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2009 Basketball Hall of Fame inductees C. Vivian Stringer and Michael Jordan share a laugh at the Grey Flannel Auctions reception. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.

Jordan adds star power to Grey Flannel’s Hall of Fame banquet

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson

2009 Basketball Hall of Fame inductees C. Vivian Stringer and Michael Jordan share a laugh at the Grey Flannel Auctions reception. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.
2009 Basketball Hall of Fame inductees C. Vivian Stringer and Michael Jordan share a laugh at the Grey Flannel Auctions reception. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (ACNI) – Grey Flannel Auctions, the Westhampton Beach, N.Y.-based company that produces an auction annually in conjunction with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, hosted a star-studded banquet last night as the opening event for this year’s induction weekend.

The invitation-only reception and dinner, which took place on center court at the Hall of Fame, honored both returning Hall of Famers and the Class of 2009, which will be officially inducted in a ceremony tonight, Sept. 11th. The inductees include (in alphabetical order): Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, C. Vivian Stringer and John Stockton.

Jordan’s appearance at the Grey Flannel event created a media frenzy, and photographers jockeyed for position when the five inductees lined up onstage for a brief photo op. Auction Central News contributor Chuck Miller was there to document the evening on behalf of Grey Flannel Auctions, who graciously agreed to share a few snaps with our readers.

Grey Flannel’s Hall of Fame Induction Auction, which takes place tomorrow, Sept. 12, 2009, will include Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. Key lots to be auctioned include the rookie jersey experts believe to be the first one issued to Michael Jordan after he joined the Chicago Bulls, and the actual backboard and rim into which Jordan shot the last-second winning goal for the Bulls in the 1998 NBA Championship Finals.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee, or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Copyright 2009 Auction Central News International. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

The Grey Flannel Auctions banquet took place on center court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.
The Grey Flannel Auctions banquet took place on center court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.

This year's Hall of Fame inductees posed briefly for a group shot. From left to right: Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, C. Vivian Stringer. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees posed briefly for a group shot. From left to right: Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, C. Vivian Stringer. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.

Some of the staff of Grey Flannel take a break from auction preparations to enjoy the pre-banquet reception. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.
Some of the staff of Grey Flannel take a break from auction preparations to enjoy the pre-banquet reception. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.

Basketball Hall of Famer and president of the Miami Heat Pat Riley (right) accepts the Mannie Jackson Basketball Human Spirit Award on behalf of former Miami Heat player Alonzo Mourning, who was unable to attend the awards ceremony following Grey Flannel’s Hall of Fame banquet. The award was presented to Riley by Hall of Famer Mannie Jackson (left), chairman and owner of the Harlem Globetrotters. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.
Basketball Hall of Famer and president of the Miami Heat Pat Riley (right) accepts the Mannie Jackson Basketball Human Spirit Award on behalf of former Miami Heat player Alonzo Mourning, who was unable to attend the awards ceremony following Grey Flannel’s Hall of Fame banquet. The award was presented to Riley by Hall of Famer Mannie Jackson (left), chairman and owner of the Harlem Globetrotters. Copyrighted photo by Chuck Miller. Courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions.