WJA Eye Exam Day III

I am proud to say for the third straight year I have had the privilege of organizing eye exams for the students at the Washington Jesuit Academy. If you are not familiar with the school please visit their website by clicking the link above. For those of you who strive for the Jesuit ideal of "Men and Women for Others," you will be truly inspired by a Day at the WJA . The WJA is a school formed under the auspices of the Society of Jesus to provide a quality, tuition-free education for disadvantaged middle school boys from low-income families. They provide a quality education for 11 months a year for 12 hour school days. I am still amazed at how wonderful and polite these students are. Two days before our "Eye Exam Day," I spent some time at the WJA with their school counselor, Ann Clark making sure we had our equipment ready, and that we had tables, extension cords, proper lighting, etc. for the day. I was truly touched to have a few of the boys come up to me and ask me if I was coming on Thursday to do their eye exams. When I said yes, it was great to see such wonderful smiles.

One of our partners for the day are the wonderful ladies from "The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington ." I saw all of our regular volunteers, including my friends Marcy Babitz, and Barbara Terrace. Their group does the initial screening of the students including visual acuity, and provide a pair of free glasses to all of the boys. I also want to thank Lombart instruments for providing the visual acuity charts, and phoropter stands. My good friend from Lombart has been very helpful the last two years providing support for us. I always enjoy talking some Georgetown Basketball, with my good friend from Lombart, Mike Brown. Few people know that Mike was a former basketball player himself at the University of Massachusetts where he was a teammate of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, and former NBA superstar Julius Erving. I also want to thank my friend Greg Kloth from Marco Ophthalmics for providing us with a brand new autorefractor/non-contact tonometer for the screening and donating a used one to the WJA. I want to thank Drs. Christine King, Kevin King, and Mike Berhenaus for the use of their phoropters. Lastly, I want to thank my fellow colleagues from the Maryland Optometric Association, Drs. Lisa McGinn, John Burns, William Davis, and Charles Mitchell for volunteering and providing quality eye exams for the students. These four colleagues generously gave time out of their offices to make the day a success. This year we definitely had everything running smoothly, and none of the students had to wait as they progressed through the eye exams from the initial history and testing to the dilated fundus exams. Of the 23 students that we examined, we prescribed glasses to 22 of the students. Vision certainly is crucial to learning for these students.

I was truly thrilled to see the WJA's new 65 yard turf football/lacrosse field and new basketball courts. I truly cannot wait to return in a year, and hopefully during the year become more involved in the Washington Jesuit Academy. As Drs. Burns and Davis were new to the WJA, Ann Clark gave us a quick tour including a nice discussion with Mr. Robert Wassman who heads the WJA's reading program. I cannot name everyone but wanted to give a special mention to WJA President Bill Whitaker, and Ann Clark, Director of Counseling Services who I consider wonderful friends. I also want to mention my other friends at the WJA, Dawon Dicks, Merry Cavanaugh, Joe Powers, and Brian Ray. Lastly, I want to thank my friend Theresa DeGioia, the First Lady of Georgetown University for getting me invovled in the WJA. The school has really become a shining example of the Jesuit Ideal, "Men and Women for Others."

Dr. Thomas A. Wong (Georgetown College '82, Georgetown Prep '78)

Georgetown University Board of Governors

Director of Communications Hoya Hoop Club

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

The View from Table 16 at the Men's Basketball Banquet

It was with mixed emotions that I walked into the Leavey Center for the Men's Basketball Banquet 2010. The basketball season really flew by, and I am still experiencing withdrawals that will not end until the start of the Kenner Summer League. Just five days prior to the banquet, I got a chance to see Markel Starks, Nate Lubick, and Moses Abraham play in the Capital Classic. I know our future is bright. Greg Monroe's decision to enter the NBA draft left me both sad that he will be leaving, and happy for Greg's new opportunities. The HoyaNation is looking forward to following his NBA career. He will always be a Hoya, and loved on the Hilltop.

