When Chicago Wolves assistant coach Bob Nardella was growing up in Melrose Park, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame was located next door in Elmwood Park. His father, Robert, relished taking his son to the institution’s conventions hosted in Rosemont.

“It was a big thing for my father,” Nardella said. “He took me all the time. There would be athletes and everyone else there. You could walk right up to their table, take a picture with them, get an autograph.”