SLAM was unable to attend Saturday’s Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, but the event’s publicist sent photos and a few blurbs about the dinner. So without further ado, we bring you the 2008 Class…and a young special guest.
by Marzi Alavi
The members of the 2008 Class of The Basketball Hall of Fame received their rings at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut during the Hall of Fame Induction Celebration dinner.
The inductees were Adrian Dantley, Pat Riley, Patrick Ewing, Dick Vitale, Cathy Rush and Hakeem Olajuwon.
ESPN‘s Jay Bilas emceed the ceremonial dinner which was hosted by Hall of Fame member Geno Auriemma.
Other Hall of Famers at the dinner included Rick Barry, Walt Bellamy, Clyde Drexler, Wayne Embry, Harry Gallatin, Marques Haynes, Bailey Howell, K.C. Jones, Meadowlark Lemon, Moses Malone, Arnie Risen, Cathy Rush, Bob Wanzer, Dominique Wilkins and James Worthy.
Here are some other highlights from the program:
Dick brought his wife Lorraine up to the stage, and he talked about how they met. He said he asked her to dance three times before she said yes, and his buddies kept teasing him for being shot down so many consecutive times. She wouldn’t give him her phone number, but he got it from information the next day, took her to a Dionne Warwick concert, and the rest is history.
Ewing brought his son Patrick Jr who said he will not wear his father’s number, as the Knicks “retired it for a reason.”
