In one of the roughly 20 scrapbooks in Reggie Williams’ den, there’s a picture from 1997 of Williams and former NBA commissioner David Stern standing on the midcourt logo at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, which wasn’t open yet. In the photo, Williams cuts the same figure he had as a linebacker for 14 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Williams recalls talking to Stern about the possibility of the NBA playing at the innovative facility. That vision is fully realized as the NBA resumes its season this week inside the complex that sprawls over 225 acres. It’s also another part of a post-athletic legacy that arguably surpasses what Williams did during his NFL career.
Tag: Reginald Williams
When Williams was getting ready to head …
When Williams was getting ready to head to Disney, Steeg was aware of the challenges ahead. “Knowing what he was going to get into and to be able to navigate it was really going to take something,” Steeg said. “And obviously, he did.” Not only did the Wide World of Sports Complex’s scope increase the degree of difficulty, but the complex also was situated on the Florida wetlands, which brought construction challenges as well. Disney hired architect David M. Schwartz, who worked alongside Williams and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, to achieve their vision. “I’m very pleased with it,” Schwartz said. “I think it’s a real addition to Disney. I think it did what Disney wanted it to do.”