"Rocket" Ismail - Notre Dame Legend?

[mgriff]

Speaking of Rocket; I was on leave a few years ago in Scranton, PA, my hometown. Rocket is from Wilkes-Barre which is part of the metro area. Our local sports guy apparently beat him in the district finals for the 110m hurdles, and this writer did a whole piece about how he beat the "Rocket". This leads me to believe that Rocket is still held in high regard, which would mean he's considered "great", if some guy from high school is writing a completely self serving piece about how he beat him ages ago. I thought Joby, the writer, was a huge tool for that, but it made me realize that Rocket is still admired. I always loved Rocket, because he was such an electrifying player, and who doesn't love those type of athletes?

 

[phgreek]

Speaking of Rocket; I was on leave a few years ago in Scranton, PA, my hometown. Rocket is from Wilkes-Barre which is part of the metro area. Our local sports guy apparently beat him in the district finals for the 110m hurdles, and this writer did a whole piece about how he beat the "Rocket". This leads me to believe that Rocket is still held in high regard, which would mean he's considered "great", if some guy from high school is writing a completely self serving piece about how he beat him ages ago. I thought Joby, the writer, was a huge tool for that, but it made me realize that Rocket is still admired. I always loved Rocket, because he was such an electrifying player, and who doesn't love those type of athletes?

Agreed, and if it is any contribution...many folks outside Wilkes Barre/Scranton knew of him, and are proud to say he was a PA boy...I grew up in Williamsport...My Senior year Gary Brown dominated local headlines...but we knew who Ismail was from the WNEP broadcasts (I think thats right...anyway the Wilkes Barre/Scranton station). My brother was an ROTC boy at Wilkes College at the time so he would also tell me about him.

I was stoked when I heard he was headed to ND...my dad called me at college to tell me...so even we Williamsport guys knew of him, and held him in pretty high regard....before the nation knew about the rocket.

I'd say even though Brown probably had a more productive Pro career (albeit shorter), more people in PA would know the Rocket was from PA, and mention him with pride.