ARLINGTON, Va. The Citadel's Head Basketball Coach, Ed Conroy, will join five others for the USO's “Operation Hoop Talk: Talking Hoops with the Troops.” The basketball coaching legends will share insider tips, host free basketball clinics and tour multiple military posts. The group will also pose for photos, sign autographs and spend quality time talking with military players about the game of basketball. Among those touring are:
• Jeff Bzdelik: University of Colorado
• Ed Conroy: The Citadel
• Jim Crews: United States Military Academy (West Point)
• Dave Leitao: University of Virginia
• Jeff Nix: New York Knicks (former)/President of Camouflage Kids, Inc.
• Gary Stewart: University of California Davis
Modeled after the hugely popular Operation Links, Gridiron and Hardwood series', “Operation Hoop Talk” continues the USO's commitment to bringing top sports figures and sports-related events to troops stationed overseas. Created to help boost troop morale and bring a touch of home to those in uniform, the initiative allows coaches, professional sports figures and military players the opportunity to establish relationships, and have fun in a competitive environment.
“The USO is excited to unveil Operation Hoop Talk,” said president and CEO Edward Powell. “When we send out tours to entertain the troops, our emphasis is always on what our men and women in uniform want to see. They shouldn't just work hard, they should play hard. Learning from America's best basketball coaches is one of our gifts to them.”
For more than 67 years, the USO's mission has remained the same: to support U.S. troops and their families wherever they serve -- until every one comes home. Carrying on this tradition, in 2007 the USO produced 74 tours and staged 453 special entertainment events, to include troop performances, autograph sessions, hospital visits and movie screenings.
AT&T, Inc., is the official telecommunications sponsor of USO entertainment tours. For a list of USO tours, visit www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment. To learn more about the USO or to find out how to support the troops, visit www.uso.org.
EDITOR'S NOTE: USO photographs of “Operation Hoop Talk” tour participants are available upon request.
