Hall of horrors - The Fans Speak Out - Letter to the Editor

When I read the article by Barry Wilner ["Strolling Down the Hall," February 2003] that places Patrick Ewing in the "Not on this Ballot" category for the Basketball Hall of Fame, I was sure he had taken leave of his senses. Ewing will be voted into the Hall of Fame, and is likely to be so honored in his first year of eligibility.

The Basketball Hall of Fame, if Wilner hasn't forgotten, judges players on their performance in the sport overall, not just in the NBA. With that said, not only did Ewing have a great NBA career, but he was the most dominant big man to play college basketball in the last 20 years.

It wasn't Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Tim Duncan who got it done night in and night out for his team in college, it was Ewing. Georgetown made three Final Four trips with Ewing leading the way, and won the title in 1984. Ewing was a consensus All-American at Georgetown three times, won the Naismith Award in 1985, and received the first of his two gold medals with Team USA in 1984.

Ewing also had an outstanding pro career with the New York Knicks, being named to 11 All-Star Games and Rookie of the Year in 1985, and recording impressive averages (22 points and 10 rebounds) during his professional heyday.

So what he didn't get a ring? Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing, and George Gervin never won NBA rifles, but they were voted in. Ewing's only real fault is passing through the NBA at the same time as Michael Jordan, just as Baylor suffered because he played in the Bill Russell era.

Ewing should get into the Hall of Fame easily; Wilner's analysis is way off.

Brian Gilmore
Takoma Park, Md.

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