Dinner and Digger

The annual basketball tip-off dinner is ready to whet the appetite of Sacramento area basketball fans. Perhaps one of the most quintessential events and biggest publicity opportunities for the CSUS men's basketball team, the dinner has been able to bring in marquee guest speakers. Last year, basketball guru and ESPN analyst Dick Vitale was the honored guest of the evening. This year, CSUS is privileged to welcome Digger Phelps, another ESPN analyst and former college basketball coach, on October 22.

Digger is one of the most well-respected announcers in college basketball today. He not only brings a vast amount of knowledge to the game, but a profound passion for the game, as well as the success of its players and coaches. Phelps adds a 20-year career as head coach of the Notre Dame men's basketball team, and has the distinction of winning more games than any other coach in Irish history.

In addition, Phelps has had the dubious honor of covering Olympic basketball and is a recent author of the ever-popular "Basketball for Dummies."

CSUS men's basketball head coach Tom Abatemarco is primarily responsible for bringing Phelps to Sacramento.

"Having someone like Digger come to our school and talk to the players as well as the students is a tremendous way top start off our season," said Abatemarco. "People have no idea what this does for our program."

"Coach T" believes that having someone like Phelps come and speak, it is a chance for a national organization like ESPN to become aware of the potential talent that the CSUS men's basketball team has. He believes this is a great opportunity for his players and for the entire community to come hear a great mind of the game talk about his experiences, and what it takes to not only to be successful in the game of basketball, but in the game of life.

Along with Phelps, the dinner will also serve as a chance for students and the CSUS community to meet "Coach T," his staff, and the 1998-99 Hornet squad. The buzz is that this year's team is loaded in talent, and has the potential to make trouble for other teams in the Big Sky conference.

Don't miss out on this incredible event and opportunity that takes place in the University Ballroom in the University Union. General admission is $37 and student tickets are available for $24 at the CSUS athletic ticket office in the Union.