Courtesy: www.nydailynews.com
Hall of Fame Induction
The Basketball Hall of Fame has inducted many deserving players in the past. The class of 2008 is no different from any other. Notable basketball icons that were selected this year included Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Pat Riley, and announcer Dick Vitale.
Ewing and Olajuwon are considered by fans and players as two big men who have played their position well. Ewing, a product of Georgetown University, played his career in New York City. During his time there, he became well known for his presence on the court and his defensive techniques. Ewing’s skills were proven to be helpful especially during the classic Knicks versus Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls showdown. Olajuwon, the center for the Houston Rockets also had a lot of accomplishments. Unlike Ewing, he won two NBA championships with his team and also holds the record for the most blocks in NBA history. Both players had always been intertwined in their careers. Ewing (Georgetown) and Olajuwon (Houston) both played against each other in college while leading their team to the coveted Final Four round. At the professional level, the rivalry did not stop. Both centers met again at the championship series, which at the end, Olajuwon had the upper hand.
Dick Vitale, a well-known college basketball analyst, has also been inducted to class of 2008. He did not find great success as a basketball coach, but found his calling as an announcer. For many years, Vitale entertained the basketball community with his style of play-calling and memorable catch phrases. He has witnessed many great games as an announcer. Memorable games that included players such as Jordan, Ewing, and Olajuwon were priceless because of the way Vitale brought it to his audience. A lot of colleagues believe that his induction is by far the greatest story of this year’s class.
Pat Riley is the third-winningest coach ever in the National Basketball Association. He has won four titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and then one with the Miami Heat. Riley has also garnered championships as an assistant and a player.
The newest class will be inducted at Springfield, Massachusetts, the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, on September 5th of this year.
1 comment:
It would be hard to match this class in the upcoming years. My first recollections of basketball include the two big guys. I always thought Ewing was the goofiest looking guy. Maybe because he always shut down the teams I liked.
It kinda is too bad that Riley has to get the Hall of Hame nod during his worst season as a coach. The Heat are just bad right now.
I have only heard Dick Vitale on college basketball, I had no idea that he did the NBA. After looking at a bio (wikipedia...ouch), he only coached in the pros once. mostly a college career weird.
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