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Worldwide guest at Illinois-Arizona

Posted by: Paul Klee

Saturday, December 8, 2007 2:37 PM

The man, the myth -- whichever descriptor you prefer -- is in the Illini's corner today. William Wesley, more commonly known as Worldwide Wes, is sitting courtside here at the United Center.

He's the guest of UI assistant Jerrance Howard, who provided four tickets for Wesley. (Not that he needed tickets, but they were provided by Howard.). Howard was connected to Wesley through a mutual friend, Deron Williams. The Jazz point guard is tight with Wesley and was in Howard's wedding party in August.

Wesley told me he doesn't do media interviews. Even so, he acknowledged he will have a presence around Illinois basketball now that Howard is an assistant.

This is hardly Wesley's first time attending an Illinois game, however. He attended multiple games during the celebrated 2004-05 season. He's also close with Michael Jordan and knows his son, Jeff, a freshman on the Illinois roster. The elder Jordan is in attendance at the United Center as well.

Wesley has been called the most powerful man in sports by more than one news publication. If you read my story on Jerrance Howard in Friday's News-Gazette, Wesley's attendance at today's game might not come as a surprise.

More from the United Center in Sunday's News-Gazette.

Paul Klee
pklee@news-gazette.com