Pearl...

[PeteCalvin]

That half court shot has got to be one of the all-time top 5 Syracuse "moments". Not to hijack your thread Jake, but seeing Pearl's shot from halfcourt got me thinking. Anyone have any moments besides that half court shot and "the block" that they would nominate for Syracuse's "top five" all time moments? I think I would have to nominate Hak's dunk from outside the key area. Others?

I nominate the Hop to Conrad McRae play in the old Spectrum against Villanova. It was an exact replay of the Grant Hill to Laettner play from the previous years NCAA Tourney, only Hop had a guy in his face and SU had less time on the clock. One of the most awesome game winners in SU history.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Pearl could break stifling presses all by himself - it was like he had the ball on a string. He would bob and weave through traffic. Opponents would back up hoping to contain him - I would have loved to see practice video of Pearl and Sherman (who sat behind Pearl) battling.

 

[bevosu]

Barry Sanders of college basketball.

 

[rrlbees]

Best handle in the history of SU wow simply amazing. Dion really has that Pearl look doesnt he?

Huh? No.

 

[Marsh01]

Huh? No.

Noone has the Pearl look. Never will.

 

[rrlbees]

That half court shot has got to be one of the all-time top 5 Syracuse "moments". Not to hijack your thread Jake, but seeing Pearl's shot from halfcourt got me thinking. Anyone have any moments besides that half court shot and "the block" that they would nominate for Syracuse's "top five" all time moments? I think I would have to nominate Hak's dunk from outside the key area. Others?

The only disappointment for me with that Pearl shot is that it was when I lived in MD for 5 years and only came home for a few games a year. But, on the other hand, I was at my good friends house watching the game and he was a BC FAN. He fell to the floor when that shot went in and I was laughing my ass off.

 

[rrlbees]

Not to hijack your thread Jake, but seeing Pearl's shot from halfcourt got me thinking. Anyone have any moments besides that half court shot and "the block" that they would nominate for Syracuse's "top five" all time moments? I think I would have to nominate Hak's dunk from outside the key area. Others?

Because of the magnitude of the game, "the block" has to be #1.

 

[rrlbees]

Dion is a better athlete than Pearl, but Dwayne had that special magic that comes along only once in awhile...

Almost everyone was a better athlete than Pearl. That's what made him special.

 

[pearl31]

Noone has the Pearl look. Never will.

Amen.

 

[JoeSU]

Nothing will ever beat "Syracuse" in script. Best. Jerseys. Ever. TGD needs to do a throw back jersey night.

+1

 

[AlaskaSU]

would have loved to see some of his linked crossovers in the clip.

 

[AlaskaSU]

The closest thing to actually having a Harlem Globetrotter on your team. Pearl Washington. I was lucky enough to get him to shake my hand and scribble something which didn't really resemble an autograph on my program after a Cuse/ Uconn game at the Hartford Civic Center. I was screaming for Pearl and Cuse the entire game. I was lucky they didn't take me out of that place on a stretcher.

Z became a Globetrotter.

 

[PoppyHart]

Jason Cipolla's shot.

 

[stone567]

Pearl was the most dominating player I have ever watched wear a Syracuse uniform. As great as Sherm, Stevie, DC, Rony Billy Owens, Lawrence Moten, John Wallace, Melo, Hak, Flynn and Wes Johnson were, not one of them were as dominating as Pearl. And I thought those guys were tremendous players. But, Pearl could take on a whole team by himself. And it was a thing of beauty. Melo was close as a dominating player, but Pearl was still on a different level.

Sometimes I feel that Pearl is one of the most under-appreciated players in SU history. I hear that Sherm was the greatest guard, Coleman the greatest big man, Owens the best all around player and Moten or Melo the greatest scorers, they never completely dominated like Pearl. You had to see him to fully appreciate him. Pearl is a big reason why the program is what it is today, and sometimes I dont think he gets enough credit.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

How was Pearl in big games? I wasn't around to see those teams...was he a guy who just willed us to W's in the tourny each year?

