Weathering the Storm--Hurricanes & Mother Nature.

Agnes, Hugo, Andrew, Dennis, Katrina, and now Irene are the hurricanes burned into my consciousness. It is a humbling experience to know that you cannot fight Mother Nature. As I sit in my parents home this evening and thank the Lord for my parents and brother installing the backup generators a few months ago, I am humbled as we all are by the power of Mother Nature. We have come a long way. Technology and science allow me to do now things I had never dreamed about as a child. Yet we must understand that we are only one part of this planet--this universe. I am in DC not my residence in New York City because of Georgetown's Board of Governors meeting on Friday. I elected not to return on Saturday simply because it seems like NYC is being evacuated. Every year at Board of Governors meetings we seem to have major storms. Last year we had the Big Ice Storm, and two years ago the Snowpocalypse during the GU--Villanova game.

As my beloved Georgetown Hoyas became involved in the Brawl in China, I had many mixed feelings as an Asian-American. I was relieved that my alma mater Georgetown was clearly not the aggressor and instigator of the big fight. I was honestly embarrassed by the behavior of the Chinese Army team, the referees, and the Chinese police. To everyone's credit especially Coach JTIII it appears that this has been turned to a positive experience. Often I have sat at work meetings where a love-fest breaks out which is not genuine to say the least. I pray that I will be able to safely get back to the island of Manhattan this week and continue my work schedule. I pray that everyone survives Hurrican Irene and has a safe few days.

We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

A Double Hoya's All-Time Kenner League Team

The league is now officially called the Nike Pro City League, but I am going to use the Kenner League name when picking my personal all-time team. I have actually attended games every year since the Kenner League started in McDonough gymnasium. Some years I have been able to attend more games than in other years. Please take note that these are my own picks for an all-time team. I am making these choices based on their performance for an entire summer, and these are only players I have seen play in the summer league in person. To be fair there are a few players I have not seen--a very small number. Anyway, here are my picks for the greatest players in the history of the Kenner League:

Center--Patrick Ewing: The greatest player in Georgetown Basketball history. There was never anyone in his league to face him in the Kenner League. He truly controlled the air above the rim, and after his freshman year dominated the Kenner League.

Forward--Dikembe Mutombo--I know he always played center but I am calling the shots with these selections! Actually, he was listed as a 5 ft. 9 inch point guard in the program much to the confusion of the many Syracuse and UCONN spies in McDonough gymnasium. In Jim Calhoun's earlier years he had many of his assistant coaches in the stands. Dikembe was perhaps the most improved player I have ever seen in the Kenner League as he began the summer as a very clumsy player, and then became a shot-blocking, dunking machine. If they ever kept official stats Dikembe probably had more dunks in single games than anyone. Oh did I love his enthusiasm.

Forward--Michael Graham: The man who helped bring the 1984 NCAA Championship to the Hilltop. He was the most ferocious power forward to play in the Kenner League. When you consider John Turner--Mr. Highlights and others this is saying quite a bit. To see him as an incoming freshmen play against dozens of All-ACC power forwards and make them look like timid school children was truly inspiring. If you saw these performances you would not be surprised that he single-handedly intimidated Kentucky and their twin towers in the NCAA Final Four. As ESPN has said, he was truly the baddest, baldest dude to ever play in the Kenner League.

Guard--Reggie Williams. Yes Reggie "Russ" Williams was the top rated high school player in the nation, and his much anticipated play in the Kenner League was not disappointing. Since his play on the Baltimore Dunbar Poets he had been heralded as the second-coming of George Gervin. His Baltimore Dunbar HS team with fellow Hoya David Wingate, and several future NBA stars was arguably the greatest high school team ever assembled. What impressed me more than anything was at 6' 8" he could handle the ball like a point guard and his height and passing ability opened the court up as nobody else could. The Tombs with future Hoyas teammates Pat Ewing and freshman to be Michael Graham was the best team I have ever seen in the Kenner League hands down!

Guard--Allen Iverson. Allen "The Answer--Bubbachuck" Iverson was truly the most exciting performer in the history of the Kenner League. McDonough was abuzz with excitement like I have never seen before, and probably never will. When he debuted he had not been seen on the basketball court for some time, and there were only rumors that he would attend Georgetown. The gym at that time could accomodate closer to 4000 people and they were packed in everywhere. For the playoffs fans were getting to their seats 2 hours early to get seats. Allen Iverson put on some of the greatest offensive outbursts I have ever seen. He would often start drilling four or 5 3-pointers in a row and then alley-oop dunking over 7 foot All-Americans like they were kindergarteners! If you saw these performances you would not be surprised that he was the only person to ever posterize the great Michael Jordan on ESPN video for the ages. Yes, his double cross-over and jump shot against the greatest basketball player ever is something for the ages. If you had the opportunity to see Allen Iverson in the Kenner League you truly saw some of the greatest playground performances in history.

Enjoy the Nike Pro City League Playoff this weekend. I hope to see many of you in the stands.

