Tony La Russa, the longtime manager of the St. Louis
Cardinals who retired following his Club’s 2011 World Series
Championship, will serve as the manager of the National League All-Star
Team for the 2012 Midsummer Classic at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City,
Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today.

Commissioner Selig said: “Tony earned this opportunity
with the remarkable run that the Cardinals completed last October, and I
am delighted that he shared my enthusiasm about his staying in this
role.  The All-Star Game celebrates all the best of our game, and it is
very appropriate that we will have the chance to celebrate one of the
greatest managerial careers of all-time as a part of our festivities.”

La Russa will lead the N.L. All-Stars for the third time
(previous: 2005, 2007) and it will mark his sixth Midsummer Classic
managerial assignment, matching Joe Torre’s total and surpassed only by
Hall of Famers Casey Stengel (10), Walter Alston (9) and Joe McCarthy
(7).  While leading the Oakland Athletics, La Russa was the American
League All-Star skipper from 1989-1991.  La Russa has a 3-2 record in
his five Midsummer Classics as manager.  The remainder of La Russa’s
N.L. coaching staff will be announced in the months ahead.

La Russa, 67, managed 33 years in the Major Leagues, with
the Chicago White Sox (1979-1986), the A’s (1986-1995) and the Cardinals
(1996-2011).  His clubs won three World Series Championships and made
six World Series overall.  The four-time BBWAA Manager of the Year won
three National League pennants (2004, 2006, 2011) with St. Louis,
including its National League-best 10th and 11th World Series
Championships.

This will mark the second time that a retired manager will
lead an All-Star squad.  Hall of Fame manager John McGraw retired
following the 1932 season and managed the N.L. squad in the first
Midsummer Classic in 1933.  Two managers led an All-Star team after
moving on to new Clubs immediately following a World Series.  Dick
Williams was the 1974 A.L. All-Star manager after leaving the A’s for
the California Angels following the 1973 World Series.  Dusty Baker, who
managed the San Francisco Giants to the 2002 Fall Classic, was the 2003
N.L. All-Star manager after joining the Chicago Cubs.

The 2012 All-Star Game will be played at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday,
July 10th.  The 83rd All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX
Sports.  For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

by Bud Legg, IHSAA

Since 1912 the Iowa Boys’ State Basketball Tournament has offered the state and its fans many exciting moments. In observance of the first 100 years of the tournament, the IHSAA is using the weeks leading up to the tournament and the tournament itself to celebrate the first 100 years.

A special logo commemorating the 100 Year Celebration of State Basketball Tournaments is posted on the basketball page of the IHSAA website. The IHSAA encourages media and schools to utilize use of the logo and the information available on the basketball page of the Association’s web site in their coverage of basketball.

Earlier this winter, the Association assembled a blue-ribbon panel consisting of former state tournament coaches; school administrators; veteran fans (some of whom were former players and coaches); members of the media; and game officials to recall “great moments from state tournament games.” Independently they arrived at those tournament moments that still shine brightly in their memories.

No pre-set number of moments was given to the Committee. Those that were introduced were included in the draft with some being grouped by commonalities.  With such a daunting task, the IHSAA realizes that the committee’s “great moments” were not all inclusive. Rather they are a compilation of the committee’s memories of the first 100 years, 219 championship games, and over 108,000 minutes of action. They constitute a legacy that embodies the richness of education-based interscholastic athletics. It is intended to represent a cross section of the history of the tournament and is presented in categorical and chronological order.

The “Great Moments” can be found on the basketball page of the website. In addition a plethora of
archived information, including every score from the 100 State Tournaments and numerous records and all-time bests can be found by clicking on the word “Archives” above the red QuikStats banner on the basketball web page.

The IHSAA wants fans to review the “moments” which includes the facilities that have hosted the State Tournament; innovations that were used in the tournament structure, record setting coaches, fans and officials, tournament nuggets and notable firsts, and a chronology of the “state tournament highlights the committee identified.  As they read the information and highlights, they are invited to submit other state tournament moments they recall for consideration for inclusion in the list. Entries need not be from a championship game. Additions for consideration can be emailed to Bud Legg (blegg@iahsaa.org).

Others are welcomed and invited by the Athletic Association to join in the celebration.  Media outlets, schools, and private individuals who have photos of past State Tournament games that can be used in the special tournament program, arena displays or video presentations are urged to send them to the IHSAA.  Full credit lines for photographs used will be given and all pictures will be returned. The pictures can be emailed to tlatta@iahsaa.org or mailed to the Iowa High School Athletic Association; PO Box 10; Boone, IA 50036-0010.

As the tournament nears the IHSAA will develop posters, brief video presentations to be played before the State Tournament games, and a variety of displays and activities relating to the celebration of the first 100 years. Activities will be designed to enhance the history of the tournament but not detract from the unique experience this year’s qualifiers will have.