McFaul’s swan song

With more than 6,000 teams, almost 24,000 players and close to 400 courts, Hoopfest can’t afford to bend the rules it has fine-tuned for the past 14 years.

But shortly after the world’s largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament turns 15 with its 8 a.m. tipoff today, one rule will be broken – briefly.

McFaul Co opens play at 8:30 on the Party Palace court at Mallon and Post with five players on its roster with the blessing of Guard This Hanson.

Call it a birthday present to Ted McFaul, who turns 80 next month and wanted to play one more time on the family coed team.

“It’s some we can all do,” McFaul said. “They all come home. That’s why we’re having my 80th birthday party (Friday afternoon). A lot of the grandkids have teams.”

Quite a to-do was made about the McFaul family coed team a half-dozen years ago when dad was taking a regular turn on the court.

“I didn’t add very much,” he said. “When they get tired, I might spell them.”

This time it’s more of a token appearance, his kids wanted him to get another T-shirt.

After Ted puts up one of his patented hook shots, four of his six children – Mary, Greg, Jerry and Brian – will take over. Kathy, injured when she played for Gonzaga years ago, doesn’t play and Chris lost the battle among the brothers to see who sits out.

Ted played one year of basketball at Gonzaga before joining the Navy during World War II. He spent three semesters in the V-12 program at the University of Washington, playing football and running track. By the time he got out of the service Gonzaga had dropped football so he went to Idaho and played football three years.

Raising a family in Great Falls, Mont., the sport of choice became basketball.

“The family has played every Sunday for the last 40 years,” Greg said.

Peacha McFaul will hold her breath until her husband gets to the sidelines to join her in cheering on the children, joining the thousands of spectators who will be doing the same thing.

There are fewer players to cheer this year than last. Hoopfest is down 125 teams.

“I’m not worried,” executive director Rick Steltenpohl said. “I would be worried but last year was our best year ever and this year will be better. I think we’ll float around this number from now on.”

To keep the event fresh, there are always new things for spectators and players.

New this year are a high school elite division, a center court for youth and the WNBA game tonight at 7 at the Arena.

The youth center court is on Spokane Falls Blvd. near the Riverfront Park turnout. Between games there will be contests for young players and the Sonics dance team will perform.

Also, Steltenpohl said, this is the strongest elite field ever, with more and more Gonzaga, Eastern Washington and Washington State players returning to play.

Elite games are on Spokane Falls Blvd., next to Riverfront Park. Featured games are at Nike Center Court in the middle of the park.

Center Court features the slam dunk competition at 12:30 today.

Championship games are Sunday. The women’s final is at 3:15. The men’s over-6-foot semis are at 4 and 4:30 with the 6-foot-and-under championship at 5. The over-6-foot wrap-up is at 5:45.