Stephen Bardo
Encyclopedia
Stephen Dean "Steve" Bardo (born April 5, 1968 in Henderson, Kentucky
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player, in the shooting guard
position.
, 6'5" Bardo scored 909 points and compiled 495 assists
. He was part of the Flyin' Illini team that qualified for the 1989 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four
. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale
while broadcasting a game during the 1988-89 season. Along with Bardo, the other starting members of that team included Nick Anderson
, Kendall Gill
, Lowell Hamilton
, Kenny Battle
, and key reserve Marcus Liberty
.
Bardo was selected in the 1990 NBA Draft
by the Atlanta Hawks
, but never played for the team, playing one game (one minute) with the San Antonio Spurs
during the 1991–92 NBA season. He also appeared for the Dallas Mavericks
and Detroit Pistons
, amassing 32 more regular season games, and leaving the National Basketball Association
with averages of 2 points, 2 rebounds
and one assist.
, Spain and Japan
and for three different teams in the Continental Basketball Association
- Bardo went on to appear as a sports reporter for CBS
2 Chicago, color analyst for college basketball on ESPN
and color analyst for the Illini Sports Network. Additionally, he worked as a motivational speaker, and authored the book How To Make The League Without Picking Up The Rock.
Henderson, Kentucky
Henderson is a city in Henderson County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River in the western part of the state. The population was 27,952 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Evansville Metropolitan Area often referred to as "Kentuckiana", although "Tri-State Area" or "Tri-State" are more...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
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, in the shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
position.
Basketball career
During his standout career at the University of IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, 6'5" Bardo scored 909 points and compiled 495 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
. He was part of the Flyin' Illini team that qualified for the 1989 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
while broadcasting a game during the 1988-89 season. Along with Bardo, the other starting members of that team included Nick Anderson
Nick Anderson
Nelison "Nick" Anderson is a former American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, playing on the team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 1989. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while...
, Kendall Gill
Kendall Gill
Kendall Cedric Gill is a retired American professional basketball player, now a sports analyst for Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.-Early life:...
, Lowell Hamilton
Lowell Hamilton
Lowell Hamilton was a former high school and college basketball player during the 1980s. Hamilton, a dominant high school center, led Chicago's Providence-St. Mel to a third-place finish in the I.H.S.A. 1984 high school playoffs, as well as a Class A state title in 1985...
, Kenny Battle
Kenny Battle
Kenneth R. "Kenny" Battle is an American retired professional basketball player.-High school career:...
, and key reserve Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty is a retired American professional basketball player.-High School:Liberty attended Chicago King High School from 1983 to 1987. During his time at King, Liberty led his basketball teams to an IHSA State Championship in 1986 and a second-place finish in 1987...
.
Bardo was selected in the 1990 NBA Draft
1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
by the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, but never played for the team, playing one game (one minute) with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
during the 1991–92 NBA season. He also appeared for the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
and Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, amassing 32 more regular season games, and leaving the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
with averages of 2 points, 2 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
and one assist.
Post-retirement
After retiring in 2000 - he also played in FranceLigue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
, Spain and Japan
Japan Basketball League
The Japan Basketball League is a professional basketball league in Japan. It lies below the bj league, which is Japan's top basketball competition, but there is no promotion and relegation between bj and the JBL....
and for three different teams in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
- Bardo went on to appear as a sports reporter for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
2 Chicago, color analyst for college basketball on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and color analyst for the Illini Sports Network. Additionally, he worked as a motivational speaker, and authored the book How To Make The League Without Picking Up The Rock.