Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to attend Championship!

[Steven Donow]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/basket...184100621.html

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer, New York Times bestselling author, and now STEM-education advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will join 12,000 world champions competing in Dean Kamen’s youth robotics finals at Edward Jones Dome Friday and Saturday.
WHO
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the author of seven books, including his latest children’s book What Color is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors
Abdul-Jabbar founded the Skyhook Foundation with the goal to inspire today’s youth to exercise their minds and realize the power of knowledge. The foundation identifies mentors who can inspire youth to pursue careers as innovators in the same way they envision being athletes or entertainers
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology
Annual FIRST Championship hosts 12,000 students from 32 countries and their custom-built robots
Expected attendance: 25,000 additional fans, parents, mentors, coaches, and sponsors
WHAT
FIRST Championship is a culmination of youth robotics and science-challenge teams that won regional FIRST competitions held across the world, beginning last fall
During heart-pounding, high-energy matches, students put their custom-built robots to the test with the help of mentors and coaches
Abdul-Jabbar will sign books, meet teams, operate a robot, speak at ceremonies, and tour “pit-area” with Kamen family
WHEN & WHERE
April 27-28 in the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis (All times CT)
Friday, April 27
8:30 am–9:15 am FIRST® Robotics Competition Opening Ceremonies, Edward Jones Dome
12:00 pm–1:00 pm ‘Dean’s List’ Awards Ceremony, America’s Ballroom, 2nd floor
1:30 pm–2:30 pm Read-Aloud & Book Signing with Junior FIRST® LEGO® League, Room 274
2:30 pm–3:00 pm Tour of robotics teams’ “pit area” with Kamen family members, America’s Center
Saturday, April 28
11:00 am–12:00 pm FIRST® Tech Challenge Closing Ceremony, America’s Ballroom, 2nd floor
1:00 pm–2:30 pm Book Signing in FIRST® Robotics Competition ‘Live Stage’ in Atrium, 2nd Floor

VISUALS
Teens show Abdul-Jabbar how to shoot hoops in basketball-themed robotics practice session
Abdul-Jabbar to referee live robotics match, climbing ladder to judge robot “height”
NBA great to speak at robotics closing ceremony, after which he will honor tech-savvy teens with ‘high fives’
7’2” Abdul-Jabbar to read aloud to kids as young as 6 during book-signing: kids to sing birthday song
Abdul-Jabbar and Kamen family members to tour “pit-area” in support of 12,000 robotics participants
25,000 FIRST fans cheering from the stands during robot matches, in pep rally-style
STORY ANGLES
Abdul-Jabbar shoots hoops with a robot called ‘Skyhook’ in basketball-themed robotics practice session
NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer backs Kamen’s message: Celebrating science and technology as we do sports and entertainment is critical in creating the next generation of innovators and leaders
Abdul-Jabbar shines a light on the world of African-American invention through children’s book What Color is My World?
Abdul-Jabbar makes big impression on little engineers: Book-signing with FIRST participants as young as 6
More females and minorities in science & technology (STEM) fields: Interview accomplished young females and minorities about their FIRST experience
EDITOR’S NOTE
Schedule for Abdul-Jabbar to practice with robots and to referee robot match: Friday between 9:30–11:00 am and 3:00–5:00 pm

A robot practice session? Hope he brings his safety glasses!

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by stevend1994

A robot practice session? Hope he brings his safety glasses!

When I think of KAJ I think of his signature goggles. Can't imagine him without them (except for when he's flying an airplane or fighting Bruce Lee)

[Grim Tuesday]

Abdul-Jabbar shoots hoops with a robot called ‘Skyhook’ in basketball-themed robotics practice session

Reading further, I think he's going to be driving 330's robot. Seems like an appropriate robot for him.

[IKE]

Now I wish I had gotten a #33 jersey quite a while ago...

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by IKE

Now I wish I had gotten a #33 jersey quite a while ago...

Is that a Dolphins or Colts jersey? I didn't know Adbul-Jabbar had such a following.

One of our students wanted to name our robot "Kareem Abdul-Jaguar" but "McGuire" won the team vote.

[Jared Russell]

I just can't wait to tell him, "I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense."

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Jared341

I just can't wait to tell him, "I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense."

This is when CD needs a like button.

[mathking]

Originally Posted by IndySam

This is when CD needs a like button.

Yes indeed!

And thanks Hjelstrom, that video brought back some pleasant memories of childhood.

[JohnBoucher]

The battles with Walton were epic!

[qzrrbz]

Originally Posted by Jared341

I just can't wait to tell him, "I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense."

He was a staunch supporter of "a good defense is a great offense"?

[IKE]

There are actually a lot of retired #33s in basketball.
Larry Bird, KAJ, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pipen...

I wonder if KAJ would be willing to sign one of our #33 jerseys?

[Justin447]

we almost named our robot for this year after him

[Koko Ed]

So did any of the team sin Milwaukee name their robot Lew Alcindor?

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

So did any of the team sin Milwaukee name their robot Lew Alcindor?

I remember searching for this to see if we could fit in our naming scheme. We ended up going with Uptius Erving

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by qzrrbz

He was a staunch supporter of "a good defense is a great offense"?

Joke
------->
Your head.