As I entered the ballroom I chatted with Hoyas Unlimited staff and fellow Georgetown alumni Ricky Schramm and Mara Vandlik. I could see that they had everything well prepared for the evening, as HHC President Al Bozzo, and Master of Ceremonies Joe Lonardo checked out the stage and microphones. As I stepped out to have a drink I met up with the Chvotkins: Rich, Evan, and Pam. We reminisced about the last time we were in the Leavey Center together, staying in the Georgetown Inn, and trudging through the blizzard to McDonough Gymnasium for the Old Dominion game. Who could forget all of the snowstorms of the 2009-10 season!

As we approached 7:00 PM, the players and coaches entered, and everyone slowly moved towards their tables. It always makes me proud to see how well our players and coaches are dressed--Proud to wear the Blue and Gray. It is always a special evening. After Joe Lonardo introduced the DAIS, Reverend William McFadden did the invocation. We then saw the first glimpse of the 2009-10 highlight film. That really got the crowd going. Two of my favorites were of course the Duke, and Villanova home games. Who could forget the Gray Out in front of President Obama, and VP Biden. The Hoyas rout of the Villanova Wildcats was certainly another highlight. I will never forget conquering the blizzard with another 12,000 plus Hoya fans to get to Verizon Center. However, my favorite game was Georgetown defeating the #1 ranked Syracuse Orange at the Big East Tournament in front of an electric crowd at Madison Square Garden. Indeed there were many great moments to the 2009-10 season.

It was entertaining to see each of the players "roasted" in good fun by assistant coach Matt Henry, as they each received their gifts and had their pictures taken. Dr. William Licamele, aka LicHoya, won the Anthony Fernicola Award for outstanding contributions to the Hoya Hoop Club and the Men's Basketball program. Congratulations to Bill, a great Hoya. Bill needs no further press on the internet as we all know! Coach JT III gave out two coaches awards to Ryan Dougherty, and Julian Vaughn. The cheerleaders, band, Hoya Blue, Hoyas Unlimited Staff especially Mara Vandlik for organizing the evening, were appropriately thanked. New Athletic Director Lee Reed received a warm welcome, as he mingled with the crowd through the evening.

As we completed our meal, our HHC Communications group at Table 16 had fun with Father Ray Kemp. It was great to have Father Kemp at our table as he has been a teacher and friend to many of our current and former Hoya basketball players. For those of you who know Father Kemp, he is always entertaining. The highlight of the evening for me though was JT III allowing Greg Monroe to speak. Greg was very gracious telling his teammates how much he loved them, and how he considered them to be family. He did break down and had to fight away the tears to tell us that these two years at Georgetown were the best years of his life. President DeGioia, coach JT III had said it earlier, but in his own way Greg Monroe had best summed up the emotions of the evening which can simply be stated as: "We Are Georgetown!"

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Vice-President Hoya Hoop Club-Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Capital Classic--The Post-Game Report

I believe the Capital Classic has found a home at Bender Arena on the campus of American University. I drove down Foxhall Road to Nebraska & Massachusetts Avenues to see High School basketball stars from across the country put on a show this April 15th for the 37th Annual Capital Classic. Having attended several Capital Classics in the past, I was impressed with the fierce competition on the floor. The game reflected the parity in college basketball today as Georgetown, Maryland, Duke, Villanova, et al had quality recruits playing. There was no Patrick Ewing, or LeBron James dominating the event. The first game with the DC All-Stars vs the US All-Stars was one of the best I have ever seen. Ray Gatling from Oxon Hill, and the combo of Justin Burrell, and Antonio Jennifer from Potomac High lost a closely fought game with the DC All-Stars. Denzel Primus-Devonish from St. John's, and Phillip Hawkins from Eastern HS led a very balanced attack from the DC All-Stars. It was one of the most competitive preliminary games I have ever seen. As we all know many a college star has been discovered in the preliminary game to the Capital Classic. Our own Brandon Bowman is just one example.

