Patrick Ewing Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame

Dick Vitale, a Broadcaster who brought basketball to millions of TV views, was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday along with one of the most successful NBA coaches of all time, Pat Riley.  Vitale was emotional during the announcement in San Antonio which is the site of the NCAA Men's Final Four.

Vitale said in his speech that even though he can't run, jump or shoot, he has a tremendous passion for basketball.  Even though Vitale was an NBA coach for a short period of time in the 1970s, he made his name as a college basketball analyst.

During the course of time, Vitale was known for using phrases such as "Get a T-O, baby," "You're a P-T-Per" and "Awesome, baby."  He thanked Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight for being the driving force behind writing letters on his behalf.

Riley, who won 4 NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, received another one 2 years ago with Miami. He also has one championship as an assistant and another as a player.  Even though he just lost his 64th game of the regular season, he's now in the Hall of Fame.  Riley thinks the new Class of 2008 will be the best promoted ever as a result of Vitale being included.

Both Ewing and Olajuwon played in three Final Fours, with Ewing's Georgetown team beating Olajuwon's Houston squad for the 1984 national championship.  Olajuwon got his revenge as a pro, playing for the Houston Rockets in the first of 2 consecutive titles with a 7 game victory against the Knicks in the 1994 NBA finals.

Ewing is the Knicks' all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots and steals, as well as other categories.  He remembered visiting the Hall of Fame as a child and said he never imagined being a part of it.  

NBA All-Star,Dantley, played for seven teams during his 15 year NBA career, including Davidson's Detroit Pistons.  Hall of Famer Joe Dumars, works for Davidson as the Pistons' President of Basketball Operations and played with Dantley in Detroit.  Dantley was a finalist 6 times before finally getting in which is more than anyone in the current class.

Rush led Immaculata University to 3 straight AIAW national championships, won 149 games in 7 seasons and lost only 15.  Rush jokes that she lost more nominations to the Basketball Hall of Fame than actual games.

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