BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — Former NBA center Artis Gilmore brought his 7-2 frame to Blythewood for the Alex English Celebrity Golf Tournament. Artis did not play but he made the rounds in his golf cart, mingling with participants and engaging in numerous conversations at the awards celebration inside the Cobblestone Park clubhouse.
That sums up what Alex English means to Artis and the rest of the legends who showed up to support the third annual Alex English Celebrity Golf Tournament which benefits Family Promise of the Midlands, an organizations designed to move families out of homelessness and into a life of independence.
Gilmore was joined by the likes of other NBA legends including Otis Birdsong, Walter Davis, Dan Issel and T.R. Dunn. Davis, Issel and Dunn played with Alex in Denver when English was compiling points on his way to becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
Gamecock greats George Rogers, Sterling Sharpe, Harold Green and Corey Miller showed up along with Mark Bryan, guitarist for Hootie and the Blowfish and former Atlanta Braves outfielder Brian Jordan who also competed in the NFL as a member of the Bills and Falcons as a safety. Four-time Super Bowl champion Donnie Shell from South Carolina State led his status as a Pro Football Hall of Famer to the field of legends.
Throw in former Gamecock post player Mark Greiner and his son Grayson, the former MLB catcher – both from Blythewood – and you have a well-rounded group of celebrities and legends who came to Blythewood to support Alex’s tournament.