This past weekend was one of my favorite weekends of the year—Hoopla in downtown Salem.
For more than 25 years, Hoopla has brought together athletes, families, volunteers, and spectators for one of the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournaments in the Northwest. Every summer, downtown Salem transforms into a place filled with basketball, laughter, friendly competition, and thousands of people simply enjoying time together.
This year’s event couldn’t have been much better.
The weather was perfect. No rain, no extreme heat. Just a beautiful Oregon summer weekend. With the Capitol renovations complete, it was great to be back playing on the streets surrounding one of Salem’s most recognizable landmarks. Everywhere you looked there were basketballs bouncing, kids running from court to court, parents cheering, friends catching up, and families enjoying time together.
I had the opportunity to play with a couple of longtime friends, and we were fortunate enough to win the championship in our division. Bringing home a championship medal was definitely a fun way to end the weekend, but what stood out most was the atmosphere.
I’ve been playing Hoopla since I was a kid growing up in Salem, and every year it reminds me why this event has become such a tradition for so many families. You run into former teammates, old friends, coworkers, and neighbors. If I had to guess, roughly a quarter of the people who play come back year after year. For many of us, it feels like a high school reunion. We may not see each other much the rest of the year, but everyone knows we’ll be together for Hoopla.
That kind of tradition doesn’t happen by accident.
A huge thank you goes to Jason Unruh, whose passion and leadership have helped make Hoopla what it is today. Keeping an event like this going for more than 25 years takes an incredible amount of vision, planning, and dedication. It also takes hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, officials, and community partners who give their time each year to make the weekend possible.
One of my favorite moments was seeing Salem Mayor Julie Hoy helping recognize the championship teams during the awards ceremony. It felt like a community celebration that brings together people from every corner of Salem.
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about staying active as adults is that it requires incredible discipline. We picture early morning workouts, strict schedules, and perfect routines. But that’s not what I see at Hoopla.
Most of the people I know who keep coming back every year aren’t training for months. They’re coaching their kids, playing pickup games once in a while, shooting baskets after work, or simply looking forward to spending a weekend with friends they’ve known for years.
Life happens. Careers get busy. Kids grow up. Families change. Responsibilities pile up. Most people don’t stop being active because their bodies suddenly can’t do it anymore—they simply forget to make time to play.
That’s why I think traditions matter.
Whether it’s Hoopla every July, a weekly pickup basketball game, a Saturday morning hike, a neighborhood walk, or an annual bike ride with friends, having something on the calendar gives you a reason to stay active. It becomes less about forcing yourself to exercise and more about doing something you genuinely enjoy with people you care about.
The best kind of fitness is often the kind you don’t have to convince yourself to do because you’re looking forward to it anyway.
As I looked around downtown this weekend, I couldn’t help but think, this is what Salem should look like. Families together. Kids being active. Parents cheering from the sidelines. A vibrant downtown filled with positive energy, healthy competition, and people encouraging one another.
Those are the kinds of experiences that strengthen a community just as much as they strengthen our bodies.
As summer continues, I hope more people take advantage of opportunities like these. If you’ve never experienced Hoopla, come spend a few hours watching next year. Better yet, grab a few friends and put together a team.
You might think you’re signing up for a basketball tournament. But if you’re lucky, you’ll be starting a tradition that keeps you connected to your friends, your community, and your health for years to come.