Sports shorts: Princeton in the pros

Published in the June 2, 2010, Issue

Alumni of Princeton's athletic teams are playing key roles in a trio of professional championships this month.

At the men's soccer World Cup in South Africa, head coach BOB BRADLEY ’80 and assistant coach JESSE MARSCH ’96 will lead the U.S. national team, which opens play against England June 12. The team came to Princeton's campus in late May for its final stateside training camp, choosing a venue that has multiple alumni connections. Princeton's soccer facility -- Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium -- carries the names of two players Bradley coached during his time with the Tigers, Tom Roberts ’85 and the late Rob Myslik ’90.

In professional basketball, two architects of the Boston Celtics' Eastern Conference championship team are Princetonians: CEO and co-owner WYC GROUSBECK ’83 (a former Princeton rower) and assistant coach ARMOND HILL ’85. The Celtics trail the Los Angeles Lakers 1-0 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.

Hockey's Stanley Cup playoffs feature a Tiger on the ice: DARROLL POWE ’07. Powe, a center for the Philadelphia Flyers, has played in all 20 of his team's postseason games and assisted on a goal in Philadelphia's 6-5 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks May 29. The Blackhawks lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1.