New Hall class truly special
It is Hall of Fame weekend in Springfield, Mass. It is always an exciting time when the Hall inducts its newest class. Talk about celebration and a feeling of pride.
This year's group is truly special.
When you look at Michael Jordan, David Robinson, John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer, this is one of the greatest groups ever. All five of them are going over their speeches, getting ready for their induction into the greatest club of them all. If you are a player or a coach, it doesn't get any better than belonging to the fraternity/sorority in Springfield.
I can remember the moment when I got the call from John Doleva of the Hall of Fame. It was surreal. He called and told me to sit down, that the news was good and that I was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. I had previously received calls saying that it was an honor to be nominated, but I had come up short.
I admit it, I cried like a baby when I found out I made it into the Hall. I thought about my mom and dad and the vital role they played in my life to get to that moment.
What a moment it is, and I think about Jordan and the entire group. They are all winners in every way possible.
I remember the first time I saw Michael Jordan play. I called his games as a diaper dandy and you could see the incredible explosiveness. That athletic ability was so unique and special, and the best thing that happened to him was playing for Michelangelo, Tar Heels coach Dean Smith.
He learned every facet of the game down in Chapel Hill. There was the joke that the only person who could stop Jordan was Dean Smith! My friends, he didn't stop him; he helped him grow as a player.
I sit there mesmerized even today when I go watch ESPN Classic and see some of the moves he made with North Carolina. If you see any of the highlights, he was Baryshnikov in shorts, playing with such a competitive drive. Jordan always wanted to be better today than he was yesterday.
He was unique and special. Jordan became the greatest ever to lace up the sneakers. I never would have thought that watching him in college. I knew he would be a very good player, a star, but never thought he would be All-Universe.
I remember seeing David Robinson at the Naval Academy. He was such a talented player, blocking shots, cleaning the glass.
I will never forget being the guest speaker at the Naismith Awards. The Admiral was the recipient of that honor as Player of the Year. He got up there, dressed in his Naval uniform and addressed the crowd of 1,000. I was sitting next to the General, Robert Montgomery Knight, who was honored as Coach of the Year. As Knight and I listened, I received an elbow to the gut. It was Knight, who said to me, "How would you like to coach that!"
My friends, he made it in life away from the court. Talk about a person who is a role model, who people could follow and admire, simply say the name David Robinson. He wasn't a McDonald's All-American ... he didn't enter the Naval Academy as a superstar. Robinson worked hard, busted his gut and always had a smile on his face. He played the game the right way and always cared about his team.
Robinson wanted to do the best he could. I remember seeing his parents that night, and they were so proud of their son.
John Stockton wasn't a superstar coming out of high school either. He wasn't America's guest, but he went to Gonzaga and developed into the best little passing guard you would ever want to see.
Who could forget the chemistry and magic that he and Karl Malone displayed together in Utah?
Stockton proved you don't have to be big, quick and explosive. You can be cerebral and have a great feel and understanding for the game. He did, and that equates to a trip to the Hall of Fame.
Jerry Sloan exemplifies toughness and consistency. He knows how to build a winner and get the most out of his people. In this day and age where coaches come and go, Sloan has been a mainstay in Utah. He was a tenacious player with the Chicago Bulls.
C. Vivian Stringer has been such a wonderful teacher and a winner, back to the days coaching at Cheney State, when she and John Chaney were so special. She has been a star at Iowa and Rutgers. Stringer has led the Scarlet Knights to elite status. She is recognized with the crème de la crème.
For this golden moment, when their name is called, that feeling is incredible. I don't care what stardom they have had, there will be butterflies as they try to say all the right words. They want to recognize all of those who played a part in that magical moment.
This solid gold class is fantastic. They are all PTPers, super, scintillating and sensational. Springfield will be the basketball capital of the world, baby!
