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Rutgers mourns the passing of Loyal Son David Stern:

Abro1975

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https://scarletknights.com/news/202...s-mourn-passing-of-alumnus-david-j-stern.aspx

PISCATAWAY - David J. Stern, a Dean's List history student and a Henry Rutgers Scholar at Rutgers who became the National Basketball Association's longest-serving commissioner, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 77. A 1963 graduate of The State University of New Jersey who was inducted into the school's Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1999 and served on its Board of Overseers, Stern was instrumental in the NBA's growth into a global powerhouse.

"We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Commissioner Stern," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "We extend our deepest sympathies to Dianne and his family. I will forever treasure his guidance and counsel, and his humor. He was a very proud Rutgers alum. His was a remarkable life."

Born on Sept. 22, 1942 in New York City, Stern graduated from Teaneck (N.J.) High School and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity at Rutgers before earning his law degree from Columbia University in 1966. He initially became linked to the NBA as part of the law firm Proskauer, Rose, Goetz & Mendelsohn, which represented the league. Stern officially joined the NBA as the league's general counsel in 1978 and succeeded Larry O'Brien as commissioner in 1984.

During his 30-year tenure, the NBA added several franchises, increased its revenues to a reported $5 billion at the time of his retirement in 2014, expanded its television exposure dramatically, launched the WNBA, and created the National Basketball Development League. His international initiative led to the televising of NBA games in more than 200 countries and 40-plus languages, and the opening of several offices in cities outside the United States. Under Stern's leadership, the NBA and its players supported the Read to Achieve Program, child-abuse prevention, alcohol-abuse prevention, volunteerism, hunger relief and the Special Olympics.

"For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals -- preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.

"David took over the NBA in 1984 with the league at a crossroads. But over the course of 30 years as Commissioner, he ushered in the modern global NBA. He launched groundbreaking media and marketing partnerships, digital assets and social responsibility programs that have brought the game to billions of people around the world. Because of David, the NBA is a truly global brand -- making him not only one of the greatest sports commissioners of all time but also one of the most influential business leaders of his generation.

"Every member of the NBA family is the beneficiary of David's vision, generosity and inspiration. Our deepest condolences go out to David's wife, Dianne, their sons, Andrew and Eric, and their extended family, and we share our grief with everyone whose life was touched by him."

Stern was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
 
With all due respect to Mr. Stern and his amazing life accomplishments. What exactly made him a loyal son and what exactly did he do for Rutgers and Rutgers athletics/basketball?

I just don't happen to remember anything and things certainly could have happened behind the scene.

Can somebody enlighten me?

I can't. But what I can tell you as the son of a fund raising consultant for major universities including Princeton & NYU that posts like yours at this time in a family's grief can assure that nothing will be done in the future. And that will be a true travesty if he had been doing things quietly.
 
I can't. But what I can tell you as the son of a fund raising consultant for major universities including Princeton & NYU that posts like yours at this time in a family's grief can assure that nothing will be done in the future. And that will be a true travesty if he had been doing things quietly.



Well it was a simple question and if his family is reading our football forum at this time let me express my sorry for his passing.
It sure would have been nice to see something about Rutgers other than his graduation. And I'm not talking about cash. I can see what he meant to Rutgers, just asking what Rutgers meant to him. Its times like these that you normally find out.
 
With all due respect to Mr. Stern and his amazing life accomplishments. What exactly made him a loyal son and what exactly did he do for Rutgers and Rutgers athletics/basketball?

I just don't happen to remember anything and things certainly could have happened behind the scene.

Can somebody enlighten me?
Actually, quite a bit.
Everyone's favorite AD, Pat Hobbs, forged a relationship with David Stern.

https://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/2017/01/how_did_ex-nba_commissioner_david_stern_become_the.html

Pat Hobbs spent his career building connections in law, in politics and in the sports world, but the Rutgers Athletics Director has leaned on one person in particular since assuming the post nearly 14 months ago.
 
He was a scoreboard guy.

Hopefully one day I can be one too.
 
With all due respect to Mr. Stern and his amazing life accomplishments. What exactly made him a loyal son and what exactly did he do for Rutgers and Rutgers athletics/basketball?

I just don't happen to remember anything and things certainly could have happened behind the scene.

Can somebody enlighten me?


Some (many) Loyal Sons and Daughters prefer to keep their contributions anonymous.

List of past Loyal Sons & Daughters. You will see David Stern, class of 1963 listed within:

https://www.rutgersalumni.org/loyal-sons-daughters-past-honorees/
 
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Actually, quite a bit.
Everyone's favorite AD, Pat Hobbs, forged a relationship with David Stern.

https://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/2017/01/how_did_ex-nba_commissioner_david_stern_become_the.html

Pat Hobbs spent his career building connections in law, in politics and in the sports world, but the Rutgers Athletics Director has leaned on one person in particular since assuming the post nearly 14 months ago.

THANK YOU! That is exactly what I was looking for. I was not questioning his achievements or character. I just didn't know he had any real relationship with the school. Hadn't seen him at games or read stuff like this.
 
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Some (many) Loyal Sons and Daughters prefer to keep their contributions anonymous.

List of past Loyal Sons & Daughters. You will see David Stern, class of 1963 listed within:

https://www.rutgersalumni.org/loyal-sons-daughters-past-honorees/

yes thanks as well, but I already knew he was on the list. As I mentioned I wasn't talking about the money but what you otherwise DO or DID for Dear Old Rutgers. Anyone can give cash. How you represented the school, did you use your position in life to advance the school, etc. Shift's post above was enlightening. I wasn't aware.

RIP Mr. Stern.
 
THANK YOU! That is exactly what I was looking for. I was not questioning his achievements or character. I just didn't know he had any real relationship with the school. Hadn't seen him at games or read stuff like this.
It's a wonder (unless it was done and just not published) why nobody forged such a strong relationship with David Stern before Hobbs did.
 
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