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From MSFame.com News The opportunity to hear and see the inductees of the
The months long process that results in the digital display on the Museum's five touchscreen kiosks begins with a lengthy narrative compiled by Glenn Waddle, who heads the selection committee of the Jackson Touchdown Club which controls the process that nominates, elects and inducts new members. "It's a painstaking process that starts in the summer and takes about a month," said Waddle, who works with the Mississippi Bar Association. "It's a labor of love." "Glenn does a great job and I start work from there," said executive director Michael Rubenstein,who manages the Museum's information discovery process. "I call colleges, high schools, family friends, former teammates and especially the inductees themselves in the search for pictures and mementoes. We also secure video from NFL Films, Major League Baseball, the NCAA, the IOC museum in Switzerland...you name them and I call them,"said Rubenstein. Bill Foster, the lone posthumous honoree in the 2003 induction class, poses a special challenge. A star pitcher in the old Negro Leagues who returned to coach baseball at Alcorn State, Foster performed in relative anonymity during the 1920's and '30's. Though he is considered by many to be the best left-hander in Negro League history, there are very few images of Foster as a player. There is no known video of Foster. "Cooperstown and the Foster family have the same four pictures," said Rubenstein, "And Alcorn hasn't been able to produce a team picture or anything from the annual." Interviews and memorabilia are videotaped and each tape is logged. "That's the most tedious part," said Rubenstein,"taking notes and listing the time codes on hours of tape but it's essential to make sure we get the most representative, most accurate electronic display we can." After the tapes have been logged and video selected, the editing begins. "I estimate we spend between 50-60 hours just getting the shots down," said Rubenstein who works with Walt Grayson of Grayson Productions to produce the videos. "Walt has the eye and the patience to make our electronic displays as good as they can be.That's why we're working with him for a third year,"said Rubenstein. After the shots have been selected, digitized and edited with graphics added, the inductee videos are burned on a cd and installed directly on the computer hard drives in the appropriate kiosk at the Museum. At that point the hard work is over and all the Museum visitor has to do is touch a button to enjoy the accomplishments and memories of some of America's greatest athletes. "We're proud of the accomplishments of our inductees and my goal each year is to make sure their displays are of the same quality as their careers," Rubenstein said. Note: The Jackson Touchdown Club's banquet for the 2003 induction class is April 4, 2003 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. For ticket information, contact Chrissie Cameron at 601-664-1532. © Copyright 2001-2002 by Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum |
