Courtside Champions

THEY CLEARED THE LANE: THE NBA’s BLACK PIONEERS
AUTHOR RON THOMAS AND PRO AM LEAGUE FOUNDER TONY PETTAWAY HONORED FOR SPORTS HISTORY, PUBLIC SERVICE

Event coincides with Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement activities in Springfield, MA(AANEWSWIRE)SPRINGFIELD, MA – September 2, 2003 – The public is invited to hear in-depth analysis of today’s hot sports stories and celebrate the contributions of author Ron Thomas and Founder/Director Greater Springfield PRO/AM Basketball League and Owner of the Springfield Slam Semi-Professional Men’s Basketball team Tony Pettaway to American basketball history, Thursday, September 4, 6-8 p.m. at 682 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, Mass.

Ron Thomas, author of They Cleared the Lane: the NBA’s Black Pioneers, and Tony Pettaway, owner of the Greater Springfield Pro-Am Basketball League, will receive the first “Courtside Champions” awards for their public service and contributions to sports history and education. The awards will be presented by Janine Fondon, President/CEO of UnityFirst.com/African American Newswire and Lynne Scott Jackson, President, Millynneum, Inc., “Courtside Champions.” The honorees will also be recognized by the S/Heroes Café in Worcester, MA – a café designed to honor African American men and women for their leadership, community service and contributions to history.

The awards, book signing and public forum coincide with Basketball Hall of Fame festivities in Springfield, which include the induction of Earl Lloyd, a key figure in They Cleared the Lane. Lloyd became the first Black athlete to play in an NBA game on October 31, 1950. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2003, Thomas will share intimate reflections during a Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend panel discussion themed The African American Experience in Basketball Forum.

Thomas covered the NBA for 11 years and was the first NBA editor/writer at USA Today. A sports writer and author, Thomas is the nation’s premier scholar specializing in Black NBA pioneers. Residing in Oakland, CA, he lectures and writes extensively on the topic. Recently, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis paid tribute to the historic achievements of African Americans in a They Cleared the Lane exhibit.

Published by University of Nebraska Press, They Cleared the Lane profiles the careers of the NBA’s Black players from 1950-1965, the league’s first Black superstars and coaches, and players whose pro careers were limited by a racial quota. It ends with a chapter about the status of contemporary Black NBA figures. The book was an 18-year journey of perseverance for Thomas, triumphantly winning at the publishing game after numerous rejections.

Pettaway is recognized nationally for his youth violence-prevention activities and achieved hometown celebrity status for his commitment and contributions to young African American athletes. As owner of the Greater Springfield Pro-Am Basketball League, he diligently worked to unify and empower the local leagues, acquiring teams and providing structure and direction for young men and women – both on and off the court.

He also serves as Violence Prevention Coordinator, Department of Health and Human Services, City of Springfield and is a recognized expert in the field of youth violence prevention. Pettaway has presented findings on community needs and challenges, providing recommendations on how local and State agencies should work together to promote the reduction of violence throughout the region. His efforts have resulted in funding and community support, including those of an administrative and technical nature.

UnityFirst.com/African American Newswire, the premiere online news service reaching over one million people of color nationally and over 3,000 diverse media outlets, has teamed up with Millynneum, Inc., a Manhattan-based communications firm, to recognize these “Courtside Champions” and foster community dialogue on innovative programs to assist at-risk youth.

Future events will include “Full Court Press” audience-vs.-analyst exchange, reflecting memorable sports moments and their impact in the context of society-at-large. Moderated by UnityFirst.com and Millynneum principals, the dialogue continues with a syndicated online column and relationship marketing campaign, featuring community, semi-pro and professional athletes, community leaders and social service advocates.

CONTACT:
Janine Fondon/ UnityFirst.com
Email: jfondon@unityfirst.com phone: 413-734-6444
Lynne Scott Jackson/ MILLYNNEUM, INC.
Email: millynneum@aol.com Phone: 212.560.9300/ 347.645.6115-cell]