'Pearl' proud of college days

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2008 | by Oscar Dixon

Before Earl Monroe dazzled NBA fans with his flamboyant game, the Hall of Famer honed his skills at little Winston-Salem State University under the tutelage of legendary coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines. The 6-3 guard's wizardry earned him several nicknames, including Earl the Pearl, Black Jesus and Thomas Edison -- because of the moves he invented. Monroe, who averaged 41.7 points his senior year at WSSU, is one of the subjects of an upcoming film on historically black colleges and universities, Black Magic. The two-part, four-hour Dan Klores film, which will be screened All-Star weekend, will be broadcast on ESPN March 16 and 17 and narrated by actor Samuel L. Jackson, jazz great Wynton Marsalis and New Orleans Hornets All-Star Chris Paul. Monroe talked with USA TODAY's Oscar...