SpringfieldNewsSun.com

DAYTON — Former Dayton basketball star Don May never made many mistakes while playing in UD Fieldhouse, but that may have been because of a stern warning he received during a visit there while in grade school.

May grew up two blocks from the gym and sneaked into practice while famous disciplinarian Tom Blackburn was coach.

"I had a ball and must have kicked it out there," May said. "It went bounce, bounce. And he stops practice. I didn't know what that meant until afterward — that's sacrilege.

"He came down and said, 'If it comes down here again, I'm going to kick you out of here and you're never coming back.' I realized then, this is serious."

Fortunately for UD, May never repeated that gaffe — or otherwise those attending the Celebration of Flyer Basketball on Tuesday night at UD Arena would have had a few less reasons to cheer.

Blackburn, May and other stalwarts throughout the history of the program were toasted at the event, which drew almost 100 former players and a crowd of about 2,100, including NBA legends Oscar Robertson and Dolph Schayes.

Bob Knight, the all-time winningest coach in Division I-A, drew laughs as the keynote speaker, as did emcee Jay Bilas, an ESPN analyst.

But the focus of the program was the Flyers, and the night included video of all their exploits from the modern era and warm applause for Roosevelt Chapman, the school's all-time leading scorer, and for the seven living All-Americans: Don Meineke, Bill Uhl Sr., Bill Chmielewski, Garry Roggenburk, Henry Finkel, Don May and Jim Paxson.

But the only standing ovation for the UD contingent was reserved for former coach Don Donoher.

"He's the best friend I've ever had," Knight said from the stage. "You can't say anybody is the best coach or the best player ... but I've never known nor ever watched a better coach than Don Donoher. And you were unbelievably lucky to have him during the time he was here."

Donoher paid homage to his predecessor, Blackburn. The late coach was represented at the event by his widow, Libby Blackburn, who now lives in Hilton Head, S.C.

"This was just unbelievable, mind-boggling," she said. "Those men had to work so long to put a program together like that. It was absolutely spectacular.

"I would have thought 100 people would be here. This (turnout) was pretty amazing."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.