My Last Dance

The Standard Club of Chicago, founded in 1869 by a group of German-Jewish men refused membership in the Chicago Club, closed the doors to its clubhouse today. The building had been basically shuttered since mid-March because of COVID-19; on April 4, the board of directors announced it would not reopen. The clubhouse at 320 S. Plymouth Court, designed by noted architect Alfred Kahn and completed in 1926, is listed for sale, and the club’s fate remains uncertain.

The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court

This post will neither recap the club’s august history nor discuss the factors that led to its closing; many have or will provide such commentary. I’m writing about the main attraction for many members, which kept me there for 23 years: basketball.

The Standard Club lobby

My highest basketball achievement was honorable mention intramural all-stars as a high-school senior, a half-decent honor considering there were about 600 boys in my graduating class. I’ve loved the game but stopped playing for several years because of family, work and a place to play. Then I heard about the Standard Club games.

Center court, The Standard Club gymnasium

A friend since age 12, with whom I’d attended summer camp, religious school and high school, played in the Monday night and Monday, Wednesday and Friday noon games. The club, he told me, has a short full-court, and games are 4-on-4. I’d also be one of the taller guys if I joined (no discussion of stereotypes here). During one of the membership drives, I was accepted in January 1997. At the time I was a senior vice president at an international public relations firm, so the membership would also be useful professionally.

The Standard Club gymnasium. The blue lines are for pickleball

For what one member called “The Last Gentleman’s Game in the Country,” I stepped back on to the 6th-floor court at age 48. Players ranged from 20-somethings to 70 and older. Unwritten rules were simple: no trash-talking, defense calls the fouls and no rough stuff. The last would be broken in league games, tournaments and by occasional hacks or clothes lines. Games were 8 minutes by the clock, and the Health & Fitness Center (H&FC)  supervisors made the teams; rather than winner-stays-on, players were rotated to ensure nobody sat for more than one game at a time. Half-court games resulted if 16 or more members showed up.

One 4-man team wore the color-of-the-day mesh pullovers

Basketball was only played on Monday nights when the games originated in the early 1960s. This produced an interesting story, passed down through the decades. One of the players met the wife of another player, who told him, “I think it’s great you guys play on Monday and Wednesday nights and then go out for dinner.” She eventually found out the truth. They are no longer married.

The drop ceiling limited the length of shots

The basketball players’ annual event – The Hall of Shame Dinner – was held annually for several years, interrupted for five years until one final get-together last year. A Hall of Shame Award winner is chosen, based on a minimum of 10 years’ playing experience; ability (or lack thereof) is not applicable. The dinner featured a speaker from the sports world, preferably basketball. The best during my tenure was the late Norm Van Lier, which included tales of hanging out with Led Zeppelin; last year’s speaker was Matt Gordon, an assistant coach of the Final Four Loyola University Ramblers and brother of H&FC Director Mike Gordon. A side note: When Loyola qualified for the 2018 NCAA tournament, the players anted up to send Mike to Dallas to see the first round. After the Ramblers made it to the second round, we dug deeper into our pockets to send Mike to Atlanta. Against all odds, Loyola made it to the Final Four in San Antonio, and we came through once again for Mike’s plane fare and hotel room.

3-on-3 Tournament, 2002. Only three other members played in the 2020 tournament

The 3-on-3 Tournament, started in 2002, was played for the last time on February 22, 2020. Eight teams are assigned by the H&FC staff for the half-court games. Each game is 12 minutes or if one team scores 10 baskets. My first and only win came in 2012, when we tied a semifinal game on a desperation last-second shot, won on free throws and went on to take the title. The spirited competition features mostly guys in their 20s and 30s. At least two broken noses resulted during the years. After several year’s hiatus, hitting age 70 and sensing this would be the last 3-on-3 tournament, I signed up, hoping not to embarrass myself. Only one other player was older; the two of us were more than 10 years senior to the next youngest players. I held my own; this time we lost in the semifinals on tie-breaker free throws.

3-on-3 Tournament, 2020. John Gable (holding ball) at 73 was the oldest player

I almost forgot to include a tribute to my great friend, Marc Wayne, the other H&FC staffer. The Berwyn native supervised nearly every game, seated at his "office" where he ran the scoreboard (for time, not scores except for league games) and made up the teams. On occasions he would fill in when we were short on personnel, holding back on lofting his soft lefthanded jump shots in deference to the members. His sophomoric humor is loved by all. I'll miss his shouting, "He's no Fred Biletnikoff" every time I muff a pass.

Marc Wayne's "office": the scorer's table

During these 23 years, I’ve had an angioplasty, partial nephrectomy, torn meniscus and extreme lower back pain; each time I stepped back on the court it was like getting a significant part of my life back. The friendships on and off the court transcend a simple game. We did business together, dined together, mourned the loss of thankfully only a few of our stalwarts together, attended Sox games together, watched a son play college basketball together and played basketball outdoors on summer Saturday mornings some 40 miles northwest of Chicago together. The club has entered into an agreement with another downtown club to use its facilities; I've elected not to sign up. Until I find another game, the summer games might be it for my basketball career. If so – and this was My Last Dance – at least I had a final hurrah.

I walked off the court for the last time, April 13, 2020