The Coady Roundball Classic had its largest turnout and most competitive field for the 21st edition, held April 16-17 at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
The largest and longest-running LGBT basketball tournament attracted 35 teams from across the United States, the same number as last year, but 310 players—up 20 from last year. The 35 teams tied a tournament record, with new teams from Phoenix, Austin and Portland, Ore., among other cities. Organizers said the event has reached its max for the seven courts used over two days.
Twenty cities were represented in the event, including eight Chicago teams.
"Every year, the event gets better and better," said Sam Coady, an original member of the event's Hall of Fame (Class of 2000). "There were things provided [to participants] this year that no other tournament, in any sport does, including dinner for three nights, T-shirts, drink coupons, etc."
Coady did not play this season due to a recently injured knee, "but it's still very exciting to watch," he said. "I know the event is a success when others run it and do an exceptional job."
Originally called the Chicago Hoops Classic, it has been known as the Coady Roundball Classic for seven years, "and I'm very honored by that," Coady said. Ted Cappas was the organizer for the past seven years before handing the ball to Steve Waldron and Jeff Edmonds this year.
There were no lesbian players or teams this year, nor were there any Hall of Fame inductees. Last year, the event's Hall of Fame announced its 20th Anniversary All-Tournament Team.
The event attracted a lot more families to watch this year, Coady said. The classic does not have a limit per team on the number of heterosexual players, and there were many.
"The competition [level] this year was really strong," Coady said. "In the past, there has been one extremely good team [in the field], but this year there are three or four really, really good teams."
There were five divisions of play, and the event attracted about 40 former college players. Ira Crawley, the MVP of the 2011 Chicago league (competitive division) led the Midwest Underdogs, while Mike Survillion played for the San Francisco Rock Dogs—and he is, arguably, the tournament's all-around best player.
Organizers said only two players have played in all 21 editions—Frank Kisner of Chicago and Mark Satre of Sacramento. Both are Coady Hall of Fame honorees.
"The competition level has gotten way better. Teams definitely come to this event to compete," said Survillion, 26, who lives and teaches in San Francisco, and graduated from Evanston Township High School in 2002. "The [competition] bar has really been raised since last year."
The Rock Dogs are, arguably, the best gay basketball team in the world, and yet Crawley's Midwest Underdogs shocked the Rock Dogs 55-52 on Saturday in round-robin play, marking the Rock Dogs first loss in four years.
"It was shocking and painful," Survillion said of the loss. "We played a good first half, but then let the game slip away. We had a lot of turnovers and just didn't get it done."
Survillion played for the Rock Dogs at the 2006 event, held in conjunction with the Gay Games in Chicago. He has participated in the classic annually since 2007.
"I love the community this event has built," he said.
Tournament results:
—Men's A1: D.C. Sentinels 53, Chicago Sport Sciorts 34
—Men's A2: Midwest Underdogs 63, Seattle Furry Vengeance 49
—Men's B1: Chicago CSW 52, Chicago Wrecking Crew 38
—Men's B2: Chicago Cougars 61, Real Trade of Atlanta 57
—Men's C: Austin Bball 32, Chicago KP's 25
