SPRINGFIELD, MA.
What a great night at the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame!
From Yao Ming to Izzo to A.I. to Swoopes
and Shaq and everyone in between.
Humor, class, and true human emotions on display.
Here are some stars and some
scenes from the scene in Springfield.
Allen Iverson- long and winding speech from the heart.
"John Thompson saved my life!"
"I remember my first game against Mike (Jordan). I couldn't stop looking at him. There was an aura about him. I looked at his shoes and he was wearing Jordans."
Shaq- Praised his family and entertained the audience.
He also praised Kobe and jabbed his former teammate
for getting him traded to Miami.
Yao Ming- Humble and humorous.
What a shame that his NBA career was cut short by injuries.
That is Carroll Dawson in the background (dark glass).
He was the Rockets' GM and was instrumental
in getting Yao to the USA.
Jerry Colangelo- Mr. USA Basketball and the
Chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame
Dr. J- Need I say more?
Dale Brown- Shaq's head coach at LSU.
The man who offered Shaq a scholarship
when Shaq was a big teenager in Germany.
Dikembe Mutombo-
Still wagging that big finger for all it is worth!
Draymond Green
with his Michigan State head coach
and new Hall of Famer
Tom Izzo
Jerry Reinsdorf- Chicago Bulls' Owner
Delivered one of the best lines of the night.
Regarding bar mitzvahs:
"It is the day when a Jewish boy learns
that he has a better chance of buying an NBA team
than he has of playing for one."
Classic Evening!
Great night!
**