David Cullen
Encyclopedia
David Cullen is a former basketball
player who currently assists the organisation Crossover Basketball with its work in Northern Ireland
. David has attended and currently works for Queen's University Belfast.
At age 25, David moved to the newly founded Queen's Basketball Club. He also enrolled as a mature student at Queen's, which enabled him to play for the varsities
team. This led to David twice representing the Northern Ireland Universities basketball team at the BUCS games. It was through the varsity team that David met Sean Tuohey and became involved with Peace Players International (formally Playing For Peace).
David is currently the General Manager
/Coach of Belfast Tropics. Dave and his wife Kerry live in South Belfast with their four children.
, The Queen's Invitational Basketball Tournament (formerly known as the Errigle Inn Invitational tournament). The Tournament has been up and running for over 5 years now and clubs such as Star of the Sea, Tolka Rovers and North Star Basketball Club
have lifted the trophy. Teams from England, Cyprus and America have attended the competition.
In 2008 Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry helped finance the Cyprus team's trip to Belfast to participate in the tournament.
In 2010 the tournament sponsored by ESPN was won by the Belfast Tropics.
received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award
at the 2007 ESPY awards for their work with PeacePlayers International.
Previous recipients of the Award include Muhammad Ali, Dean Smith, Billie Jean King, Tommie Smith and John Carlos and in 2009 Nelson Mandella.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who currently assists the organisation Crossover Basketball with its work in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. David has attended and currently works for Queen's University Belfast.
Basketball career
Dave started playing basketball in the senior leagues for Team Smithwicks at 16 years old, but had to pretend he was 18 to be available for selection. He them moved to Star of the Sea at age 20 who compete in the Irish Super League, the top level of basketball in Ireland which involves professional players brought in from America.At age 25, David moved to the newly founded Queen's Basketball Club. He also enrolled as a mature student at Queen's, which enabled him to play for the varsities
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
team. This led to David twice representing the Northern Ireland Universities basketball team at the BUCS games. It was through the varsity team that David met Sean Tuohey and became involved with Peace Players International (formally Playing For Peace).
David is currently the General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
/Coach of Belfast Tropics. Dave and his wife Kerry live in South Belfast with their four children.
Queen's Invitational Basketball Tournament
David is the organiser of the largest pre-season basketball tournament in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, The Queen's Invitational Basketball Tournament (formerly known as the Errigle Inn Invitational tournament). The Tournament has been up and running for over 5 years now and clubs such as Star of the Sea, Tolka Rovers and North Star Basketball Club
North Star Basketball Club
North Star Basketball Club is a basketball club affiliated to Basketball Ireland and Basketball Northern Ireland. The club is based in the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. North Star was originally established in the 1970s however the club dissolved in 1986. The club was reformed in 2002 and...
have lifted the trophy. Teams from England, Cyprus and America have attended the competition.
In 2008 Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry helped finance the Cyprus team's trip to Belfast to participate in the tournament.
In 2010 the tournament sponsored by ESPN was won by the Belfast Tropics.
Arthur Ashe Courage Award
On Wednesday 11 July 2007, David Cullen and Trevor RinglandTrevor Ringland
Trevor Maxwell Ringland, MBE is a solicitor, former rugby union winger and Unionist politician. After attending Larne Grammar School Ringland studied law at Queen's University Belfast.-Rugby career:...
received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award
Arthur Ashe Courage Award
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is an award that is part of the ESPY Awards. Although it is a sport-oriented award, it is not limited to sports-related people or actions.-List of recipients:-External links:***...
at the 2007 ESPY awards for their work with PeacePlayers International.
Previous recipients of the Award include Muhammad Ali, Dean Smith, Billie Jean King, Tommie Smith and John Carlos and in 2009 Nelson Mandella.
External links
- Video of David Cullen and Trevor Ringland accepting the 2007 Arthur Ashe Courage Award from Samuel L Jackson at the 2007 ESPY Awards ceremony
- Official ESPN ESPY awards site
- The Ireland Funds article on Peace Players International (formally Playing For Peace)
- Queen's Basketball Club
- David losing a game of 1-on-1 against a female basketball coach
- Dave's bebo fan site