Elliot gives back to community

In a society that allows Dennis Rodman to become a best-selling author, and Mike Tyson to return to boxing one year after biting off a piece of his opponent's ear, Sean Elliot is a cause for hope.

Time and time again, the former University of Arizona basketball star has proven that no matter what sort of success he achieves playing basketball, he will always give back to his community.

He holds a youth basketball camp at his alma mater Cholla High School every year, as well as sponsoring golf tournaments and doing charity work throughout Southern Arizona.

Elliot said kids are faced with too many negative influences and he wants to help reverse that trend.

"You want kids to have someone to look up to. Someone to tell kids that it's OK to like school, respect authority and work hard."

On Saturday, Elliot did just that.

Elliot, who is now an All-Star for the San Antonio Spurs, appeared for more than an hour and a half at the Albertson's Food and Drug Store, 2854 N. Campbell Ave., signing autographs as part of a promotion for Arizona Bank.

More than 250 people showed up to have Elliot sign assorted UA and Spurs memorabilia, as well as basketball cards and newspapers commemorating Arizona's 1988 appearance in the NCAA Final Four.

Elliot was an All-American on that team, which also included Steve Kerr and Jud Buechler, now members of the World Champion Chicago Bulls.

Chris Click, a public relations representative for Arizona Bank, said the 250 people in attendance had won a raffle open to anybody with an account at the bank.

"It's a treat for our customers," Click said. "He (Elliot) is a local player, and we are a local bank."

Click said Elliot himself was an account holder at Arizona Bank, and that he would not receive a payment for his appearance.

Bernice Edwards, who was at the bank for her 19-year-old son, who could not attend, said: "Elliot is more than a good basketball player, he is a good person."

Edwards' sentiment was shared by almost everybody in attendance, especially those with children.

Rick Black said he hoped his 6-year-old son, Jordan, learned something from Elliot.

"I hope some of Sean's character rubs off on my kid," he said.

Perhaps the simplest explanation of Elliot's popularity was delivered by 11-year-old Brian Dahl when he said: "I like his niceness."

Regardless of age, everybody seemed to appreciate Elliot's charisma and character as much as his basketball skills, something Elliot does not shy away from.

"It's crucial for more high profile athletes to act as role models," he said.

"Everybody in Hollywood and the NBA is trying to be weirder or more rebellious, saying that they're only speaking their mind, but they are sending out the wrong message."

Elliot attributed his good character to his upbringing and his time with the Wildcats under Head Coach Lute Olson.

"Olson was a big part of it," he said. "He was tough on me my first two years. He taught me so many valuable lessons."

While Elliot is happy with his contributions to the community, he is not yet satisfied with his professional career in the NBA.

"We need to take it to that next level," he told a woman as he signed her Spurs hat.

Elliot may get his chance as the Jordan dynasty in Chicago, and all of the championships that accompany it, will collapse in a year or two when the superstar retires. Of course, Jordon has left the door open to add a few more seasons to his career.

The Spurs suffered through a miserable season last year, losing Elliot and All-Star Center David Robinson for all but a few games.

But it may have paid off, as the Spurs grabbed the first pick of last month's draft and selected college basketball's best player, Tim Duncan.

"We got so lucky, it made the entire season worth it," Elliot said. "If he's as good as everyone says he is, we can get to the next level (winning a championship)."

With a healthy Robinson and Elliot, along with Duncan and point guard Avery Johnson, the Spurs may be the next dynasty of the NBA.

But whether they are, rest assured that Elliot will spend his time off talking to kids or raising money in an effort to better the community where he grew up.