Fore!
On Monday, July 30, former 76er Aaron McKie hosted the Second Annual AM8 Golf Challenge, benefiting the AM8 Foundation, at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham, Pa.

Former 76er Aaron McKie hosted the Second Annual AM8 Golf Challenge in Horsham, PA.

Among the celebrities that teed it up in support of the AM8 Foundation were Philadelphia 76ers guard Kevin Ollie, former Temple men’s basketball head coach John Chaney, former 76ers guard and current Saint Joseph’s assistant coach Doug Overton and Temple alum Lance Johnstone, who has enjoyed a 12-year NFL career with the Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.

The foursomes also included special appearances from media personalities such as 76ers Television Play-by-Play Announcer Marc Zumoff, the Voice of Sixers Radio Tom McGinnis, Ukee Washington (CBS-3) and Howard Eskin (610-WIP).

Sixers Sightings

In addition to McGinnis and Zumoff, 76ers equipment manger Scott Rego was also in attendance. Sixers management does not need to worry whether or not Rego has been hard at work this off-season between summer leagues and preparing for next season, as it is clear he has not been able to play much golf this summer. Rego captained his team to an impressive last place finish, good for a $10 gift certificate to Geno's Steaks. Rego however insists, his group didn't finish in last place, they just "turned in an honest scorecard," the best explanation he could come up with for their 42-over-par performance. The tournament was played in a shamble format (or modified scramble) in which the best drive from the foursome was played and the best two scores were recorded.

The golf outing proved to be an enjoyable afternoon for the 120 participating golfers, but more importantly, served as a gathering in support of a good cause.

A Philadelphia native, McKie starred at Simon Gratz High School before playing for Chaney at Temple University. After starting his NBA career in Portland (1994-96) and Detroit (1996-97), McKie returned to Philadelphia and spent seven-plus seasons as a member of the 76ers, highlighted by a 2000-01 season in which McKie won the NBA’s 2001 Sixth Man of the Year and helped guide the team to the 2001 NBA Finals.

While McKie has left a lasting impression on basketball fans in Philadelphia, he hopes to make even a bigger impact on the city off the court. In its first year of existence, the AM8 Foundation has impacted nearly 1,000 Philadelphia families and children through after school programs, basketball leagues, holiday celebrations and renovations to Belfield Recreation Center.

Ukee Washington (CBS-3) participated for a good cause.

McKie credits two of his former coaches – Coach Chaney (Temple) and Bill Ellerbee (Simon Gratz) – with teaching him a valuable lesson, a similar lesson that he hopes to instill among youngsters in the same North Philadelphia neighborhood that he grew up in.

“Both Coach Chaney and Coach Ellerbee taught me about responsibility,” McKie said. “They taught me to be a leader and being responsible for your own actions both on and off the court. And they taught us about the importance of becoming involved.

“At the time, I did not realize it, but now that I am older and more mature, I totally understand what they were saying. Those are some of the things I am trying to do.”

McKie has taken it upon himself to, yet again, leave a lasting impression on Philadelphia. This time, not as a player, but as a role model.