“Mexico, Missouri, we’re in the house, baby,” Tyronn Lue yelled on national television as the Cleveland Cavilers celebrated their first NBA Championship win.
Previous story: Cavaliers win NBC finals and end Cleveland's long championship drought
Lue is a retired NBA player and current head coach of the team.
Although he graduated from high school in Raytown, Missouri, Lue grew-up in Mexico, a city in Audrain County, and he's proud of it. According to the 2010 census, the population is 11,700.
"It’s an unbelievable feeling—just happy a small town boy can do something positive," he said in the post game press-conference.
Mexico is about two and a half hours east of Kansas City when traveling on Interstate 70.
“It’s just the right size to have the ability to accomplish a lot of things but small enough that we all know what’s going on and we all take part and take pride in what’s happening in the community,” said Dana Keller, Executive Director of the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce.
Here are some more things to know about Mexico:
- Every year, Mexico serves as host to Miss Missouri,an official preliminary of the Miss America pageant.
Photo: Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce
- It’s home to the Missouri Military Academy.
Seniors cross under an arch of sabers for the final time at the Senior Banquet on May 27. (Missouri Military Academy/Facebook)
- Walk Back in Time is an annual event put on in Mexico that shows centuries of American history. The town doubles in size as people from all over attend the event.
2015 Walk Back in time. (Photo: Gabrielle Keller)
- Soybean Festival is put on by Mexico Jaycees with food games and more.
2015 Soybean Festival (Photo: Show Me Missouri/Facebook)
- When you make the trip, be sure to drive down Tyronn Lou Boulevard. It was named in 2015.
In August of 2015, Lue had a boulevard named in his honor. (Photo: Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce)
------
Follow 41 Action News on Twitter:
Like 41 Action News on Facebook:
