basketball]
8:00 a.m.- The Big Ten's Greatest Games: 2006 - Iowa @ Indiana [Football]
10:00 a.m.- Big Ten Short Stories: Indiana Hoosiers
10:30 a.m.- #1 NBA Draft Picks
11:00 a.m.- Men's Soccer: Indiana @ Ohio State
1:00 p.m.- Big Ten Friday Night Tailgate: Indiana
2:30 p.m.- Big Ten Short Stories: Indiana Hoosiers
3:00 p.m.- The Big Ten's Greatest Games: 1999 - Illinois @ Indiana [Football]
5:00 p.m.- Men's Golf: Match Play Championship
8:00 p.m.- The Big Ten's Greatest Games: 1987 NCAA Tournament Championship - Indiana vs. Syracuse
9:30 p.m.- Big Ten Short Stories: Indiana Hoosiers
10:00 p.m.- The Big Ten's Greatest Games: 1981 NCAA Tournament Championship - IU vs. North Carolina
12:00 a.m.- The Big Ten's Greatest Games: 2007 - Purdue @ Indiana [Football]
2:00 a.m.- Big Ten Short Stories: Indiana Hoosiers
2:30 a.m.- #1 NBA Draft Picks
3:00 a.m.- Men's Golf: Match Play Championship

"In the Heart of a Great Country, Beats the Soul of Hoosier Nation." -South Beach Hoosier, 2007

Those of you who have written, called or wondered

when I was FINALLY going to be writing something

about Isiah being hired as head coach at FIU, and

the Miami media's tempest-in-a-teapot over his hiring,

should know that something was already written weeks

ago on him and the over-the-top media coverage,

where lots of usually sober TV and print reporters

were sloppy with facts and heavy with insinuations

in ways that you rarely see on local news coverage

-even in Miami!

It's in cold storage right now, waiting for the right time

to bring it out, a day that is fast approaching.

South Beach Hoosier/Hallandale Beach Blog

Sydney Pollack's Hoosier Roots

It's not germane to anything having to do with South Florida, but since I'm probably one of the few people down here who's likely to connect-the-dots on this point for ya, I thought I'd share this with you.
Hollywood film director and sometime actor Sydney Pollack went to South Bend's Central High School, the real-life "big" school opponent that Gene Hackman's "Hickory" team had to play at the climactic end of Hoosiers, based on Milan High's famous David-over-Goliath upset of them in 1954.
As I note near the top of my blog South Beach Hoosier, since the day I started it, at the end of
Dave's Intentions for South Beach Hoosier:

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen."
-Preacher Purl encouraging the Hickory basketball team before the title game against South Bend Central in Hoosiers, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091217/


Late tonight, at 3 a.m., TCM is airing one of my favorite films of his, 1975's Three Days of the Condor http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=4274
"A CIA researcher uncovers top secret information and finds himself marked for death," with Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway and Cliff Robertson.


Please also see John Young's remembrance of Pollack at Variety:
Sydney Pollack dies at 73, Multihyphenate won Oscar for 'Out of Africa'
http://www.variety.com/VR1117986467.html and Variety's video retrospective at: http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=videoBC&bcpid=713438541&bclid=713073358&bctid=1576205579


excerpt from South Bend Star-Tribune http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080526/Ent/16035212/1038/Ent


Renowned director Pollack dies at 73, Hollywood icon grew up in South Bend, graduated from Central High School.


"...Pollack graduated from South Bend Central High School, where he developed a love of drama. Throughout his long career, he credited his director at Central High, the late James Lewis Casaday, for making an artistic life beyond his blue-collar town seem possible.


Instead of going to college, Pollack moved to New York and enrolled at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater. He studied there for two years under Sanford Meisner, who was in charge of its acting department, and remained for five more as Meisner’s assistant. He also served 21 months in the U.S. Army.


After appearing in a handful of Broadway productions in the 1950s, Pollack turned his eye to directing. Before settling into the film industry, Pollack directed television series, including “Ben Casey” and “The Fugitive.”


Although Pollack has no relatives still living in South Bend, he occasionally visited the area.
“I didn’t dislike South Bend,” Pollack said in a 2002 Tribune interview. “I understand that it’s gotten much more culturally oriented. At the time I was there, there was really nothing outside of what Mr. Casaday did. “I want people to see things the way I did when I was a kid growing up watching movies,” Pollack said just prior to a 1977 trip to South Bend. Pollack was the guest of honor at the Indiana premier of his film “Bobby Deerfield” as part of the 1977 grand opening festivities for Century Center..."