SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sure, a lot of what took place last weekend at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies was all about Bob Hurley.
After all, the legendary St. Anthony basketball coach was taking his proper place among the basketball hierarchy and elite, becoming only the third high school coach in history and third Hudson County native to be inducted. Tommy Heinsohn of Union City and the late referee David Walsh of Hoboken were the past inductees.
Of course, this was about Hurley earning a place for his incredible coaching record, approaching 1,000 career wins, 24 state championships, and nine NJSIAA Tournament of Champions titles. More importantly, it’s about Hurley molding teenagers into young men, sending them off to the college ranks in fine fashion, with hundreds earning scholarships over the years and several eventually going on to play in the National Basketball Association, including his own son, Bobby.
So the weekend was to honor Hurley, no doubt.
But it was also for the people who helped Hurley gain his place of prominence, namely his current players (who were all there, courtesy of Reebok), his former players and assistant coaches. They definitely had a piece of Hurley receiving the navy blue blazer, ring, and picture on the wall in the respected hallowed halls of the Hall of Fame.
It was also about his family, his wife, Chris, his children, Bobby, Danny and Melissa, their spouses and their children, all of whom were together and in attendance for the entire week of festivities.
The entire Hurley clan got together and climbed upon the stage at the Hall of Fame after the jacket presentation Friday morning, posing for pictures.
In fact, they set a trend, because other families of Hall of Famers, like fellow inductees Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone – both of whom are NBA legends – followed suit like the Hurleys and got on the stage to take family portraits of their own to capture the moment.
Malone and Hurley formed a kinship over the week that was marvelous to watch. You would never guess that an Irish-Catholic coach from Jersey City would meld with a hulking mammoth creature from Louisiana, but they most certainly did.
Hurley said that he felt a little uneasy and undeserving of the honor, before he got the chance to spend the week with Malone, the former Utah Jazz standout power forward who is still the NBA’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer.
“He really went out of his way to make me feel comfortable,” Hurley said. “He really made it easier for me. He was one of a few who made me feel like I was really a part of things.”
Malone shared the sentiments.
“I really wish I had a chance to play for someone like Coach Hurley,” Malone said. “I really admire him and what he’s done.”
They also shared some light-hearted moments.
On Friday morning, the new Hall of Famers lined up and waited to be called up to the stage to receive their new Hall of Fame blazers.
Hurley was standing ahead of Malone in the procession, but as Hurley made his first steps on the red carpet up to the stage, he felt something tugging at his pants. It was Malone, who had a hand-hold of Hurley’s belt.
“I was trying to pick up some steam to get up the carpet, but I think he had a particular joy in holding me back,” Hurley laughed. “What can you do? I could feel my feet moving, but when Karl Malone has you, you’re not going anywhere. My biggest fear was falling down on national television.”
Hurley also appreciated the relationship he formed with another Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley.
“He came and talked to my team,” Hurley said. “He stressed the importance of education. He told them that we have enough dumb people in the world right now and don’t need any more. There was a message right there.”
But it was an event that was shared by others who Hurley had touched. Guys like Raul Glover, who played for Hurley in the late 1970s and drove up from Georgia to be there to support his coach.
Or Jersey City police inspector Bob Kilduff, who was Hurley’s first-ever point guard and led Hurley’s first-ever state championship team in 1973. Hurley remembered Kilduff in his acceptance speech.
“Back then, you knew you were around greatness and you knew you had the best coach,” said Kilduff, who was standing among those entering the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies like it was the red carpet to the Oscars. “It took the rest of society and the basketball world 40 years to realize how great he was. It’s a remarkable reward and well deserved. He had a dream and a goal and just kept on working.”
Kilduff was at the ceremony, celebrating his 55th birthday.
“Other than my parents, my wife and my kids, Mr. Hurley is the most important person in my life,” Kilduff said. “It’s just amazing to be here.”
Obie Nwadike played for St. Anthony, then Central Connecticut State and has enjoyed a professional career for the last three years in Europe.
“This is huge for me to be here, because he’s the best coach I ever played for and there are others who came before me and after me who would say the same thing,” Nwadike said. “We all played for a legendary coach and this solidifies it.”
Ben Gamble played for Hurley, graduating in 1981 and has spent the last decade as Hurley’s right-hand man and assistant coach.
“I’ve been pricelessly associated with him for almost my whole life,” Gamble said. “I played for him and then sat next to him and collected the knowledge that he has. I think this puts a stamp on what St. Anthony is all about. I mean, look over there.”
Gamble pointed out an astonishing thing, almost overlooked. Right there, hanging from the rafters and the backdrop on the stage in Symphony Hall, among the logos for the Boston Celtics, the Baltimore Bullets, the Seattle Supersonics, and the Los Angeles Lakers was the St. Anthony Friar logo. It was just as prominent as the others.
Another person who made the journey up to Springfield to honor Hurley was Diane Bonelli, who grew up as Diane O’Neill from Danforth Avenue in Jersey City, a block away from where Hurley once resided on Linden Avenue.
Diane was there with her husband, Michael, and their son, Anthony, who is severely disabled and uses a wheelchair.
The Bonellis now live in Washington Township in Warren County, but still follow the exploits of St. Anthony basketball and Anthony is a huge basketball fan and extremely knowledgeable.
Besides getting autographs and getting the chance to meet the basketball legends, Anthony was also asking pertinent questions to everyone he could.
When Anthony met Karl Malone, the two also hit it off. He asked Malone a ton of questions and Malone graciously answered every one of them.
Earlier that morning, when Malone received his Hall of Fame blazer, it was grossly undersized and the arms of the jacket went just a little past Malone’s elbows. Throughout the ceremony, Malone held the blazer under his arm. He couldn’t wear it.
However, after meeting Anthony, Malone did the most touching thing of all, even more touching than his acceptance speech, remembering his late mother, who died seven years to the date of his induction.
“I told Charles [Barkley] that I wasn’t going to cry,” Malone said. “Well, I lost the bet. Every single day, my Mom was my hero and I’m here today because of her.”
While Malone’s heartwarming speech was heard by millions, his sweetest gesture was not known and recognized by many.
After he delivered his speech, Malone took his Hall of Fame blazer and gave it to young Anthony Bonelli as a permanent reminder of just how special of a man Karl Malone really is.
Malone and Hurley are both now Hall of Famers, both deserved members of the historic museum. Both also have touched a lot of people and did so again last weekend.
St. Anthony High School has planned a special reception for Coach Hurley, to congratulate him and honor him for his Hall of Fame induction. The event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 12 from 3-7 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Golden Door Charter School, located at 180 Ninth St. in Jersey City. For ticket information, contact the school at (201) 653-5739.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.