"Big Ace" is cool

When John Thompson, Jr. called himself "Big Ace", there was no boasting, no vanity and no hyperbole.

It was telling it like it is.

As a Head Coach, John Thompson won NCAA Championship for Georgetown in 1984.

He was the first African American Coach to win the College Championship.

But he was known for more than that. He was a big man with an imposing presence, tough discipline and a large heart. He provided a huge tent for his students, followers and the whole community.

His contribution in shaping the minds of a generation of youngsters is legendary.

However, multitude of fans remember him because he was so real.

He was a builder and molder of young African American athletes. His players followed him long after their college playing career was over. Almost all of his players, friends and proteges felt that whenever they needed him "he was always just a phone call away". To his star player Allen Iverson, he was a life saver.

To his noted pupils like, Patrick Ewing, Alanzo Mourning, and Dikembe Mutombo he was a lifelong coach.

Thanks to John Thompson,Jr. our whole family became ardent fans of Georgetown Basketball in the 1980's. He was a role model for our sons.

His coaching philosophy was simple. He said, "They gotta love you before you call them a cuss word".

His advice to his disciples was straightforward, "You're gonna have to pay for groceries one day.

You're gonna have to stand up on your own two feet". And, many of them did.

After he retired from coaching, John Thompson, Jr. embarked on a television and radio career.

Sports world found a commentator of great insight and humorous episodes.

It was also touched by his reverence to his mentor Red Auerbach, love for peers like Bill Russell, care for all his players and respect for the fans everywhere.

We all felt proud when he openly called his son John Thompson III, (also Head Coach of Georgetown) as "My Child".

To me, the most telling moment of his coaching career was not in 1984, when Georgetown won the Championship. It was earlier in 1982 Championship game against North Carolina, which Georgetown narrowly lost. Fred Brown, Georgetown's sophomore Guard, made a misplay that cost them the Championship. At the end of the game, John Thompson, instead of yelling at Brown, embraced and consoled him. That was mark of a great coach and also evidence of a good man with humanity.

That is why, even after his death at the age of 78, to all of us in the Nation's Capital,

"Big Ace" is cool.