SEPTEMBER
“Everyone in the league agreed that the Chicago Hustle had the best fans,” says Women’s Professional Basketball League historian Karra Porter. The team never won a championship during the league’s brief tenure, from 1978 to 1981. But they did play the first pro women’s basketball game–against the Milwaukee Does some 25 years ago. The opening tip-off will be recreated today at 10 AM with original players, coaches, and a referee from the first game as part of an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the WBL, after which fans will be invited to shoot some hoops with the players. At 5 a panel that includes former Hustle (and current DePaul) coach Doug Bruno will discuss the history of women’s basketball. It’ll be followed at 6 by a dinner with a keynote speech by former player and author Mariah Burton Nelson and entertainment by singer Jimmy Damon. The ball playing takes place at Lincoln Middle School, 4050 N. Wagner in Schiller Park, and the panel and dinner are at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr in Rosemont. Dinner is $25. For tickets go to www.wblmemories.com or call 801-450-7882.
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22 MONDAY
Possible parallels between the treatment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and the treatment of Iraqi-Americans today will be considered as part of today’s panel discussion, sponsored by the American Immigration Law Foun-dation, at the Skokie Library. The free event will examine the effects of September 11 on citizens and immigrants from Muslim countries, including government scrutiny of Middle Eastern and South Asian men that has allegedly violated due process protections. Speakers include Amina Saeed of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, William Yoshino of the Japanese American Citizens League, Edwin Yohnka of the ACLU, and immigration attorney Eileen Momblanco. It starts at 7 tonight in the Petty Auditorium of the Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton in Skokie. Call 847-673-7774.
