[人類精華影片特輯] Wilkins joins the giants
Wilkins joins the giants
Legendary Atlanta star one of 6 inducted this year
By SEKOU SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/09/06
Springfield, Mass. – After months of nervous anticipation one of
Atlanta's most famous athletes finally took his place among
basketball's all-time greats Friday night when Dominique Wilkins
was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
With an assist from his idol, Julius Erving, and support from a
group of family and friends that was too large and spread out to
count, one of Atlanta's most famous athletes was finally recognized
for his contributions after being snubbed for the honor last year.
"I've never felt better than I do tonight," a smiling Wilkins
said moments before a five-minute video tribute highlighting his
career kicked off the induction ceremony. "This is my night."
More than a decade after Wilkins last wore an Atlanta Hawks NBA
uniform, he remains the iconic face of a once proud franchise. He
was inducted along with his longtime friend and rival Charles
Barkley and fellow former NBA star Joe Dumars.
The three former NBA stars joined University of Connecticut
women's coach Geno Auriemma, Italian coaching legend Sandro
Gamba and Dave Gavitt, the founding father of the Big East
Conference.
For Wilkins on Friday night, memories of his path to the Hall of
Fame focused on the people who helped him get there.
In a 12-minute speech, Wilkins traced his roots back to his early
days in a Baltimore housing project as one of eight children
raised by a single mother to his glory days as the leader and
captain of Hawks teams that were among the NBA's best during his
time with the franchise.
A nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time Slam-Dunk champion, Wilkins
earned the nickname the "Human Highlight Film" for his incredible
dunks and acrobatic play above the rim. Wilkins is one of only
three Hawks to have his jersey (21) retired.
"It's really a mind-blowing experience," Wilkins said. "And to be
able to share it with Charles and Joe, guys I played with during
the prime of my career, makes it even more special and humbling."
Sharing it with his family and friends, however, is what made the
event for Wilkins.
His mother, Gertrude, sat two seats away from him in a wheelchair,
while wife Robin and son Isaih sat by his side, with Robin
cradling newborn son Jacob.
Robin was doing double duty Friday night, watching the baby and
working to calm her husband's nerves, which went haywire in the
hours leading up to Friday night's ceremony when he learned he
would be the first inductee to speak.
"Breathe," she told him as she helped him tie his tie for the
ceremony. And she spent much of the time before and after
Wilkins' speech rubbing his back.
His sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews were scattered around
the Hall's massive rotunda. Even a high school friend, Bobby
Parker, surprised Wilkins by making the drive from suburban New
York City to witness the event.
"I never played with anybody else who will make it here," said
Parker, whom Wilkins recognized in his speech. "So there was no
way I could be this close and not come see him take that step
into history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event."
Wilkins arrived in Springfield on Wednesday, a day earlier than
all the other inductees, after a 21-hour RV ride from Atlanta for
his journey into basketball immortality.
"This is a long way from Washington," he said, referring to the
North Carolina town where he finished high school. "I just think
of all the millions and millions of people around the world who
have played this game and dreamed of being here. And to achieve
this, to be recognized as one of the greats in whatever you do,
it really blows your mind.
"Until you get here and see the faces on the wall and realize
that there are fewer than 300 people up there and just 129 former
players, it really is staggering. I couldn't be more proud to
join such an elite group of people and to be recognized for all
the hard work that went into a career and a game that I've loved
since I was a child."
Wilkins also recognized his brother Gerald, also a former NBA
star, and Gerald's son Damien, who currently stars for the
Seattle Supersonics.
It was Gerald who perhaps summed up the magnitude of the event
best.
"The toughest part is not having my father here to see this,"
Gerald said. "He'd be crying right now. But watching 'Nique go
in feels like I'm going in and on down the line to Damien,
because we've all experienced this game at its highest level.
It's truly a surreal moment for me and for our entire family
because I'm sitting here knowing that the Wilkins name will
hang in the Basketball Hall of Fame with the greatest of all time.
"It's just an amazing feeling. That's why we're all here, our
entire family. That's why my son is here and why I told him to
bring a camera. I wanted him to see the legacy that has been
created."
資料來源
http://myurl.com.tw/a06g
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