DanMcQ
Moderator 
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 15:50:17 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 15:52:18 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 15:52:55 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 15:53:46 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 15:55:26 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 15:56:11 GMT -5
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saxagael
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,036 
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Post by saxagael on Aug 31, 2020 16:05:31 GMT -5
Today was pretty much wiped by the news of Big John. We lost a great one today.
Not only was it Big John's great coaching, winning, changing culture, standing up for what is right, creating great players, but he crafted great young men who not only are models in their own lives, but have being the face of change in their own world and working with young men to craft them into being great men as well. Big John is more than a legend he has built a legacy.
In the years since I came to Georgetown for grad school in '93 as Iverson arrived I've come to know many people in and around the basketball program and academic program. In recent years I've come to know many former players off the court in life and helping young players on and off the court. From the players Big John directly coached to those players who have come through after he stepped aside he had a role in each of their lives and it shows. He changed how they saw themselves, life, and others. He helped them was it took to have others be proud of them and the path to find how to bring that ability to shine others so their life and offerings are things of pride as well. He taught the young men to stand up and be proud, but to also stand with each other, but also to stand up for others who can't stand for themselves. Little of this was out in the open, but in the quiet moments where it is done not to be notice, but to make real change.
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Post by RockawayHoya on Aug 31, 2020 16:06:36 GMT -5
Very sad news today. Humbling to read all the articles, tweets and posts remembering his life and the impact he had not only on the basketball program, but the countless people he encountered and even indirectly influenced in a positive way. It's safe to say the vast majority of us here on this board would have never conversed either here on this forum or in person had Thompson never come to Georgetown. He's the reason why we're all here.
Though having seen him at hundreds of games over the years and at other GU events like the groundbreaking of the TAC, our paths only directly crossed once. A few of us Stonewalls attended a season-ending banquet 7-8 years ago and Thompson told us it would be an honor if he could have a photo with us. The honor was definitely ours. Luckily, we had an extra scarf ready for him. He even gave us a minute or two of conversation that we didn't deserve, but he made it clear that anyone working to help Georgetown was a friendly to him. I've always appreciated that.
He'll be greatly missed.
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Highsmith
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,490
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Post by Highsmith on Aug 31, 2020 16:12:07 GMT -5
Man, I still can't believe this even hours since I saw the news. What a loss. It's strange because you know no one is going to live forever. You see someone aging.....you see them have some health issues.....you know they are getting older. With some people though, none of that matters. Somewhere deep inside you still think it will never be their time. John Thompson was one of those people. I started following the Hoyas in 1982 when I was 10 years old.....and John Thompson was a big reason why. I didn't know why then.....as a white kid who grew up in upstate NY in a pretty much all-white area, I didn't know anything about race issues, etc. All I knew at that time is I loved how his team played basketball. As the years went on, I learned more about the incredible impact he had outside of basketball and I learned more about why it was so important. While I never met Coach Thompson, he had a profound effect on me....both on developing my love for the game of basketball and on making me want to learn more about issues of race, equality, justice, etc. Thank you Coach Thompson....you will not be forgotten and your influence reached more people than you will ever know.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 17:26:18 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2020 17:26:49 GMT -5
Man I just realized how fortunate I was to grow up in DC as a teenager in the 80's. DC has so many legends that have helped shaped my life as an older man today. I loved the Go-Go sounds of Rare Essence and of Chuck Brown. Mayor Barry had given me countless summer jobs so that I could afford to buy the three pairs of jeans, four shirts, and a pair of sneakers I would wear the whole school year.
Coach Thompson and the Hoyas gave me great pride of being a young black boy in America because they were the best thing going in college basketball and what Coach Big John stood for (courage, integrity and no bs). I admire Chuck Brown, Marion Barry and Coach Thompson so much that these men became my heroes growing up. Now three of my biggest heroes are gone to be with the ancestors.
It was a wonderful time to live in DC as a black kid during the 80's and I am going to miss my heroes. I am so grateful of the impact that they had on my life. We love you Coach!!
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tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,681
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Post by tashoya on Aug 31, 2020 17:50:37 GMT -5
Very sad day that stands out even among a 2020 full of them. I'm feeling some comfort reading all of the gorgeous posts here and I, certainly, wouldn't be able to better express the magnitude of our collective loss. Condolences to Coach's family. May he RIP. His legacy will remain and will not be forgotten. His impact will live on. Hoya Saxa, Coach.
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DallasHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,660
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Post by DallasHoya on Aug 31, 2020 17:51:42 GMT -5
All the guys on the TNT Tip-off show wearing towels over their shoulders.
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RusskyHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
Posts: 4,945
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Post by RusskyHoya on Aug 31, 2020 18:11:31 GMT -5
From the men's soccer program
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SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 19,516
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Post by SSHoya on Aug 31, 2020 18:22:36 GMT -5
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RusskyHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
Posts: 4,945
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Post by RusskyHoya on Aug 31, 2020 18:26:31 GMT -5
And then there's the national figures:
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Bigs"R"Us
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,660
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Post by Bigs"R"Us on Aug 31, 2020 18:27:34 GMT -5
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blueandgray
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,823
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Post by blueandgray on Aug 31, 2020 18:50:44 GMT -5
We need to pin this thread and keep it atop all hoyatalk threads. If anyone ever questions our legacy, what we stand for, and what we play for...simply refer them here.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 33,037
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 31, 2020 19:00:34 GMT -5
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Post by blazeshoya on Aug 31, 2020 19:01:08 GMT -5
I was fortunate enough to attend my first Hoyas game in 2018 against Central Connecticut. After the awe and excitement of being there, my only goal was to see Coach Thompson. I got within 20 feet of him and was mesmerized. He was 100% larger than life and will be missed...my thoughts go out to his family and the entire Georgetown community.
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