Kori Ellis
11-26-2004, 04:12 PM
Elie's work ethic paid off
By Marcus Thompson II
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/10275730.htm?1c
He's earned everything he's gotten in his basketball career. He's spent the last 20-plus years proving himself, adapting his game and seizing every opportunity that came his way -- and making opportunities when there were none.
And Mario Elie had no problem doing whatever it took.
"That's the way it's supposed to be done," Elie, 40, said.
One of the reasons Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin hired Elie as an assistant coach was to have some of that work ethic rub off on the team. Maybe Elie, who was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs last season, can influence the Warriors' young talent with his grit, toughness and standards.
It's already working.
"He's getting more and more demonstrative about guys' effort," Warriors first-year coach Mike Montgomery said. "Mario made it the hard way. He's not a guy that was given anything. I think they respect the fact he's a guy that's not going to have sympathy for much."
Mullin and Elie played junior varsity ball together at Power Memorial High School in New York City. They went 25-0 as sophomores. Elie was the post.
But when he got to varsity, Elie had to transform his game to that of a guard.
"Mario (rhymes with stereo) was about the same size he is now, then," said Mullin, who transferred to Xaverian High for his junior and senior seasons. "He was big young but he adjusted his game. That's what he had to do. He was a rebounder, kind of a center type. But he made the adjustments all the way through. Whatever it took, he always adjusted to win. Whatever it meant for his team to win, that's what he's always been about."
Elie ended up starring for Power Memorial. But that wasn't enough for a big-time college to take a chance on Elie. So he ended up at American International College, a Division II school.
"Should he have been at AIC? Of course not," said Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, who followed Elie's high school career while coaching Seton Hall. "He should have been at a Division I school. There's a lot of coaches like myself that didn't realize just how good Mario Elie was."
Elie wasn't drafted out of AIC after graduating in 1985, or even signed. So he spent the next five years playing in Portugal, Argentina, Ireland, the CBA, the USBL and the WBL.
Finally, in December of 1990, he signed with Philadelphia. He played three games with the 76ers, scoring six points in 20 minutes of action.
On Feb. 23, 2001, Elie signed a 10-day contract with the Warriors. His first game was a 150-145 loss at Denver.
"That night, he had a big game, he fit in, he made things happen, he was energy," Mullin said. "It wasn't about (being) undersized, not (being) a shooting guard, it was about bringing energy and bringing a winning spirit and helping the team. And he did that on arrival."
On Feb. 28, 2001, the Warriors signed Elie through the following season. He went on to become an integral reserve during one of the Warriors' most popular eras -- Run TMC -- and helped the Warriors reach the playoffs both of his seasons with the team.
His stint with the Warriors led to a successful 11-year playing career. He made the playoffs each year and won three championships: in 1994 and 1995 with Houston, and 1999 with San Antonio.
He's built a reputation as one who played the game the right way. He is described by his peers as "tough," "competitive," "grumpy at times, but focused," "a winner."
"When people talk about the modern athlete or the modern NBA player, which is really dangerous to generalize, but they're not talking about Mario Elie," Carlesimo said. "This is a throwback. This is a blue-collar guy. This is somebody who realizes he's got to work on his game in the summer, somebody who realizes he's got to come to practice every day, and somebody who understands how much hard work it takes to be successful in this league and win championships in this league.
"He knows what it takes to get in this league, to stay in this league and to win in this league. There aren't a lot of guys who understand that. A lot of guys think they do. Mario Elie does."
By Marcus Thompson II
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/10275730.htm?1c
He's earned everything he's gotten in his basketball career. He's spent the last 20-plus years proving himself, adapting his game and seizing every opportunity that came his way -- and making opportunities when there were none.
And Mario Elie had no problem doing whatever it took.
"That's the way it's supposed to be done," Elie, 40, said.
One of the reasons Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin hired Elie as an assistant coach was to have some of that work ethic rub off on the team. Maybe Elie, who was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs last season, can influence the Warriors' young talent with his grit, toughness and standards.
It's already working.
"He's getting more and more demonstrative about guys' effort," Warriors first-year coach Mike Montgomery said. "Mario made it the hard way. He's not a guy that was given anything. I think they respect the fact he's a guy that's not going to have sympathy for much."
Mullin and Elie played junior varsity ball together at Power Memorial High School in New York City. They went 25-0 as sophomores. Elie was the post.
But when he got to varsity, Elie had to transform his game to that of a guard.
"Mario (rhymes with stereo) was about the same size he is now, then," said Mullin, who transferred to Xaverian High for his junior and senior seasons. "He was big young but he adjusted his game. That's what he had to do. He was a rebounder, kind of a center type. But he made the adjustments all the way through. Whatever it took, he always adjusted to win. Whatever it meant for his team to win, that's what he's always been about."
Elie ended up starring for Power Memorial. But that wasn't enough for a big-time college to take a chance on Elie. So he ended up at American International College, a Division II school.
"Should he have been at AIC? Of course not," said Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo, who followed Elie's high school career while coaching Seton Hall. "He should have been at a Division I school. There's a lot of coaches like myself that didn't realize just how good Mario Elie was."
Elie wasn't drafted out of AIC after graduating in 1985, or even signed. So he spent the next five years playing in Portugal, Argentina, Ireland, the CBA, the USBL and the WBL.
Finally, in December of 1990, he signed with Philadelphia. He played three games with the 76ers, scoring six points in 20 minutes of action.
On Feb. 23, 2001, Elie signed a 10-day contract with the Warriors. His first game was a 150-145 loss at Denver.
"That night, he had a big game, he fit in, he made things happen, he was energy," Mullin said. "It wasn't about (being) undersized, not (being) a shooting guard, it was about bringing energy and bringing a winning spirit and helping the team. And he did that on arrival."
On Feb. 28, 2001, the Warriors signed Elie through the following season. He went on to become an integral reserve during one of the Warriors' most popular eras -- Run TMC -- and helped the Warriors reach the playoffs both of his seasons with the team.
His stint with the Warriors led to a successful 11-year playing career. He made the playoffs each year and won three championships: in 1994 and 1995 with Houston, and 1999 with San Antonio.
He's built a reputation as one who played the game the right way. He is described by his peers as "tough," "competitive," "grumpy at times, but focused," "a winner."
"When people talk about the modern athlete or the modern NBA player, which is really dangerous to generalize, but they're not talking about Mario Elie," Carlesimo said. "This is a throwback. This is a blue-collar guy. This is somebody who realizes he's got to work on his game in the summer, somebody who realizes he's got to come to practice every day, and somebody who understands how much hard work it takes to be successful in this league and win championships in this league.
"He knows what it takes to get in this league, to stay in this league and to win in this league. There aren't a lot of guys who understand that. A lot of guys think they do. Mario Elie does."