By Fred L. Jones, Jr.
Eagle Staff Writer
Bill Patterson continues in conducting one of the most elite summer basketball tournaments in the USA as he presents the 41st Annual “Po Bills” World Famous Basketball Tournament.
Patterson has seen many of the National Basketball Associations elite players participate in his tournament from veterans Moses Malone, the late Wayman Tisdale, John Starks, Spud Webb, Carl Malone, Clyde Drexler, Michael Finley, Rolando Blackmon and Dennis Rodman just to name a few.
All of Patterson’s children are very supportive of their dad, his daughter Shun Patterson-Guess is the Assistant Director for the tournament and has been around her father’s elite basketball tournament since she was a little girl, she stated: “I am so proud of my father; he is the best dad a daughter could ever imagine to have. He has accomplished many obstacles. As a child I’ve seen my father help many people. My dad started his tournament 41 years ago a few years later I would help him keep score, I was only 10 years old. My dad played basketball all of his life including with the Harlem Magicians along with the “The World’s Famous Dribbler” Mr. Marques Haynes.
This year’s tournament will be held August 17th and 18th in Duncanville a suburb of Dallas, Texas at the Duncanville Field House formerly named after legendary Indian Hoosier Coach Bobby Knight.
Patterson-Guess also stated: “My father is well known in Tulsa, Okla., and Dallas, Tex. My dad has contributed and gave back to the community throughout the years such as, feeding the needy, feeding unprivileged children, donating proceeds to local high schools, school supply giveaways and many more. This will be another epic weekend. We have added 45 & over division for the last four years. At the age of 80 years old, my father is still at his best.”
Patterson has put together a host of NBA caliber competition with Oklahoma Thunder star Terrance Ferguson playing for the Tulsa Titans along with former Duke University standout Matt Jones, University of Arkansas Little Rock Alumnus Chuck Guy, Marquez Hanes and Kevin Rodgers.
In closing Patterson-Guess said: “I’m so proud to be the daughter of such a wonderful free-spirited man, Mr. Bill Patterson. Let the games begin, win or go home. This is the tournament that Moses Malone built, and the saga continues with Tulsa’s own Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Terrance Ferguson.”
The Slam Dunk contest will be fascinating as the participants defy gravity as on professional basketball players can do. One of the celebrity judge’s for the dunk contest is the First Lady of Oklahoma basketball Rachelle Holdman. The grand prize for the first-place team is $5,000.00
For more information on this weekend of basketball excellence call 214-228-3528 or 972-768-1379.
