October 15 is a big day on the calendar of college basketball coaches around the country.  For the Denison men’s and women’s basketball team’s, not only does it mark the official start to the 2009-10 season, it provided an up close and personal meeting with one of the game’s legends.

Senator Bill Bradley took time out his busy schedule during his visit to Denison’s campus to address the Big Red’s two basketball teams prior to his speaking engagement this evening with Speaker Newt Gingrich as part of the Babcock Lecture Series at Swasey Chapel.

A former star at Princeton University and later with the New York Knicks, Bradley knows all about the difficulties of maintaining a balance between athletic excellence and academic rigor.  After a stellar career at Princeton which saw him score over 2,500 points and earn college player of the year honors, he postponed his professional career for two years after receiving the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Bradley spoke candidly about his time at Oxford, his deep bond with former Knicks teammate and future running mate Dave DeBusschere, and his long road from Crystal City, Mo. to the Basketball Hall of Fame to his senatorial seat on Capitol Hill.

Sophomore Mike Garabedian isn’t taking his latest visit with a legend of the hardwood for granted.

“Last year we had the opportunity to speak with Coach John Wooden via teleconference and this year, on the day of our first practice, I had the chance to listen to Senator Bradley talk about the game of basketball and life in general.  These are some rare opportunities that Denison has provided and I think we are all better off for having experienced them.”

Both Denison basketball teams will open their 2009-10 seasons on November 15.  The women will host Trine University at 2 p.m. while the men will follow at 4 p.m. against Marietta College.