They all said the same thing: "Sandy would have been proud." Dr. AJ Sandy Young, legendary sports historian and world class professor at Dalhousie passed away in August of 2000 from pancreatic cancer. Dr. Young is well known for his many writings on the history of sports in the United States and especially in Nova Scotia. However, to the many community patrons of Dalplex, Sandy is known for the development of 'noon hoops.'
Noon hoops was started in 1970 by Dr. Young and Dr. Herb Gamberg, a professor of sociology at Dalhousie. "The idea was to create a league where fair play and sportsmanship were the basic rules," said Gamberg. "Anyone of any age, race or sex was encouraged to play; that's what Sandy and I believed in and what we wanted." "Noon hour ball may be the longest living, totally positive sport and recreational program in Atlantic Canada," says Gamberg. "Noon hour ball has hundreds of alumni and community members who never leave. They always come back. They love it."
35 years later noon hoops at Dalplex is still going strong. Many of Sandy's colleagues, friends and students still play everyday from 11:30-1:30 on the Dalplex main courts. It's the same today as it was 35 years ago.
On September 10, 2005 a group of Sandy's friends honoured his memory by putting together the 1st Annual Sandy Young 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and Family Barbecue. The event was held just outside of Halifax with the barbecue being hosted by the Dal Basketball Great and Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame member John Cassidy and his family. With over 30 families in attendance the day was a huge success. The money raised from the event will go towards a scholarship in his Sandy's honour.