Legendary leader of the Knicks, with whom he won the supreme title in 1973, where his number 15 is forever hung from the ceiling of Madison Square Garden, Earl Monroe is certainly a native of Philadelphia, but it is in New York that he took root during, and after, his formidable Hall of Famer career.
This week, at the age of 76, he has just opened the doors of Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School, a school (high school level) which welcomes 110 second students for his first start. It is a very particular high school, specializing in “basketball professions” one might say, in all aspects of sport and its side.
“It’s very important to me, there’s no doubt about it”, affirme Earl Monroe dansThe Undefeated. “It is very important for the students as well, who will be able to take advantage of this opportunity. It’s something that will influence them, that will influence their families. It will get them started in the job that they are going to do for the rest of their lives. We have a lot of different courses in conjunction with the New York State curriculum. They can do journalism, marketing, design, and a whole bunch of other things that are part of sport. “
A project of this magnitude obviously needed time to emerge in its final form, but Earl Monroe has a team of investors by his side, including Dan Klores, the director to whom we owe in particular Basketball : A Love Story recently, but also the documentary Reggie Miller vs. The Knicks.
For all basketball professions
“I met Earl through Adam Silver several years ago”, explains Dan Klores. “I had already gotten to know him for Black Magic [un documentaire co-produit par Earl Monroe]. And I had an idea. I asked Earl what he thought about it. When I grew up in New York, there were high schools specializing in math and science. More recently, there have been many high schools specializing in history, advertising and political science. As in all big cities, basketball is king. I said to Earl, let’s create a school specializing in basketball, not for the game but for everything around. They will be able to learn the business and financial aspect, or legal, or nutritional, or media or tactical. We also have compulsory courses (English, maths, foreign languages and history). We will prepare them for the world of work, with internships and mentors. “
The school also has a board of directors made up of sixteen members, and rather eminent in that regard, since it sits on it William Wesley, the current vice-president of the Knicks, Val Ackerman, the current commissioner of the conference “Big East” in NCAA and legends such as Nate Archibald and Bill Bradley.
“The Earl Monroe School wants to take a revolutionary approach in education because it represents a unique opportunity for some young people who share Earl’s passion for basketball”, a réagi Adam Silver. “With mentors, experiences and unique resources, students will be able to pursue several professional paths related to basketball and develop the tools for their future success. “
With the hope of seeing other schools specializing in the trades of the orange ball develop in other American cities, Earl Monroe and Dan Klores have in any case started the wave.
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