Our night with Billy Edelin

[sabach]

My friend and I run a youth basketball program at our church for about 100 kids. Friday night, before we left for Pittsburgh, we had our annual awards night. We asked Billy Edelin to be our guest speaker.
Billy could not have been more gracious the entire night. He said he would do anything we needed. We asked him to stay after to sign autographgs and he said "you know I'll stay as long as you need."
His message was great. Spoke about character, responsibility, teamwork (used Dion as an example of unselfishness in that he could start anywhere else). He challenged the kids to respect their parents and set an example in the community. He told them to set goals but to put team ahead of themselves.
He signed every autograph and took pictures with the kids. Most of the kids were too young to know who he was, but all they cared about was that he was an SU player.
Our SU program has taken some hits the past few months in the media and from the public. My son and I were in Pittsburgh on Saturday and heard some garbage ourselves. But I look at a guy like Billy Edelin and how his life could have went two different ways. Billy chose wisely and now through his own program is giving back to the community and helping make a positive impact in the lives of the kids of Central New York. I can't help but think that some of the influence that JB and SU had on Billy helped him in part to overcome his own struggles to be who he is today. In today's media age we rarely learn of the good in people, we just hear the scandals. I just thought I'd share this to even the scales a bit.

 

[longislandcuse]

Great post! Thank you for sharing.

 

[jr4750]

I believe JB stood by BE and always gave him the support he needed. That's a side of our coach that never gets publicized, especially in times like now, when everyone is getting on him. Think of the many many people he has helped! Great story!

 

[BostonOrange]

My friend and I run a youth basketball program at our church for about 100 kids. Friday night, before we left for Pittsburgh, we had our annual awards night. We asked Billy Edelin to be our guest speaker.
Billy could not have been more gracious the entire night. He said he would do anything we needed. We asked him to stay after to sign autographgs and he said "you know I'll stay as long as you need."
His message was great. Spoke about character, responsibility, teamwork (used Dion as an example of unselfishness in that he could start anywhere else). He challenged the kids to respect their parents and set an example in the community. He told them to set goals but to put team ahead of themselves.
He signed every autograph and took pictures with the kids. Most of the kids were too young to know who he was, but all they cared about was the he was an SU player.
Our SU program has taken some hits the past few months in the media and from the public. My son and I were in Pittsburgh on Saturday and heard some garbage ourselves. But I look at a guy like Billy Edelin and how his life could have went two different ways. Billy chose wisely and now through his own program is giving back to the community and helping make a positive impact in the lives of the kids of Central New York. I can't help but think that some of the influence that JB and SU had on Billy helped him in part to overcome his own struggles to be who he is today. In today's media age we rarely learn of the good in people, we just hear the scandals. I just thought I'd share this to even the scales a bit.

I don't think I've ever been more surprised on this board than I was reading that post. Good for him if he has turned his life around. He is probably the most troubled player we have ever had How is he making a living do you know?

 

[sabach]

I don't think I've ever been more surprised on this board than I was reading that post. Good for him if he has turned his life around. He is probably the most troubled player we have ever had How is he making a living do you know?

Billy works for Onondaga County in the County Clerk's office and he has his own basketball skills program. You can see it at hoophavengymratz.com.

 

[RF2044]

Billy works for Onondaga County in the County Clerk's office and he has his own basketball skills program. You can see it at hoophavengymratz.com.

BostonOrange--give that interview a read [came out earlier this year, I believe]--very encouraging about Edelin.

 

[sabach]

BostonOrange--give that interview a read [came out earlier this year, I believe]--very encouraging about Edelin.

Here is a link to that article
http://www.searchingforbillyedelin.com/2011/10/10/2463060/finding-billy-edelin

 

[TheRoyalIveyFund]

Thanks Sabach. Billy will always be one of my favs. Sure, he had a lot of issues but, IMO, was a good kid. It was clear that JB really liked Billy, too. During the 03 run, after the games, celebrations, etc, Billy was always playing with JB's kids, watching them, etc.

Some people grow up at when the step foot on campus, some when they graduate, some several years after having problems, and some never do. It seems Billy doesn't have to worry about the last...

 

[OrangePA]

Great story!

One of my favorite all-time Orange BB players.

Billy was very much responsible for the NC and now he is giving back to the CNY community.

Really great stuff!

Thanks for posting!!!

 

[orangejunkie]

I remember talking to one of the SU assistants at an alumni club affair. He alluded to Billy's difficulties. It has always made me more sympathetic to Billy's struggles and made me a big fan of his. Sounds like he is in a good place now. It is a testimony to the SU program that he is still in Central NY and has successfully moved on. I'm sure Jim Boeheim has been instrumental behind the scenes in Billy's turn around.

 

[All4SU]

Here is a link to that article
http://www.searchingforbillyedelin.com/2011/10/10/2463060/finding-billy-edelin

It's a very good article. Unfortunately, for those of us not in the know, it fails to answer the central question, "What happened?" I can only infer from the fact that those in the know skirt the question that they feel it's something that doesn't need to be said. I can live with that, I guess. Still it would be nice to know. If someone cares to share, please PM me. Thanks.

