NEWS
NEWS
'Chocolate Thunder' Helps AAU Team
NBA luminary Dawkins teaches skills for life at HITS
By JOSEPH STASZEWSKI
Darryl Dawkins was in his element.
The former NBA star was standing under the basket at Hoops in the Sun at Orchard Beach in The Bronx wearing a New Jersey Nets cap and a big smile. To his left and right were young kids, boys and girls, dribbling, shooting and passing as part of the Nets' skills clinic at the streetball league’s annual Bash at the Beach on Sunday afternoon.
“We tell them it’s more than just about dunking and shooting 3-pointers because if you don’t get your grades you can’t play on the team and this is what we are trying to teach them,” said Dawkins, who is a spokesperson for the Nets.
NBA legend Darryl Dawkins (l.) teaches kids the basics of basketball at Hoops in the Sun.
The 6-foot-11 Dawkins, nicknamed Chocolate Thunder, played 14 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Philadelphia 76ers and Nets, but has moved to the sidelines since. He has been on the bench for the Newark Express of the ABA, the Winnipeg Cyclone of the International Bbasketball League and the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs of the USBL as well as overseas in Italy. Dawkins coached the men’s basketball team at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, Penn., last season.
“I always get the coaching bug, but my main thing is I love working with kids,” said Dawkins, who was drafted fifth overall out of high school. “I’m not sure I want to sit on the bench with a tie on and big guys making a lot of money.”
He was a legend in his playing days, a power dunker known for shattering backboards before there were breakaway rims. Dawkins averaged 12 points and 6.1 rebounds in his career. His finest season came in 1983-84 in New Jersey when he averaged 16.8 points and 6.7 boards before injuries took their toll.
Since then Dawkins, 53, has been trying to give back. He wants to help kids on the right path away from the evils in life and understand that getting involved in sports could lead to a better life. Hard work could mean a college scholarship.
“We are trying to get the role model to not be a drug dealer,” he said. “Let the role model be somebody else. The drug dealers have the car. He’s got everything else, but it’s a short-lived life.”
So there was Dawkins, sweating and smiling in the 90-degree heat for more than an hour, joking and teaching kids who had never seen him at his peak. They approached him and joked with him as they would any average coach.
“To me it means a lot because it's that path all professional athletes take when they are growing up,” he said. “That’s how they give back.”
ON THE ROAD WITH COOKING WTL
WFAN RADIO
Former NBA star Darryl Dawkins is throwing his hat into the cooking show ring, as he joined the guys to promote his new show ‘Cooking with Thunder & Lightening’ which he is hoping will be picked-up. He arrived at the WFAN Studios looking as dapper as ever, so we’ll call him ‘fashionably late’. He talked about his playing days battling with Bob Lanier and he also tabbed Kobe as the best player in the league today. He playfully played along, allowing Craig to live out his dream of dunking on the man known as ‘Chocolate Thunder’ (photo evidence below). Dawkins, a Mets fan himself, even sat in while the guys welcomed Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey to the Program. All in all it was a great spot and well worth a listen. 
SIRIUS - MAD DOG
Cooking with Thunder & Lightning stop by the Sirius Radio Studios- New York, NY May 2010
Darryl and Rob G. (Executive Producer/Director) of Cooking with Thunder & Lightning stop by the Sirius Satellite Radio Studios and Chat with the "Mad Dog" Christopher Russo.
Darryl and Chris chatted NBA Playoffs, Lebron and Life in the NBA.
It was Feeding time for the Mad Dog who was given a few treats from Chef "Chocolate Thunder's" assortment of Italian Pastry's.
CAMP COLEMAN
Cooking with Thunder & Lightning hang out with the Kids of Camp Coleman- Cleveland, GA. June 2010.
Darryl spent the day at Camp Coleman and gave the kids of Coleman a day they will never forget.
The action packed day featured a Cooking demonstration, followed by a variety of Basketball Clinics consisting of Drills, Skills, Games and Prizes.
The end of the day was highlighted by Double D's Rap Session with the CIT'S/JR Counselors discussing the importance of being a role model- being a leader, not a follower.
Fun was had by all.
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