Rony Seikaly played in a pickup game that changed history in the midst of HIV/AIDS paranoia

[Sudano]

 

[Cheriehoop]

Never ever knew this. Great find. Thanks Sudano.

 

[General20]

This was a great listen. Proud that Rony is an SU guy.

 

[im4cuse]

Had a channel on Electric Area! South Beach legend.

 

[im4cuse]

I’m 71 and I love EDM especially trance, which is what Rony makes. Nothing better than late night driving on open interstate. Rony’s best track IMO is Take Me Higher a collab with Latin DJ Erik Morillo. I’ve seen Avicii, Zedd (at MSG) and Chainsmokers (SU alum!). Love Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Deadmaus and my all time Ajove and Beyond. Took my then teenage daughter. I play the music at my grandsons AA hockey games and smuggle in some Swedish House Mafia and Tiesto into my music. Some of the parents give me the stink eye after the game but I still have the gig!

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Amazing watch. Rony is forever a Syracuse legend and an amazing human being.

 

[PeteCalvin]

This thread should be permanently pinned. What an amazing story. Rony is one of the best. Just a tremendous act of humanity that people who didn’t live through that whole era will not truly grasp.

 

[Cuseregular]

Every syracuse basketball fan needs to make time to see this. WOW. What a story.

 

[MELOKEITH]

That was well done. Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[elimunelson]

Rony is the best. The end.

I’ve probably told this story but I landed in Athens in 1996 with my Syracuse basketball jacket and the customs folks wanted to talk Rony Rony Rony. It was so great. The Lebanese/Greek freak for sure.

 

[donniesyracuse]

Rony is the best. The end.

You’re not supposed to keep talking after this.

 

[BigNastyJon]

Pablo Torre is an incredible journalist and his podcast is great. Some folks you can just tell are really smart and have that sort of “it factor” in what they do, and he’s one of them.

 

[Toga]

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Rony just living an epic life.

 

[elimunelson]

How did Boeheim find him again? I know he was in HS in Greece but who did the scouting? Very primitive to land a fish like him in the mid 80s

 

[Bball44]

How did Boeheim find him again? I know he was in HS in Greece but who did the scouting? Very primitive to land a fish like him in the mid 80s

Isn't the story that Rony just walked into Boehiem's office?

 

[rrlbees]

Isn't the story that Rony just walked into Boehiem's office?

yea thats how i recall it or something like that. his sister went to colgate? and he came here to visit her then went to see jb. but my memory isnt that great.

 

[elimunelson]

yea thats how i recall it or something like that. his sister went to colgate? and he came here to visit her then went to see jb. but my memory isnt that great.

as a 7 footer he just showed up and walked on? That’s nuts . So JAB had no idea one of europes best bigs under 20 was on campus? What a time

 

[MSOrange]

as a 7 footer he just showed up and walked on? That’s nuts . So JAB had no idea one of europes best bigs under 20 was on campus? What a time

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think he was known as one of Europe's best bigs under 20 at the time.

 

[OrangePA]

Pablo Torre is an incredible journalist and his podcast is great. Some folks you can just tell are really smart and have that sort of “it factor” in what they do, and he’s one of them.

He is great.

 

[OrangePA]

Isn't the story that Rony just walked into Boehiem's office?

Yes

 

[elimunelson]

From wiki:

Playing w Panathinaikos would suggest he was high level. I think the legend of him walking into Boeheims office not known better . I’m sure the truth is in the middle.


In 1981, when Seikaly was 16, the Panathinaikos basketball player Takis Koroneos took note of him, after he purchased a pair of basketball sneakers in Koroneos' athletics store.

He continued to train and practice with Panathinaikos until 1983. However, because he did not have a Greek passport, he was not able to register with the team to play in any games in the Greek Basket League,