N.Y. Daily News / HOF / C. Mullin

[psk938]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

 

[beast of the east]

Thanks to a very accommodating Kevin Barry, who made room for us at literally the last minute, and JSJ's encouragement to attend, my wife and I were at the HOF induction ceremony

I sat at a table with CJ Nitkowski and his family. CJ who is a sports announcer, gave a really great speech, thanking his teammates and coaches for instilling in him a work ethic that took him from non-MLB prospect, to a first round draft pick. He was gracious enough to thank his friends in attendance who have stuck with him for most of his life, and to his family also.

Kia Wright gave the most emotional speech, crying several times as she was appreciative of everything ST. John's, including giving her an opportunity to play when many thought her career was over. Her large entourage and the crowd cheered her on to fight through the tears to finish. Wonderful speech.

Chris Mullin, of course, was the main event. He's so gracious, and even as SJU royalty interacts with anyone who engages him as if he and you were just guys from the neighborhood. He never separated himself from the student body and its just one thing besides the obvious that makes him perhaps the most special athlete that SJU was graced to have.

Side note: Coach Lou and Mary Carnesecca's full page ad in the HOF induction journal included the following note: "Not bad for a kid who couldn't run or jump"

Special moments: I was going to take a photo, but didn't, of Chris and Coach C. sitting on the wide window sill for 5 or 10 minutes, enjoying a cup of coffee and simply chatting, away from the nearby tables and not interrupted by anyone. I can't imagine the two being any closer or having more affection for each other.

 

[L J S A]

I rather enjoy this one. . .

Awesome. When you see who shot it, you know that making it was no fluke. It was reminiscent of the crazy trick shots Pete Maravich could make, all of them honed during countless hours of alone time in the gym, perfecting his craft and keeping him from boredom. In the season that the NBA had the H-O-R-S-E competition for NBA players, Maravich would come up with crazy shots, such as spin the ball on your finger, toss it up and bank it in off your head.

A few weeks ago, I spoke to a former LeMoyne player, Matt Cooper, a guy whose stat line suggested that he should have played D1. He played a few seasons overseas. In one game (and you can find it on Youtube) he hit a legitimate 85 foot shot in a game, launching it a few feet away from the opposite foul line. In chatting about it, he said the funny thing was that the next morning, the team's owner asked him to try to repeat the shot before practice. He told the guy the shot was a fluke, but at the owner's insistence, launched a shot from the same spot and made it. The shot had gotten attention in the local papers and on TV, so after the practice a bunch of local kids approached Cooper and asked him to try to make the same shot again. Playfully, he tried again, and then he made the same shot again.

=matt+cooper+basketball+shot&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=C2B5B33696A1834432C9C2B5B33696A1834432C9

I thought I heard when this took place that he made that shot without any warm ups!

Correct. he had just come out between filming segments, I think. he saw them messing around, took off his suit jacket and nailed the shot. ESPN employees there had been trying unsuccessfully to nail it for years as well is what I remember reading.

 

[we are sju]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

 

[salty dog]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

Actually it has been the first time Chris has been available and they wanted him to attend in person

 

[we are sju]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

Actually it has been the first time Chris has been available and they wanted him to attend in person

First time in 30 years? Wow he has been busy

 

[thetux1]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

Actually it has been the first time Chris has been available and they wanted him to attend in person

First time in 30 years? Wow he has been busy

Supposedly it was because he didn't get his degree until just recently

 

[we are sju]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

Actually it has been the first time Chris has been available and they wanted him to attend in person

First time in 30 years? Wow he has been busy

Supposedly it was because he didn't get his degree until just recently

ST John's taking lessons about honoring their great players from the Mets? Maybe a Queens thing?

 

[beast of the east]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

Actually it has been the first time Chris has been available and they wanted him to attend in person

First time in 30 years? Wow he has been busy

Supposedly it was because he didn't get his degree until just recently

Mullin got his degree in 1998. It was all about his availability in past years.

 

[we are sju]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

Actually it has been the first time Chris has been available and they wanted him to attend in person

First time in 30 years? Wow he has been busy

Supposedly it was because he didn't get his degree until just recently

Mullin got his degree in 1998. It was all about his availability in past years.