The transition between the two games was quick, and seamless. I got a chance to catch up with Rich and Evan Chvotkin between games. It always feels like home with Rich doing the announcing. The Capital Classic was a very entertaining game. As with most all-star games, the guards really dictated the game, and the offense was ahead of the defense. The Capital All-Stars started a very small line-up with Josh Hairston from Montrose Christian with four guards. Markel Starks showed great court-sense hitting from outside, and inside with slashing moves to the basket. When the second units came, in future Hoyas Nate Lubick and Moses Abraham battled against each other. Nate finished with eight points with some powerful inside dunks. Moses Abraham scored only two points but grabbed 6 rebounds and altered a few shots on defense. Both Nate and Moses impressed me with their ability to run the court, and their ability to bang on the boards. Florida State recruit Ian Miller, and Villanova recruit JayVaughn Pinkston led the US All-Stars with twenty-four points each. However it was local product and Hoya recruit Markel Starks from Georgetown Prep who won the MVP award. The HoyaNation looks forward to the new Capital Classic alumni Nate Lubick, Moses Abraham, and Markel Starks wearing the Blue and Gray as they arrive at the Hilltop!

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Capital Classic--The Tradition Continues

The Capital Classic has been a tradition for high school basketball in this area since 1974. It showcases a US All-Star team against the Washington Area's best high school players. Typically a few other players are added to the local roster. I remember growing up and hearing the stories, of Moses Malone, and Magic Johnson playing in the Capital Classic. I remember the excitement of Duke alumni prior to Coach K, as the top player in the nation, Gene Banks from West Philadelphia HS signed with the Blue-Devils and played in the Classic. I recall prior to my college days at Georgetown, the excitement in the DC area with the coming of Albert King to College Park, and the Capital Classic.

In my freshman year at Georgetown I remember talking my RA into helping me charter some GUTS buses to the Capital Centre. The end of the college basketball season had left us wanting to see more basketball. We were able to charter about 6 GUTS buses. As we sat in Healey circle, we talked about the just completed NCAA tournament, and then headed off to Landover, Maryland. It was one of the greatest Capital Classics ever as Ralph Sampson led the Capital All-Stars to a close victory over the US All-Stars led by Clark Kellogg (Ohio State), Sam Bowie (Kentucky), and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins (the Human Highlight Film). In my sophomore year, the game was much less hyped, but a few of us still drove out to Capital Centre to see the Classic that featured future Celtic coach Doc Rivers. We all thought that we would never again see an event like the Ralph Sampson-Dominique Wilkins Capital Classic. Then came the 1981 Classic. Georgetown had already recruited a monster power forward Ralph Dalton, along with McDonald's All-Americans Bill Martin and Anthony Jones. Anthony Jones from DC Dunbar HS was the Washington Post Player of the Year and one of the primary targets of Dean Smith's UNC Tar Heels and every major college team. Hopes were high already for the 1981-82 Hoyas as in 1980 we had lost a close game to Iowa in the Elite 8. However, the big news came when Patrick Ewing, the most highly recruited HS player of that generation announced that he would attend Georgetown. Immediately the Capital Center was sold out. I gathered my old RA and freshman year floor-mates at Loyola (now LXR) to buy tickets for the game. We soon realized there were not enough GUTS buses to take all the students who wanted to go to the game. There were a few buses chartered and the Hoya students were on our way. I still remember the Capital All-Stars taking the court as Bill Martin, Anthony Jones, and Patrick Ewing did 360 dunks one after another. Little did I realize that seeing a late bloomer from North Carolina, Michael Jordan, have a break out game was a sign of things to come. Indeed Patrick Ewing was the MVP of the Capital Classic, and we all had seen the beginning of the Hoyas playing in three of four national championship games.

The Capital Classic has evolved over the years and has played in many different venues including the MCI Center, Smith Center, Patriot Center, Comcast Center, and Bender Arena. There are now many HS All-Star games across the country with the McDonald's All-American Game being the biggest. There have been many recent stars over the last few years including Shaquille O'Nell, and LeBron James who played in the last Classic at Verizon Center. After Michael Jordan parted ways with the Washington Wizards he took the now Jordan Brand Classic to NYC leaving Washington, DC. However, a group has kept the Capital Classic alive here. It is now a different event, but no other HS All-Star game can boast the tradition, and the alumni that the Capital Classic has. So if you have completed your taxes like I just did last night, and still long to see some good basketball head out to AU's Bender Arena on April 15th. For the HoyaNation we will see a glimpse of our future team as Markel Starks, Nate Lubick, and Moses Abraham take the court. Look for me as we lead the cheer of "Hoya Saxa!"

