I was fortunate to be in school at UT when the Ernie and Bernie show was playing. I remember the games in Stokely against Kentucky and realize now how great that atmosphere was – I particularly remember one Bernard King basket that he made when falling to the floor against Kentucky. Bernard was also right in describing Mike Jackson’s jump shot – he was a terrific player. My final thought is remember seeing Bernard and Mike Jackson come to the UT gym for students and playing in some pick-up games. What a great player and a true star (as described by John Ward). Thanks for the memories Bernard.
I was also fortunate to attend the games at Stokely and watched
Bernard and all the greats win some amazing games. I have never to this day
watched a player falling down backwards, smiling, and hitting a shot to win
a pivotal game and it was Bernard King. He had the softest shot, was extremely accurate
and could elevate against anyone in his way.
I am so proud of Bernard and his recovery from a ACL injury to return to the NBA.
Bernard, this is your home, we are your fans and I am thrilled that you are
involved with the Vols once again. Thank you so much for just being a Vol.
As a fan, I will never forget watching the best of the best.
Thanks Bernard and please stay with our program.
My first real participation as a fan of college basketball was as a youngster between 8 and 10 year old while King played at UT. He, Grunfeld, Jackson, Johnny Darden, Terry Crosby, Bert Bertlecamp, Reggie Johnson, and the like were my heros. Particularly King. I had a picture of King, with the Knicks, that I cut out of the Knoxville Journal on the inside of my locker door, my last two years of high school. I followed his pro career till I was thru college and traveling the world in my career into the 90’s. I always felt we should recognize and embrace the man that is unquestionably our greatest player at Tennessee. To see it as a 42 year old adult, first when his number was retired in 2007, then again here in this video is very special to this sentimental west coast transplanted hillbilly. Thank you Coach Pearl, Ernie Grunfeld, Mike Edwards, and anyone else involved. Thank You Ed Bailoff for helping to bring King and Ernie G to Tennessee, and for your family’s friendship and kindness to my dad Paul Haney in LaFollette all those years ago. King left Knoxville in 1977 with some baggage……and some trouble continued in his early NBA career…..but the man we see now is the result of not only his mistakes, but his ability to recognize them, reconcile himself to accept the ones he has made, and to try to be a better person from his life experience. I hope the young men who have made similar recent mistakes in both our flagship sports will have an opportunity to hear of his example, and maybe heed some words of advice. King may still not be perfect, but his spirit of maturity and grace is something we should all aspire to.
I was there when he played. What a great player. IT is great to see him and hear him again. He was the greatest I have ever seen. He is so deserving of the recognition. Way to go Bernard.
I didn’t attend Tennessee until after Bernard but his legend lived on. I got to see him play in the NBA as a Knick and I got to see his jersey retired at Tennessee. What a classy guy. He is a tribute to our school. I love you Bernard.
I went to UT after Bernie and Earnie, but their legend was still strong, I remember seeing their famed picture together when walking into Stokely for a game.
Great speech by Bernie because of the content, I had never heard the story of his team beating KY 5 games in a row nor did I know the catalyst for his motivation. We should remember his story to police our own fans whom are behaving badly. Throwing a cigarette in someones hair is beyond words deplorable.
Congrats to the VOLS big win over Kansas in the face of adversity, and great idea Coach Pearl in getting such a basketball legend back involved in the program.
Bernard is one of the most competitive person on the planet. I followed his progress in the NBA. My favorite time was when he was having the 50 pt games and they had a Celtics game. Bird said a few days before the game that Bernard was not going to score 50 on them.
I am not sure if Bernard scored 50 but he was amazing. Bernard hit a baseline shot that was incredibe. After the game, the Bird was 1st class and crowned Bernard the King.
(13 votes)
I was fortunate to be in school at UT when the Ernie and Bernie show was playing. I remember the games in Stokely against Kentucky and realize now how great that atmosphere was – I particularly remember one Bernard King basket that he made when falling to the floor against Kentucky. Bernard was also right in describing Mike Jackson’s jump shot – he was a terrific player. My final thought is remember seeing Bernard and Mike Jackson come to the UT gym for students and playing in some pick-up games. What a great player and a true star (as described by John Ward). Thanks for the memories Bernard.
I was also fortunate to attend the games at Stokely and watched
Bernard and all the greats win some amazing games. I have never to this day
watched a player falling down backwards, smiling, and hitting a shot to win
a pivotal game and it was Bernard King. He had the softest shot, was extremely accurate
and could elevate against anyone in his way.
I am so proud of Bernard and his recovery from a ACL injury to return to the NBA.
Bernard, this is your home, we are your fans and I am thrilled that you are
involved with the Vols once again. Thank you so much for just being a Vol.
As a fan, I will never forget watching the best of the best.
Thanks Bernard and please stay with our program.
My first real participation as a fan of college basketball was as a youngster between 8 and 10 year old while King played at UT. He, Grunfeld, Jackson, Johnny Darden, Terry Crosby, Bert Bertlecamp, Reggie Johnson, and the like were my heros. Particularly King. I had a picture of King, with the Knicks, that I cut out of the Knoxville Journal on the inside of my locker door, my last two years of high school. I followed his pro career till I was thru college and traveling the world in my career into the 90’s. I always felt we should recognize and embrace the man that is unquestionably our greatest player at Tennessee. To see it as a 42 year old adult, first when his number was retired in 2007, then again here in this video is very special to this sentimental west coast transplanted hillbilly. Thank you Coach Pearl, Ernie Grunfeld, Mike Edwards, and anyone else involved. Thank You Ed Bailoff for helping to bring King and Ernie G to Tennessee, and for your family’s friendship and kindness to my dad Paul Haney in LaFollette all those years ago. King left Knoxville in 1977 with some baggage……and some trouble continued in his early NBA career…..but the man we see now is the result of not only his mistakes, but his ability to recognize them, reconcile himself to accept the ones he has made, and to try to be a better person from his life experience. I hope the young men who have made similar recent mistakes in both our flagship sports will have an opportunity to hear of his example, and maybe heed some words of advice. King may still not be perfect, but his spirit of maturity and grace is something we should all aspire to.
I was there when he played. What a great player. IT is great to see him and hear him again. He was the greatest I have ever seen. He is so deserving of the recognition. Way to go Bernard.
I rank Bernard King as MY all time favorite New York Knick. Gosh he could score in bunches!!!! Un-Be-Lieveable!!!
I didn’t attend Tennessee until after Bernard but his legend lived on. I got to see him play in the NBA as a Knick and I got to see his jersey retired at Tennessee. What a classy guy. He is a tribute to our school. I love you Bernard.
I went to UT after Bernie and Earnie, but their legend was still strong, I remember seeing their famed picture together when walking into Stokely for a game.
Great speech by Bernie because of the content, I had never heard the story of his team beating KY 5 games in a row nor did I know the catalyst for his motivation. We should remember his story to police our own fans whom are behaving badly. Throwing a cigarette in someones hair is beyond words deplorable.
Congrats to the VOLS big win over Kansas in the face of adversity, and great idea Coach Pearl in getting such a basketball legend back involved in the program.
Bernard is one of the most competitive person on the planet. I followed his progress in the NBA. My favorite time was when he was having the 50 pt games and they had a Celtics game. Bird said a few days before the game that Bernard was not going to score 50 on them.
I am not sure if Bernard scored 50 but he was amazing. Bernard hit a baseline shot that was incredibe. After the game, the Bird was 1st class and crowned Bernard the King.