My weekly basketball travels have picked up at a frantic level over the past few weeks.  This past week, I was in a basketball gym every single night.  I’d feel a little like stressed out like  Bill Hendrickson if it weren’t for the fact that I actually choose to go to the games.  I also don’t have three wives, a girlfriend, a couple of Homeplus stores, Weber Gaming, and a partnership for a new Indian Casino.  It also helps that it’s a hobby of mine and not an actual job.  

All that being said, Saturday night was a first for me.  After hearing good things for many years, I finally made my first trip to the Southport Fieldhouse to do color for the Pike-Southport game.  Having played my entire life in the greatest high school fieldhouse in the world at New Castle, I’ve pretty much turned into a huge gym snob.  I’m always quick to point out that New Castle has the largest high school gym in the world, as well as the fact that there is nothing to compare the feeling of running out of the tunnel for a North Central Conference game.  I’ll tell you stories of New Castle-Batesville in 1996 and 1997, and may not listen to your side of best game atmosphere you’ve been around (Especially when compared to the 1997 game).  Me and my snobbiness about the New Castle Fieldhouse is just the people who answer the following question in this way:  “Why type of music do you like?”  Answer:  Anything but Country!  By far, the most annoying answer ever, and that’s exactly what I am when it comes to high school gyms.  Give George Strait a chance and tell me if your answer changes.

So long story short, I gave the Southport Fieldhouse a chance.  I was blown away!  When I walked into the doors, I was immediately upset that I hadn’t made a trip there before.  I couldn’t imagine some of the regionals in years past (especially last year).  I started typing this blog 7 hours ago, as this next sentence was pretty tough to get out.  The entrance is by far better than the New Castle Fieldhouse.  When you walk in, you feel as if you’re walking into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.  It’s sloped downward and the popcorn smells hit you immediately.  I was almost ready for a fake John Wooden to give me a pep talk or to see if I could out-jump Oscar Robertson. 

At New Castle, you walk into the gym at the very top level as the court is in the ground.  At Southport, it’s built up, so you walk in at court level.  There was something about the stairs going up that gave it a feel of an upscale college gymnasium.  There was memorobilia throughout, showing former stars like Louie Dampier, Marlon Fleming, and William Moore.  Southport sets up their entire gym just as they should:  A historical site and museum.  The seats are also a little bit closer to the floor than New Castle, which gives it a more intimate feel. 

The thing that stuck out about Southport more than any other gym I’ve ever been in my life, is the true hospitality that I received while there.  Everyone I encountered was a class act, and extremely proud of their fieldhouse.  As I mentioned, it is a historical site, and they treat it as such.  I learned about past history, the current team, and was treated to the coolest hospitality room in high school sports.

To give you an idea, their hospitality room is set up like a diner from the 1960s.  We kept waiting for Biff Tannen to emerge and say, “What are you looking at, butthead?” or “Why don’t you make like a tree and leave?”  Fortunately for us, Biff didn’t show up.  There was an official scoreboard in there, red and white checkered floors, old photos, and great food.  Like I said, just a class place.

If I weren’t such a homer, I’d hand the throne over to Southport right now for best gymnasium.  Biased or not, I still think the New Castle Fieldhouse is the marquee place to go catch a game.  What a classy bunch though in Southport.  I didn’t get a chance to meet their athletic director, Pete Hubert, but I want to thank him for setting us up.  I also want to thank assistant athletic director Dennis Dodd and Head Coach Mark Eccles for being such great hosts for Southport High School.  Wearing my Pike garb, they couldn’t have been any more welcoming or proud to show off what a fine facility they have.  Just classy people.

When asked the music question again, my answer will definitely be, “I’ll listen to anything.”  I’m proud of that, too.

What’s the best high school gym you’ve ever been to?  I want to hear from all of you…even those of you who never comment.

The Bous Theory Top 5 High School Gyms in Indiana

1a. New Castle Fieldhouse
1b. Southport Fieldhouse
3.  Muncie Fieldhouse
4.  Anderson Wigwam
5.  Tiernan Center – Richmond