News
Isiah Thomas to Hold Toy Giveaway on West Side
Isiah Thomas to Hold Toy Giveaway on West Side
by Erica Demarest, DNA InfoNEAR WEST SIDE — NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas will hold his third annual toy giveaway for kids in preschool to high school at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Marillac Social Center, 212 S. Francisco Ave., in Garfield Park.
Thomas is collaborating with his family foundation — Mary’s Court — and the social center for the Mary’s Court Third Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway.
In addition to toys, Thomas will distribute winter coats, clothing, books, hats and gloves. The hundreds of kids participating in the event will also take part in a raffle to win bikes and tablets that Thomas will present during the event.
The social center provides social services, family services, senior services and youth programs. Thomas’ mother, Mary, was a longtime supporter of Marillac Social Center. The Detroit Pistons legend grew up on the West Side and participated in activities offered at the center.
Also on Monday, Thomas will participate in Ald. Jason Ervin’s 28th Ward Annual Senior Holiday Luncheon at the JLM Abundant Life Community Center at 2622 W. Jackson Blvd. The Near West Side event will benefit 700 to 800 seniors.
University of Chicago and UIC Compete for Obama Presidential Library
University of Chicago and UIC Compete for Obama Presidential Library
NBC Reports: Thursday, Dec 11, 2014Thursday was the deadline for semi-finalists to submit their proposals to host the Barack Obama presidential library and both the University of Chicago and University of Illinois at Chicago made the list.
UIC held a rally at a West Side school, enlisting the help of former NBA star and Chicago native Isiah Thomas. “You want to go to the place that needs it the most and the West Side, from the community standpoint, needs it the most,” Thomas said.
Isiah Joins North Lawndale/UIC and Students to Celebrate Obama Library Proposal
North Lawndale/UIC celebrates Obama library proposal Dec. 11
Anne Brooks RanalloDecember 10, 2014
NBA Hall of Famer and business leader Isiah Thomas will join North Lawndale community and UIC leaders and 350 elementary school students at Sumner Math & Science Community Academy to celebrate and showcase the submission of the University of Illinois at Chicago-North Lawndale proposal to host the Obama Presidential Library. read more…
Isiah Thomas Applauds Athletes Standing Up for Civil Rights
NBA legend Isiah Thomas shares his own story of alleged racial profiling
CNN with Jake TapperNBA legend Isiah Thomas says he applauds those athletes supporting the protesters, and shares his own story of allegedly being racially profiled on The Lead with Jake Tapper. Watch the video HERE.
Isiah Thomas: 9 Facts That Will Make You A Better Basketball Player
Isiah Thomas:9 Facts That Will Make You A Better Basketball Player
by: Ian Douglass, State Games of MichiganDetroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas is one of the greatest point guards in basketball history, and arguably the greatest “little man” to ever play in the NBA. Under Isiah’s leadership, the Pistons followed his example, sacrificed personal statistics for team success, and broke through to win multiple NBA championships in an era that had been dominated by high-powered teams from Boston and Los Angeles.
While the present-day NBA features several well-rounded point guards with captivating dribble moves and startling quickness, Isiah was the prototype of the total-package small guard when he entered a giant-infested NBA in the early 1980s. In order to combat the trend that pushed undersized players out of the league, Isiah relied on the knowledge he had gained from a lifetime of life experiences and athletic experiences. And, while you might be tempted to file away Isiah’s abilities as a simple case of God-given talent, the reality is that much of what made Isiah great can be learned by anyone who cares to study a few simple lessons about his life, and put those lessons into practice.
Isiah Thomas: The Peace League Tournament and Mary’s Court Makes a Difference in the Community
Isiah Thomas: The Peace League Tournament and Mary’s Court Makes a Difference in the Community
Interviewed and written by Aaron Robinson – Editor, Consciousness MagazineAs crime spreads rapidly throughout the country in a great deal of communities around the world and the city of Chicago, there appears to be a lesser number of people who care about taking a stand to put a stop to violence and helping our youth, as well as young adults turn their life around for the better. For many years, NBA Hall of Famer, Isiah Thomas, has made it his concern and also his effort to make a positive change against violence in his Westside Chicago hometown community, while not limiting himself to the world by giving back to at-risk, economically disadvantaged and underprivileged youth. No doubt, as a former basketball player, he is still our hero.
