Dave Bing
We interviewed Hall of Fame NBA guard and SU alum Dave Bing last week about the shooting prowess of retired player Phil Chenier. Chenier will have his number retired by the Wizards this season.
Chante’ Moore on stage with J. Black at Juneteenth
We are not sure if the NBA Finals are rigged, as many are saying, but if last night’s show at Juneteenth was any indication, there is a possibility that we can all (fans of each team) just get along. With a grain of irony, Bay-area native Chante’ Moore just happened to choose J. Black (who was wearing a Lebron jersey and Cavs cap), to join her on stage for a personal performance.
20 years ago John Wallace led Syracuse University on a great Final Four run.
We can vividly remember tipping into OnaJava about a decade ago to find Darryl Dawkins, aka Chocolate Thunder, chillin’ at the counter. He was a big man with a big personality to match, and helped pave the way for Lebron and Shaq. Dawkins was the first high school player to be drafted to the NBA (1975).
Antwone Fisher at Syracuse University in 2008.
Director/screenwriter Antwone Fisher wrote this piece in the Huffington Post about Lebron James.
Store Mural of Lebron James (circa 2010)
Morehouse College Sports and Journalism Program Director Ron Thomas spoke about the genesis of the NBA and how it was integrated during a visit to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications on Thursday.
Thomas also posed one of the most clever sports trivia questions out there: Who was the NBA’s first player? (there’s more than one answer, so read the book)
On Friday, Thomas continued his labor of love by attending a ceremony in West Virginia that featured a tribute to Earl Lloyd.
Here is a photo of Brooklyn Nets Center/Forward Andray Blatche from his days as a Henninger High School star.
Michael Carter-Williams makes his case
Shout out to former Orangeman Michael Carter-Williams who produced a stat stuffer supreme tonight with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists and 9 steals. MCW’s 76ers defeated the defending champion Miami Heat. The steals mark set an NBA rookie debut record.
Here is a column by former Orangeman and author, poet, activist Etan Thomas about the Trayvon Martin case.
Speaking Quite Frankly: Stephen A. Smith
Writer, TV personality and NBA insider Stephen A. Smith came to Syracuse University last night and schooled the students on the importance of building your work ethic as well as your personal brand.
Smith fielded dozens of questions ranging in topics from changing a major to the good bad and ugly of NBA players: Tim Duncan, Jeremy Lin, Kwame Brown and Allen Ivrerson.
He said being in college is a great place and time to pay your dues on the way to seeking any particular career path. “I’ve never taken less than 17 credit hours when I was in school…” he said. “…I also liked to party.”
Stephen A. Smith tells SU students to pay their dues.
Smith’s talk, which was partly motivational, but delivered in his trademark sarcasm and ribs, also touched on the the NCAA Tournament, TV revenue for sports, politics and the evolution of the black athlete.
According to Smith, too many fans over-celebrate contenders before they become champions.