In Memory of

(unknown)
Date of Passing Apr 22, 2016

I DID NOT ATTEND ABBOTT TECH, BUT I DO REMEMBER FOLLOWING SYLVESTER (SLY) IN THE PAPER AND GOING TO GAMES TO SEE HIM PLAY. I GREW UP WITH SOME PRETTY ELITE LOCAL PLAYERS. I DIDN'T KNOW HIM AT THE TIME BUT I CAME TO KNOW HIM LATER IN LIFE. HE WAS A GOOD GUY AND ON THE COURT HE WAS FIERCE & TALENTED COMPETITOR. I COULD BE WRONG BUT I THINK HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING ABBOTT TECH HOOP ON THE MAP! HE WAS SCOUTED AND HEADING TO THE NCAA. I LOST TRACK OF HIM FOR SOME YEARS BUT ANY TIME AN OLD SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL HOOP CONVERSATION CAME UP, HIS NAME ALWAYS CAME UP.
LATER ON I CAME TO KNOW HIM AS A REGULAR GUY. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I KINDA LOOKED UP TO HIM AS A THREAT ON THE COURT WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND PLAYING.
I FINALLY CROSSED PATHS WITH HIM SOME YEARS AGO AND FOUND HIM TO A VERY GENEROUS AND DOWN EARTH GUY.
MAY HAVE HAD HIS ISSUES BUT WHO DOESN'T?
HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM. I KNOW I DO. I VISITED HIM IN HIS FINAL DAYS AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS FRAIL HE STILL HUNG TOUGH. JUST LIKE UNDER THE BOARDS AND THE FLOOR!
SLY...REST IN PEACE AND PUT ON A SHOW UP THERE!