Recently, Isiah Thomas, co-founder of The Peace League and founder of Mary’s Court Foundation showed significant support to the Saint Sabina Faith Community as they demonstrated their Third Annual Peace League which consists of youth basketball games, life skills classes, mentoring, as well as offers young men the opportunity to take GED classes, employment training, and participate in internships. read more…
3rd Annual Peace Basketball Tournament held in Auburn Gresham
3rd Annual Peace Basketball Tournament held in Auburn Gresham
by Tisha Lewis, My Fox Chicago, Fox 32 NewsAnother call for peace took place Saturday. This time, basketballs replaced posters at the third annual Peace Tournament. Beyond your typical basketball game, many of the players on these teams once battled each other as rival gang members.
The auditorium inside Saint Sabina Church transformed for the Peace Tournament Saturday afternoon. What started in 2012 now attracts Chicago Bulls stars and politicians alike but it’s the people who fill the stands and the players on the court who are most impacted by the city’s violence.
Watch Video and Read More HERE
Pastor Gets Rival Gang Members To Put Down Guns And Pick Up Basketballs, And The NBA Notices
Pastor Gets Rival Gang Members To Put Down Guns And Pick Up Basketballs, And The NBA Notices
by Kim Bellware, Huffington PostA midday basketball game on Chicago’s South Side brought together an unlikely group of people Saturday. Churchgoers, NBA stars, community leaders and gang members all gathered for the third annual Chicago Peace League Basketball Tournament.
“At first nobody wanted to work with us. Everyone thought it was going to be a disaster,” the tournament’s organizer, Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina church, told The Huffington Post. The tournament is the culminating event for St. Sabina’s Peace Basketball League, which brings in members from factions of The Black Disciples, Killa Ward, The Black P. Stones, The Gangster Disciples and other local gangs. Members play alongside one another as teammates, working toward a common goal of peace.
Isiah Thomas talks PEACE with ESPN Chicago
Sessions: Isiah Thomas talks PEACE
Hall of Famer using hoops tournament to help curb violence in hometown Chicago
By Scoop Jackson, ESPN Chicago For Sessions, ESPN.com’s Scoop Jackson sits down with the big names in sports for an in-depth interview about life beyond just the game. This time, as the Pastor/Reverend Michael Pfleger’s annual Chicago PEACE Basketball Tournament (Saturday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. CT at St. Sabina Church) approaches, Scoop spoke with NBA Hall of Famer and Chicago native Isiah Thomas to discuss why the tournament is so necessary for Chicago, if professional athletes are getting enough credit for being a part of the movement to stop the violence in the city, and the power of sport to change lives.Isiah Thomas: In Chicago, hoops tournament helps heal, provides hope
In Chicago, hoops tournament helps heal, provides hope
by Isiah Thomas for NBA.com, with introduction by David AldridgeGood morning. The Morning Tip will return to its regularly scheduled ridiculous length (and, hopefully, breadth) next week. Our final Guest Tipper this summer is Hall of Fame guard Isiah Thomas.
Thomas, who led the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990, is the franchise’s all-time leader in points scored, assists, steals, field goals, free throws and minutes played, and is second to Joe Dumars in total games played. But for all of his career highlights in the Motor City, Thomas grew up on the west side of Chicago, and it is Chicago where Thomas is working now, doing his part to help at-risk youth in the city.
Thomas, who led the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990, is the franchise’s all-time leader in points scored, assists, steals, field goals, free throws and minutes played, and is second to Joe Dumars in total games played. But for all of his career highlights in the Motor City, Thomas grew up on the west side of Chicago, and it is Chicago where Thomas is working now, doing his part to help at-risk youth in the city.
The nightly and weekly death tolls seem insurmountable; as of this morning, 270 people have been murdered since the beginning of the year. Almost half of the victims are 24 years of age or younger, the overwhelming majority young men of color. Next week, for the third year, Thomas will help put together the Peace Basketball Tournament in Chicago, at St. Sabina gym. The tournament invites young people from throughout the city — including from some of the city’s hardest gangs — to come together for a day of basketball in a safe environment.