In an effort to give back to the founder of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center and to find a cure for the disease he suffers from, sports marketing students are hosting the third annual James Warsaw Classic 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Sunday.
The tournament, which will be held under the theme “Shooting out Parkinson’s disease,” will start at 8 a.m. at McArthur Court. Teams of three, high-school age and older, are eligible to play and have to register on-line by today at 5 p.m. The fee for each team is $40 and every team is guaranteed at least three games in the first rounds, which will be played using a round robin format.
Winners of the round robin will advance to the single elimination rounds.
The proceeds of the basketball tournament will be donated to the National Parkinson Foundation and will be used for research to find a cure for the disease. Warsaw was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in late 1993.
“The opportunity he has given every student who goes through the program is incomparable,” said Andy Koper, a second-year masters of business administration student and co-director of the tournament. “This is the best way that the students can give back to Jim.”
Warsaw said he is proud that students take the initiative and organize the tournament for the third year.
“Words alone cannot express how grateful and honored I am to see the tournament every year,” Warsaw said. “It’s so heartwarming.”
Not only does the tournament make Warsaw feel he is not alone in the battle against Parkinson’s disease, but it also incorporates social responsibility into students’ education, Warsaw said. He said it has always been his vision to combine a formal business education with “street smarts” and a sense of social commitment.
“To me, this is an expression of what higher education is all about,” he said.
Koper said $5,000 was raised at last year’s tournament and he expects to raise more than $15,000 this year.
Phil Richman, a first-year MBA student, said the event gives everyone in the community an opportunity to learn more about and support a good cause, while having a fun day on the basketball court at the same time.
“The tournament is great because it gives Parkinson’s disease a human element for people that do not know anyone who is afflicted with the disease,” Richman said.
For Warsaw, the tournament will bring his dream of finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease a little bit closer.
“We’re not going to lose this battle,” he said. “We’ll win this battle.”