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To celebrate the life of athlete Harold Everett “Hal” Greer, Marshall University held a ceremony Oct. 9 to unveil a bronze statue of the athlete on the corner of 3rd Ave. and 18th St. in Huntington. The statue, created by Huntington Native and Marshall graduate Frederick Hightower Sr., is a nearly eight-foot-tall bronze figure of Greer in his number 16 Marshall jersey.
Seth Cohen: Proud to officially be chosen to rep @_jameskelly24 James Kelly of Marshall University. Work begins now. #Verus
After completing a two-month suspension for a drunken driving charge, Marshall University assistant coach Chris Duhon – a nine-year NBA veteran – insists he's returned far more serious to the coaching craft and committed to living a less cluttered post-playing life. After having something you love taken away from you like this, you have to really sit back and be honest with yourself, and understand there are lifestyle changes that you need to make," Duhon told The Vertical recently.
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Still nothing official from the Thunder but head coach Billy Donovan has apparently decided to bring at least one of his assistants from the University of Florida here to Oklahoma City and let go at least one of the assistants from Scott Brooks' staff. Several reports over the last few days indicate Anthony Grant, the former head coach at Alabama and VCU and before those stops a long-time assistant for Donovan at both Florida and Marshall University, would be joining the Thunder staff.
Bryant told the Lakers several weeks ago that he didn’t want to play for D’Antoni next season when he returns from a knee injury. D’Antoni also knew of the team’s plans for the re-signing of Gasol this summer when he becomes a free agent. So if he had stayed on, it promised to get ugly quickly and he probably wouldn’t have lasted past Thanksgiving. Once his brother Dan left his seat on the Lakers’ bench and took the Marshall University head coaching job on April 24, that was the biggest tip-off that Mike was done and working on a deal to get out of L.A. In Mike D’Antoni’s previous coaching stints, in Phoenix and New York, Dan was always by his side.
Ramona Shelburne: Some background on the Dan D'Antoni hiring at Marshall. That is his absolute dream job. Has no connection to his brother's status in LA. Regardless of whether Mike D'Antoni was on solid or shaky ground in LA, Dan was taking the Marshall job. Yes, Mike D'Antoni did consult with Marshall administrators on their search. He recommended his brother, Dan.
Mike Hamrick put the full-court press on Mike D’Antoni. The ultimate press breaker: A multi-year, multi-million dollar contract. Hamrick, who is in his sixth year as Marshall’s athletic director, courted D’Antoni, the Los Angeles Lakers head coach, from the moment Tom Herrion resigned as Marshall University’s coach March 14. The courtship, however, is over. Sources told the Charleston Daily Mail on Tuesday afternoon that D’Antoni will remain the head coach of the Lakers and, thus, will not be in position to accept the vacant Herd hoops job.
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According to a source, former Marshall University standout Elijah Pittman has been acquired by the Delaware 87ers. It seems like Philadelphia/Delaware are looking to acquire young talented players, so the pick up of Pittman is of no surprise. Prior to his suspension, Pittman averaged 21.4 points, and 4.4 rebounds in what was to be his senior season for the Thundering Herd. The junior college transfer scored 29 points or more in four of his first five games for Marshall this season.
But not as much on the golf course as he had intended -- two aching knees are interfering with his swing. He spent several days in West Virginia raising money for his alma mater, Marshall University, but most of the time he's been at home, digesting the nightly NBA doubleheaders, driving himself half nuts watching news and political shows (he's a moderate Democrat), carting around his son, Michael, a high school junior, and in general playing the role of house husband. "I just haven't felt like talking," he said. "Tell you the truth, I don't feel much like talking to you." He was smiling. Sort of.
D’Antoni, who was in West Virginia yesterday continuing his fundraising work for his alma mater, Marshall University, will be on Mike Krzyzewski’s Olympics coaching staff from early July to mid-August, reuniting him with Team USA member Carmelo Anthony. The logistics of inheriting a new NBA position while preparing for and coaching in the London Olympics may be unwise. D’Antoni’s son, Michael Jr., will be a senior guard next season. If D’Antoni is wooed to the Magic, he may want to bring along 3-point sharpshooter Steve Novak and even try to entice restricted free agent point guard Jeremy Lin. Nevertheless, the Knicks can match any offer for Lin.
The NBA lockout at least served one good purpose for Mike D'Antoni, as the Knicks coach reconnected in a big way with his alma mater, Marshall University. Today, D'Antoni is in Charleston, S.C., to lunch with alumni at yet another fundraising event. Earlier this summer, D'Antoni and ex-Jets quarterback Chad Pennington were named co-chairmen of the fundraising committee raising money for a $30 million Marshall indoor athletic facility and soccer stadium.
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