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Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 1742567, member: 40"] My first Pearl memory was watching the halftime telecast hosted by Al McGuire, where Pearl announced that he was going to Syracuse. I think I was in fifth grade. My dad was a season ticket holder, had attended SU, and was a die hard basketball player / SU fan. That was around the time where I started picking up his love of the team. So, we're watching the telecast on the living room couch, and I have no idea who the Pearl is or why my father is so excited on the edge of his seat. I remember that it was fairly no frills--the two of them were sitting there on two fold out chairs, no entourage or any of the stuff you see today, and Pearl matter of factly announced that he'll play at Syracuse University. What stands out to me is how excited my dad was at the time, and being curious because I had no idea who this player was. I found out the next year, when he suited up. Today has sucked on a lot of levels. I've watched a ton of videos of old Pearl clips, listened to Boeheim's heartfelt press conference, and sadly reflected on how this player who meant so much to everybody died too young. But then I think about what happened to him back in the 95-96 timeframe, and how miraculous is was that his 5 year old step son was able to dial 911 and get Pearl the medical attention that saved his life, and I'm happy that the community got a chance to enjoy Pearl for another 19 years. And I'm touched by the tributes to him--on ESPN, on the NBA telecasts, and on the radio. Pearl had a fairly pedestrian NBA career by most evaluative standards, and yet here he was being honored. I read here tonight that TNT did an 8 minute off-the-cuff tribute, which is amazing considering he really didn't make much of a dent in the NBA. Think about that for a second. I'm not surprised that a former foe like Patrick Ewing tweets about Pearl, but to have Magic Johnson and many others do it? It really shows how iconic the Pearl was. His NBA career was irrelevant--Pearl electrified basketball, and everybody who remembers seeing him play understands exactly why and mourns his death. What a tribute today has been. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?