Dee Brown Article

Thanks. An exemplary man. Grateful that he's an Illini.

Odd that it doesn't mention his short stint on staff at Illinois and mysterious departure, yet the article does explore his desire to stay connected with the Illinois fanbase and to coach his team against the Illini.

Stevegarbs said:

Odd that it doesn't mention his short stint on staff at Illinois and mysterious departure, yet the article does explore his desire to stay connected with the Illinois fanbase and to coach his team against the Illini.

Click to expand...

I also opened this thread hoping finally for some insight on the departure, but no article that has a header with 'better' and 'elite' in it is going to be looking for skeletons. And maybe it is better to leave those buried anyway.

I have shared this before. I was out in Chicago one Sunday, and my wife had my Illini crewneck on because it had gotten a little cold. This very nice guy who looked kind of familiar came up and told my wife he liked her sweatshirt. A couple of the people we were with (NONE of whom were Illini fans, by the way!) could totally tell that they knew that face. About a minute later, I was standing close by, and I finally said, "Dude, are you Dee Brown?!" and he just chuckled and was like, "Yeah."

We literally played shuffleboard with Dee and his girlfriend for hours, and he was SO cool. Seems like a great guy. I even called my younger sister so he could say hi, and she literally couldn't believe it. I tried not to bombard him with Illini questions, but I HAD to ask a few ... it was so fun to hear him describe what the comeback against Arizona was like from the court.

Hope Dee has a really bright future ahead!

Fighter of the Nightman said:

I have shared this before. I was out in Chicago one Sunday, and my wife had my Illini crewneck on because it had gotten a little cold. This very nice guy who looked kind of familiar came up and told my wife he liked her sweatshirt. A couple of the people we were with (NONE of whom were Illini fans, by the way!) could totally tell that they knew that face. About a minute later, I was standing close by, and I finally said, "Dude, are you Dee Brown?!" and he just chuckled and was like, "Yeah."

We literally played shuffleboard with Dee and his girlfriend for hours, and he was SO cool. Seems like a great guy. I even called my younger sister so he could say hi, and she literally couldn't believe it. I tried not to bombard him with Illini questions, but I HAD to ask a few ... it was so fun to hear him describe what the comeback against Arizona was like from the court.

Hope Dee has a really bright future ahead!

Click to expand...

So what did he say about the comeback?

Illini92and96 said:

So what did he say about the comeback?

Click to expand...

Well, my memory is a bit blurred due to how many beers I had, and please forgive how anticlimactic my wording is going to be ... but he just said it was SO loud that you could barely hear yourself think, and that for how crazy it was on TV or in the stands, multiply that x100 if you were on the court. I also seem to recall him saying that it was kind of a weird mixed feeling between on one hand them always believing they were still in it even when they got down 15 and yet sort of blacking out for those 4 minutes of the comeback.

Dee was also still extremely high on the ceiling at Illinois. This was also right after we lost to Houston in 2022, and he was very complimentary of our 2022 team ... he told me this in a casual/one-on-one conversation, so I do not feel morally justified saying too much on the Internet (feels like a betray of trust), but he pretty much said that 2022 team was only missing one piece to make a run at the Final Four.

I also know I asked him specifically who he thought our biggest rival was when he was in school, and I feel like his answer was kind of vague and he emphasized that because we were always competing for a Big Ten title each year he was there, they felt like their "rival" was just whatever team was near the top with them. I got the vibe he had the most respect for MSU and felt they had the best arena atmosphere besides Champaign. In light of how it has become a bigger rivalry, it was kind of funny what an afterthought Iowa was to him when he was playing.

EDIT: I will say this, though, if you would ever want to take your chances to meet him! I had the pleasure of meeting him at Declan's in Old Town ... and I wouldn't have to assume TOO much to conclude it is one of his favorite places to watch sports and grab a bite to eat when he didn't have to work or anything (i.e., watch the NCAA Tournament once his season was done). He is also very good at shuffleboard, lol.

altgeld88 said:

Thanks. An exemplary man. Grateful that he's an Illini.

Click to expand...

We got to talk to Dee at the David Williams Golf Tournament last week in CU. What at great guy. I dont know what happened when he was on the staff here, but it is a shame he is not still down here working for the Illini.

I've been fortunate to talk to Dee on a few occasions. The first time, I was but a young lad at the Marketplace Mall with my dad. We go to the restroom. My dad is wearing a Bears hat. As we stand at the urinals, this dude starts chatting my dad up about how good the Bears are going to be this upcoming season. My dad was a bit standoffish, as I recall - Not very interested in talking football with a complete stranger while relieving himself. So, the conversation was pretty one sided. But it extended to the bathroom sinks, then the hand dryers, then outside the bathroom door. My dad is basically just courteously nodding along with whatever this dude is saying at this point. I'm just standing there wide-eyed and starstruck because the guy my dad is talking to is my hero, Dee Brown.

