I attended the Wooden Classic at the Honda Center on Saturday scouting for the Phoenix Suns, while they are on the road just killing it! Ten in a row for our Suns! Tough road trip, too, with five games in seven days, and two back-to-backs. OUCH! Did you see the double-OT win over NJ?
How exciting was THAT?!
At least 20 plus scouts were in Anaheim to see #1 UCLA get a tough victory over Texas A&M, and a young USC squad come from behind, down big at halftime to George Washington, and pull out a victory.
There were some good guards to scout from the four teams, but the best part of the day was seeing Coach Wooden. It's always great to see the enthusiasm and excitement that Coach has watching the college game. He patiently signed autographs before the game, half time and between games. And at 96, his penmanship is impeccable!
I had a chance to sit and visit, while he had his coffee and his Krispy Kreme donut. I love talking not just basketball with “Papa,” but about his family and life in general. My brother David was a part of Papa's championship years in the ‘70s at UCLA and our family has been close to him and his family for a long time now. How blessed we are to still have him around.
Last night, I attended the "Ronnie Lott Impact Awards" dinner at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. I'm on the Board of Directors. The award is named after Ronnie Lott – the Hall of Famer who played at USC – and honors a college defensive player who has demonstrated strong character and made a great impact in their community. This is the third year of the award and we have donated over a quarter of a million dollars to charities.
Cal's cornerback Daymeion Donte Hughes was the recipient this year. Quinn Picock of Ohio State and Paul Posluszny of Penn State were the other two finalists. The first two winners were David Pollack of Georgia and DeMeco Ryans of Alabama.
Hall of Famer Frank Gifford was the featured speaker and spoke about his days growing up in California and going to USC. Which, he says his 16-yr-old son Cody would like to go to. A 6'3' QB that wants to follow in his Dad's footsteps.
Three Hall-of-Fame football coaches also had a Q&A about the state of the college game today and which one of their players who would have exemplified the" Lott Impact Award." Pat Dye of Auburn in the SEC and two Pac-10 Coaches, Terry Donahue of UCLA and ASU's Frank Kush. Coach Kush could still take anyone on today. He has so much fire and passion for the game.
But the highlight of the evening was when MC, USC/Ram-broadcaster Pat Haden introduced Lott’s “high school coach.” Haden said that the first two years the dinner featured Ronnie’s college coach (John Robinson) and pro coach (Bill Walsh) talking about his fierce competitiveness on the field and his character off the field. So this year, Ronnie's high school coach was invited to speak.
In runs this guy, with a two-day beard, curly hair, green visor with an eagle on it, grey sweatshirt with "Eisenhower Football," and those old stretchy college shorts that coaches always wore back in the ‘70s and ‘80s pulled up high -- thigh high! He ran into the black-tie affair, blowing his whistle and yelling, and to ALL of our delight, it was Will Ferrell, playing a "Ricky Bobby" type role from Talladega Nights. For the 20 minutes he performed, he was Coach "Jimmy Ricky" and he WAS FUNNY!
A USC grad himself (and there was a strong contingency of Trojan alumni, I might add), Ferrell brought the house down, referring to Ronnie as "Bubba" and only his “third best player” that he had ever coached.
We were not only delighted by Ferrell's ability to stay in character, the three Hall-of-Fame coaches and other impressive dignitaries, newly retired baseball player Tim Salmon (a Phoenix resident), but the young men that were nominated for this prestigious award. Our congratulations to Daymeion Donte Hughes for being awarded the third annual "Lott Impact Trophy" and making an impact in his community.
Hope everyone is ready for the holidays. My shopping starts today with my kids still in school. I'm off to shop for players for our Phoenix Mercury team, too. Hopefully Santa will see that the Mercury have been good this year and we will get the presents that are on our list? Happy Holidays to everyone.
Comments
Sam Smith - samcsmith@mindspring.com
Hi Ann,
Congrats again on the new position with the Mercury. You are going to be terrific.
Just a thought to ask for your help. With the Sting going down in Charlotte...If any teams
mention they need some play-by-play help...please keep me in mind. Thanks.
Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas.
sam Smith
Brad - Phoenix
Nice story Ann !! I wish I could of seen that !!
Abby - Peoria
Great blog Ann! I hope you keep 'em coming. I really enjoyed hearing your stories about "Pappa" and Coach Ricky Bobby. Very funny stuff!!! Would love to hear more about your scouting for the Suns and thoughts on the upcoming WNBA Draft too. Go Suns!!! Go Mercury!!! Go Ann!!!
Jim Gannarelli - Houston, TX
Ann, as a Texas A&M graduate, native Phoenician, and basketball fanatic, what your impressions of the program Billy Gillespie is building down in College Station? I know Acie Law had some trouble handling the ball in the early going, but he really turned it around in the second half. Do you see any future draftees on that roster?
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