Bloom vs. Bloom Trail.
It was a rivalry on the basketball court that was legendary until it ceased when the two athletic programs merged in 1995-96.
Now, the rivalry is back — at least for one night — as former stars from both schools will play in a pair of alumni games Saturday at McCann gym at Bloom High School, 101 W 10th St., Chicago Heights.
Age didn’t mellow anyone. There is a true love-hate relationship between the combatants. On a Facebook page there is a video with some trash talking that features some R-rated language.
“It’s serious,” said former Bloom star David Daniel, from the class of 1989. “This is real serious. This not only goes back from Bloom vs. Bloom Trail, this goes back to (Chicago) Heights against Ford Heights, too.
“We all grew up together and playing each other in the parks. It’s super personal. We have love for each other but when we lace ’em up, we are literally enemies.”
The Legends Alumni Games will start at 6 p.m. and feature “new school” players from 2000-2014 in one game and “old school” players from the 1980-1999 era.
Former Rich East standout Craig Hodges, who went on to play in the NBA and won a pair of championships with the Chicago Bulls, will host a 3-point contest and there will be other festivities.
There were 1,000 early tickets sold, according to Twanita Burnett, who is on the Bloom committee organizing the event, but tickets will be available at the door for $15. Proceeds will go to financially assisting graduating seniors from both schools, she said.
“This is turning into such a big deal that some of the other schools in the south suburbs have contacted us and want to be a part of it next year,” Burnett said. “We weren’t expecting it to be this big, but it’s taking off.
“This could be an annual event.”
Even though the sports programs merged in 1995, students still went to one school or the other, thus former teammates will be going at it Saturday night.
But the real heat will come from those who battled against each other in the 1980s through the mid-1990s.
“It’s going to be great for these two schools to get together and share all of the memories,” said Bloom Trail great GT Coleman, who will be the oldest participant on the night. He is 58 and graduated in 1984.
Coleman likes his team’s chances to beat the Trojans in the old school game.
“I don’t want to talk too much, but we’re looking good,” he said. “We can play fast or we can slow it down. But why slow it down? This is a show and it’s all for fun.”
The retired barber said he has an 82-year-old brother, Rufus Harris, coming in from Detroit to watch the show and friends will be in from Minnesota to watch.
Coleman said his knees are shot but he has maintained staying in basketball shape over the years.
“I can still do a little something on the court,” he said. “I never fell out of the swing of things. I never fully retired from the game.”
After his high school career at Bloom Trail, Coleman went to St. Augustine’s in North Carolina, which was in close proximately of North Carolina State. He said he played pickup games with future NBA players Spud Webb and Chris Washburn while there.
Daniel, who is also a barber, graduated from Bloom and stayed close to home as he played at St. Xavier.
He said he has been looking forward to this game for months and was worried he would have to miss it as he was recently hospitalized four days with pneumonia.
“I was getting winded, quick and I knew I wasn’t in that bad of shape,” Daniel said. “And then my health broke bad on me.”
But his health returned and he went back to practice Sunday. He said he is ready for the Saturday showdown.
“It was a whole different ballgame,” Daniel said. “I was running the floor and on defense, I was sticking the toughest dude out there and I had to put the grown-man clamps on him. It was fun.”
At 55, he is hoping to show the fans he still has the chops to play.
“People are going to come and see me and see what I can do,” he said. “They are expecting the old me. I have to camouflage it and pick my spots.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
