Our Sports Heroes & Where They Are Now

Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.

John: Hello, SportsWise world! We are glad to be here with you to make the magic happen this edition. Well, we’ve been on a “going back to the future”-sorta thing, so, this edition, we’re sticking with it. All of us have an athlete from back in the day who meant something to us. We’ll remember and, then, we’ll see where each of them are today.

Russ: I’m very ready to speak on this young brother. I met him after the 1991-1992 NCAA Championship game. His name is Juwan Howard, and he went to the University of Michigan and was the starting power forward. He was brief but we had a chance to talk about the following ’92-’93 season. We didn’t talk about the loss to Duke the previous year, but we did talk about winning it all that current season. I asked Juwan if they would win it all; he said Yes, but we all know what happened: Chris Webber called time-out when they had none, and this cost them the championship.

Patrick: I remember that. I was at another Big 10 school at the time and was sure Michigan would win. It was horrible. Well, Rocky Harvey is my guy. He was a star running back for the Dunbar High School Mighty Men and was awesome. He is one of the best running backs Illinois has produced. Set five state records for Dunbar with 7,348 career rushing yards in 1997, 100 career rushing yards, 14 games with 100 or more rushing yards in 1997, 100 career rushing touchdowns, 646 career points, and 104 career TDs. And I’ve yet to mention that he was 5-foot- 9 inches tall and a mere 160 pounds. A beast.

Donald: He was. So, yeah, my guy is Hall-of-Famer Isiah Thomas of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. I met him before he was famous, but I knew immediately he would be a top-notch ballplayer. We were playing a half-court 21, which is a one-on-oneon-one, etc., game up to 21 points; well, so he dribbled the ball not only between his legs, but also between mine! I was 16 at the time, and he made me look silly. I don’t recall his age, but he was young. I was impressed.

Patrick: John, who do you have?

John: Cubs’ Shawon Dunston. 6’1 and 175 pounds full of energy. Shortstop for the Cubs from 1985-1995 with an extra year in 1987. He possessed one of the strongest throwing arms to ever play the game. He was, also, the 1st pick in the 1982 MLB draft. Something folks may not know is that, as a high school senior, Dunston had a .790 batting average, 10 home runs, and stole 37 bases without getting caught. After he teamed up with Hall-of- Famer Ryne Sandberg, they created mayhem and magic all in one. Spectacular.

Patrick: Them were the days. WGN, too. But, yeah, everybody, briefly, what’s your guy doing now? Russ?

Russ: Juwan Howard is the head coach of Michigan’s men’s basketball team. Last year, he won the AP College Coach of the Year and has developed a reputation as a humanitarian for his civic commitment.

Patrick: In 2004, Rocky Harvey taught PE and coached the running backs at Dunbar—his alma mater. At the time, he also played indoor football professionally.

Donald: Isiah Thomas has gone from an NBA executive, to an NBA head coach, and is, now, President and part owner of the Knicks's WNBA team, the New York Liberty.

John: Shawon Dunston, despite a very exciting career, didn’t make the Hall of Fame, and is currently working as a special assistant for the San Francisco Giants.

Patrick: Well done, fellas.

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