Gus Visits Olean

Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball, America's largest outdoor basketball tournament celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2008, will be held in Olean for the first time on August 15-17, 2008.  The 3-day event will be organized and will benefit both the Olean High School Sports Booster and the Olean City School District Foundation.

Gus Macker officials and Gus, the tournament mascot were in Olean March 3-5.  They visited the Olean elementary schools, the Olean Middle School, the YMCA Day Care Center, the Olean Family YMCA, and the Olean Center Mall on Tuesday, March 4th.  They appeared at the St. Bonaventure University Men’s Basketball game on Wednesday, March 5th.

“Gus Macker — the bright yellow basketball mascot of the Gus Macker Tournament — makes appearances at all tournament cities.  His visits teach good sportsmanship; fairness, respect for one's opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing,” stated John Irving, Gus Macker-Olean chair.

Gus Macker’s complete schedule was as follows: March 4th -- Boardmanville 8:45 AM; Washington West 10:15 AM; Olean Middle School 11:15 AM; Ivers J. Norton 12:45 PM; East View 1:45 PM; YMCA Day Care Center 2:40 PM; Olean Family YMCA 3:10 PM, and at the Olean Center Mall from 4:30 - 5:30 PM.  At the Mall, Gus officially signed up our first team for the Olean tournament. 

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. The event, first held in Lowell, Michigan in 1974, is a family festival with food and  music along with  the basketball competition held on the streets near downtown Olean.

Tournament sponsorships and volunteer information are now available online.  For information on the Gus Macker, please contact John Irving at 397-8223 or Meme K. Yanetsko at 372-4433.

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