He\u2019s an old head with a smart mind.<\/p>\n
Back in the day, he was an NBA enforcer, but that designation doesn\u2019t exist anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it doesn\u2019t,\u201d states Tom Hoover, the seventh pick in the 1963 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers). He also played for the Knicks. So, once a Knick, always a Knick? \u201cThe Knicks aren\u2019t dogs. They don\u2019t have a dog on the bench.\u201d<\/p>\n
But they just acquired tough-as-nails Jose Alvarado.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a little guy,\u201d points out Hoover about the six-foot Brooklynite\u2026 \u201cNobody out there can fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spoken like a true back-in-the-day enforcer.<\/p>\n
Hoover, even at 85, talks the talk and walks it too.<\/p>\n
He is president of the New York chapter of The Legends of Basketball (formerly the National Basketball Retired Players Association) with one mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe give back to the community that produced us,\u201d says the Washington, D.C., native who attended Villanova University. \u201cWe just finished the All-Star Game, and we had a full week of interaction with our youth in the greater Los Angeles urban area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an E-sports program which runs from Monday through Thursday, servicing over 35 kids per day, where we teach them coding, video gaming, and how to put the video game together. The different aspects of fashion, the music writing in the story, the correct language they want to use, the whole graphics part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry, Hoover\u2019s got the Big Apple covered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting ready to put together a program at Tribeca Coding for P.S. 329 and an elementary school, both in Coney Island, and two schools in Bed-Stuy,\u201d declares Hoover, who also played in the ABA. \u201cThis summer, we\u2019re going to have a coding camp and partnership with Tribeca Coding. That\u2019s my partner there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoover and The Legends are trying to educate young people, while some in the NBA are missing the point. We can\u2019t all play in the NBA, but there are other jobs like coding.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give these young NBA millionaires?<\/p>\n
\u201cBuy a Honda,\u201d says Hoover, who\u2019s known for his booming laugh, but not this time. \u201cYou don\u2019t need the bling because if you die, it ain\u2019t going with you. Just ask the Egyptians. I understand the flash, but the smart guys, you don\u2019t see diamonds, you don\u2019t see the big chains. They drive a sensible car. They live modestly. You don\u2019t need 14 rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is it hard to get through to some of these stars?<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it hard to talk to you if you got 60 million in your pocket?\u201d asks Hoover. \u201cYou answered your own question.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the Manhattan resident, it\u2019s all about watching out for yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you establish yourself, if you want to splurge, then you splurge,\u201d he preaches, adding, \u201cyou have to sign every check even if your mama or your auntie or your daddy is taking care of your money.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou better make sure you sign every check, and you know exactly where the money is going, because if you don\u2019t, you will be broke.\u201d<\/p>\n
The main reason The Legends work is because the youngsters get to witness real-life success stories up close.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lunch called \u2018Lunch with the Stars.\u2019 We\u2019ve done it the past seven years,\u201d states Hoover. At the recent All-Star Game, the stars came out. \u201cThey get a chance to see Archie Clark, [Hall of Famers] Oscar (Robertson), Dave Bing, and Spencer Haywood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why we do what we do in the community,\u201d he says, \u201cto try to give back, and to touch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoover is impressed with the players who do give back.<\/p>\n
\u201cSGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) for one and Steph [Curry],\u201d he says, \u201cand [Stephon] Marbury. He stopped playing, but he\u2019s all over the community in Coney Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just like a certain old-head enforcer.<\/p>\n
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