[The Detriot News] Country Day retires Battier's number

freemaniam · Sep 12, 2007

I found this article from hoopchina.com, think some of you might be interested.

Country Day retires Battier's number

NBA player tells students to take more chances

Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News

BEVERLY HILLS -- NBA veteran Shane Battier stood in front of the Detroit Country Day middle and upper school assemblies Tuesday, but something wasn't quite right.

Battier, a 1997 Country Day graduate who now plays for the Rockets, wanted to make things more casual. So his wife, Heidi, handed him a worn box.

Out came Battier's high school letter sweater, covered in patches and accolades from his All-American basketball career. He took off his suit coat, put on the sweater, and the crowd roared.

Battier was finally home, comfortable to share in the retirement of his No. 55 at the school.

"This whole day has been surreal, just a really intense time seeing all these coaches and teachers," Battier, 29, said. "I'm really honored that they retired my number. It means so much to me and my family. It's a little scary, though, that none of the kids here now ever saw me play -- I'm getting old."

Battier, his parents and siblings, friends, former teammates and the Country Day community gathered for the 90-minute ceremony. His jersey is only the second retired in school history, with the first belonging to former Wolverine and Piston Chris Webber.

"In some ways, I always felt like I've been chasing Chris Webber," said Battier, a Birmingham native. "He had such an amazing career, he set the bar for me. When I got here as a student, people said, 'You're going to Chris Webber's school.' That pushed me to make my own mark."

Battier left Country Day with an impressive resume: four-time All-State, three-time state champion, winning Mr. Basketball and Naismith awards in 1997, and graduating with a near-4.0 grade-point average.

Battier's lone blight on his GPA, a B in AP History, came from teacher Don Corwin. The school has made that story famous, thanks to an ad campaign.

"People ask me if I am the Mr. Corwin that gave Shane a B and I indeed am," Corwin said in a very serious tone, drawing a hearty laugh from Battier and the rest of the students. " I think he learned something greater (from the class) -- that things don't come easy in life."

The day featured humor and some seriousness from Battier's former coaches and teachers, plus a video highlighting his career from Country Day to Duke, where he won a national championship, to the pros.

Battier wanted to leave the students with something to think about, discussing his regrets from his days at the school.

"The strength, as well as the weakness of Country Day, is the focus on goals, accomplishments, achievements," Battier said. "I took it to the extreme, and it did not allow me to relax. I was filled with fear of failure and those are terrifying thoughts. I never did a drama, I never sang in the choir.

"I implore you, think about doing something that you are scared to do -- and do it. Take that chance, because that experience will forge you harder and deeper than your successes."

At the end, one question was left hanging in the air: Why did Battier pick No. 55?

Heidi wasn't sure, and his dad, Ed, didn't remember anymore.

"I didn't have any choice," Battier said, laughing at the memory. "It was the biggest jersey that fit me. So, I became No. 55."
Click to expand...

Last Sunday (Sep 9) was Battier's birthday too. So Happy Birthday Battier!

- wonder if Battiersbaby is still hanging around?

saleem · Sep 12, 2007

Wow,what a great story. Happy Birthday Shane.

metalshred · Sep 12, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANE T_T" Glad to hav u on this team

t-mac4bigmac · Sep 12, 2007

I would love to have Shane end his career with the Rockets.

finalsbound · Sep 12, 2007

I love Shane.

The_Yoyo · Sep 12, 2007

wow surprised that it wasnt retired earlier, what like 10 years after he graduated? not sure what sort of school country day is when it comes to its basketball, do they have a lot of nba players come through that school?

my old high school retired casey jacobsen's number 2 years after he graduated, granted we only have (as far as i know) 3 numbers retired.

either way good for shane he has really grown on me, an all-around hustle and good guy. one of those you hate on the other team but love on your team.

Hayesfan · Sep 12, 2007

The_Yoyo said:

wow surprised that it wasnt retired earlier, what like 10 years after he graduated? not sure what sort of school country day is when it comes to its basketball, do they have a lot of nba players come through that school?
Click to expand...

They have a decent players coming out of there now. But I don't know how many of them make it to the NBA. One of the UK kids is from there (though I doubt he's ever going to make an NBA roster) and I know that extracurricular activities are required. So I would imagine that more often than not they have good athletes but not great ones.

The only two I know of for sure is Webber and Shane.

Though, for those that like useless knowledge, Robin Williams went to school there.

Forums

[The Detriot News] Country Day retires Battier's number

freemaniam 我是自由人

saleem Member

metalshred Member

t-mac4bigmac Member

finalsbound Member

The_Yoyo Member

Hayesfan Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!