The book also discusses the personal lives of several of the downed airmen, and their individual take on their lives among the serbian people. At the first year of his career, bardo was listed in big ten defensive player of the year in 1989. Exflyin illini stephen bardo voices frustration on twitter. When he arrived in cu by way of innercity chicago in the fall of 1955, jim vermette remembers feeling like a tiny tot sardine ready to be snacked. Stephen bardo first gained fame as a starter on the 19881989 flyin illini team that reached the ncaa mens basketball final four. Stephen bardo, big ten network analyst and former big ten defensive player of the year for the flyin illini. The marching illini is a closeknit organization which annually includes approximately 375 students enrolled in the university of illinois. Stephen spoke for an hour, fielded many questions, and then signed copies of his new book, the flyin illini. Members of the 1989 flyin illini team confirming their attendance are kendall gill, kenny battle and steve bardo. Groce scores recruiting coup with nunn mark tuppers blog. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Additionally, illini greats such as brian cook, frank williams, marcus griffin. Aug 09, 20 stephen bardos life has been quite a ride. Larry, marcus, ervin, pj and kendall and travis smith.
Racial tensions sparked between two organizations on campus black students for revolution and the illini republicans show that the protection of spaces for people of color are yet again being disrupted by socalled political organizations. Jan 03, 2016 larry smith goes up for a dunk during his days playing for the university of illinois fighting illini. Stephen bardo, a member of the 1989 flyin illini mens basketball team and a current big ten network basketball analyst, took to twitter on saturday morning to voice his frustration with the current state of the illinois athletics department, which is currently embroiled in a pair of investigations into. After 20 missions, his plane went down in yugoslavia in july of 1944. That fighting illini team gained the moniker flyin illini by dick vitale while broadcasting a game during the 198889 season. Exflyin illini stephen bardo voices frustration on. Members of the marching illini represent virtually every college, discipline, and major on the universitys diverse urbanachampaign campus.
Former illini stephen bardo says hard work, toughness keys. The illini, stuck with those four losses while gill was out, were ranked no. Illinois legends to return to champaign illini herald. Bowman and former high school allamerican marcus liberty. Stephen dean bardo born april 5, 1968 is a retired american professional basketball player. His 10year professional basketball career and final four appearance with university of illinois in 1989 give him a unique perspective on winning and success. The starting point guard at illinois for four years including the final four flyin illini team of. But what i did was try to go in chronological order and set it up at the beginning of how the flyin illini started in terms of the basketball recruiting class that we had our freshman year, and then kind of the ups and downs of the. Throughout the 90s, he played in the nba, cba and overseas. My first counseling case, bowman says with a chuckle.
They were hungover the next day, according to bardo, and got pummeled by a wellrested spartans team. He said he had shared with the family his own experience by playing for. Along with bardo, the other starting members of that team included nick anderson, kendall gill, lowell hamilton, kenny battle, and key reserve marcus liberty. Groce scores recruiting coup with nunn mark tuppers. Flyin illni reunion steve bardo book release party. Illinois has one pretournament national championship in 1915, one retroactive national championship awarded in 1943 by the premo. Stephen bardo is a college basketball analyst with fox sports and the big ten network. Kenny battle, kendall gill, lowell hamilton, stephen bardo, marcus liberty, larry smith.
Chicago chapter president chicago national basketball retired. The flyin illini the untold story of one of college basketballs. One such airman profiled in the book was lieutenant robert wilson of peoria. Stephen bardo is the top basketball commentator in the business. Additionally, he works as a motivational speaker, and authored the book how to make the league without picking. During his standout career at the university of illinois, 65 bardo scored 909 points and compiled 495 assists. Smith was a key member of the 8889 flyin illini, which advanced to the final four. Flyin illni reunion steve bardo book release party youtube. His experience on the basketball court and as a television analyst helped forge his fastpaced presentations that provide audiences with tools they can use immediately to achieve greater results in their professions.
He is genuine, refreshing, and thoughtful in this book. As a junior, gill led the fighting illini to the 1989 final four before losing to michigan on a lastsecond shot. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. When the name larry smith is mentioned, thoughts immediately spark of alton high basketball. Yet everywhere he goes, people still ask him about what happened 25 years ago. Stephen bardo tells all in flyin illini npr illinois. Through the end of the 2014 season, illinois ranks 11th alltime in winning.
Fighting illini legends, lists, and lore pearson, mike on. In his book on the flyin illini released in late 20, bardo took a shot at former illini ken norman and the programs alltime winningest coach, lou henson. He started his playing career in 1990 from the university of illinois where he scored 909 points and assisted 495 times. Bardos 10year professional playing experience coupled with leading the flyin illini to the final four gives him a unique perspective when calling the game. Stephen bardo, former illini and nba basketball player, visited the library on saturday june 14 th. Smith is a polarizing individual on the local hoops front. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Bardos honesty in the book, especially over the coaching and relationship with lou henson, angered some people in illini nation. Steve would come home after games and be so filled up inside with all that competitive stuff that it would take him a long time to unwind. Stephen bardo, big ten network analyst and former big ten defensive player of the year for the flyin illini table of contents. The value of a coach knowing players as individuals.
