Ewing still a snob

PORTLAND, Oregon–You’d think that Pat Ewing, now retired from playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) the last three years, has mellowed and is more accommodating to fans.

Not by a long shot.

The big snob is still a big snob.

A Houston assistant coach, Ewing didn’t raise a sweat and just sat on the bench as the Rockets bowled over the Portland Trail Blazers, 100-86, at the Rose Garden here Sunday night.

After the game, Ewing emerged from the dressing room looking dapper in a brown suit, wearing a wide-brimmed brown hat with a microphone attached to his cellular gadget close to his mouth for easy speaking.

A group of VIP guests gathered in a cordoned area outside the dugouts to take photographs of the NBA celebrities and get autographs. One by one, the players came out to oblige the fans, among whom were the four San Beda players who earned a trip to the US as a prize for winning the Adidas Asian Streetball Finals at the Araneta Coliseum last September.

Juwan Howard, David Wesley, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Stromile Swift, Derek Anderson and Ha Seung Jin were some of the players who took time to meet the fans.

McGrady spent several minutes signing mementoes for the Filipino visitors, including Adidas marketing services manager Goody Custodio, Adidas marketing communications assistant manager Odette Velarde, Solar Sports vice president for marketing Jude Turcuato and San Beda juniors assistant coach Rene Baena. Even Howard, who is T-Mac’s Houston teammate, walked up to ask an autograph from McGrady for his relatives who were in town.

The disappointment was Ewing.

I remember trying to interview Ewing during the NBA All-Star Weekend in 1997 and he was far from cooperative. He had only short answers to my questions and was obviously disinterested, like the whole media deal was a bore. "Yes, no, maybe" was all I got from Ewing. I didn’t even bother to thank him for his precious time and I walked away in disgust. No NBA player is as disrespectful to media or as discourteous.

Ewing, 43, hasn’t changed through the years.

Los Angeles-based Filipina sports journalist Janelle So, who flew in to document the Adidas tour, approached Ewing politely to ask if he could autograph her white Adidas shirt.

Ewing was doing nothing. He stood outside the media room conversing with a lady and a man who seemed like they were Rose Garden ushers. Ewing was in no hurry to leave. He had all the time in the world to sign autographs and pose for pictures, if he wanted. And he had to be in a good mood since the Rockets beat the Blazers convincingly.

Ewing waved off Janelle. As charming as she is, Janelle persisted and asked even for just his initials on her shirt. Again, Ewing waved her off. Who does he think he is? Ewing should be grateful that someone is still interested in getting his autograph.

Maybe, he’s bitter because in 17 NBA seasons, he failed to win a single championship ring. Ewing led New York to the Finals in 1994 and 1999 but the Knicks lost both series. He was the NBA’s first overall pick in the 1985 draft and was Rookie of the Year. Ewing was also named to the league’s 50th anniversary all-time team. Despite the accolades, he’s gone down in history as a loser.

For some reason, Ewing isn’t doing anything to change his negative image. He’s still a loser.

At hindsight, maybe Janelle’s shirt is better off without Ewing’s signature because he would’ve been in the company of players with more class–Sebastian Telfair, Howard and McGrady. Telfair, Howard and McGrady were only too happy to sign on Janelle’s shirt.