If Famous Dave's BBQ mascot Wilbur the Pig was upset during the raffle of the Honey Baked Ham at the Downers Grove Park District's PIG Championship of the World on Saturday, he kept his game face on. Not only did Wilbur have to show off his basketball skills in a game against the Buffalo Wild Wings mascot, but he also had to compete with kids, teens and adults.
The hoops shoot-out, a version of the classic playground game, gave players a chance to dominate their age bracket and become PIG Champion of the World.
Fifth-grader Alice Bieda made it all look so easy. Then again, she plays basketball for St. Mary of Gostyn school, and had just competed in a three-point contest at school earlier this week. Her winning streak continued as she advanced in the tournament. Alice could show some pro players a thing or two about focus and composure under pressure. And basketball, she said, wasn't even her favorite sport. That honor went to soccer.
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Alice's mom, Sara, was glad to see a lot of girls playing along with the boys at the tournament. Athleticism is something Sara, a runner, encourages.
"We're a very sporty family," she said.
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One court over, Carolyn Benedict sprung around with the grace of ballerina. Actually, she's in finance. Her company, Navisis Financial, brought a team to compete in the tournament. Bracketed charts on the wall showed players' progress, probably reminding many participants of their March Madness loyalties.
As players finished taking their shots or waited for the next round, they stopped by to meet and get autographs from former Pittsburgh Steeler and current Park Board Commissioner Matt Cushing, who is running unopposed for election to a two-year seat. Those who made it to the final rounds were treated to a game between the two mascots. Fittingly, Wilbur the Pig won.