Honestly should have just done It (honor him) after we lost in Final Four in 85

 

[beast of the east]

can someone explain why it took 30 years to get Mullin in the Hall of Fame? did he say no to them before this cause I would have to hope that they tried before this year.

They had to do their due diligence to make sure he was worthy. Just because he is in Basketball Hall of Fame doesn't necessarily mean he is ST John's Hall of Fame worthy.

Actually it has been the first time Chris has been available and they wanted him to attend in person

First time in 30 years? Wow he has been busy

Supposedly it was because he didn't get his degree until just recently

Mullin got his degree in 1998. It was all about his availability in past years.

Honestly should have just done It (honor him) after we lost in Final Four in 85

Does it really matter. This is the first HOF induction I've attended, and honestly I did attend because Mullin was in the group. To listen to inductees speak so warmly about SJU is a really wonderful thing. I'm actually happy there was one last official Mullin event to transact even this many years later. for his part, Mullin looks like he could step onto the court and play, which is probably true.

 

[Avon Barksdale]

That's the video I took of Mullin b

 

[beast of the east]

Today I will try to figure out how to upload Mullin's acceptance speech to the SJU HOF. I videotaped in on my cell, but it came out okay. One of the key quotes from Mullin, is loosely the following:

"Nearly every day of my life I use something I learned at St. John's"

Right now Chris is an advisor to the Sacramento Kings. To watch him easily interact with SJU alumni yesterday at his induction makes me believe firmly that there must be a high place for him in our program or at our university, not as a former athlete in some insignificant position, but in ahigh level capacity to advance our basketball program, university, or both.

 

[TonyinFairfield]

Today I will try to figure out how to upload Mullin's acceptance speech to the SJU HOF. I videotaped in on my cell, but it came out okay. One of the key quotes from Mullin, is loosely the following:

"Nearly every day of my life I use something I learned at St. John's"

Right now Chris is an advisor to the Sacramento Kings. To watch him easily interact with SJU alumni yesterday at his induction makes me believe firmly that there must be a high place for him in our program or at our university, not as a former athlete in some insignificant position, but in ahigh level capacity to advance our basketball program, university, or both.

I had the chance to meet Mullin at the 25th Anniversary gathering of the Final Four team several years ago at MSG. You, and other posters are so right in describing the way he interacts with people. He chatted with me, asked me a few questions about my background and made me feel like I knew him for years. What a great guy!

He definitely should be officially associated with us in some way. But that's of course, if he wants to be. If he does, I certainly hope Gempesaw makes it happen.

 

[Avon Barksdale]

Today I will try to figure out how to upload Mullin's acceptance speech to the SJU HOF. I videotaped in on my cell, but it came out okay. One of the key quotes from Mullin, is loosely the following:

"Nearly every day of my life I use something I learned at St. John's"

Right now Chris is an advisor to the Sacramento Kings. To watch him easily interact with SJU alumni yesterday at his induction makes me believe firmly that there must be a high place for him in our program or at our university, not as a former athlete in some insignificant position, but in ahigh level capacity to advance our basketball program, university, or both.

Beast this was the first video I uploaded and it was easy. You just need to have a YouTube account. Very quick too - just hook into wifi.

 

[beast of the east]

Here is a link to the CA introduction of Mullin

 

[beast of the east]

As promised, here is his induction speech. This is something any SJU fan should watch - brief but to the point. I'm glad I was able to be there to tape it and to upload it here for all of you.

 

[beast of the east]

Finally a brief snippet as he began his speech referencing his 1998 graduation:

 

[salty dog]

interestingly, when the Brennan family's son took the podium to speak regarding their acceptance, he talked eloquently about his long association with St. John's and following the Johnnies. I very much liked his non PC speech referring numerous times to the St John's Redmen. The name will live on, despite what a few small narrow minded individuals may think, which is a good thing.

 

[beast of the east]

interestingly, when the Brennan family's son took the podium to speak regarding their acceptance, he talked eloquently about his long association with St. John's and following the Johnnies. I very much liked his non PC speech referring numerous times to the St John's Redmen. The name will live on, despite what a few small narrow minded individuals may think, which is a good thing.

I wonder what his screen name is on here. I'm guessing it's not fun.