I came across this story today that Dave Bing is being included in the 2014 class for the ACC Men’s Basketball Legends.
It seems like a worthy honor despite Julius Hodge (really?) being included as one of Bing’s classmates. It’s great to see Orange players recognized. There’s just one problem. Dave Bing is not an ACC legend. Hell, he’s not even a Big East legend. Bing retired from the NBA (in 1978) before the Big east was even born (1979).
Look, I get that John Swofford and his cronies are trying to squeeze every ounce out of publicity juice from the Orange. I’m sure that they’re absolutely thrilled that newcomers Syracuse and Pittsburgh have charged to the top of the conference in their first outing. But enough is enough. You can’t co-opt Syracuse basketball history just because the DOC came to take your football money. The only association Dave Bing has with the ACC is that he played basketball and might have played an ACC team during his time at Syracuse. That’s it.
So sorry, ACC, but you have no claim to Dave Bing’s greatness. Given the fact that Syracuse basketball was independent during Bing’s entire SU career, the only entity that has any sort of claim to his college greatness is SU itself.
So, please, keep throwing honors his way. I’m sure he appreciates the recognition. But Orange fans know that he’s one of ours and ours alone.
What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Leave your comments below.
Chris Daughtrey is the creator and author of Bleeding Orange. He is a contributor at Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician and at Atlantic Coast Confidential. You can connect with him on Twitter @OrangeBlood 44 or search #OrangeBlood.
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