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President and Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

48 Hours--A Tale of Two Cities & a Rivalry for the Ages

48 Hours until I move my residence from my birthplace city of Washington, D.C. to my second home New York City. I will continue to rack up the Guest Rewards miles on Amtrak. Thank Goodness for summer league basketball. I have to ask everyone at the Nike Pro City League to be patient with me, because it is hard for me not to refer to their league as the Kenner League! Anyway, I will see my Hoya Hoop Club communications group in a few hours in nicely air conditioned McDonough gymnasium. I did some shopping yesterday at the Georgetown bookstore making sure my new Manhattan apartment is properly decorated in Blue and Gray. Anyway, as I chat with my buddy Rich Chvotkin during games this weekend, we often talk about the great rivalries in the Big East and college basketball at large. There has been much publicity about the Georgetown--Syracuse rivalry over the last few years. However, with the arrival of Steve Lavin and the rise of St. John's (I still call them the Redmen sometimes because the Red Storm has no meaning for me), I will remind the HoyaNation of the great history of the Georgetown--St. John's rivalry. We have several athletic department staff who have come from St. John's like former AD Joe Lang. I will argue that the Georgetown--St. John's rivalry in the mid 1980's was the fiercest rivalry I have ever seen. When the players from John Duren, Craig Shelton, Gene Smith, Fred Brown, David Wingate, and Reggie Williams battled Billy Goodwin, Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Billy Wennington, and Mark Jackson it was truly DC basketball vs. New York city basketball. A game between Georgetown and St. John's from 1983-1986 was really like going to a Heavyweight Championship Fight. It was like seeing Ali-Frazier!

Yes after a month in my new job at the University Eye Center in Manhattan, I am really enjoying being back at my other alma mater--The SUNY State College of Optometry!. August 1st is move-in day, Tuesday will be a busy work day including an evening meeting with the Georgetown Alumni Club of Metro New York. I am excited to decorate my apartment in the Blue and Gray. I will be living right in between the New York Public Library and Madison Square Garden. As I look at how beautiful Bryant Park is, I am thankful that its beautification is largely due to my mentor, and friend former GU & NY Public Library President Tim Healy, S.J.--A Man for Others! As I make my frequent walk from Penn Station & Madison Square Garden to Bryant Park I can hear the echoes in my head: Hoyas Win! Hoyas Win! & Hoya Saxa! Hoya Saxa filling the Avenues in the City!

Stay Cool Everyone!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

The Greatest Game Ever Invented III

Da jia hao! Oh how McDonough Gymnasium has given many a basketball fan welcome relief from the Heat Wave of 2011, and some memorable basketball moments. I once again saw my favorite basketball movie Hoosiers the other night on Verizon FIOS as I am about to change to Time Warner in my new Manhattan apartment. I love the scenes where Dennis Hopper says, "I know everything there is to know about the greatest game ever invented!" Also, when Barbara Hershey tells Gene Hackman who plays Coach Norman Dale, "Every game my brother played was the most important thing that ever happened to this family. I just don't get it!" As true basketball junkies who live to see the next game we all understand why this is such a naive question! Please follow our HHC Blogmaster's extensive coverage of the Nike Pro City League at McDonough arena this summer. It is hard to believe there are only two weekends left. This past Saturday night the Tombs rocketed out to a huge lead behind impressive freshmen performances, especially the performance of Michael Hopkins who had 17+ points in the first half. However former Hoya and current Boston Celtic star Jeff Green schooled the young Tombs team at the end of the game. Indeed it has been a great summer of basketball on the Hilltop--the Epicenter of College Basketball in the known world. We are only a little over two weeks from Georgetown Basketball's China trip. Make sure you join our Hoya Hoop Club Fan Page for the most comprehensive information on our basketball program. You can join the Fan Page at: www.facebook.com/HoyaHoopClub

We will be sending you feeds on the team's trip to China. You can go to HoyasInChina to sign up directly for the information on the games, and the trip. As I have just started a new job in Manhattan I cannot attend the trip to China. However, we will keep you informed. I am hoping LicHoya will take care of the yelping in China!

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

A Look at Hardship Status

I have never been in favor of players leaving college early for the NBA. Most often players are not physically, mentally, and emotionally ready for the NBA. However, discussion of rule changes to prevent this have never been in my opinion the correct way to approach the issue. If someone can enter the military, it is hard to argue they should not be allowed into the NBA.

What will be the state of college basketball be in a few years? I am hoping the game I love will still be going strong. Things are changing rapidly though.

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

The Capital Classic

My friends Pam and Evan Chvotkin did a wonderful job putting the Capital Classic together at the last minute. It is amazing what a few people can accomplish in a short time. I was surprised they were able to get so many good players to commit on such short notice. However, it was obvious this event has been in decline since Nike and Michael Jordan moved their money to the Jordan Classic in NYC and this year in Charlotte, NC. I am hoping the event will move back into DC as it was last year at American University. How about trying to combine this with the Charm City Classic! Let's make this a prime time event again & play some defense!

We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Time For Rule Changes?

I have always been in favor of adopting International rules. It is too bad Red Auerbach is still not around. He could always get rule changes to the table. I particularly think the longer 3-point line, and the 30 second shot would make sense. It is strange that the women have a 30 second shot, and the men have a 35 second shot. I agree with Bob Knight that the ball screen is overused today. It is wonderful that there is great parity in men's college basketball today. However, I agree with others that it tends towards more mediocrity and not necessarily better basketball. This year's NCAA final game was by far the worst final I have seen in my entire life. It makes you wonder what is more important today--the NCAA tournament, or the local AAU teams. I hope there are some rule changes soon!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President and Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing