Former Hawks Beat Writer Sekou Passes away

Post #1 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:07 am

This one hurts. He covered the team for years and was a staple up in Smyrna for a while. He’s probably my fave Hawks beat writer ever.

Rest in Power, SS.

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Post #2 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:10 am

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Post #3 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:09 pm

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Post #4 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:54 pm

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kg01 · Post #5 » by **kg01** » Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:01 pm

This hurts. My favorite beat writer and I always followed his stuff since moving on. Always struck me as a respectable, good guy.

Rest in power, SS.

Post #6 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:16 pm

It has been a bad week for Atlanta sports due to the passing of great men. RIP

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Spud2nique · Post #7 » by **Spud2nique** » Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:32 pm

Anyone hear David Aldridge speak about Sekou? He lost it and just started bawling. Man, I was in shock before but that got me again. :cry:

Post #8 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:10 am

^Sekou seemed to be genuinely beloved around the association.

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jayu70 · Post #9 » by **jayu70** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:22 pm

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jayu70 · Post #10 » by **jayu70** » Mon Feb 8, 2021 4:20 pm

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Post #11 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Feb 8, 2021 8:20 pm

jayu70 wrote:

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Classy move!

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Post #12 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Feb 9, 2021 12:34 am

This is phenomenal. Sekou's legacy will live on for years. Great move by the Hawks. :clap:

Spoiler:

jayu70 wrote:

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Post #13 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Feb 9, 2021 5:49 pm

Hawks to honor Sekou Smith with three tributes

⋅ The media workroom at State Farm Arena will be named after Smith. The Sekou Smith Press Room will open for the 2021-22 NBA season.

⋅ The Sekou Smith Award will be presented annually to honor the player who “best represents themselves and the franchise with professionalism and integrity in their interactions with the media. A plaque in the media workroom will display the name of each season’s honoree, and an on-court trophy presentation will be held including the winner and members of Smith’s family beginning at the end of this season.

⋅ The team will launch an annual Hawks-NBA Summer League internship in Smith’s name. Each summer, a journalism or multi-media student from a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) school will be selected to serve as the Hawks’ beat writer for NBA Summer League, and their work will appear on the team’s digital team properties, providing valuable experience and clips. In addition to covering associated travel costs, the Hawks will provide a stipend to the intern. The SWAC is comprised of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) including Jackson State University, Smith’s alma mater. The NBA Summer League is held in Las Vegas each year.

Smith, who died Jan. 26 at the age of 48 due to COVID-19 complications, served as the AJC’s Hawks beat reporter from 2005-09. He also worked at the Clarion-Ledger and as the Pacers beat reporter for the Indianapolis Star before coming to Atlanta. After leaving the AJC, Smith starred across all platforms for Turner Sports as an analyst for NBA TV, a writer for NBA.com and a host of the Hang Time Podcast.

https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-to-honor-sekou-smith-with-three-tributes/SPBI4UTBAVBZ3I2XC5TZPWR4YI/?outputType=amp

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Sedale Threatt · Post #14 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Tue Feb 9, 2021 6:24 pm

As a colleague of Sekou’s, these are amazing tributes, especially the Summer League internship. That’s a wonderful idea that will have tangible, real-world benefits for a lot of kids trying to get into a tough field.

Post #15 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Jul 9, 2021 12:13 am

Even more good works in Sekou’s name.

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Geaux_Hawks · Post #16 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Fri Jul 9, 2021 11:20 am

Glad to see Sekou well honored by the Hawks. One of few good media guys.

jayu70 · Post #17 » by **jayu70** » Sat Aug 7, 2021 9:07 pm

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Post #18 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 5:34 pm

HMFFL wrote:⋅ The team will launch an annual Hawks-NBA Summer League internship in Smith’s name. Each summer, a journalism or multi-media student from a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) school will be selected to serve as the Hawks’ beat writer for NBA Summer League, and their work will appear on the team’s digital team properties, providing valuable experience and clips. In addition to covering associated travel costs, the Hawks will provide a stipend to the intern. The SWAC is comprised of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) including Jackson State University, Smith’s alma mater. The NBA Summer League is held in Las Vegas each year.

https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-to-honor-sekou-smith-with-three-tributes/SPBI4UTBAVBZ3I2XC5TZPWR4YI/?outputType=amp

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jayu70 · Post #19 » by **jayu70** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 11:11 pm

Well Done Hawks!

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Post #20 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 5:54 pm

Visiting media seems pleased with what the team has done

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