We get outside the restroom and another taller guy is waiting for Dee, it's Luther Head. Dee keeps talking to my dad and Luther seems a little annoyed. He's ready to go but Dee keeps talking to this random guy from the bathroom. Finally, Lu gets Dee to walk away from the conversation. My dad and Dee exchange take-cares and see-ya-laters.

Then I look at my dad, who by the way is a die hard Illini fan as well, and said, "You have no idea who that was, do you?"

When I told him it was Dee and Luther, he was shocked and I think a little embarrassed that he wasn't a little more gracious to a couple of his favorite players.

If, and it is a huge IF, I get to the pearly gates, my first two questions are:
Who really killed JFK
What did Dee Brown do or say to get him exiled from UIUC

I got the honor of partying with Dee, Deron, Luther, Rich, Calvin, and Augie at Kams in January of 05. I was bar hopping with a couple friends. When we got to Cams, almost everyone was on the left side of the bar and about 10 people on the right. I noticed Dee right off the bat . My friends went to the left side with everyone else, but I went to the right. What's the worst thing that could happen? Told them that I bleed Orange and Blue and was a massive fan. After a couple minutes of talking, they invited me and my friends to "their" side to drink for free. Cheap vodka shots and cheap vodka with fruit punch. It was a blast! Drank for a couple of hours before they left. The bartender said they/we went through 4 handles of that vodka. Calvin was hilarious!

altgeld88 said:

Thanks. An exemplary man. Grateful that he's an Illini.

Click to expand...

I love Dee, but there is a significant amount of evidence that your statement is suspect. The fact that his dismissal was so sudden and without transparency is not helpful. I won't get into personal innuendo but there is a clear reason one of the most popular players, and post career coaches in Illinois history just left and then hasn't been brought back. UIUC has everything to gain pumping Dee's identity and importance to our organization if he is clear, as he was the Sports Illustrated guy...but they don't. That's telling folks

illinifan1987 said:

I got the honor of partying with Dee, Deron, Luther, Rich, Calvin, and Augie at Kams in January of 05. I was bar hopping with a couple friends. When we got to Cams, almost everyone was on the left side of the bar and about 10 people on the right. I noticed Dee right off the bat . My friends went to the left side with everyone else, but I went to the right. What's the worst thing that could happen? Told them that I bleed Orange and Blue and was a massive fan. After a couple minutes of talking, they invited me and my friends to "their" side to drink for free. Cheap vodka shots and cheap vodka with fruit punch. It was a blast! Drank for a couple of hours before they left. The bartender said they/we went through 4 handles of that vodka. Calvin was hilarious!

Click to expand...

Dang autocorrect on the second Kams

DICKnaggie said:

I love Dee, but there is a significant amount of evidence that your statement is suspect. The fact that his dismissal was so sudden and without transparency is not helpful. I won't get into personal innuendo but there is a clear reason one of the most popular players, and post career coaches in Illinois history just left and then hasn't been brought back. UIUC has everything to gain pumping Dee's identity and importance to our organization if he is clear, as he was the Sports Illustrated guy...but they don't. That's telling folks

Click to expand...

Not Dee related just dumb moment. Eating at Dos and I tell my girlfriend man that guy is tall. Her not sports fan but watched with me says that’s the basketball guy for Illinois. Hey Mike tisdale.

21ChampaignSt said:

I've been fortunate to talk to Dee on a few occasions. The first time, I was but a young lad at the Marketplace Mall with my dad. We go to the restroom. My dad is wearing a Bears hat. As we stand at the urinals, this dude starts chatting my dad up about how good the Bears are going to be this upcoming season. My dad was a bit standoffish, as I recall - Not very interested in talking football with a complete stranger while relieving himself. So, the conversation was pretty one sided. But it extended to the bathroom sinks, then the hand dryers, then outside the bathroom door. My dad is basically just courteously nodding along with whatever this dude is saying at this point. I'm just standing there wide-eyed and starstruck because the guy my dad is talking to is my hero, Dee Brown.

We get outside the restroom and another taller guy is waiting for Dee, it's Luther Head. Dee keeps talking to my dad and Luther seems a little annoyed. He's ready to go but Dee keeps talking to this random guy from the bathroom. Finally, Lu gets Dee to walk away from the conversation. My dad and Dee exchange take-cares and see-ya-laters.

Then I look at my dad, who by the way is a die hard Illini fan as well, and said, "You have no idea who that was, do you?"

When I told him it was Dee and Luther, he was shocked and I think a little embarrassed that he wasn't a little more gracious to a couple of his favorite players.

Click to expand...

Not Illini related, but it reminds me of a story from several years back when I was working in the St. Louis Cardinals press box. I went to the bathroom there, which on one wall had three urinals, and on the opposite wall was a single urinal and the stall. On this particular occasion, two of the three urinals on the one wall were occupied by two old men, with the middle urinal open. So naturally, as urinal etiquette dictates, I chose to use the single urinal on the opposite wall.

As I’m relieving myself, a fourth person enters the room and heads toward the last remaining urinal. I immediately recognize the unique, booming voice of Mike Shannon who loudly proclaims “well, whatta ya know… I’m pi$$in’ between two hall of famers!”

Yes…it turns out that my strict adherence to unwritten men’s room rules had cost me the chance to take a leak between Stan Musial and Enos “Country” Slaughter. Missed opportunity.

RabidDawgClassic said:

Not Illini related, but it reminds me of a story from several years back when I was working in the St. Louis Cardinals press box. I went to the bathroom there, which on one wall had three urinals, and on the opposite wall was a single urinal and the stall. On this particular occasion, two of the three urinals on the one wall were occupied by two old men, with the middle urinal open. So naturally, as urinal etiquette dictates, I chose to use the single urinal on the opposite wall.

As I’m relieving myself, a fourth person enters the room and heads toward the last remaining urinal. I immediately recognize the unique, booming voice of Mike Shannon who loudly proclaims “well, whatta ya know… I’m pi$$in’ between two hall of famers!”

Yes…it turns out that my strict adherence to unwritten men’s room rules had cost me the chance to take a leak between Stan Musial and Enos “Country” Slaughter. Missed opportunity.

Click to expand...

Didn't that pi$$ you off....???......

RabidDawgClassic said:

Not Illini related, but it reminds me of a story from several years back when I was working in the St. Louis Cardinals press box. I went to the bathroom there, which on one wall had three urinals, and on the opposite wall was a single urinal and the stall. On this particular occasion, two of the three urinals on the one wall were occupied by two old men, with the middle urinal open. So naturally, as urinal etiquette dictates, I chose to use the single urinal on the opposite wall.

As I’m relieving myself, a fourth person enters the room and heads toward the last remaining urinal. I immediately recognize the unique, booming voice of Mike Shannon who loudly proclaims “well, whatta ya know… I’m pi$$in’ between two hall of famers!”

Yes…it turns out that my strict adherence to unwritten men’s room rules had cost me the chance to take a leak between Stan Musial and Enos “Country” Slaughter. Missed opportunity.

Click to expand...

You missed a couple of memorable handshakes and back slaps. 3 if you count Shannon.

Dee has the Roosevelt University Lakers off to a great start: 9-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Puts him at 28-11 with the program and 19-4 in the conference. That's a jump up from where Roosevelt was in the years preceding Dee. It has me pondering Dee's career trajectory. I imagine there shoulder be opportunities coming his way very soon.

If UIC struggles again in the Missouri Valley Conference, seems possible that head coaching job could open up with Luke Yaklich being in his fourth year with little to show. DePaul job could open, with them off to an atrocious start in Tony Stubblefield's third year. Unlikely the university would hire Dee straight from the NAIA; and yet, with the state DePaul men's basketball has been in, maybe it's not so crazy to try something vastly different in a young, local coach.

Fighter of the Nightman said:

"... he just said it was SO loud that you could barely hear yourself think, and that for how crazy it was on TV or in the stands, multiply that x100 if you were on the court. I also seem to recall him saying that it was kind of a weird mixed feeling between on one hand them always believing they were still in it even when they got down 15 and yet sort of blacking out for those 4 minutes of the comeback."

Click to expand...

When someone is having a ‘down’ day or just a bit bored and wants a healthy shot of energy... all one has to do is think about that classic game and how it ended. It really is one of the best games in all of College roundball history.

It looked so bad. It’s seemed so disappointing and crushing after such a great season. And then the Illini began to show signs of life. And then some more. And this aroused feelings of, ‘Do You Believe In Miracles?!’. And we began to dare to believe.

And the Illini kept doing everything they needed to with hardly any time left. And then... and then... Miracle Delivered!

Truly one of the greatest memories in Illini History. And thoughts of that game have kept Illini Nation going now for nearly 20 years.

2024 – time to make some new memories like that. Well, maybe not JUST like that. A little easier on the nerves next time.

DICKnaggie said:

I love Dee, but there is a significant amount of evidence that your statement is suspect. The fact that his dismissal was so sudden and without transparency is not helpful. I won't get into personal innuendo but there is a clear reason one of the most popular players, and post career coaches in Illinois history just left and then hasn't been brought back. UIUC has everything to gain pumping Dee's identity and importance to our organization if he is clear, as he was the Sports Illustrated guy...but they don't. That's telling folks

Click to expand...

I think you can acknowledge he obviously made a mistake involving his personal conduct while employed in the Athletic Department (even thought we don't know the details) - while still admiring what he did for the program, his legacy and the fact that he bleeds O&B and will always be an Illini.

You can love him for who he is and forgive him for who he isn't sort of thing

HensonHall71 said:

I think you can acknowledge he obviously made a mistake involving his personal conduct while employed in the Athletic Department (even thought we don't know the details) - while still admiring what he did for the program, his legacy and the fact that he bleeds O&B and will always be an Illini.

You can love him for who he is and forgive him for who he isn't sort of thing

Click to expand...

I agree with the sentiment...but it's kind of hard to forgive someone when you don't know what you're forgiving him for.

Roundball Sage said:

When someone is having a ‘down’ day or just a bit bored and wants a healthy shot of energy... all one has to do is think about that classic game and how it ended. It really is one of the best games in all of College roundball history.

It looked so bad. It’s seemed so disappointing and crushing after such a great season. And then the Illini began to show signs of life. And then some more. And this aroused feelings of, ‘Do You Believe In Miracles?!’. And we began to dare to believe.

And the Illini kept doing everything they needed to with hardly any time left. And then... and then... Miracle Delivered!

Truly one of the greatest memories in Illini History. And thoughts of that game have kept Illini Nation going now for nearly 20 years.

2024 – time to make some new memories like that. Well, maybe not JUST like that. A little easier on the nerves next time.

Click to expand...

I also REALLY suggest people check out the the full video of the game if they want a real trip down memory lane. For anyone who watched this one live on TV, it will remind you of how agonizingly long those last four minutes felt! And that does not even take into account the infuriating commercial breaks during the comeback where we had to nervously wait for the game to come back on ... I distinctly remember after one commercial, even the announcer was audibly annoyed with having to advertise the upcoming Cold Case episode on CBS. To guide your journey for the attached video...

1. 49 min 30 sec: With about 9:55 left, Roger Powell scores a nice and one to cut Arizona's lead to 57-54. The crowd gets back into it, and it seems like we are about to recapture momentum. We trade baskets, but...

2. 51 min 5 sec: After a three from Williams once again cuts the lead to three, an Arizona dunk completely deflates us and extends their lead to 5 with 9:03 to go.

3. 55 min 30 sec: After a nice defensive rebound, we have the ball down 9 (tied for the biggest deficit we faced all year) with 6:29 to go. Head takes what looks like a rushed three pointer, and we foul on the rebound ... for the first time, we genuinely look rattled. On the next possession, Arizona hits a three to make it 72-58 with just over 6 minutes to go. Illini fans everywhere are OFFICIALLY starting to freak out.

4. 1 hr 0 min 20 sec: Arizona misses a layup, and we commit a clear frustration foul on the rebound. Arizona hits both free throws to make it 75-60 with 4:04 remaining ... the true depth of the despair. I can honestly say for whatever reason, though, that I STILL hadn't given up hope. But looking back, I think a lot of that might have been denial!

5. 1 hr 6 min 10 sec: We have cut Arizona's lead back to 9 (77-68) and got a nice defensive rebound, but there are only 2 minutes left ... we have got to go NOW. After a missed jumper by Williams, Powell's putback is completely stuffed, and Arizona has the ball back with 1:49 to go. I officially start to think it's over.

6. 1 hr 6 min 54 sec: The first steal by Luther cuts the lead to 77-70 with 1:21 to go. Mostly just calling this one out for the memories, as it didn't really do that much to reignite my hope we could really win this thing. If you will notice, Arizona doesn't even chase him down at full speed, because most people really did think this one was over.

7. 1 hr 8 min 28 sec: After a nice drive by Williams, we have cut the lead to 6 with 1:05 to go ... we can at least entertain hope again! However, we foul Arizona before the ball is passed inbounds. The temporary boost of momentum/energy/optimism from cutting it to 6 is slowly strangled from us as Arizona methodically and slowly hits both free throws ... the look on the faces of our bench players says it all. Barring an absolute miracle, we just don't have enough time to make up 8 points.

8. 1 hr 9 min 20 sec: ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! We all know how it goes from here, so just enjoy! However, I will say that while everyone focuses on the "15 points in 4 minutes!" aspect of the comeback, the following FAR more impressive stat is lost ... we made up an 8-point deficit in 20 frickin' seconds. Oh yeah, and for anyone who wants to know, the moment the camera literally shakes from Williams' game-tying three starts roughly at 1:10:28!