M.C. Hammer, university officials to honor Dennehy

By Rachel Konrad ~ The Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Patrick Dennehy, the former Baylor University basketball player missing for weeks before his body was found, became a Christian one night when a friend invited him to Bible study at a newfangled Silicon Valley church.

Pastor Dick Bernal, who gave the fiery sermon that inspired Dennehy that night, said it's only fitting that Jubilee Christian Center honor his memory with a fervent "celebration of his life" -- complete with scripture reading by hip-hop star M.C. Hammer, live video on the Internet and Dennehy's name emblazoned on the jersey of his favorite NBA team, the Sacramento Kings.

As many as 3,400 people were expected to hear eulogies from friends and family Thursday at the nondenominational memorial for the 21-year-old whose roommate allegedly shot him in a grassy field near Waco, Texas.

"I won't try to deify the man -- he was still a young man, after all," Bernal said. "But people were really impressed with Patrick's new lease on life since he found Jesus. He was looking forward to a great life and wanted to live by the book."

Baylor officials, including president Robert B. Sloan Jr. and coach Dave Bliss, planned to attend. Baylor, the world's largest Baptist school with 14,000 students, has scheduled an Aug. 28 memorial in Waco.

Dennehy, a 6-foot-10 forward, spent last summer with a family friend near San Jose. When he asked her to the movies, she said fine -- but only if he joined her at Bible class first.

"When I got up and did my sermon, he was listening intently. At the end, I invited him to change his life, to get more God in his life," Bernal said. "Tears were coming down his face."

Dennehy's death was ruled a homicide. Carlton Dotson, 21, his roommate and former teammate, was arrested and charged with murder July 21, after reportedly telling authorities he shot Dennehy when Dennehy tried to shoot him.

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On the Web:

http://www.jubilee.org/