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Basketball Royalty — And One Is From My Hometown!?

      Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Yao Ming among other players and coaches make the coveted Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of fame! If you’re wondering why I chose the expressive picture above, its because both Redman and Shaquille O’Neal are from my hometown, Newark NJ. While I’m excited for everyone who made the list, I’m particularly happy for Shaq who comes from a place that many count out. Many look at people from Newark NJ, especially Men of colour, as low lives, good for nothing, thugs, gang members, and worst. It’s people like Shaq and Redman who’ve kept that camaraderie and dignity that make me proud to be from Newark NJ! I imagine that was Shaq’s face when he found out he’d be inducted, but that’s just my imagination…

     Among Shaq, Allen Iverson and Yao Ming one of the most famous Chinese Basketball players in the world is the first Woman ever signed to the WNBA, Sheryl Swoopes who went on to become one of the greatest players of all time. A proud Woman of colour, with other proud players of colour, Olympians, giants, inspirations that crossed barriers overseas and united the world through this game called Basketball. Each amazing, each breaking records! John Mclendon, the first Afrikan American coach in the NBA and so many more…Amazing right #SOULdiers?

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The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has a 2016 class via ESPN that features:

Hall of Fame Class of 2016

The 10-member Class of 2016 that will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 9.

INDUCTEE	CONTRIBUTION
Zelmo Beaty	Player
Darrell Garretson	Referee
Allen Iverson	Player
Tom Izzo	Coach
John McLendon	Coach
Yao Ming	Player
Shaquille O’Neal	Player
Cumberland Posey	Player
Jerry Reinsdorf	Owner
Sheryl Swoopes	Player

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Here’s What Some Had To Say;

“It’s just a tribute to everybody else behind the scenes who helped me accomplish what I wanted to
accomplish,” – Allen Iverson

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Swoopes said, “but it’s getting there.” – Sheryl Swoopes

–  Thanks For Reading #SOULdiers

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