AURELIUS -- Dwayne "Pearl" Washington knows something about drawing crowds.

During his career at Syracuse University from 1983-86, the Brooklyn native drew throngs of Orange fans to the Carrier Dome. Overall attendance for SU basketball rose by an average of 4,500 people per game during that span and all were witnesses to some of the most scintialating basketball ever played under the dome.

Orange-clad fans once again turned out in large numbers on Thursday, as Washington made an appearance at the grand opening of the Circuit City Superstore. Washington autographed basketballs, posed for pictures and talked Orange hoops with a multitude of local fans.

"It's always good to come back in the community," said Washington, who currently makes his home in New York City. "I try to do a lot for my community in New York and I try to do a lot for Syracuse, because at one point that was my community too."

Each fan was able to purchase a commemorative autographed basketball with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of America.

But many brought their own souvenirs to sign, including SU programs, headbands, hats and even pieces of the old parque floor from Manley Fieldhouse.

For more, read The Citizen on Friday