SITE TOOLS
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Essentials to the Soul
By Lisa R. Foeman
You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out
of the boy. Coming from a country girl like myself, that’s a high compliment.
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Courtesy NBAE
Corliss Williamson
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At 6-7, 245 lbs., Sacramento Kings
forward Corliss Williamson may seem imposing. In actuality, he’s a soft-spoken,
thoughtful guy with a passion for the great outdoors. Growing up in the sparsely populated
town of Russellville, Arkansas, Williamson developed a love for hunting “rabbit,
squirrel, pheasant, and turkey.” Fishing wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t
require “getting up early.” I guess Sacramento took that part of the country out
of the boy! Admittedly an unaccomplished sportsman, Williamson looks forward to sharpening
his hunting skills in retirement - although not anytime soon. For those of you not in tune
with the sport, the hunting season conflicts with the basketball season. Despite this,
Williamson did manage to kill himself a “nice turkey” last season. He’s
saving the meat for a special occasion.
While at the University of Arkansas, Williamson became a member of the Omega Psi Phi
fraternity. Coming from a family of Kappa Alpha Psi men, Williamson had some explaining to
do. Simple enough: he chose the Omegas because they were “active in the community and
[I] felt comfortable with them.” Unlike some universities, the service fraternities
and athletes at Arkansas enjoyed a cordial relationship. This lack of friction made
Williamson’s decision to undergo the Omega intake process an easy one in that regard.
According to Williamson, the intake process did not interfere with his hectic schedule as
a Division I basketball player. In fact, Head Coach Nolan Richardson and his fellow
Razorback teammates were very supportive of his decision to become an Omega. Williamson's
experience was so positive that one of his teammates became an Omega the following year in
the spring of 1994.
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Williamson’s commitment to
community service didn’t end when he left college for the NBA in 1995. Stressing the
Omega principle of uplifting others, he speaks of his charitable work in Russellville as
an obligation “to help others.” To this end, he sponsors a basketball camp with
the Laker’s Derek Fisher, donates uniforms and shoes to the basketball team at his
alma mater, Russellville High School, and funds a college scholarship. Most special to
Williamson are the motivational speeches he delivers to youth in both Russellville and the
Sacramento area. Says Williamson, giving back “is my duty as a person, as a human
being. God’s given me so much over the past 26 years of my life. [I am] always
willing to help others.”
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Unafraid to display a gentle side, Williamson related the
personal significance of the Omega motto, “friendship is essential to the soul.”
Referring to former University of Arkansas teammate, Scottie Thurman, Williamson said,
“the friendship that we’ve had over eight years has meant so much to me as far
as maturing and learning from each other. It has been so good to my soul.” What
refreshing words to hear from a professional athlete.
Speaking of words, when it comes to his status with the Sacramento Kings, Williamson is
honest with himself. “I really don’t feel that I’m fitting in as [much] as
I used to. We have a lot of guys who like to post up. We have [Chris] Webber and Vlade
Divac. I think, in my position, they prefer a shooter.” A self-described,
“post-up, drive to the basket” player, Williamson foresees a possible trade this
summer, even though his contract doesn’t expire until after next season. While his
average points per game decreased with the arrival of Webber, Williamson didn’t
begrudge Webber's presence because “we were winning.” Remembering that in his
“first [four] years [with the Kings], we never had a winning record,” Williamson
acknowledged, “It was real tough sometimes. I never . . . got to the point where I
accepted losing. [I] kinda got numb to it a little bit.”
That numbness was in sharp contrast with his college days at Arkansas. Williamson was MVP
on the national championship winning Razorbacks squad in 1994 and led the team back to the
NCAA championship game in 1995 against the triumphant UCLA Bruins. Declaring himself
eligible for the draft after the 1995 season, Williamson was drafted in the first round by
the Kings.
Hopefully, this year’s appearance in the playoffs caused some feeling to return.
Leading the league in scoring with 105 points per game, the Kings posted a winning record
(44-38) for the first time since the 1982-83 Kansas City Kings went 45-37. While
Williamson hopes the Kings winning ways continue and loves the city and fans of
Sacramento, he realizes that whether he returns next season is a “business
decision.” Whatever his fate, Williamson will soldier on. Perseverance - being one of
the cardinal principles of the Omegas - Williamson has no choice. M
July 2000
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