A Double Hoya's 4th of July 2012 in New York City

July 4th 2012--It is great to be an American.  Being in New York this year for the 4th of July I found some comfort in walking the streets of Chinatown.  There is something about Mott Street that gives me comfort.  It seems like a lifetime since I attended my cousin's wedding at the legendary Port Arthur restaurant on the corner of Mott and Bayard.  There are certain constants in your life that are forever: Macy's 4th of July Fireworks, the Capitol Fireworks, Georgetown beating Syracuse, SUNY-O Optometrists serving the community, Hoyas being Men and Women for Others, and the Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden.

I am honored that Georgetown will play in this year's Carrier Classic against the University of Florida to honor our military.  It will be a special game indeed.  As I sit in my Manhattan apartment now and see the Macy's Fireworks light up the Hudson River like Times Square I am also watching the new episode of the show Dallas.  It reminded me of the days when Georgetown dominated the world of college basketball like no other program.  Things are different now.  There is much more parity in college basketball.  Some may call it mediocrity.  Anyway, I look forward to returning to McDonough Gym next week to see the incoming freshman play for the Tombs.  This has been a summer rite of passage for me since I was a student at Georgetown.  Until then it is wonderful being in New York celebrating the 4th of July!

God Bless the USA! We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong
Hoya Hoop Club VP & Director of Communications
Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Georgetown Reunion Weekend 2012

What is IN for the Georgetown Area in 2012,  1982?

1982                                             2012

Healey Basement                         Leavey Center

Darnall Cafeteria                          Epicurean

The Tombs                                   The Tombs

New South Cafeteria                    Leo's

Tom Sarris' Orleans House          Ray's Hell Burger

Gepetto's                                      Cafe Milano

Port of Georgetown                     Citronelle

Sugars                                          Saxby's

GU Hospital                                 Medstar

Poulton Hall                                 Davis Center for the Arts

Nevils                                           McDonough School of Business

Capital Centre                              Verizon Center

American Cafe                             Billy Martin's Tavern

Social Safeway 1982                   Social Safeway 2012

Booeymongers                             Wisemillers

Germaine's                                    Town Hall

Lot 3                                             Southwest Quadrangle

Loyola/Walsh/Nevils                    LXR

Roy Rogers                                  Saxby's

Med School Movie Nights           AMC Georgetown Student Night

Harbin                                          Kennedy

Village A                                      McSwain

Clyde's                                         Kafe Leopold

Brunch at Key Bridge Marriott    Brunch at Ritz Carlton Georgetown

Swenson's                                    Georgetown Cupcake

Mister Day's                                 Baked & Wired

A Double Hoya's Return to the Dunkin Donuts Center

Since that awful game against Ohio in the 2010 NCAA tournament I have been dying to return to the Dunkin Donuts Center to erase the memory. This trip to Providence was a great weekend filled with the Hoya Spirit throughout New England. I met a nice couple from the University of Rhode Island and I mentioned to him how Nate Lubick was one of the few players we have ever successfully recruited from Massachusetts. He came right back and said to me, "What about Patrick Ewing!" How could I ever forget the man from Cambridge, Massachusetts. I am getting ready to tour Newport before returning home to New York city. Hoya Saxa and it is off to Seton Hall and New Jersey.

We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club VP & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

A Journey to the Steel City! Hoya Saxa!

It has been 5 years I believe since my trip to the Steel City, PA. I cannot believe the Pitt Panthers have had a 1-7 start in the Big East Conference. They have arguably been the most consistent top program in the Big East over the last dozen years. However, with their point guard healthy and a big win over the Providence Friars the Pitt Panthers look like a Top Ten team again, especially at the Pitt Zoo--one of the top venues in college basketball today.

I enjoyed a wonderful dinner last night with a great Hoya, a good friend, and Pitt native Art Murphy. Art is a regular at Verizon Center driving 4 hours back and forth to almost every game at Verizon Center. So playing at Pitt is certainly a timesaver for him. I am getting ready for a pre-game gathering of Hoyas before the 4:00 PM tipoff. I have always had great respect for Jamie Dixon and the tremendous job he has done taking over for Ben Howland and keeping their program at such a high level. Georgetown--Pitt games are throwbacks to the old Big East--Physical play, defense, and rebounding will decide the game as it does most games. Stay tuned for further updates.

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice President--Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Meet Me at Verizon Center--Hoya Saxa!!!

Oh what a season this has become. This Hoya team continues to impress. An excellent Marquette team probably still has no idea what has hit them. Jason Clark willed us to win. Henry Sims was a tower of strength, and Hollis Thompson knocked down the big 3 pointers. I love watching this team! We are Georgetown!

Verizon Center--Our House

Arrive Early & Wear Gray is the motto I try to live by for Georgetown home games. As the traffic worsens in DC this gets more and more difficult. The area around Verizon Center is growing by the minute as it has now become the hotbed for restaurants. I have a feeling this will be a very exciting season. I encourage everyone to try Luke's Lobster. They have the best crab and lobster rolls you will have anywhere! Hoya Saxa!

Walking Tall in Maui

Maui is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth. I have to go back when I have more time to vacation, but I really saw some great college basketball. Most basketball fans know the story of the Tennessee sheriff, Buford Pusser, immortalized by Bo Svenson in the 1970’s, and more recently by Dwayne “The Rock Johnson” in the movies and television series: “Walking Tall.” It was certainly more Hollywood than fact, but it made me think of our Georgetown Hoyas coming to this prestigious, highly competitive tournament with so many questions. After the tournament, and an opening heartbreaking loss to Kansas, the young Hoya Team indeed held their heads high and “Walked Tall” in the 50th state of Hawaii. Jason Clark really lit the arena up with his shooting, defense, and hustle. The freshmen left notice that they are here to compete. However, what really stood out to me was the standout performance of senior Henry Sims--Where are you LicHoya? Especially in the last game against Memphis, Henry Sims was a tower of strength offensively, defensively, and on the boards. The Hoya fans were very vocal as the cheers Hoya Saxa resounded throughout the Lahaina Civic Center. Memphis is indeed a power in college basketball, but on that afternoon Henry Sims would not be denied as he shot the ball in rhythm, and thwarted each Memphis run with key plays. Yes, this Hoya team made important progress as the Big East season approaches. Memphis will be a formidable foe on December 22nd at Verizon Center so please come out to the game. You will enjoy seeing the pre-game video of Henry Sims, Jason Clark and the rest of the Hoyas as they tower over Washington DC--Georgetown’s Playground. On this Thanksgiving week, the Hoyas indeed were indeed Walking Tall on the island of Maui! I certainly hope we go back again soon!

On my way home I spent some time in Honolulu and ran into Hoya fans at the Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial, and Ralph Dalton in the Sheraton Waikiki. I also got to watch the Lady Hoyas defeat the Georgia Bulldogs in Las Vegas on my way back East with former Hoya alumni Chico Church, and Greg Monroe! I cannot wait to get back to Verizon Center!

We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice President--Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing