[外電] Wilkins waits patiently for spot in …
Wilkins waits patiently for spot in Hall
By SEKOU SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/18/06
Houston — Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins is well prepared for his
second go-around at making the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
After being announced as one of 16 finalists Friday, he'll have to wait
until April 3, prior to the NCAA men's title game, to find out if he
made the cut a year after making the list of finalists but missing out
on a spot in the hall.
"I felt good about it last year and it didn't happen,"
Wilkins said. "But that's the way it goes sometimes. What
looks like a no-brainer to some people doesn't look the same
to other people. But all you can do is be positive and let
things play out."
Former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Joe Dumars, join Wilkins,
Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma and ESPN
broadcaster Dick Vitale as the headliners of the class.
Finalists need 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for
induction. Enshrinement ceremonies are Sept. 7-9 in Springfield,
Mass.
Others nominees by the North American Screening Committee
include players Ralph Sampson, Chet Walker, Adrian Dantley,
coaches Don Nelson and Gene Keady and contributor David Gavitt.
Vitale was nominated in the contributor category. Auriemma
and WNBA coach Van Chancellor were nominated by the Women's
Screening Committee, while coaches Pedro Ferrandiz and Sandro
Gamba were nominated by the International Screening Committee.
Player John Isaacs and contributor Ben Kerner were nominated
by the Veterans Screening Committee.
Howard must settle for rookie game
Magic forward Dwight Howard had his sights set on playing in
Sunday's All-Star Game in addition to his participation in
Friday night's Rookie Challenge.
But it didn't happen. The former Southwest Atlanta Christian
star is the league's rebounding leader, but that wasn't enough
to land him a spot as a reserve on the Eastern Conference team.
Still, he's eager to finish the season strong before turning
his focus to the national team and their preparations for this
summer's world championships in Japan.
"You always dream big and push yourself to reach the top of
whatever it is you are doing, and God blessed me with a talent
so I've always tried to fulfill my potential," Howard said.
"This is my last year being eligible for the Rookie Challenge.
And I want to be at All-Star Weekend every chance I get. The
only way to do that in the future is to make the big game."
Terry speaks up for Stoudamire
Former Hawks guard Jason Terry is enjoying a banner season as
the starting point guard for a Dallas team that leads the
Western Conference with a 41-11 record.
Terry is a participant in tonight's 3-point shootout, which
also includes Mavericks' All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.
He stopped short of predicting he would win, but did declare
that "a Dallas Maverick will walk away with the title."
While he's certainly moved on from his tumultuous times with
the Hawks, Terry hasn't totally forgotten about his former team.
Not with the latest member of the University of Arizona's
rich guard tradition, Salim Stoudamire, plying his trade in
Atlanta.
"I don't understand how he didn't get picked for the Rookie
Challenge," said Terry, who is second to Nowitzki in scoring
with 16.4 points per game while leading the Mavericks in
assists (3.9). "It's a shame because I know he's played well."
Terry credited the Arizona program and the players who've
passed through it over the years for the NBA success of he
and the rest of his pro fraternity brothers.
"You have to credit papa Lute [Olson]," he said of the longtime
Wildcats coach. "He molds each and every one of us. And then
you have to credit each guy who has passed the knowledge and
tradition on to the next guy.
"It started with Steve Kerr and then Khalid Reeves and then
Damon [Stoudamire] to guys like Miles Simon, myself and Mike
[Bibby] and I passed it on to Gilbert [Arenas], Jason Gardner
and Salim."
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
資料來源
http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0218allstarnot.html
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