In the DESERET NEWS, Linda Hamilton writes “after former Utah Jazz great Adrian Dantley finally got the phone call that he had been selected to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame after eight years of disappointment, he told his mother and his wife, ‘I'm in now, so I've only got two more goals in life: Live to be 100 years and be head coach or general manager in the NBA.’ ‘Hopefully it won't take as long as these other two,’ Dantley joked about his coaching/GM aspirations. The reference was to his finally making it to the Hall of Fame after eight years and the retirement of his jersey by the Utah Jazz in EnergySolutions Arena last April — more than 20 years after he'd played his last game as a Jazzman.” read more

In THE NEW YORK TIMES, Howard Beck writes “Patrick Ewing, who rescued the Knicks from their malaise in the 1980s and made them an Eastern Conference power in the 1990s, has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He will be inducted this fall, along with one of his most beloved coaches, Pat Riley, and one of his greatest rivals, Hakeem Olajuwon. Four others round out the Hall’s class of 2008, which was announced on Monday: Adrian Dantley, a dominant scorer for seven N.B.A. teams; the Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson; the television announcer Dick Vitale; and Cathy Rush, a former coach and a force for women’s basketball in the 1970s.” read more

In the DAILY GAZETTE, Justin Mason writes “Pat Riley would always show up for Linton High School basketball practice early, work hard and then stay late. His tireless work ethic and determination produced a career in basketball from Schenectady through the professional ranks. But it wasn’t until Riley picked up a coach’s clipboard with the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers that his motivation propelled him to national fame. Riley never forgot his roots. While the Lakers were planning their victory celebration on the West Coast, their coach was traveling back to Schenectady to put on a basketball clinic and an assembly for the city school district, recalled Bob Pezzano, a retired teacher and chairman of the district’s Athletic Hall of Fame committee. Yesterday, Riley was selected for induction into the National Basketball Hall of Fame. He and others selected this year will take their places during a ceremony at the Springfield, Mass., hall in September." read more

In the HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Fran Blinebury writes, “what was improbable on the day he stepped off a plane from Nigeria and inevitable by the time his glorious 18-year NBA career ended became official when Hakeem Olajuwon was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday. ‘For many years, you've been a future Hall of Famer,’ said the former Rockets and University of Houston star. ‘You hear that. It's an honorable title. But now, for the Hall of the Fame to call you, it's like, 'Wow! Is that really true?' The enshrinement will take place Sept. 5 in Springfield, Mass.” read more

In the DETROIT NEWS, Chris McCosky writes “some 28 years ago, Pistons owner Bill Davidson fired coach Dick Vitale and would later say hiring the former University of Detroit coach was one of the worst mistakes he's ever made. Monday, both were announced as new members of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. They will be enshrined in Springfield, Mass., from Sept. 4 through Sept. 6. After the rough start, though, the Pistons went on to win three NBA titles. They have become a model of mid-market success in professional sports.” read more