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Sunday, 14 March, 2010 0:37 AM

'Detroit's Beloved Sports Coaches' now on display at the Detroit Historical Museum

DETROIT -- A new exhibit has opened at the Detroit Historical Museum that features five of The Motor City's beloved sports coaches. George "Sparky" Anderson, Scotty Bowman, Chuck Daly, Will Robinson and Dick Vitale are included in the exhibit. It includes jerseys, autographed memorabilia, books about the coaches and a video clip. Two other exhibits have also opened in the museum's Detroit Artists Showcase and New to the Collection areas.

All team members and coaches of local sports teams can receive free admission to the museum by wearing their cap or jersey on March 14 and three other "Salute to Coaches" weekends during the run of the exhibit.

"We have five true legends of Detroit sports featured in this exhibit," said Bob Sadler, director of public and external relations for the museum. "We start off with Sparky Anderson, who of course managed the Tigers and won World Series in both the American and National Leagues. We also have Scotty Bowman who certainly was famous before coming to Detroit, but creating a legacy here winning three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. We have Chuck Daly, the late, great coach of the Pistons during the back-to-back championship Bad Boy era.

"Also, Will Robinson, who was a local Detroit Public School league coaching legend at both Miller and Pershing High Schools, won some state championships there. Also notorious for being the first African-American head coach at a Division I NCAA school, that being Illinois State and then finished off his career with 28 years as a scout for the Detroit Pistons. Last but not least, Dick Vitale, who was a legendary coach who coached the University of Detroit Titans during their glory years in the early to mid '70s, led the Titans to the NCAA tournament, had a short stint as coach of the Detroit Pistons and then of course went on to broadcast legendary status as a college basketball analyst for ESPN."

Sadler said the five coaches were chosen mainly to their number of wins and losses during their career and many other factors.

"Each in their own way were winners as coaches," he said. "These five stand out not just because of their record. They stand out as people, either through their longevity or their personality. They've really truly became Detroit favorites and they've became part of the fabric of Detroit."

There is also a short video that features highlights from sports events with the five coaches in action.

"There's a great variety of artifacts for each of the five that are featured," the director of public relations and external affairs said. "It includes things like uniforms from the era, some of their own personal effects, some bobble heads and giveaways and things. A great variety of artifacts for each one. It's truly a colorful and visual spectacle."

The "Fabulous 5: Detroit's Beloved Sports Coaches" exhibit will be on display through Sept. 4, 2010.

Two other exhibits have also been updated at the museum

The Detroit Artists Showcase section of the museum includes paintings by John Gelsavage who focused his paintings on America's working people.

"He was a painter and illustrator of the 20th century," Sadler said. "Some of his works are on display on our second floor."

The New to the Collection part of the museum includes recent acquisitions that the museum has just received. These items will later be placed in permanent exhibits.

"We're a living, breathing museum," he said. "In addition to putting on these wonderful all these exhibits and programs that we do, we're still collecting things that are part of our preserving of our history of Detroit and southeastern Michigan."

The New to the Collection and Detroit Artists Showcase exhibits will be on display for a full year.

The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Ave. (NW corner of Kirby) in Detroit’s Cultural Center. Regular hours are Wednesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m. On Mondays and Tuesdays, the Museum is not open to the public but available for group tours by calling (313) 833-7979. Adult admission is $6. Seniors (60+), college students with valid college ID, and youth ages 5-18 pay $4. Admission for children ages four and under is free. Parking in the Museum’s lot is $4 at all times. For more information, call the Museum at (313) 833-1805 or check out their website at www.detroithistorical.org.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

A look at some of the Dick Vitale memorabilia that is included in the exhibit.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

More memorabilia from Scotty Bowman and the Red Wings.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

1992 John W. Bunn award that was presented to Will Robinson.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Sparky Anderson memorabilia in the exhibit.