 

[rrlbees]

Pearl is a big reason why the program is what it is today, and sometimes I dont think he gets enough credit.

The Dome is "The House That Pearl Built ".

Not only was he a great player, he was the most important Orangeman ever.

Sent from my DROIDX

 

[Upstate]

Dion is a better athlete than Pearl, but Dwayne had that special magic that comes along only once in awhile...

A cool mix between Dion and his cousin Scoop.

 

[mantonio]

I will never forget the moment when Pearl hit the shot against Ewing's Georgetown to win it in the Dome. After than win, the media started calling Syracuse the giant killer.

 

[hungrychuck]

A cool mix between Dion and his cousin Scoop.

Oh good lord, no.

He was not the athlete that Dion is, if by athlete it is meant someone who can jump high.

On the other hand, Dion had nowhere near his handle. More range on his jumper, when it's falling, yes. But Pearl knew not to take that shot.

Dion may become a good NBA player. He's not even close to Pearl as a college player.

Scoop? No. Just no.

And the comment earlier that Pearl was one of our smartest players, in a basketball sense, also deserves to be noted. In comparison to both players you mentioned.

 

[jccuse]

Pearl was the most dominating player I have ever watched wear a Syracuse uniform. As great as Sherm, Stevie, DC, Rony Billy Owens, Lawrence Moten, John Wallace, Melo, Hak, Flynn and Wes Johnson were, not one of them were as dominating as Pearl. And I thought those guys were tremendous players. But, Pearl could take on a whole team by himself. And it was a thing of beauty. Melo was close as a dominating player, but Pearl was still on a different level.

Sometimes I feel that Pearl is one of the most under-appreciated players in SU history. I hear that Sherm was the greatest guard, Coleman the greatest big man, Owens the best all around player and Moten or Melo the greatest scorers, they never completely dominated like Pearl. You had to see him to fully appreciate him. Pearl is a big reason why the program is what it is today, and sometimes I dont think he gets enough credit.

Greatest guard Sherman ? Did you forget about the greatest player Mr. David Bing...

 

[hungrychuck]

Greatest guard Sherman ? Did you forget about the greatest player Mr. David Bing...

Yes, great point. I think it's hard for people who didn't see players -- and frankly, let's admit it, most of this board never saw Dave Bing -- either not consider such players or dismiss them as having played against inferior competion.

Dave Bing was arguably our greatest player.

We can still have a lively conversation about those that all of us have seen. (BTW, not suggesting in any way that you're discouraging that.) And it's certainly a healthy thing that we do.

 

[Col. Bleep]

So beautiful watching him break down G-town!
With Pearl you always expected the spectacular.
A great college player.
Thanks for posting.

I happened to be at what may have been his best game in the NBA...running the point and leading the Nets to a rare win over Larry Bird & the Celtics.

 

[thebigeast44]

What I'll always remember is that great smile he would flash just after making one of those unbelievable moves he was well known for - he'd be shaking his head and laughing just like I was - great stuff!

My favorite player ever in baseball was Reggie Jackson. He was not the best player of his generation but he was the most exciting. Pearl is the same - there have been better players at Syracuse during JB's time here but no one was more exciting than the Pearl!

 

[PoppyHart]

How was Pearl in big games? I wasn't around to see those teams...was he a guy who just willed us to W's in the tourny each year?

We were 3-3 in NCAA games under Pearl, highlighted by the loss at home to Navy. He came up big in a few games against Gtown, hit the shot vs. BC, and helped win many regular season games, but we never won the BET or advance past the Sweet 16.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

We were 3-3 in NCAA games under Pearl, highlighted by the loss at home to Navy. He came up big in a few games against Gtown, hit the shot vs. BC, and helped win many regular season games, but we never won the BET or advance past the Sweet 16.

I guess that's a similar story for many of our stars.