Hurley's Unique Road Back
Former Duke University All-American Bobby Hurley was a star in the early 1990s. He was the NCAA's All-Time assist leader, the best college point guard in America and the driving force behind the Blue Devils' last national title. The Sacramento Kings made him the number 7 pick in the 1993 NBA draft.
But just 19 games into his professional career, Hurley's life took a dramatic turn: He was involved in a near fatal car accident. He did make a recovery and returned to the NBA - but he was never the same player. In 1998 he played his last pro game.
"It's almost like you're starting over now and you're trying to figure out what's next," said Hurley. "You realize one chapter of your life is over and it's such a big one."
So Hurley turned his attention to the racetrack. Last February he shelled out a million dollars to buy a two-year-old colt named "Song And A Prayer."
When he called his wife, Leslie, to tell her what he'd done, she wasn't amused.
"I hung up and was dumbfounded…standing there with the phone in my hand," recalled Leslie.
"I reassured her things would work out and he would prove himself worth it," said Hurley.
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That's exactly what "Song and A Prayer" has done. Last month the horse won the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Florida. And with a good showing in the weeks ahead, "Song And A Prayer" could be a contender in this year's Kentucky Derby. His wife considers "Song And A Prayer" part of the family now.
"This has been a nice thing to smooth the transition out of basketball because it's given me the opportunity to go to the big races and feel the adrenaline," said Bobby.
He's still rooting for a Duke championship, though.
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