World’s Largest Basketball in Knoxville
Posted on January 21, 2010 - Filed Under Sports
The United States is replete with items that are the largest in the world — i.e., the world’s largest frying pan in Long Beach, Washington; the world’s largest ball of twine, just outside Cawker City, Kansas. In Knoxville, Tennessee, you’ll find the world’s largest basketball. It weighs ten tons and is perched atop a glass staircase that looks like an immense basketball net at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which was founded a decade ago, in 1999. This is the outside of a 32,000 square foot Hall of Fame; at one end, you’ll find the basketball. At the other end, there’s a brick courtyard built to resemble a basketball; engraved bricks are intended to honor inductees, guests, and a number of others.
If you find yourself in one of Knoxville’s hotels, you’ll not want to pass up a tour of this impressive hall. Inside, you’ll find as a centerpiece a 17 foot-bronze statue by Elizabeth McQueen, a California artists, intended to convey to visitors the hall’s goal to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future.” You’ll be able to see a variety of multimedia presentations and many artifacts of basketball — photographs, medals, scrapbooks, even old uniforms — all intended to capture the history of women’s basketball.
Watch a “Hoopful of Hope,” a 15-minute video presentation that provides an overview of the game’s history. If you’re like me, much of this information might be new to you; you’ll have an opportunity to learn about some of the most famous players and coaches of the game. In an exhibit titled the Modern Locker Room, you’ll hear pre-game and half-time “chalk talks.” If you go now, you’ll be able to hear Maryland’s Brenda Frese, Tennessee’s Pat Summitt and Georgia’s Andy Landers, among others. Included in the hall’s main exhibits, you’ll find a great many artifacts, such as an rule book from 1901, a collection of medals from Teresa Edwards, as well as her five Olympic medals (if you’ve ever wanted to see an Olympic medal in person, here’s a great chance).
In keeping with the hall’s theme, they have basketball courts downstairs with three baskets to represent the past, present and future. With each of the baskets at varied heights, you’ll be able to shoot baskets and see how well you do. If you happen to be in Knoxville in June, you can actually watch an induction ceremony. This June 12th, 2010, the Hall of Fame will be adding to their list of basketball greats the following women: Leta Andrews, Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Edwards, Gloria Ray, Chris Weller and Teresa Weatherspoon.
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