August 11

From Hoopedia

• 1958 - Robert "Ace" Gruenig, Hall of Famer who was named an AAU All-American 10 times, dies at age 45.

• 1977 - "Pistol Pete" Maravich (right) signs a five-year contract with the New Orleans Jazz for $3 million.

• 1993 - The NBA's Dikembe Mutombo, Alex English, Bob McAdoo, and an assortment of officials and coaches, travel to Kenya, Zaire and South Africa for basketball youth clinics and to mark South Africa's return to the international sporting world. One of the highlights of the group's tour of South Africa was meeting Nelson Mandela, head of the African National Congress who spent 27 years in prison, and its future president.

• 1997 - Los Angeles Lakers star center Shaquille O'Neal travels to several countries, including South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Argentina and Chile, on the "Shaq Rap 'N' Jam Tour" to promote his music and basketball.