RedStormReport.com - NBA Legends On Hand For STJ Tip-Off Gala

October 5, 2009

Press Release

QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's men's basketball program opened the 2009-10 season in style at its Annual Gala Tip-Off Dinner, held on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at New York City's Metropolitan Club.

Alumni, fans, friends and supporters of St. John's basketball joined head coach Norm Roberts, Director of Athletics Chris Monasch, Hall of Fame Coach Lou Carnesecca and a cast of NBA legends - "The Captain" Willis Reed, Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe of the world champion New York Knicks of the early 1970s, and eight-time NBA title-winner and former Boston Celtic great Tom "Satch" Sanders - for the evening of celebration.

"This Gala Tip-Off Dinner was a great evening to celebrate the sport of basketball," said Monasch. "All who attended were treated to a terrific look back at the Knicks-Celtics rivalry. It was a first-class event, and a look forward to what we hope will be a great year of St. John's basketball."

The annual gala, which serves as the premier fundraiser for the men's basketball program, is hosted each year by the St. John's Office of Athletic Development. A live auction gave ardent Red Storm fans the ability to bid on some premier items, including 90 minutes of play on the court at Madison Square Garden, and a road trip as part of the official team travel party to Notre Dame on Feb. 14.

Following the annual season-opening address by Coach Roberts, Roberts remained on stage and led the discussion as the NBA legends took the spotlight. Each of the distinguished guests - three of them named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and also enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and one specially honored by the Hall in Springfield, Mass. - were part of a panel discussing New York City basketball and took questions from the audience. Reed, Frazier, Monroe and Sanders combined to win a total of 13 NBA World Championships, including Sanders' eight, Reed's inspirationally-famous 1970 Game 7 Finals performance with the Knicks and Frazier and Monroe's "Rolls Royce backcourt" with New York in 1972-73.

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