Jan 15, 2009 flyin illini dunks from 1988 and 1989. Shortly after initial introductions were out of the way came the familiar followup, one doniel sutton heard over, and over, and over her first few years on campus. On board with the flying illini, 25 years later chicago. Illini republicans attempt to crash book club the daily. Bardo s 10year professional playing experience coupled with leading the flyin illini to the final four gives him a unique perspective when calling the game. The team also gained national prominence for its athletic players, such as ncaa slam dunk champions kenny battle and kendall gill, as well as lowell hamilton, nick anderson, marcus liberty, and stephen bardo. The unique quality of size and speed made this team standout. Home games are played at the state farm center, located on the university of illinois at urbanachampaigns campus in champaign. Bowman for the working world better than any textbook or teacher he had in college. The illinois fighting illini mens basketball team is an ncaa division i college basketball team competing in the big ten conference. Rooming with flyin illini point guard stephen bardo prepared future beverly hills psychiatrist p. Thats also the name of a book by the former point guard of the team stephen bardo, who works now as a. His name was ben wilson, and had he lived past the age of 17, the flyin illini will tell you, he might have been the one with the statue outside the united center and his own line of cologne.
To celebrate that squad and its accomplishments, bardo, a college basketball analyst at big ten network, is set to release a book friday titled flyin illini. On board with the flying illini, 25 years later chicago tribune. Stephen bardo bio, wiki, married, wife, height null dodoodad. What if ben wilson had lived and become a flyin illini. Stephen bardo, a guard for that team, parlayed that experience into a career in broadcasting. The flyin illini the untold story of one of college basketballs elite teams stephen bardo, dick vitale on. If you read the steve bardo book on 1989s flyin illini, youll know that some of the guys on that team decided to go out partying in east lansing, the night before a game. Steve barnes in illinois il 8 records found whitepages.
The players known as the flying illini, included all the important pieces from the 198788 squad kenny battle, kendall gill, steve bardo, lowell hamilton, nick anderson and larry smith as well as junior college allamerican p. This group is for current marching illini students and alums. Jan, 2020 kendall cedric fightin illini gill born may 25, 1968 is an american retired professional basketball player who now works as a television basketball analyst. He currently serves as a commentator for fox sports 1 basketball coverage and presents his point guard vision leadership training to youth and collegiate athletes. A freshman on the flying illini team that made the 1989 ncaa championship.
Mark titus and tate frazier, from the diehard hoop states of indiana and north carolina, reunite to crack the mysteries in the world of basketball and beyond. Steve bardo profile university of illinois 150 years. The book is not quite as engaging as its author, and it could have used a good editor. Stephen bardo grabs a rebound away from georgia techs johnny mcneil while nick anderson 25 and kendall gill head upcourt during the. Doniel sutton profile university of illinois 150 years. From an interview standpoint, ive done all the teammates and got almost all the coaching staff done and im just putting the final touches on that. Bardo was the starting point guard on the legendary flyin illini of the. When i heard about the greek system, i thought it to be an organized crime group led by greeks, says vermette, who came to illinois on a baseball scholarship. The untold story of one of college basketballs elite teams. He was the navigator on one of the b17s mentioned earlier.
For those interested in lou hensons nationally acclaimed final. Minutes of board meeting july jacksonville public library. May 30, 2015 one prominent illinois athletics alumnus isnt too happy with his alma mater right now. The flyin illini was the best basketball team in university of illinois history. Also among that fabled flyin illini squadron were future nba players nick anderson, marcus liberty, kenny battle and illini tvradio broadcaster stephen bardo as well as fouryear starter lowell hamilton. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. The illinois fighting illini latest football and basketball news, stats, schedules, football and basketball recruiting. Illinois fighting illini mens basketball infogalactic. The illini republicans took issue with the assata shakur reading group the black students for revolutionss biweekly. He was part of the flyin illini team that qualified for the 1989 ncaa mens basketball tournament final four. University of illinois marching illini home facebook.
He played ncca mens basketball tournament final four representing his team flyin illini. One prominent illinois athletics alumnus isnt too happy with his alma mater right now. I think the author was careful to stay upbeat and positive, but some of the funny stories from h i received this book from stephen bardo when i heard him speak about it, his days playing basketball with the illini, and college basketball today. Stephen bardo, who moved from espn to cover games for btn this year, has penned his inside story of the 1989 flyin illini. Oct 30, 20 to celebrate that squad and its accomplishments, bardo, a college basketball analyst at big ten network, is set to release a book friday titled flyin illini. Oct 25, 2012 his name was ben wilson, and had he lived past the age of 17, the flyin illini will tell you, he might have been the one with the statue outside the united center and his own line of cologne. Stephen bardo is a rising young star in sports television. The 198889 illinois fighting illini team gained the moniker flyin illini by dick vitale during an espn broadcast that season. We found 8 records for steve barnes in forrest, lockport and 12 other cities in illinois. Smith was a part of the 8889 illinois team the flyin illini which reached the final four. Jim vermette profile university of illinois 150 years.
Illinois fighting illini mens basketball wikipedia. The 198889 flyin illini will return to campus on feb. Nov 01, 20 larry, marcus, ervin, pj and kendall and travis smith. Bardo was named big ten defensive player of the year in 1989.
I spoke with former flyin illini steve bardo at saturdays football game and he was pulling hard for nunn to commit. The book is about how everyone aspires to make it into a league for their. Illinois has two pretournament national championships in 1915 and 1943 premoporretta poll and has competed in 5 final fours, 9. His style is to edutain, which means to educate and entertain. Stephen bardo, a member of the 1989 flyin illini mens basketball team and a current big ten network basketball analyst, took to twitter on saturday morning to voice his frustration with the current state of the illinois athletics department, which is currently embroiled in a pair of investigations into allegations of abuse and mistreatment toward the coaching staffs of the football and womens basketball program. Home games are played at the state farm center, located on the university of illinois at urbanachampaigns campus in champaign the teams head coach is currently john groce.
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