 

[PoetryInMoten]

I know what you mean, All4SU. I'd be interested too, if anyone feels like sharing. Thanks

 

[llandz]

I know what you mean, All4SU. I'd be interested too, if anyone feels like sharing. Thanks

I've probably responded to this questions many times over the years. I had an opportunity to talk to Billy when he was at Syracuse about his problems, so I know first hand. Billy is/was bi-polar. He was diagnosed before coming to Syracuse. Often, with mental illlness, a person feels good, and then decides they do not need their meds any more. This kept happening with Billy. Then they would get him back on meds after he crashed, and he would come back. That is the story of Billy Edelin. I got to meet him at MSG the day of his "big final comeback" during, Coaches v Cancer or Jimmy V, not sure which it was. I had a son in high school who was suffering from depression, and got to talk to Billy about going thru things like that. I told him his coming back gave me hope for my son, who at the time was struggling.
FYI, my son also is doing great now. Graduating USC engineering school magna cum laude, and well known already in his field of study.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

It's a very good article. Unfortunately, for those of us not in the know, it fails to answer the central question, "What happened?" I can only infer from the fact that those in the know skirt the question that they feel it's something that doesn't need to be said. I can live with that, I guess. Still it would be nice to know. If someone cares to share, please PM me. Thanks.

Not sure the details will ever be published, but if you want a good read, I just finished Basketball Junkie the story about Chris Herren. It talks about his rise to fame and the quick decline and his rehabilitation. Right now he has been clean for almost four years and runs camps for young kids. I don't know Edelin's story, but if he had any of the demons that Herren had, he has done extremely well to combat them.

http://www.ahoopdream.com/profile/chris-herren/

 

[PoetryInMoten]

Thanks for the info and insight, llandz. And congrats to your son!

 

[bballbeadle]

I LOVED this! Thank you so much. I thought the diagnosis must be BP and it is a rough one. It runs in families and it runs in mine. My grandmother used to work like a dog and then take to her bed for 3 weeks. This went on for 3 decades. No one knew what to make of it. Now we know. How much I admire Billy and I am grateful to all the people who helped him in ways great and small.

 

[NRF527]

My friend and I run a youth basketball program at our church for about 100 kids. Friday night, before we left for Pittsburgh, we had our annual awards night. We asked Billy Edelin to be our guest speaker.
Billy could not have been more gracious the entire night. He said he would do anything we needed. We asked him to stay after to sign autographgs and he said "you know I'll stay as long as you need."
His message was great. Spoke about character, responsibility, teamwork (used Dion as an example of unselfishness in that he could start anywhere else). He challenged the kids to respect their parents and set an example in the community. He told them to set goals but to put team ahead of themselves.
He signed every autograph and took pictures with the kids. Most of the kids were too young to know who he was, but all they cared about was that he was an SU player.
Our SU program has taken some hits the past few months in the media and from the public. My son and I were in Pittsburgh on Saturday and heard some garbage ourselves. But I look at a guy like Billy Edelin and how his life could have went two different ways. Billy chose wisely and now through his own program is giving back to the community and helping make a positive impact in the lives of the kids of Central New York. I can't help but think that some of the influence that JB and SU had on Billy helped him in part to overcome his own struggles to be who he is today. In today's media age we rarely learn of the good in people, we just hear the scandals. I just thought I'd share this to even the scales a bit.

I was a regular at Manley practices and always saw that Edelin was respectful and hardworking. Never a problem for the staff in practice. I see him on occasion downtown. He always says hello. We've talked and he has nothing but good things to say about the program. He's turned out to be a fine young man. I'm happy for him.
LGO!

 

[LAOrange]

Speaking about troubled players. Whatever happened to Deshaun "Me-Shaun" Williams?

 

[MSOrange]

Interesting to hear the background behind Billy's struggles. That certainly explains quite a bit. Glad he is successful in life - which is so much more important than basketball games in the big picture.

 

[PeteCalvin]

I believe JB stood by BE and always gave him the support he needed. That's a side of our coach that never gets publicized, especially in times like now, when everyone is getting on him. Think of the many many people he has helped! Great story!

When JB made his APR commentary in that presser last week, one of the things he said th at seemed to fall onto deaf ears was his dedication to seeing that his players all graduate. They may leave for the pros or something else, but when they decide to finish their degrees, JB is there for them. That is one of the truely amazing untold stories of the program he built. Everyone focuses on the negative, but how many coaches would be there like that for guys that played for him and may not have left on good terms? I'm proud to be Orange.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Having a family member w/ a mental illness, I've had experience w/ the insidiousness of the disease.
A doctor explained to me once that a SYMPTOM of mental illness fits this pattern:
A patient takes his meds, starts to feel better, and the disease/mind CONVINCES him that he's OK...and no longer needs to take his medicine. He then stops, and suffers a crash, which then requires him to take his meds...and so on, and so on.
Its one very vicious circle, and depending on the severity of the illness, may demand constant monitoring or even institutionalization.
Its like the drunk driver who repeatedly convinces himself he's OK to get behind the wheel, and can't control the impulse.
Mental illness is the worst kind of hell for a sufferer. Good luck to Billy.