KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Joe Castiglione holds the enviable distinction of starting and ending one’s day at City subjectthe popular 24-hour restaurant in the heart of downtown Kansas City.
OU athletic director tries to approach Town Topic at least once during his annual trips to Big 12 basketball tournament. One year, Castiglione and assistant AD Larry Naifeh snuck out at 6 a.m. for breakfast at Town Topic before a morning meeting.
The OU men played the game late that night and the Sooners won.
“We’re all loaded,” Castiglione said.
It was midnight, but instead of going back to the hotel, Castiglione sheepishly asked, “Would it be weird if we went back to Town Topic?”
“Well,” said Naifeh, “I saw this cherry pie in there that I might like to have.”
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Castiglione’s mind is filled with memories like that. Memories of good games, good meals and lifelong friends he made during his nearly 40 trips to Kansas City for the Big Eight and Big 12 basketball tournaments.
This week has been bittersweet for Castiglione and OU fans who make the annual Big 12 Hoops pilgrimage to Kansas City. The earliest men went one and done, lose Wednesday to TCU in OU’s first game in its final Big 12 tournament.
This time next year, the Sooner men will travel to Nashville for the SEC men’s basketball tournament. The SEC women’s tournament will be held in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Sooners are looking forward to life in the SEC, but not having Kansas City on the schedule will take some getting used to.
“It’s the perfect venue for the conference tournament,” Castiglione told The Oklahoman. “Even though the Big 12 has had host sites in other cities, this has been the best location. This has been proven time and time again.
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When their son turned 10, Tip and Christy Holland stopped throwing birthday parties for him and instead treated their son to an annual birthday trip to the Big 12 tournament.
Their son is 32 now, which means Holland’s Sooner fans, who live in Oklahoma City, have been coming to Kansas City for the better part of the last 20 years.
“It makes you think of when we played there at Kemper (Arena) and then when it would travel and we would come to Kansas City, it was always a favorite place,” Tip Holland said. “And then the last few years, I just knew, ‘Wow, this is the last one.’ We’re excited to do it, but it’s also a little sad that it’s going away.
Since 1997, Kansas City has hosted the Big 12 men’s tournament in all but five years – Dallas has hosted it three times and Oklahoma City twice.
Before the days of the Big 12, from 1977 to 1996, Kemper Arena in Kansas City was the exclusive home of the Big Eight tournament.
“We’re not happy that it’s the last one,” said OU fan Charlie Vest, who lives in Ada.
Charlie and his wife, Jacquie, have been coming to the tournament since the days of the Big Eight. The Sooners have won four Big Eight tournaments, tied with Kansas for second behind Missouri’s six.
Charlie said his best memories were from 2001-03, when OU won three conference tournament championships in a row. The Sooners have not won or appeared in the championship game since.
“We love Kansas City and we love coming to this tournament,” Charlie Vest said. “I actually grew up in Kansas City. For me, it’s definitely a disaster compared to going to Nashville, which is good, but not as good as Kansas City for us.
The SEC men’s tournament will be played in Nashville until at least 2035.
“I think it’s horrible,” said OU fan Lynn Dunford, who was born in Ardmore and lives near Manhattan, Kansas. “Kansas City is a truly great city. I used to go out and treat my parents to the Big Eight basketball tournament in Kemper. Kansas City is so prepared for this.
Dunford is torn. Given its proximity to Kansas City and affinity for the Big 12 tournament, he plans to continue his KC tradition rather than start a new one in Nashville.
“I just might,” Dunford said. “I don’t know anything about SEC basketball. Obviously, the Big 12 is the best basketball conference in the country. It’s going to be sad not to have OU in the mix, but, you know, if they’re done today, I’ll still come to every game.
Tip and Christy Holland said they will follow the Sooners to Nashville next season.
“We don’t know if it will be the same experience,” Tip said, “but we’ll give it a chance.”
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Joe Casiglione looks back
Joe Castiglione, then in Missouri’s administration, played in his first Big Eight tournament in 1982. There were such clashes in those days, on the field and on the sidelines. Norm Stewart and Missouri defeated Billy Tubbs’ Sooners in the 1982 championship game.
A year later, Oklahoma State beat Missouri in double overtime. Leroy Combs was named tournament MVP.
Since 1982, Castiglione has appeared in all but five Big Eight/Big 12 tournaments. His five absences coincided with his five years on the men’s NCAA tournament selection committee.
Castiglione didn’t have to think hard when asked about his favorite years.
“The ones where the team I was associated with won the tournament title,” he said. “It was obviously a lot of fun.”
Missouri in 1982, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993. Then a triple by OU in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Kansas City has hosted the tournament all but one year (2003).
“There’s a lot of history with the Big Eight and the Big 12,” Castiglione said. “No matter what happens, it will always be a big part of my life.”
Every person who has traveled to Kansas City for the tournament, including Castiglione, has their list of favorite restaurants.
City theme, of course.
And that of Garozzoa fabulous Italian restaurant.
“I’ll actually be here tonight,” Castiglione said before the Sooners game Wednesday.
Then there’s barbecue, a Kansas City staple. Joe C’s top five spots in order: Joe’s Kansas City (formerly Oklahoma Joe’s), Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant’s, Gates and Q39.
From basketball to food to friendships, Kansas City will be missed.
“I can’t imagine it’s in a place that would match Kansas City for the Big 12,” Castiglione said. “And we tried it in a few other places. It was good, but it doesn’t match, it’s not at all comparable to Kansas City.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Do you have a story idea for Joe? Send him an email to [email protected]. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoma journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at Subscribe.oklahoman.com.
