SAN DIEGO (AP) The San Diego Padres figure if they’re going to plop a basketball court onto the field at Petco Park, they better have Bill Walton involved somehow.
The Padres and the Hall of Famer on Tuesday announced the Bill Walton Basketball Festival beginning Nov. 30 and culminating with a game between San Diego and San Diego State on Dec. 5.
The court will be set up between third base and home plate.
The festival will consist of youth clinics led by Walton, charity games, community league games and high school games, plus whatever else Walton might think up.
Says Padres president Mike Dee: “Anything that’s basketball in this community that’s big-time, should bear Bill Walton’s name. He’s the best. He’s a community treasure.”