“The importance of this event is that the AAG Foundation has a commitment through its mission to help young people from all walks of life in various endeavors — education, recreation, social development, life skills, leadership development,” The Doc said from the Westin in Atlanta’s trendy Buckhead district. “And the profit side of the business also has a similar mission because it’s trying to unite athletes from team sports as well as individual sports to protect and preserve their brand. I’m happy to be involved on both levels — the foundation side as well as the profit side.”
Some interesting tidbits about the Doctor: Commander in Chief Obama kept a life-size poster of Erving on his bedroom wall as a kid.Glenn “Doc” Rivers, the current head coach of the NBA champs Boston Celtics, began to be called Doc because he frequently wore a “Dr. J” T-shirt to Marquette University basketball practices. Erving’s moniker influenced the stage name of rap revolutionary and producing legend Dr. Dre. Dr. J. was a childhood hero to box-office king Will Smith, who grew up in Philadelphia during the time Erving performed many of his aerial acrobatics for the 76ers. Julius Peppers, the NFL Carolina Panthers’ defensive end, was named after Erving. –terry shropshire
