Dillon faces possibility of playing for Ireland national team
By KATHLEEN O'BRIEN
Associate Sports Editor
Jimmy Dillon, Notre Dame's starting point guard a year ago, may find himself changing from the red, white and blue of the United States to the orange, white and green stripes of Ireland in coming months.
Dillon, a 6-foot-2 player from Philadelphia, hopes to continue his basketball career by playing for the Ireland national team.
"The coach of the national team in Ireland is working on a citizenship for myself to get a dual citizenship," Dillon said. "They look for your roots and follow your background to see if you have grandparents or great-grandparents who were born in Ireland. Hopefully they would grant me dual citizenship with the U.S. and Ireland."
If the Irish citizenship falls through, Dillon will either play in the International Basketball League, the U.S. Basketball League or in an overseas league. Although Dillon has other options to keep his playing days alive, trading in the stars and stripes during a stint overseas is his first choice.
"I'm holding off on signing anything else because it's definitely my No. 1 option," Dillon said. "I would get to travel around the world with them. It's different if you're playing in one European country. Going from continent to continent and country to country works out a lot better for me."
If things go in Dillon's favor, a decision will come down on his quest for dual citizenship sooner rather than later. His time frame to sign a contract for the coming season is growing short.
"The leagues don't start until December," Dillon said, "but they kind of want me over in Europe now for training purposes."
Former Irish coaches Bob MacKinnon and Matt Doherty have aided Dillon, who tied a school record by dishing off 214 assists last season, in his quest to stay on the hardwood. Although both men left Notre Dame behind this summer, Dillon's remained close to them, even going to North Carolina earlier this month to attend Midnight Madness.
"Coach [Doherty] and I still have a really good relationship," Dillon said. "It's easier for players when you graduate because you're not out there adjusting to coaching changes."
Right now, Dillon would welcome the adjustment to a new coach, since that would signal an extension of his days on the court.
"I'm getting kind of restless now," said Dillon, who's coaching and practicing in the Philadelphia area while his future hangs in the balance. "I'm ready to get going."
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, October 25, 2000
