Varese will applaud the legendary Corny Thompson once more

Unmistakable, adorable, amazing. Corny Thompson was the player most loved by basketball fans in Varese, in the 1980s, and even though he failed to win a trophy during his stay, he left an indelible mark on those who anxiously watched every victory of the spectacular DiVarese team. On Sunday 27 March, in Masnago, it will be possible to relive the thrill, because, at the match between the Cimberio and Lottomatica Roma teams, at the PalaWhirlpool Stadium, the legendary (for once, we use this word on purpose) Corny will be receiving an award from DiVarese.

Born in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1960, Thompson (photo from “DiVarese 1986/87”, by Carlo Meazza) played in the NBA in Dallas but, after an accident, he decided to come to Europe. His arrived in Varese in 1984, and immediately became a decisive member of the team. Corny stayed for six seasons, coming close to winning the championship on a number of occasions, and initiating great exchanges close to the basket with the rivals of the time, including Meneghin and McAdoo (pictured below), from Milan, and Costa and Magnifico from Pesaro. During those years, the Varese team, who were coached by another huge American, Joe Isaac, and led by the chairman Toto Bulgheroni, were denied the championship by the Scavolini team. In 1987, DiVarese had the victory snatched from them in the semi-final as a result of the famous “foot out” of Darwin Cook, who stole the ball unjustly from Thompson; in 1990, the Ranger team fell in the final against the team from Marche, after Sacchetti’s knee cracked.

Thompson’s time in Varese ended after that unfortunate final, with 211 appearances in the championship, 4704 points (an average of 22.3), 2041 rebounds (an average of 9.7), 58.5% of shots from the two-point line and the 41.8% from the three-point line. He was then signed up by the Catalan team of Joventud Badalona, with whom, he won the Euroleague, in 1994, scoring the winning basket at the end of the final against the Olympiakos Piraeus.

In spite of his failures to win a championship with DiVarese, the love for Thompson has never waned; in 2005, he was elected to the Hall of Fame of Varese Basketball. For this reason, his return to the town will certainly be met with an ovation. And once again, the town must thank Sandro Galleani, who has remained Thompson’s great friend, and who worked to get him to return to Varese.