It didn`t take Antwon Harmon long to use what he learned in college.
The ex-Northern Illinois forward was blocking shots and banging bodies Sunday in the best Jim Molinari tradition during the divisional finals of the Shoot The Bull 3 On 3 Roundball Classic along Columbus Drive in Grant Park.
”Hey, we didn`t get to be the No. 2-ranked defense in the country for nothing,” Harmon said. The slender 6-foot-7-inch former Huskie teamed with NIU teammate Stacy Arrington, ex-NIU player Tim Sullivan and ex-Detroit Piston George Wenzel in advancing to the finals of the Major College Division before bowing to the Lakefront Regulars. ”This was a little hard for Stacy and I to get used to,” Harmon said. ”I`m used to playing full-court games with refs. I never really played street ball since I began in organized ball at the South Shore YMCA when I was 6 years old. It was hard for me to get my shot with all the pushing and shoving and holding. When you get a guy 6-8, 250 pounds and all he does is lean on you, it`s kinda tough.”
– The women`s slam-dunk competition was introduced at this year`s tournament and 1985 Tribune Athlete of the Year Katie Meier emerged victorious. Her winning dunk was a 360-degree slam on the eight-foot basket. One of the judges, Bulls forward Horace Grant, gave her a perfect score.
As Meier walked back to the other contestants, she smiled and told them:
”I don`t know about you girls, but Horace Grant thinks I`m a 10!”
The 6-1 Meier was an all-Atlantic Coast Conference guard at Duke the same time Grant was earning the same recognition at Clemson.
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”Is that Katie Meier?” Grant said afterward. ”Oh yeah, I remember hearing all about her. She`s tough.”
– Chicago police estimated that between 150,000 and 200,000 people took part in or viewed the two-day event. Tournament director Greg Hanrahan said the Bulls` goal is to make this the biggest three-on-three tournament in the country. The event has grown from 850 teams in the first tournament in 1989 to 2,000 this year. Hanrahan`s plans for expansion could eventually include teams from overseas.
The team that traveled the farthest came from Bermuda. There was a team of 66-year-olds and several with 14-year-olds. A film crew from ”Today”
show followed around a team of 53-year-old men for an early-morning segment. Hanrahan was pleased that Bulls staff and volunteers were able to keep the 4,000 games running on schedule.
– Long shot of the day? How about Steve Mandell, who swished an 83-footer to win the long-distance competition.
The Underdog Award would have to go to a women`s team of Meier, ex-De Paul stars Beth Hasenmiller and Natalie Perrino and ex-Loyola star Donna Zalig. Because they registered late, they were placed in the Open Division. The women beat a number of men`s teams before succumbing to another men`s team in the divisional finals witnessed by a large crowd openly partial to the women.