The WWW-Illinois connection
Why was William Wesley at the United Center for an Illinois game? What's his connection to the program?
Connect the dots with me. Let's start by clearing up a misconception. Wesley's ties to Illinois athletics didn't begin with the hiring of assistant basketball coach Jerrance Howard. Not even close. Now, Wesley really, really likes Howard. If you've met Jerrance, you know why. Wesley appreciates Howard's passion for what he does, and how he goes about doing it.
Howard's the reason Wesley, who's a part-time Chicago resident, is going to return to being more of a presence around the Illinois program.
Keyword: return. Wesley's had a connection with Illinois in some shape or form since the '80s. This isn't anything new. Wesley was close friends and high school football teammates with former Illinois defensive back Keith Taylor in Pennsauken, N.J. Taylor was a drafted by the Saints in 1988.
(Wesley was a defensive end at Pennsauken. Not that it matters. Just a note.)
So that's where the relationship with Illinois got its start.
Keith Taylor + William Wesley = Illinois.
Wesley also attended the Rose Bowl in 1984, the last time Illinois played in the Rose Bowl.
He's also close with former Illinois and King star Marcus Liberty. That relationship goes back a while. At a friend's request, Wesley served as a sort of host for Liberty at the 1987 McDonald's All-American game. Wesley picked him up at the Philadelphia airport.
Liberty was at the United Center yesterday as well. So was another Wesley acquaintance, Kendall Gill. So was another Wesley acquaintance, Michael Jordan, and Wesley's known Illinois freshman Jeff Jordan for most of his 19 years.
There hasn't been a noticeable Wesley connection with Illinois for a few years. There wasn't a significant one during the Self era or during the Weber era, until now.
I'm not saying the connection is a bad thing or a good thing. I'm just saying it's a thing.
Wesley's connections range from Chinese politicians to John Tyson (the chicken guy) to Marcus Liberty to Michael Jordan. And as you see, Wesley's connection with Illinois is not a new one, though it has been rekindled with Howard on the staff, via mutual friend Deron Williams.
Hopefully that sheds some light on William Wesley's connection with Illinois.
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