Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to attend Championship!

[Bob Steele]

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."

Tell your old man to drag Lanier and Walton up and down the court for 48 minutes!!


Surely you can't be serious!!

[Hjelstrom]

Cool! For all the youngsters who haven't ever heard of Kareem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM6xCirDOKs

[DRH2o]

WOW!

Wish we were going to be there. We named our robot Lew Skyhooker as a tribute to him and his sky hook.

http://web.dps.k12.va.us/schools/gwh...%20pt.%202.pdf

[torihoelscher]

This is getting better and better. I love FIRST SO MUCH! Last year was the Black Eyed Peas, this year Kareen Abdul Jabbar!!!!!!! Oh My Goodness!!!!!!! Whats next? A shooting showdown between Kareen and a robot??

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by torihoelscher

This is getting better and better. I love FIRST SO MUCH! Last year was the Black Eyed Peas, this year Kareen Abdul Jabbar!!!!!!! Oh My Goodness!!!!!!! Whats next? A shooting showdown between Kareen and a robot??

From reading the press release, it seems so.

[Andrew Bates]

Honestly I think it would be much cooler if someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson, or Bill Nye came. Better yet, let's get some engineers who are working on big fascinating projects come and talk. It seems to me like those people would fit much better into the FIRST goals and do much more to inspire people than a basketball player no matter how good they were.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Andrew Bates

Honestly I think it would be much cooler if someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson, or Bill Nye came. Better yet, let's get some engineers who are working on big fascinating projects come and talk. It seems to me like those people would fit much better into the FIRST goals and do much more to inspire people than a basketball player no matter how good they were.

What are FIRST's goals?

Are they to encourage scientists and engineers to do their thing? If that's the goal, then there are the TED talks. The SAE competitions. Research papers.

But if FIRST's primary goals are to get science and technology recognized (and what is the R in FIRST?), and to change the culture, then who better than an athlete? Who better than arguably one of if not the best to ever play basketball, taking on a robot designed to play a derivative of basketball? These guys are heroes to many a young kid (though some of those young kids may be grown up now, some of them engineers). If they're taking an interest in science and engineering, the kids are going to wonder what that's all about. Get inspired.

I think that fits into FIRST's goals quite nicely, don't you think?

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Andrew Bates

Honestly I think it would be much cooler if someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson, or Bill Nye came. Better yet, let's get some engineers who are working on big fascinating projects come and talk. It seems to me like those people would fit much better into the FIRST goals and do much more to inspire people than a basketball player no matter how good they were.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is much more than a former basketball player. He's a Cultural Ambassador for the United States, appointed by Hillary Clinton. He's written a children's book highlighting the accomplishments of African American inventors. He's also an advocate for STEM education. So before anyone assumes that he's just someone who specialized in putting a ball in a net, please do some research and you'll learn that Kareem is a great role model who has a lot to teach us. Just because someone's an athlete, doesn't mean they're automatically a bad fit for FIRST.

[Laaba 80]

Originally Posted by torihoelscher

A shooting showdown between Kareen and a robot??

World champs v Kareem. Blindfold him during hybrid mode

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Bob Steele

Surely you can't be serious!!

I am serious, and don't call me Surely.

I can't wait to meet Roger Murdock!

Andy

[Bob Steele]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

I am serious, and don't call me Surely.

I can't wait to meet Roger Murdock!

Andy

Andy, have you ever been to a Turkish prison?


See you in St. Louis!!

[JV2073]

This is going to be great.
-JV(2073)

[aditya29]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

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

Hah, I was just about to post that 330 must have known that Kareem would show up this year

It's awesome to see that he'll be attending. Great role model to help spread the values and enthusiasm for FIRST.

[Gary Dillard]

Abdul-Jabbar will sign books, meet teams, operate a robot, speak at ceremonies, and tour “pit-area” with Kamen family

Well that will make it alot easier to find Dean in the crowd.

[nsrouji95]

Wow, this is pretty exciting!! Each year just comes with more surprises. Can't wait until championships