TIME TO SHOOT
Jan. 14, 2013
 

The 3rd Annual Shots from the Heart Tournaments have begun. Once again the field of competitors includes some of the biggest names in the game but for the first time the event will also include non-coaches.

Among the non-coaches is Antonio Gates who, before he was an All-Pro with the San Diego Chargers, was an All-American at Kent State. Gates helped the Golden Flashes to within one game of the Final 4 in 2002 NCAA Tournament.

Former World Track & Field champion Ato Boldon will also compete. From 1992-2000 Boldon, who is now the Track & Field analyst for NBC, won 7 gold medals in international competition. Only three other men in history -- Usain Bolt, Frankie Fredericks and Carl Lewis -- have won as many Olympic individual event sprint medals.

Scott Wedman, who won two NBA titles with the Boston Celtics (1984, 86) was the sixth overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. A member of the NBA All-Rookie team, Wedman would also receive All-Defensive Team and NBA All-Star honors as well.

ESPN’s Seth Greenberg is among the media members participating in the event.

“For me it’s honor to be a part of ‘Shots from the Heart,” says Greenberg. “After a couple of disappointing efforts the past two tournaments, I plan to advance deep into the tournament this season.”

The former Virginia Tech coach is joined by Sherrod Blakely, who covers the Boston Celtics for Comcast Sports Net New England, ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan and CBS Sports’ Gregg Doyel.

Former Indiana and Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson is also among the participants. Sampson is currently Kevin McHale’s top assistant with the Houston Rockets.