Dec. 27, 2007

Another Anniversary Game

After a difficult loss to #2 ranked Memphis, I have begun to look forward to the BIG EAST season. In spite of the loss I enjoyed watching the game at Town Hall and our Hoya Hoop Club Holiday Party. We collected some toys for the Boys and Girls Club Butler-Wyatt Clubhouse #2 on behalf of the John Thompson III Foundation. I then reminded myself that we still have some difficult games left prior to the BIG EAST season.

I grew up in a household where both of my parents were graduates of American University. My father was also a graduate of Georgetown Dental School in 1960. Many of my mother's brothers and sisters had attended either AU or GW in Washington, D.C. I grew up hearing stories about AU alumni Willard Scott amongst others. I also remember as a kid D.C. basketball star Kermit Washington, perhaps the most famous AU basketball star having had a 10 year NBA career playing with the Lakers and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He is unfortunately best known for the punch he threw at Rudy Tomjanovich during a famous fight with the Houston Rockets.

I remember during my early years at GU playing American University in some very competitive games. AU had some outstanding teams during those years. Gary Williams was the coach in those days before he left to replace Dr. Tom Davis at Boston College. While many of those games were very competitive, AU was never able to break through and defeat Georgetown until December 15^th, 1982 at the Capital Centre. It was 4 days after our much hyped game against the #1 ranked University of Virginia and Ralph Sampson. My father attended the game with me and we both watched in disbelief as the AU Eagles took a double digit lead into half-time. The Hoyas were very flat and shot extremely poorly both from the FT line and from the field. Patrick Ewing was also in serious foul trouble for most of the game. In the second half the Hoyas made a strong comeback led by its defense. However, Patrick Ewing fouled out right before the Hoyas were able to catch the AU Eagles and their veteran team. The young Hoyas learned a difficult lesson that evening. The 62-61 loss was one of the biggest upsets ever in the Washington area. Although Georgetown was a heavy favorite with superior talent, it was a very young team facing a veteran AU ball club coming off two 20 win seasons. AU head coach Ed Tapscott is now director of player development for the Washington Wizards, and assistant coach Fran Dunphy is now head coach at Temple University.

Thinking about our upcoming game with AU I am hoping for a very different experience. A few days ago I took little relief in hearing that AU had defeated Gary Williams and the Maryland Terrapins for the first time in 14 games going back to the 1926-27 season. Hopefully, that will be the AU Eagles Déjà vu. We need to play well on Saturday against the Eagles, on Monday against Fordham, and against all of our opponents. I know quite a few AU alumni besides my parents. Our campuses are only a short distance apart connected by Foxhall and Tunlaw Roads via Glover Park. I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday. The team needs our support especially with many of the students being home on Christmas break.

I am going also to a wine tasting event for the Georgetown Metro Washington Alumni Association tonight. The Metro Washington Club really has had some wonderful events planned for the year.

During the Holidays I really enjoy being with my fellow Hoyas!  I will see everyone on Saturday!

We are Georgetown!

Thomas A. Wong (C'82)

Proud Member of Generation Ewing