http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=25638 Drexler asks Erving to share in big day -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Drexler has chosen Julius Erving to present him for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 10. “He was my basketball hero growing up, and when I got to know him, he was an even greater person than I had imagined,” Drexler says. “We have become very close friends, and I just felt it was fitting. There were a lot of other people I could have chosen, but I went with Doc.” As a resident celebrity, Drexler took part in the five-inning softball game featuring entertainment and sports personalities as part of the major league All-Star Game in Houston last month. There were supermodels, singers and actors, but they weren’t the ones who caught Clyde the Glide’s attention. “I was on the field with guys like Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield, Goose Gossage, Fred Lynn, Rollie Fingers … I grew up watching those guys,” the former Blazer star says. “You talk about fun. “I was supposed to play first base, but Big Dave and I switched and I played left field. Didn’t have a ball hit to me all game. I hit a ground-rule double off Gossage the first time up. The second time, he was throwing the ball so high over my head, he didn’t give me anything to hit. I hit the ball so high to center field, I was rounding second base when the ball was caught.”
its his idol man cut him some slack It would be like picking a teammate over Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron Rocket River
Why Rudy? He did not play for Rudy for that long. I would think Guy Lewis was a much bigger influence on his basketball career than Rudy. Dream would certainly be a possibility but if you remember he had Dr. J stand up and speak for him when his jersey was hung in the rafters of the summit.
funny, my girlfriend asked why he didnt pick dream and my first response was that contemporaries dont usually do that sort of thing- its usually a mentor or an idol or something, but i wonder if thats right. anyone know how it usually goes, do most guys just ask whoever? (and im talking HOFs in general....)
