March 11, 2008
This morning, March 11th, I boarded the 9:00 AM Acela Express Train in Washington's Union Station heading to New York's Penn Station. After last weekend's thrilling win over Louisville at Verizon Center I am hoping that the Hoyas are ready to peak as we head into the post-season. I always feel "jazzed" as I head back to New York City, my second home. The Big East Tournament (The beginning of March Madness) is what I really look forward to every year. This past weekend I was thrilled to see the Georgetown seniors, Roy Hibbert, Jonathan Wallace, Tyler Crawford, and Patrick Ewing, Jr. go out on a high note with an undefeated home season! On the Acela Train I have been checking all of my reservations, especially my dinner reservation on Thursday night at Peter Luger's Steakhouse in Brooklyn. As a superstitious basketball fan, that is one ritual that I cannot miss. I have not decided what movie or Broadway play I plan to see. For the last few months the movie preview for "A College Road Trip," has intrigued me. The movie stars Martin Lawrence and Raven Symone from the Cosby Show & Disney Channel fame. Martin Lawrence plays the over-protective, "Helicopter Parent," who wants his daughter to go to school in their hometown of Chicago. He is traumatized when his daughter announces that for her entire life she has always dreamed of going to Georgetown! When she gets an interview at the Hilltop, he finally concedes and tells her "It is time for you to shine, and let's get you to Georgetown!" Although, Georgetown was a local school for me being from the Washington, D.C. area, I do remember when my parents first asked me where I would like to go to college. I thought for a minute, and the first thing that came to my mind was my father's Georgetown shirts with the impressive University seals. After thinking about it and hearing about the academic reputation of Georgetown, I remember telling my parents, "I want to go to Georgetown." This week's Big East Tournament and the upcoming Big East Tournament is where I yearly relive my Georgetown experience.
This year's special senior class really makes me proud to be a Hoya. They really have conducted themselves with class on and off the court. Roy Hibbert and I are both fellow alumni of Georgetown Prep. The Prep community is so proud of Roy. Jonathan Wallace has been one of our greatest point guards at Georgetown, and Tyler Crawford is exactly what you want from a team captain providing great leadership. Finally, Patrick Ewing Jr. has been a great Hoya, and the spark that gets us going in many games. He has really made Georgetown and his father proud wearing number 33. I have met these four Hoyas several times, and I am always impressed at how they conduct themselves. They are truly four of the nicest young men you will ever meet. They are a tribute to their families, and the great program JT III is building. Having lived in New York during the glory days of Georgetown Basketball, it was wonderful seeing Patrick Ewing Sr. bring excitement back to the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. I will get a chill when I enter the Garden and see number 33 hanging from the rafters. In the 1980's I remember attending the David Letterman show when he was on after Johnny Carson, and seeing Raven Symone star in the Cosby Show in Brooklyn, New York. It was great living in New York with Broadway, and all of the entertainment and arts right in your own backyard. However, I still remember former St. John's coach Lou Carnesseca marveling how it is amazing that with everything going on in New York, the Big East Tournament would overshadow everything.
For those of you going to New York early on Wednesday please note the event below:
Georgetown Athletics BIG EAST Reception
New York City
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Stout NYC - Greene Room
133 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Hoyas Unlimited invites you to join members of the Georgetown athletics family for a reception in New York City.
Come meet:
Head Coach Michael Callahan, Sailing
Head Coach Kevin Kelly, Football
Head Coach Tiffany Marsh, Field Hockey
Head Coach Brian Wiese, Men's Soccer
And other members of the Georgetown Athletic Department staff!
Stout NYC is located on 33rd Street and 7th Avenue.
Hors d'oeuvres will be served.
To RSVP, contact Hoyas Unlimited at hoyasunlimited@georgetown.edu
I just got a call from Peter Luger's confirming my reservation on Thursday--everything is staying on schedule.
There are a few new things that I will attempt to experience in New York: some of the new Irish bars, new clubs down in the meatpacking district, and the 24 hour flagship iPod store near FAO Schwartz on Fifth Avenue. I would like to hear Bruce Springsteen's Glory Days playing after another Hoya win. However, once again the sound that I want to hear echoing down the stairwells of Madison Square Garden is:
HOYA SAXA!
WE ARE GEORGETOWN!!
Dr. Thomas A. Wong (C'82)
Vice-President Hoya Hoop Club
Proud Member of Generation Ewing
