[Oct 29] INDIANAPOLIS,IN, US--More than 4,600 people from 152 Indiana
cities and a total of 10 states dribbled basketballs from Monument
Circle to Conseco Fieldhouse in Downtown Indianapolis on Sunday
and set a new world record for most people dribbling a basketball. Photo:Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images
"I thought, 'This is basketball, this
is Indiana -- we've got to have this record,' " said Jeff McCoy,
a spokesman for the Indiana
Pacers and one of the originators of the record-breaking
plan.
The event was part of the Indiana
Pacers Hoosier Basketball Celebration on Sunday at Conseco
Fieldhouse.
They broke the record of 1,111 people set by
the Flora Hill Secondary School in Australia. The number stands
at 1,111 after an attempt in Edinburgh, Scotland failed last year.
But
the event was about more than the record. "This is really a celebration
of basketball throughout the state, from junior league to the pros.
It means so much here we thought everyone should get to take part
in this record," McCoy said.
Led by the whole Indiana
Pacers squad and coaches, participants caused Downtown Indianapolis
to rumble for several minutes with the sounds of balls hitting pavement
as they dribbled their way to the Fieldhouse.
The skill level among the crowd varied, evident
as some dribblers crept along the roads, focused intensely on the
ball in their hands. Braver participants took on imaginary defenders
with crossover moves, dribbles behind their back and through their
legs and more. But it didn't matter how
the participants got there, as long as they kept a ball bouncing
for at least five minutes.
Fans were greeted along the way by Boomer, the
Pacers mascot, as well as passersby who stopped to stare and take
pictures. "I had a blast. I've never done anything like this. I
enjoyed it. I can't wait to buy the book," said Emoria Scott, 48,
Indianapolis, referring to the World Records book she expects to
include the Indianapolis dribble record. Scott came out with her
brother and his grandchildren.
