My Hometown Rocks: Springfield, Massachusetts

I could write about my hometown of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, but there's not much to talk about in my hometown other than Anne Sullivan, the teacher of Helen Keller came from here. In 1999, Mike DiMauro created the what is today's Beat Mike Network here.

I could also talk about Agawam, Massachusetts, which Feeding Hills is a part of, but there's not much to talk about. Agawam is the home of current Boston Red Sox PA announcer, Carl Beane (my mom was in his graduating class). Agawam is also home to Six Flags New England, which held the NFL Cheerleading Contest back in either 2006 or 2007.

Before Agawam was incorporated in 1855, it was a part of West Springfield. West Springfield is the home to Olympic gold medalist Tim Daggett, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano, and former Simpsons co-producer Mike Scully. West Springfield is also home to the Eastern States Exposition.

Before West Springfield was established in 1774, it was a part of Springfield. Springfield is the "Official Birthplace of Basketball". In 1891 at Springfield College, James Naismith created the game of basketball. In 1968, the Basketball Hall of Fame opened up at Springfield College. It moved to the coast of the Connecticut River in 1985 and then a newer hall was built in 2002. Basketball is not the only thing that came from Springfield. Sirius DJ Nina Blackwood, Milton Bradley (game board creator, not MLB outfielder), Ashley Gearing, Dr. Seuss and Kurt Russell are among the people that came from Springfield.

Springfield also hosted the NCAA's Division II Men's Basketball Elite Eight in the early 1990's and it returned in 2007. In addition to that, it also hosts the Hall of Fame game every year for college basketball. Derek Kellogg, also a Springfield native that recently became the coach of UMass is trying to make a deal that would allow UMass to play some of their home games at the MassMutual Center.

Go North on Interstate 91 to Holyoke, you'll find the home of Volleyball. If you go west on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90), you'll find the town that had the very first baseball game in Pittsfield. In 2004 in nearby South Hadley, you also had the LPGA make a stop on their tour for that year.