Thousands Turn Out as Salem Becomes Basketball City USA

Another big hit this year was the return of an old Salem classic: Bob's Hamburgers.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Thousands of basketball players, their families, and just fans of the game, turned out Saturday for the 16th annual Oregon National Guard 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Salem.

The streets surrounding the Oregon State Capitol grounds were transformed into basketball courts, where players from every age group and ability, showed off their best Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Larry Bird basketball skills even as the summer sun and heat beat down on them. There were ferocious dunks, long range 3 point shots, and buzzer beaters that even made the golden pioneer atop the state capitol smile.

It really doesn't matter if your a former college player, a new player, female, or a person with a disability, everyone was having a great time despite the warm weather organizers told Salem-News.com. Organizers said expect some 800 teams and 700 volunteers are taking part in this years event which continues on Sunday.

Medical personnel remind those attending or playing on Sunday to make sure to bring plenty of extra water, PowerAde or Gatorade, to help keep players and fans stay hydrated during and after games. According to Web M.D., heat stress occurs when sweat can't evaporate fast enough to keep the body sufficiently cool. Symptoms include muscle cramps and headache. You can prevent heat stress during and after games by drinking plenty of fluids, taking frequent rest breaks.

Fluids: Drink at least half a liter of fluids in the two hours before exercising. During your sport, aim to drink about 200 ml every 20 minutes or so. Choose a specially formulated sports drink if your sporting event goes for more than an hour. After the game, drink around half a liter of water.

Another big hit this year was the return of an old Salem classic: Bob's Hamburgers. Facebook and social media has been getting bombarded with posts and photo's of the stand, which is located right near the front of the state capitol.

The man who started the restaurant famous for it's "secret sauce" on it's burgers, was at the event Friday and Saturday to meet and greet his loyal fans. He said, I guess I never really realized the impact I had on Salem and Oregon as a whole, and the desire so many people have to having another Bob's Restaurant come back to Salem, Bob Corey told Salem-News.com. He added, I miss it a lot, but not for the food, or the money, but the customers and the employees that made Bob's really what it was, and that's what me and my wife Betty, both in their 90's now, miss the most.

Bob's will next return to Salem during the Oregon State Fair's 11 day run Aug. 22 through Sept. 1 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Discounted admission tickets are on sale now.

Salem Hoopla 2014 Sunday Brackets

A Oregon National Guard Men's Open Division 1 B Oregon National Guard Women's Open C Men's Division II D Sassy Onion Men's Division III E Men's Division IV F Cascade Warehouse Men's 6' & Under - Division I G Cascade Warehouse Men's 6' & Under - Division II H Men's 6'2" & Under I Women's Division II J Les Schwab Tires Co-Ed Competitive K Les Schwab Tires Co-Ed - Recreational L R&R General Contractors Family Division - Competitive M R&R General Contractors Family Division - Recreational N-O Magoo's Men's 40 & Over / 50 & Over P Oregon National Guard Wheelchair Q Columbia Bank 17 & Under Boys - Competitive R 17 & Under Boys - Recreational S Capitol Toyota 17 & Under Girls Competitive U-V Henderson's-CTX 16 & Under Boys W 16 & Under Girls - Competitive X 16 & Under Girls - Recreational Y Capitol Toyota 15 & Under Boys - Competitive Z Oregon National Guard 15 & Under Boys - Recreational AA 15 & Under Girls Competitive AB 15 & Under Girls Recreational AC Red Lion Salem 14 & Under Boys - Competitive AD 14 & Under Boys - Recreational AE Red Lion Salem 14 & Under Girls - Competitive AF 14 & Under Girls - Recreational AG 13 & Under Boys - Competitive AH 13 & Under Boys - Recreational AI Salem Radiology Consultants 13 & Under Girls - Competitive AJ 13 & Under Girls - Recreational AK Oregon National Guard 12 & Under Boys - Competitive AL 12 & Under Boys - Recreational AM Oregon National Guard 12 & Under Girls Competitive AN 12 & Under Girls - Recreational AO Pacific Coast Athletics 11 & Under Boys - Competitive AP 11 & Under Boys - Recreational AQ-AR 11 & Under Girls AS 10 & Under Boys AT Drs. Howerton, Hopkin & Kennedy 10 & Under Girls AU 9 & Under Boys AV 9 & Under Girls AW 8 & Under Boys AX Universal Logistics, LLC 8 & Under Girls AY Earth 2 O - 7 & Under Boys