For Tigers fans, the opportunity to see DeAngelo Williams, Joey Dorsey, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway and Elliot Perry all in one place may seem like a dream. That dream became a reality two weeks ago when each of them, along with several other former Tigers, returned to Memphis to participate in a charity basketball tournament at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
In its second year, the "It's All Good Memphis Weekend" was organized to be a fundraiser and raise awareness for a variety of charities by Scott Robinson, the head graduate manager for The University of Memphis men's basketball team.
The event, presented by the Tiger Gift Shop, was also a tribute by Robinson to his mother, Diane, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair-bound.
Statistics show that approximately 250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with MS. It is a disease that affects the central nervous system and can cause problems with muscle control, strength, vision, balance, feeling and thinking.
The proceeds, which Robinson estimated to "about $7,000," will be distributed to various charities such as the MS Society and the Larry Finch Scholarship through Dream 2 Discover You, a non-profit organization Robinson started last year. D2DY, which focuses on teaching life skills to inner-city youth, will also use some of the donations to hold basketball camps and clinics for children in Memphis and other cities.
Though last year's tournament was thrown together at "the last minute," Robinson said, this year he had much more time to organize it and couldn't be happier with the results.
"I'm very pleased with the way it turned out," he said. "Everybody had a lot of fun. We had a lot of former players come back and a lot of fans come out to see them. It was great."
The weekend-long event began June 5 with the "Celebrity of Memphis" game, which featured Williams, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau president Kevin Kane and Mayor Willie Herenton.
"I have no basketball talent at all, none at all," said Williams, who awed fans with his basketball blunders throughout the night. "But it's fun getting out here and mixing it up a little bit."
Afterwards, the school hosted the "Memphis Legends" game with former Tiger greats Elliot Perry, Andre Turner, Earl Barron, Jeremy Hunt, Rodney Newsom, Bobby Parks, Chris Turner and many more taking the floor.
"We had fun out there tonight. We just wanted to give the fans something to enjoy," Hunt said afterwards.
Dorsey provided most of the night's highlights, throwing down a couple of jaw-dropping dunks, as well as showing his range when he sank two three-pointers in a row. Hunt gave the crowd something to enjoy, also, when he knocked down four three-pointers in a row from well beyond NBA range.
"I told them I had a few three's saved for the game," said Hunt, who spent last season playing professionally overseas in Germany.
Antonio Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Chance McGrady were also in attendance, serving as coaches for the all-star teams. Even though they were back together, Anderson and Douglas-Roberts faced off as head coaches.
"We're all back. We're here to have a good time," Anderson said. "I'm coaching against Chris, and I told him my team is going to beat his team."
In the end, it was Anderson's team who came out on top by one point, but nobody cared about the final result. It was the reason behind the event that everyone kept in mind.
"This is my first time being back since Senior Night (in 2009)," Douglas-Roberts said. "It's always great to come back to Memphis, I have so many great memories here. It's also great to come back for a really good cause. There was no question about me coming back here."
The event wasn't just a homecoming for Douglas-Roberts, but became a reunion for all former Tigers, young and old. At one point in the night, the game was stopped during play for a surprise guest, former U of M player and coach, Larry Finch. Finch, who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2002, was wheeled out onto the court by his family and promptly received a standing ovation from both fans and players.
Robinson said it's moments like that, as well as support from fans, that make him want to keep putting the event on annually.
"It's something that Memphians can come out and enjoy, and see a bunch of their favorite former Tigers," Robinson said. "We also want to raise money not just for MS, but for D2DY, too."
Those who wish to donate or find more information about Dream 2 Discover You can visit the organization's website at www.d2dy.org.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!