Remember to attend the Men's Basketball Banquet on April 20th at Georgetown University's Leavey Center. To register go to:https://alumni.georgetown.edu/default.aspx?Page=EVNTEventDetail&EventID=1918

For info on the Capital Classic go to:http://www.thecapitalclassic.com/site8.aspx

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Vice-President Hoya Hoop Club-Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

One Shining Moment

Jennifer Hudson's New Version of One Shining Moment

Let the Hoya Madness Begin!

It seems like only yesterday when I was watching Kenner Summer League Basketball in McDonough. I spent many a summer night watching the Kenner league, as I have for many a year. Now after the Hoyas made a great run in the Big East Tournament, I found myself on the Acela train returning to DC to attend the NCAA Selection Show at Leo O’Donovan Hall with the Hoya faithful. It was quiet as I entered Leo’s and helped the Hoyas Unlimited staff place some Hoya towels, etc. on the tables. It was another great Selection Show. After missing the NCAA’s in 2009, the anticipation for the announcements ran high in the room. As we were making preparations, I had a nice chat with the chef at Leo’s a big Hoya fan himself!

The team slowly filtered into the room starting with Austin Freeman and Jason Clark. Next Chris Wright came followed by Greg Monroe and the rest of the team. Lastly, the coaches came in led by JT III. I had the opportunity to wish all of the coaches good luck in the NCAA’s. I also had brief chats with Austin, Chris, Jason, and Greg. I personally, was hoping for New Orleans, but we were sent to the Midwest Regional and Providence, RI. I sat in the corner watching the announcements with my HHC friends Rob Swain, and Art Yoon who came in from California. Seeing the Hoyas paired in the same draw with Ohio, Tennessee, and Ohio State brought out a surprised reaction from the crowd. Also, the Notre Dame matchup with Old Dominion caught the attention of our players. After the show ended the other students started to filter in for dinner. The players, coaches, and those who spent the week in NYC quickly left to catch up on some rest. The Hoyas Unlimited staff went back to their offices to begin travel plans. We all owe the Hoyas Unlimited & the rest of the Athletic Departments staffs a great deal of gratitude for their hard work in New York, and for the Selection Show.

I am hoping to see many Hoya fans in Providence. Our Hoya Hoop Club Communications team will be working hard in Providence to provide you with up-to-date information. Blogmaster John Hawkes will be joining me in Providence. I am still figuring out how the old NCAA office pools have evolved into this intense science of Bracketology? I will rely on my friends from Generations Burton and Roy to explain it to me. Well, I have my tickets, hotel, and flights all confirmed for Providence. It seems as if all the experts are calling the Midwest Region the most difficult region. That is okay, as we need to be ready to play any opponent. Any team in the NCAA tournament is an outstanding team. After all, it is March and that means Georgetown Time!

Good luck to our Georgetown Men’s Basketball Team!

We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

BET Finals 2010

The Friday night semifinals of the Big East Tournament are certainly an unparalleled event. I knew that I needed to get some rest and be prepared for the evening. I slept late until about 7:30 AM and then got all of my Facebook Big East Tournament work done over the next few hours. It was a little cold, and rainy but I met my friends the Lucey’s on the Upper East Side for breakfast. We then took a stroll along 57th Street. We ended up at America House visiting the Jesuits and former Georgetown President Leo O’Donovan, S.J. I felt better as I met the wonderful people at America House and Father O’Donovan gave us the blessing for the evening. As time was flying by I knew I needed to get to the Affinia for the Pep Rally. I ran into Sapporo East for a pre-game meal of Ramen Noodles and then stood out in the rain waiting for a cab. Our HHC Pep Rally was wonderful with the band, cheerleaders, and our Hoyas Unlimited staff doing a great job.

I will see fellow Hoya Fans tonight at our pre-game reception at Stout NYC from 6:00-8:30 PM Stout NYC is on West 33rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenue on the Uptown part of the street. Please come if you are in Manhattan. We need to get ready to make some noise at MSG tonight. The sound I want to hear echoing through the stairwells of Madison Square Garden-The World’s Most Famous Arena tonight is “Hoya Saxa.”

We are Georgetown

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Proud Member of Generation Ewing