Tourney organizer receives top honour

Page 7

Friday the 13th was a little scary for Russell Gamble-but in a good way.

Gamble admitted to being "a little nervous" about accepting Basketball B.C.'s highest honour Feb. 13 at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre in Prince Rupert, and looked overwhelmed as he was ushered into the gym with traditional drumming and fellow members of the Gitxaala Nation at his side.

Gamble was officially receiving his plaque marking his induction into Basketball B.C.'s hall of fame for his decades of service to the All Native Basketball Tournament (ANT), which celebrated its 45th anniversary last month. One of the founding committee members of the Prince Rupert mega-event that attracts 54 teams and more than 3,000 visitors annually, Gamble was touched to be part of an exclusive class.

"I can't find words to express how I feel tonight," an emotional Gamble told a large crowd Friday evening. "I'm deeply honoured. If it wasn't for you, the fans, I wouldn't be here today."

Actually, if it wasn't for Gamble, and a handful of determined basketball enthusiasts, the fans might not be able to witness the ANT spectacle each year.

It was in 1959 that Gamble and a few men decided it was time to revive an earlier tournament that had run from 1947 to 1953, which Gamble had played in. The group thought it would be a way to revive basketball in the city and also bring together Aboriginal people from the outlying communities.

The first ANT took place March 2, 1960, and, with Gamble's continuous guidance, has grown into one of the biggest events of its kind in North America.

Gamble, 79, told the crowd he was thinking of retiring after this year but then chuckled, "Whether it's true or not, I don't know. I've been saying that for the last three or four years!"

Basketball B.C.'s vice-president, Richard Hunt, presented Gamble with his plaque. The ANT committee also presented him with a framed copy of the cover of this year's program, which featured him. To top things off, representatives of Gamble's tribe and home village of Kitkatla made an appearance to honor him, presenting him with a copper shield pendant featuring his tribe's blackfish design.

"I was caught by surprise by the appearance of my people," said Gamble, Chief Hale to the Gitxaala Tribe. "I would like to thank them for coming and showing their respect."

Ten others joined Gamble as the hall's inaugural members, including Simon Fraser University legend and former Canadian national team captain, Jay Triano; Bev Smith, believed to be our nation's best female player ever; and B.C. High School Boys Basketball Association co-founder, Ken Wright.

"He's going in with some pretty good company," said Basketball B.C.'s executive director, Michael Hind. "It speaks volumes for what he has done for basketball."

Other honours Gamble has picked up because of his volunteer efforts include being a former recipient of Basketball B.C.'s Wink Willox Award, and induction into the ANT hall of fame.

"The work that he has done over the years in running this tournament has set an excellent foundation for us to build on," said ANT co-chair Farley Stewart. "In order to experience success in the future, you need to know where you came from, your history, and Russell provides us with that."