Wilkins joins the giants Legendary Atlanta star one of 6 inducted this year By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 09/09/06 Springfield, Mass. – After months of nervous anticipation one of Atlanta's most famous athletes finally took his place among basketball's all-time greats Friday night when Dominique Wilkins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. With an assist from his idol, Julius Erving, and support from a group of family and friends that was too large and spread out to count, one of Atlanta's most famous athletes was finally recognized for his contributions after being snubbed for the honor last year. "I've never felt better than I do tonight," a smiling Wilkins said moments before a five-minute video tribute highlighting his career kicked off the induction ceremony. "This is my night." More than a decade after Wilkins last wore an Atlanta Hawks NBA uniform, he remains the iconic face of a once proud franchise. He was inducted along with his longtime friend and rival Charles Barkley and fellow former NBA star Joe Dumars. The three former NBA stars joined University of Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma, Italian coaching legend Sandro Gamba and Dave Gavitt, the founding father of the Big East Conference. For Wilkins on Friday night, memories of his path to the Hall of Fame focused on the people who helped him get there. In a 12-minute speech, Wilkins traced his roots back to his early days in a Baltimore housing project as one of eight children raised by a single mother to his glory days as the leader and captain of Hawks teams that were among the NBA's best during his time with the franchise. A nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time Slam-Dunk champion, Wilkins earned the nickname the "Human Highlight Film" for his incredible dunks and acrobatic play above the rim. Wilkins is one of only three Hawks to have his jersey (21) retired. "It's really a mind-blowing experience," Wilkins said. "And to be able to share it with Charles and Joe, guys I played with during the prime of my career, makes it even more special and humbling." Sharing it with his family and friends, however, is what made the event for Wilkins. His mother, Gertrude, sat two seats away from him in a wheelchair, while wife Robin and son Isaih sat by his side, with Robin cradling newborn son Jacob. Robin was doing double duty Friday night, watching the baby and working to calm her husband's nerves, which went haywire in the hours leading up to Friday night's ceremony when he learned he would be the first inductee to speak. "Breathe," she told him as she helped him tie his tie for the ceremony. And she spent much of the time before and after Wilkins' speech rubbing his back. His sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews were scattered around the Hall's massive rotunda. Even a high school friend, Bobby Parker, surprised Wilkins by making the drive from suburban New York City to witness the event. "I never played with anybody else who will make it here," said Parker, whom Wilkins recognized in his speech. "So there was no way I could be this close and not come see him take that step into history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event." Wilkins arrived in Springfield on Wednesday, a day earlier than all the other inductees, after a 21-hour RV ride from Atlanta for his journey into basketball immortality. "This is a long way from Washington," he said, referring to the North Carolina town where he finished high school. "I just think of all the millions and millions of people around the world who have played this game and dreamed of being here. And to achieve this, to be recognized as one of the greats in whatever you do, it really blows your mind. "Until you get here and see the faces on the wall and realize that there are fewer than 300 people up there and just 129 former players, it really is staggering. I couldn't be more proud to join such an elite group of people and to be recognized for all the hard work that went into a career and a game that I've loved since I was a child." Wilkins also recognized his brother Gerald, also a former NBA star, and Gerald's son Damien, who currently stars for the Seattle Supersonics. It was Gerald who perhaps summed up the magnitude of the event best. "The toughest part is not having my father here to see this," Gerald said. "He'd be crying right now. But watching 'Nique go in feels like I'm going in and on down the line to Damien, because we've all experienced this game at its highest level. It's truly a surreal moment for me and for our entire family because I'm sitting here knowing that the Wilkins name will hang in the Basketball Hall of Fame with the greatest of all time. "It's just an amazing feeling. That's why we're all here, our entire family. That's why my son is here and why I told him to bring a camera. I wanted him to see the legacy that has been created." 资料来源 http://myurl.com.tw/a06g --

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