"30 for 30" short on Milwaukee's MECCA floor to debut on Grantland June 11th

Well it looks like Milwaukee is going to have its moment in the national spotlight soon.

According to Doug Russell of 620WTMJ, the story of the MECCA floor (and why it's still relevant after being created 37 years ago) will be picked up by ESPN's "30 for 30 shorts," debuting on Grantland.com on June 11th.

The design, created by pop artist Robert Indiana (best known for his "LOVE" sculpture), was bolder than any other court of its time, and still remains as the only basketball court 100 percent covered in paint. It is still considered one of the world's largest art pop paintings, if not the largest.

The story of the court's creation, dormant period, and revival is really fascinating, and for me to try and sell you on it right now wouldn't give it enough justice. You'll have to take the word of two primary players in the court's revival, Andy Gorzalski (a producer for a local advertising agency that discovered the floor for sale a few years ago) and Ben Koller (son of Gregory Koller, owner of Milwaukee ProStar flooring company and current owner of the floor).

How did a conservative rust-belt community seek out an eccentric, openly gay artist from the Bowery to paint a basketball floor and sell it to a skeptical public as a good idea?

"Milwaukee is a city that's big enough to do great things yet small enough to get them done," Ben Koller tells WISports.com.

For Gorzalski, working with ESPN's team of editors and producers was a dream come true. "They're filmmaker-centric and so supportive," he says. "Some of Wisconsin's best filmmakers and storytellers had the opportunity to tell this unique Milwaukee story, that's something I'll always feel grateful for. I hope people love the film."

Koller also added that he hopes the "30 for 30" helps push big thinkers into action on preserving Milwaukee's great past while constructing an even brigher future, and added, "this film is a testament to the opportunity we all have to tell our city's story, preserving and building upon Milwaukee's great legacy of dreaming big and making it happen."

Well, I'm excited.