http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/williams_050817.html NEW YORK, August 17, 2005 -- Less than 48 hours after the Knicks used the NBA’s amnesty provision on veteran forward Jerome Williams, the popular “Junk Yard Dog” announced he was calling it a playing career to pursue other interests. Williams, whose intensity and effort made him a fan favorite throughout the league, played in 587 games over nine seasons, averaging 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. “My days as the ‘JYD’ on the court as an NBA player are over, but I am looking forward to continuing all my offcourt work and keeping a promise to the kids of New York,” Williams said. Williams met with Isiah Thomas Wednesday morning at the team offices in New York and the two discussed options for the veteran forward to keep him involved with the team. In addition to doing some scouting work and learning the business side of basketball, Williams will pick up where he left off with MSG Network in the spring, working on a broadcasting career. He will also expand his community efforts and the extensive programs of his foundation (which he runs with his brother Johnnie), reaching out to kids of all ages and holding seminars using rap music to extoll the virtues of being a positive role model. “I made a promise to the kids of New York last spring that I would be back, and I do not want to let them down,” he added. The Williams brothers brought their motivational program to New York late in the season and into the summer, and will continue to run it here as well as in Toronto, Detroit and other cities. Williams is also producing a motivational CD which will be out this fall. If that will not be enough for the Georgetown graduate, he will continue to grow his Brooklyn-based business “212 Motoring,” which customizes and details cars. Williams added that he would not have retired had the amnesty clause not been used, and that he is healthy enough to have received a few offers from teams, which he instructed his agent, Lon Babby, to respectfully decline. Seems like for New Yorkers, the bark of the JYD may be even louder and more effective in retirement than it was during his nine NBA seasons. --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 219.71.151.238