Friday 24 December 2010

Niagara loses basketball icon

Niagara Bullet Media tribute

Bill Rootes was the guy who met you at the gym door. He might have been checking admission tickets, pushing the 50-50 draw, sticking a program in your hand.


Bill Rootes was the guy who picked up towels off the floor, booked the team buses, arranged hotel reservations, found out the best place to eat, made sure everyone was on time.

Bill Rootes was the guy who showed up to practice with 20 Tim Hortons gift cards, who cheered loudest when things were going well, and even louder when they weren't, who invited players to his home for meals, who organized golf tournaments, and threw summer pool parties.

And now Bill Rootes is gone, and no one can quite believe it.

...Read More

******************************************************************************



Niagara Falls Review/ St. Catharines Standard tribute to Bill Rootes

There are certain people in Niagara Falls who have left such an indelible mark on the sporting community that their legacies will far outlast their lives.


Bill Rootes was one of those people. He was one of the faces of basketball in this city. He was one of the main creators of the Niagara Falls Red Raiders program, which has helped introduced hundreds of youths to the sport.

Rootes died Wednesday at the age of 61.

...Read More

No comments: