THE OFFICIAL MAGA ZINE OF THE NATIONAL BA SK E TBALL RE TIRED PL AY ERS A SSOCIATION
LEGENDARY LIFE
A TRIBUTE TO MEADOWLARK LEMON
New NBA-NBRPA Agreement Reached – Legends World Sports Conference – Legends of Basketball BY A PL AY ER , A BOUT THE PL AY ERS, F OR THE PL AY ERS A ND FA NS
Does it feel like you’ve lost your game? It might not be your fault it might be a sign you’re suffering from Low Testosterone… Over 15 million men in the USA suffer from low testosterone (Low-T). If you feel less energy, depressed, less romantic, less strength and muscle mass, have put on weight recently, or over the age of 35, it’s very likely you suffer from Low Testosterone. Just because you get older doesn’t mean you have to accept the negative effects of Low-T. When your car is low on fluids you fill them back up. The same should apply with your body. Our Low-T Vitamin Formula can help naturally restore your testosterone levels to healthier, younger levels, reversing the negative effects of Low-T.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to treat, cure or prevent disease.
For more details about our Low-T Vitamin Formula visit us online at
www.ManhoodBoost.com or call us toll free at:
1-855-753-4200 We guarantee our Low-T Vitamin Formula will help you get your game back and start feeling like a new man in the process by naturally reversing the effects of Low-T*.
We only carry The World’s #1 Furniture Brand. Ashley designs, builds, stocks, ships and delivers it from 8 state-of-the-art manufacturing/distribution plants here in the U.S. Ashley Furniture Homestore carries the broadest selection of home furnishings anywhere! Come see why everything you need to furnishing your home is in one place, at a price you won’t believe!
#1 NAME IN FURNITURE ARIZONA • CALIFORNIA • NEVADA • UTAH
for
A slam dunk in home financing...
Real Estate Mortgage Network serves the lending needs of home buyers and home owners, real estate professionals, and builders in over 40 states across the country. We offer a wide variety of purchase and refinance products, including Conventional, FHA, VA and Jumbo loans. Life is not one size fits all, so your mortgage shouldn’t be either. Your dedicated Mortgage Loan Originator will offer you a home financing solution tailored to meet your unique needs at a competitive rate, not just the latest trend in home financing. And, we’re proud to support the National Basketball Retired Players Association! Call John Prom or Randal McClanahan today for a FREE mortgage consultation.
John Prom
Branch Manager Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS #51769 Office: 212-481-7700 Cell: 917-309-4209 E-mail: jprom@remn.com www.remn.com/JohnProm
Randal McClanahan
Branch Manager Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS #208810 Office: 469-298-1453 Cell: 214-536-9173 E-mail: rmcclanahan@remn.com www.remn.com/RandalMcClanahan
Real Estate Mortgage Network, Inc. is located at 152 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10016 and 4965 Preston Park Boulevard, Suite 195, Plano, TX 75093. NMLS #6521. New York Mortgage Banker License B500691. Texas – SML Mortgage Banker Registration (Texas Mortgage Banker Notice) Visit www.remn.com for more information.
WORLD SPORTS CONFERENCE
NBRPA ENJOYS SUCCESS pg. 6
content
NBRPA
Rebound Magazine PUBLISHER/CEO
Matthew Fish mattfish@reboundmagazine.com CONSULTANT
Larry Pond lpond2@cox.net WRITERS
pg. 20
tribute to meadowlark lemon
Michael Vayan vayango@gmail.com Bob Huhn bobhuhn55@hotmail.com Dean Lampereur dean.lampereur@avnet.com Dean Lampereur NBRPA Writer
Jon Teitel SALES
sales@reboundmagazine.com
EDITORIAL
editorial@reboundmagazine.com
ADVERTISE
advertise@reboundmagazine.com
NBRPA PRESIDENT/CEO
2 4
FROM PUBLISHER the
2 TRIBUTE TO MEADOWLARK LEMON 2 24 JEFF HORNACEK UNDERDOG? 28 LEGENDS SPOTLIGHT: ADRIENNE GOODSON 32 BRYANT'S LIFE STORY
NBRPA NEWS 4 NEW NBA-NBRPA AGREEMENT REACHED 4 NBRPA LAUNCHES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT 5 thurl bailey visits white house 6 2016 nba all-star recap 10 NBRPA’S FIRST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 11 nbrpa lends expertise 12 nbpra full court press 14 2016 hall of fame finalists 14 lisa borders named wnba president 15 from college to draft 15 tree rollins finishes degree 16 jerome williams read60 poetry jam 17 ANTHONY MASON STREET NAMED 17 mike glenn: georgia hall of fame 17 eric floyd and antwan jamison: NC HOF INductees
18
20
SCHEDULE of EVENTS
LEGENDS BASKETBALL of
36
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 6 HALDEY PHARMACEUTICAL 3 37 NBA GREATS SEEK LONG-TERM
38
OBITUARIES
STAFF
Excell Hardy Jr., Erin Miller, Scott Rochelle, Mariam Kurdadze, Brittany Ray NBRPA BOARD MEMBERS
Thurl Bailey, Chairman of the Board Dwight Davis, Vice Chairman Marvin Roberts, Treasurer Nancy Lieberman, Secretary Otis Birdsong, Past Chairman Robert A. Elliott, Past Chairman Dr. George W. Tinsley Sr., Past Chairman Rick Barry, Director Spencer Haywood, Director Eldridge Recasner, Director Mike Glenn, Director James Donaldson, Director LaRue Martin Jr., Director Casey Shaw, Director Johnny Newman, Director David Naves, Director SPORTS MEDIA MARKETING, LLC. 3317 S. Higley Rd., Ste. 114-224 Gilbert, AZ 85297 Phone: 480-586-6941 ReboundMagazine.com
PUBLISHING PARTNER A.E. Engine, Inc. 11880 28th St. N., Suite 101 St. Petersburg, FL 33716 ae-engine.com
38 rex morgan 38 john johnson 38 MEdowlark lemon 38 bobby wanzer 38 kenny sailors 39 york larese 39 steve harris 39 eugene short 39 clyde lovellette 39 murray wier 40 vince boryla 40 pearl washington 40 archie dees 40 jim mcmillian ReboundTalk
Arnie Fielkow
President Craig Baroncelli cb@ae-engine.com Vice President, Sales David Watson Vice President, Exec. Accounts Dayne Maasdorp Vice President Chris Vita Managing Editor Dan Guttenplan Art Director Jason Tedeschi Sr. Graphic Designer Stacey Foster ReboundMagazine.com Rebound is a trademark of Sports Media Marketing, LLC
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
1
FROM the PUBLISHER
FISH TALK
Celebrating players and coaches who advance basketball
T
he 2016 Legends World Sports Conference is once again in Las Vegas! NBRPA members can take in this year’s annual conference at the exotic, beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort. Each conference brings an abundance of entertainment and personal and professional growth opportunities. Looking to improve
your portfolio? Hoping to learn more and help steer the organization? Maybe you are looking to continue to foster relationships with teammates, opponents, colleagues, partners and sponsors? Quite simply, the LWSC is constructed in ways that have your needs in mind first and foremost. Allow me to share a little Fish-food story, a personal tidbit if you will. My Tribute to “The CHAMP” It was early March 1994, O’Hare Airport, at the United Express commuter gate. I was playing with the CBA Quad City Thunder and we were returning to Moline, Illinois from a game against the Grand Rapids Hoops. As usual, we had a flight delay with time to kill, but this time the “extra time” left me with the memory of a lifetime. Just outside our gate we were blessed with the presence of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali, who was heading home to his then residence in Michigan after an appearance elsewhere. I was hanging with Casey Kahler, our radio man, who recently told the story on Facebook. Casey shared, “When I saw Ali, with God as my witness, the first and only word out of my mouth was ‘Champ.’” Ali asked who the biggest person was on the team which happened to be me. Ali, with that famous smirk on his face, got up out of his chair and assumed his boxing stance with his hands up, staring me down. I put up my dukes and we danced a bit around an imaginary ring after which he did the “rope a dope,”
2
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
all to the amusement of those fortunate enough to be there with us. After our little pantomime was over, we hugged as if we were life-long friends, and then he repeated this act with Casey. Ali sat down and we sat next to him. He was still able to talk and he told us it was his birthday. “Happy Birthday Champ” we offered, and he replied “Not bad for 65, huh?” His wife handed out pre-autographed commemorative Ali cards to us players and gave us a pep talk for us to remember and use for the balance of our season. We were getting ready to head to the playoffs, and The Champ’s message resonated with us as The Thunder won their first CBA title 6 weeks later. It was one of the highlights of my life to go toe to toe with The Greatest of All-Time! Thank you Champ for being the people’s Champion! Ali’s love for people and his ability to make all those he met feel special left me feeling like I was his Champ. Matt Fish Publisher, Rebound mattfish@reboundmagazine.com
GREETINGS
From the NBRPA President & CEO
Arnie’s Update new opportunities
W
e’ve reached the halfway mark of 2016 and I am proud to say the NBRPA has reached several milestones in terms of our efforts to serve our membership and make the NBRPA the best alumni organization within the sports industry. We know that it is our membership that makes us great. By that measure, I’m proud to say that we’ve reached unprecedented levels as an organization in both membership levels and in our partnership with the NBA (a new 5-year partnership agreement begins in 2017). For the first time in our 25-year history, we have crossed the 800 membership mark as the NBRPA now has over 850 members and counting. The growth is due to many factors, including the over 95% membership renewal rate and multitude of beneficial programs offered to our membership and the growth in categories such as the WNBA and the Globetrotters. As we continue to grow in numbers, we are always looking to enhance your experience and benefits as members. That is why we are coming to hear from you. We recently began a Listening Tour series where we travel to cities throughout the United States to hear from members and prospective members. We also encourage members to feel free to give our office a call or contact our staff via email with any suggestions or inquiries you may have. We WANT to hear from you. We hope to see many of you at the NBRPA’s 8th Annual Legends World Sports Conference this July at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. Thank you for helping us grow. Thank you for being a part of our impactful family! Yours in basketball,
Arnie Fielkow President & CEO National Basketball Retired Players Assoc.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
3
NBRPA NEWS
New NBA-NBRPA Agreement Reached
T
he NBRPA just completed a highly successful 2016 All-Star Weekend. The star-studded weekend involved social events for our members and their families, updates on all NBRPA happenings, impactful community events, great basketball and much more. On behalf of the entire NBRPA Board of Directors, I am proud to announce to you a new five-year landmark partnership agreement (group licensing
DETROIT TITANS TO RETIRE SPENCER HAYWOOD's NUMBER
T
he National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), and Rebound Magazine would like to congratulate Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood as he had his jersey number (#45) retired by the Detroit Titans. Before his illustrious professional basketball career, Haywood played for the University of Detroit Mercury Titans where in one season with the institution, he averaged 32.1 points and 22.1 rebounds per game. He led the NCAA in rebounds that season. The Titans retired his number on January 29 before their game against Northern Kentucky. The festivities included a private reception. The day before the jersey retirement ceremony (Jan. 28), Haywood was honored by the NBRPA Detroit Chapter at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History with special guests Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, George Gervin, Derrick Coleman, Rick Mahorn, Jalen Rose, Lindsey Hunter and Magic Johnson.
4
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
agreement) was reached in Toronto with the NBA. This new partnership, which will begin in October, involves the following: • $10.8 Million in Payments to the NBRPA over 5 years (a $5 million increase over the previous agreement). This represents an average annual payment of over $2.15 Million per year and a $700,000 annual increase from the previous agreement. • Continuation of the NBA-NBRPA group licensing program which has provided additional monies in excess of $6 Million the past 3 years. These payments are passed on directly to NBRPA membership. • An exciting new joint sponsorship selling arrangement between the NBA and NBRPA. This new agreement reflects the confidence the NBA has in our organization and helps lay a solid financial foundation for many years. With this increased financial support, we hope to continue to provide meaningful benefits and programs to our members, and also to execute impactful community events both in the United States and abroad. Finally, big thanks to each of you for believing in the NBRPA and being part of the “family.” Because of you, the NBRPA is experiencing unprecedented growth and success! This is your organization and I am very proud to be your CEO!
THURL BAILEY AND THE 1983 WOLFPACK TEAM TO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE
I
n 1983, the North Carolina State University Wolfpack, led by the late great Jim Valvano, whose ‘Never Give Up’ mantra serves as one of the biggest inspirations in not only sports, but life itself, defeated the University of Houston in one of the greatest championship games of all time to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship. The team, however, did not get the chance to visit the White House or meet the President of the United States as is standard for all championship teams. But thirty-three years later, Coach Valvano’s message continues to lead his 1983 championship team to achievement. With hard work from National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) Board Chairman Thurl Bailey, a member of that 1983 championship team, and assistance from U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, the Wolfpack will finally get their opportunity to visit the White House and meet President Barack Obama. Bailey wrote a letter to President Obama humbly requesting that the President grant the team the opportunity to visit and reached out to Senator Hatch, who also wrote a follow-up letter to President Obama. Coach Valvano was able to meet with President Ronald Reagan following the team’s monumental championship win in 1983, but the players were not able to accompany him. Bailey and his teammates were however able to join via satellite to speak to President Reagan during Valvano’s visit. The players will get their chance to visit the White House on
Monday, May 9. “Our team accomplished something very significant and historic in 1983 when we won the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship,” said NBRPA Board Chairman Bailey. “It will always remain one of the greatest sports stories of all time. It's a great honor that our team will now get their rightful chance to take part in an incredible experience that had eluded us for 33 years.” “We are very proud of Thurl Bailey and his efforts to spearhead this wonderful and deserved opportunity for the 1983 North Carolina State men’s basketball
ReboundTalk
team,” said NBRPA President & CEO Arnie D. Fielkow. “Thurl’s leadership off the court continues to be just as prevalent as it was on the court when he led the 1983 Wolfpack to a historic upset over the University of Houston.” The 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack defeated the number one seed University of Houston Cougars team that included Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Bailey led the Wolfpack with 15 points and 5 rebounds in the game. The lasting image of Valvano running around the court in euphoria remains a staple in sports coverage history.
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
5
NBRPA NEWS NBRPA ENJOYS TREMENDOUS SUCCESS AT
2016 NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND IN TORONTO The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), the only Association comprised of NBA, ABA, Harlem Globetrotters and WNBA alumni, enjoyed a very successful weekend at the 2016 NBA All Star Weekend in Toronto, Ontario, February 11-14.
Left: Famed referee Dick Bavetta is honored at the Legends Breakfast. Bellow: The NBRPA and NHL partnered for a basketball / hockey skills camp. Member Willie Burton stops to take a picture with former NHL greats!
A
ll throughout the week, the NBRPA welcomed members, family and guests to the Legends Lounge located in the Sheraton Centre. At the lounge, members were able to pick up an assortment of goods, including the 2016 NBRPA Annual Report, as well as stop and visit with valued partners Kaplan University, Rebound Magazine, Ultimate Hoops, Reel Media Group, SportsBlog.com, Logitech, Wintrust Bank, Dynasty Icon, PGD Global, Concordia University, Haldey Pharmaceutical Compounding, Laser Spine Institute, Choice Hotels, SDI Marketing, Champions Basketball Network and Adidas. Refreshments were provided by Sparkling ICE all throughout the weekend. The weekend of star-studded events started on Thursday, February 11 at NBRPA
6
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
Dell Curry and Dick Bavetta being honored at the Athletes in Action Legends Breakfast. Dell was the recipient of the Bobby Jones award, and Dick received the Jerry Colangelo award.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
7
NBRPA NEWS Las Vegas Chapter President Jerome Williams’ Read60 Poetry Jam event at Jarvis Collegiate Institute. The day included poetry readings from finalists of the Poetry Jam program, a question & answer symposium with NBA Legends & celebrities and a star-studded Charity Jam basketball game featuring Jerome, Left: Former NBA Steve Francis, Drew Scott, Choo Smith, greats, Las Vegas Mo Peterson, Snoop Dogg, Seema Sadekar Chapter President and more. NBRPA CEO Arnie Fielkow Jerome “JYD” Williams conducted the charity basketball game’s and Basketball Legend ceremonial opening tip and presented a Wayne Embry. $2,000 check on behalf of the NBRPA to the Read60 program. Friday morning began bright and early with the Chairman’s Thank You Meet & Greet. NBRPA board of directors, members, staff and partners all gathered at the Sheraton Centre to meet one another, enjoy breakfast, and listen to the NBRPA Chairman of the Board Thurl Bailey and CEO Arnie Fielkow provide an outlook on the NBRPA for the 2016 calendar year. After the Meet and Greet, many of the legends gathered to give back to the youth participating in the NBA Cares Day of Service. The legends headed to the Enercare Center where they joined current players and the Jr. NBA program in conducting on-court basketball drills and activities. The night concluded with the Wintrust Legends Welcome Reception where members, family, media and staff convened in the Legends Lounge. CEO Arnie Fielkow and Thurl Bailey honored departing board members Marvin Roberts and Bob Elliott, Dell Curry and son and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke Stephen Curry, to the audience about the NBA’s growing (2015 and 2016 partnership with the NBRPA as well as NBA MVP) surprised Fielkow and Hall of Famer Bill
NBRPA members Steve Hayes, Willie Burton and Rick Darnell work on their stick handling skills along with former NHL greats.
8
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
Russell with birthday cakes as the two shared their birthdays that day. On Saturday, the NBRPA partnered with Athletes in Action for the Legends Breakfast. The event honored Hall of Fame referee Dick Bavetta with the Jerry Coangelo award and former player Dell Curry with the Bobby Jones award. Special recognition was given to all NBRPA members who attended the breakfast and Bavetta specifically pointed out Jerome Williams and NBRPA board member LaRue Martin, Jr. during his acceptance speech. Following the event, the NBRPA Board of Directors held their annual All Star Board Meeting and were joined by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and executive staff members of the NBA. During Saturday afternoon, our legends were not done giving back as many headed back to the Enercare Center to team up with alumni of the National Hockey League to conduct the NBA and NHL Legends Community Clinic with participating youth. Kids and spectators were in awe to see the former basketball and hockey greats combined and the clinic was a huge success. Saturday night concluded with the NBA Legends Watch Party with partners Artemano furniture, Sparkling ICE and Haldey Pharmaceutical Compounding. At the party, guests were able to enjoy the festivities of NBA All Star Saturday Night on two major screens as well as complimentary food and drinks. The weekend concluded with the NBA and the NBRPA’s marquee event for All-Star Weekend on Sunday when the NBRPA hosted the 17th Annual Legends Brunch at the Allstream Centre which was broadcast on NBATV. The center was filled with a substantial amount of current and former players as well as celebrities and media. At the brunch, NBRPA co-founder Oscar Robertson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Steve Nash was honored with the Legend of the Year and Tracy McGrady was honored with the Community Assist Award. Board Chairman Thurl Bailey addressed the star-studded crowd during the event and the Legends Panel featuring Magic Johnson, Yao Ming, Ditkembe Mutumbo and Steve Nash concluded a remarkable morning. “The NBRPA was honored to serve as an integral part of the 2016 NBA All Star Weekend in Toronto,” said Arnie D. Fielkow, President & Chief Executive Officer for the NBRPA. “Our community and philanthropic events were a huge success and we are thankful to the NBA and all of our valued partners for helping us make All-Star Weekend in Toronto a momentous one.”
Athletes in Action All-Star Breakfast Rebound congratulates Dick Bavetta and Dell Curry! On February 13th, 2016 from 9-11 A.M., at the NBA All-Star in Toronto, the Sheraton Centre hotel hosted a celebration of character. This celebration was the 11th annual Athletes in Action All-Star Breakfast. Presented by Prasco, this character celebration brings attention to leadership and faith in the home, the community and on the basketball court. The All-Star Breakfast is a part of Athletes in Action’s series of events designed to honor athletes and coaches who model exemplary character, values, integrity and faith. This wonderful event was done in partnership with the NBA Retired Players Association and featured the presentation of the Jerry Colangelo and Bobby Jones Awards. The Jerry Colangelo Award was presented to Dick Bavetta, a charismatic NBA referee from 1975-2014. Bavetta officiated 2,635 consecutive games and was inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. During Bavetta’s acceptance speech he poked fun with the current and former NBA players in attendance. He claimed that in no way shape or form do players start to get the benefits of calls during their 3rd year of playing in the NBA … that this benefit indeed happens during a player’s 4th year of service! Bavetta humbly accepted the award and gave accolades to his wife and family. He claimed he was most proud of his 39 years of service and never missing an assignment during his career.
Bobby Jones Award
The Bobby Jones Award was presented to Dell Curry. Curry had a 16 year NBA career, is the Charlotte Hornets all-time leading scorer, the Sixth Man of the Year 1994 and a college All-American in 1986. Dell’s wife and kids were in attendance, including his son Stephen, the 2015 MVP and NBA Champion member of the Golden State Warriors. Dell spoke proudly of putting God first in his life and accepted the Bobby Jones Award with excitement giving thanks to his family along with his Maker. Off the court, Curry has made a positive impact in the Charlotte community and established a charitable foundation to provide educational training to youth in the area.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
9
NBRPA NEWS
NBRPA ANNOUNCES Financial Assistance Grant PROGRAM
T
he National Basketball Retired Players Association (“NBRPA”) is proud to announce
the launch of its first-ever Financial Assistance Grant (Grant) program to support the individual, need-based financial circumstances of its members. The purpose of the Grant is to be broad based and to cover virtually any areas needed by a former player in life after basketball.
The Grant is funded by an initial endowment of $150,000, which represents a surplus of funds from the 2015 Fiscal Year. The Grant Program will run for an initial term of Three (3) years wherein $50,000 will be awarded annually with the hope that continued revenue generation and fiscal
10
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
stewardship will provide additional funding for years to come. The Grant program can be used for career transition help, medical, financial emergencies, and other needs. “The NBRPA Board and I are very happy to launch this new grant program for the NBRPA membership,” said NBRPA President and CEO Arnie D. Fielkow. “The program represents just one more vehicle in providing more direct benefits to our membership.” All NBRPA members in good standing may apply for the grant; however, to be deemed eligible, a member must provide his or her most recent tax return to demonstrate that their household Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) does not exceed $150,000.00. Grant applications may be submitted in writing on behalf of the requesting NBRPA member, a family representative, or a legal representative. Grants will be approved monthly upon availability and at the discretion of the Finance, Audit, and Compensation Committee beginning April 1, 2016. A member is limited to receiving One (1) Grant, up to $1,000, once every two years. The final approval of Financial Assistance Grant application is not guaranteed and is subject to the timing of the application, purpose of the request, and availability of the funds. The Grant application can be accessed through the NBRPA website. To apply for a Grant, please submit applications to NBRPA Senior Vice President Scott Rochelle at srochelle@legendsofbasketball. com. Submissions will be reviewed by the Finance, Audit, and Compensation Committee beginning in April 2016.
NBRPA member John Thompson who is spearheading Ultimate Hoops.
NBRPA LENDS EXPERTISE TO PLAYERS IN TRAINING National Basketball Retired Players Association Partners with Ultimate Hoops to continue encouraging members to “Never Retire”
T
he NBRPA announced plans to partner with Ultimate Hoops, a one-of-a-kind recreational basketball league and skills training company, within Life Time Athletic and Life Time Fitness destinations across the country. Through the partnership, members of the NBRPA have the opportunity to work with Ultimate Hoops on basketball-related career opportunities by providing expert training advice and coaching to Life Time members in more than 22 U.S. and Canadian markets, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ontario and Texas. “The Ultimate Hoops partnership aligns perfectly within our dual mission to serve former players and the community at large,” said Scott Rochelle, NBRPA Vice President of Membership, Player and Chapter Development. “Ultimate Hoops gives our membership a unique opportunity to stay engaged in the game
they love while bringing their expertise to young and old.” Ultimate Hoops will look to hire NBRPA members as part of its Ultimate Hoops Training team to provide oneon-one and group basketball training for its youth and adult members. In addition, NBRPA members may have the opportunity to host local camps or clinics in their name providing education, preparation and training. “’Never Retire’ is the mission that drives each and every person involved in Ultimate Hoops,” said John Thomas, former NBA player, current NBRPA member and National Manager of Ultimate Hoops Training and Corporate Basketball. “I’m excited for our platform to connect former professional players with Life Time members. Not only will it provide former players with opportunities to stay involved with the game, it also provides members with the ultimate basketball experience because they’ll be trained by the best!”
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
11
NBRPA NEWS
NBRPA AND PARTNERS KICK OFF 2016 FULL COURT PRESS PROGRAM!
T
he National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA)
brought its Full Court Press: Prep For Success program to Flint, Michigan at Flint Northwestern High School on Saturday, April 30 along with partners Jr. NBA, Police Athletic/ Activities League (PAL) and Leadership Foundations.
12
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
The Full Court Press: Prep for Success is a single-day youth basketball and mentoring clinic for underserved boys and girls ages 8-18 that visits more than 10 cities annually and includes former professional basketball players as coaches and mentors in each session. The former players who participated during the Flint session included Franthea Price, Derrick Coleman, Willie Norwood, Maceo Baston, Charles Turner, Justus Thigpen and Charles Edge. The former players spent the day assisting the kids with multiple activities throughout the day including on-court basketball drills, mentoring roundtables, and classroom sessions. Franthea Price came away glowing about how wonderful the experience was for not only the kids but her as well. “It was great to see how intuitive the kids were, and how many of them came out to develop their skills,” said Price. “I also got to meet some former
players from generations ago, which was an honor.” This was Price’s first time participating as a mentor in the Full Court Press program and she remarked that she hopes to participate in future events as she aims to be a catalyst for the NBRPA. The Michigan native also hopes that the impact she and her fellow players had on the kids will make a lasting impact. “I hope that despite any trials and tribulations they have, they can persevere to overcome whatever challenges are before them to fulfill their dreams,” said Price. Throughout the day, as players ran their own drills arranging from dribbling to passing to basketball scrimmages, officials from PAL and Leadership Foundations hosted classroom sessions and gave the kids inspirational messages that expanded beyond basketball. Price gave the kids words
of inspiration as well. “If you think that you can and know that you can, then you will,” she told the energized kids. “You have to believe in yourself and put forth the effort to be your best at all times.” This year the Full Court Press program also features the Jr. NBA curriculum that teaches the fundamental skills of the game in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. Flint was the first stop on the Full Court Press 2016 schedule. The program is scheduled to visit Tampa, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Saint Louis, Boston, Atlanta, Houston and Charlotte throughout the remainder of the year and efforts are currently being taken to bring the program to Israel, Cuba and Haiti.
DATE - LOCATION April 30 – Flint, Michigan May 21 – Tampa, FL June 16 – Phoenix, AZ July 21 – Portland, OR July 23 – Seattle, WA August 13 – Saint Louis, MO August 27 – Boston, MA September 10 – Atlanta, GA September 17 – Houston, TX December 10 – Charlotte, NC *All dates and locations subject to change.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotters. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was
founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Arnie D. Fielkow is the President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Thurl Bailey, Vice Chairman Dwight Davis, Treasurer Eldridge Recasner, Secretary Nancy Lieberman, Rick Barry, James Donaldson, Mike Glenn, Spencer Haywood, LaRue Martin Jr., David Naves, Johnny Newman and Casey Shaw.
About the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour The Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour is the league’s youth basketball participation program that teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. Through a network of affiliated youth basketball organizations, live events and interactive experiences, the Jr. NBA will reach five million youth ages 6-14 in the U.S. and Canada over a two-year period as part of its expanded efforts launched in October 2015. The Jr. NBA partnership network is comprised of youth basketball programs of all NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League teams as well as elementary and middle schools, military installations and longstanding community partners, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Jewish Community Centers of North America, National Association of Police Athletic Leagues, National Recreation and Park Association, National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Special Olympics, and YMCA of the USA.
ReboundTalk
About PAL The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Incorporated (National PAL) is a national youth crime prevention program that brings youth and law enforcement together in a positive environment that promotes trust and respect for each other. The "Mission" of National PAL and its member chapters work to prevent juvenile crime and violence by building the bond between cops and kids. National PAL exists to prevent juvenile crime and violence by providing civic, athletic, recreational and educational opportunities and resources to PAL Chapters. The PAL concept was developed in New York City, NY in 1914. From those successful origins the PAL concept spread, PAL programs developed in other communities. Today, there are over 400 PAL Chapters partnering with law enforcement agencies servicing over 700 cities and 1,700 facilities throughout the United States, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Nigeria, serving more than one million youth, ages 5 to 18.
About Leadership Foundations Leadership Foundations is a global network of organizations working to transform the cities in which they exist and serve. These local leadership foundations (LLFs) work to make their cities better by convening people and organizations from all of its sectors, building the capacity of others and creating joint initiatives that address their community’s greatest needs. Every LLF approaches this mission in a unique way according to their abilities and their city’s needs. At Leadership Foundations, we connect our global network of LLFs, develop their ability to accomplish more with others and equip them with tools to make change happen more effectively, more collaboratively and with greater permanence and impact on their cities.
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
13
NBRPA NEWS
NBRPA MEMBERS HIGHLIGHT 2016 BASKETBALL HOF FINALISTS LIST
R
EBOUND and the NBRPA congratulates members Shaquille O’Neal, Sheryl Swoopes, Yao Ming and Kevin Johnson for being among 15 finalists named for the 2016 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Shaquille O’Neal’s list of accomplishments included being a three-time NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP in 2000, Rookie of the Year in 1993, and winning four championships in the NBA, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. A 15-time NBA All Star, he ranks seventh on the NBA All-Time scoring list. Kevin Johnson was a 3-time All Star and one of the greatest Phoenix Suns players of all time. He helped lead the team to the 1993 NBA Finals. He is now the Mayor of Sacramento, California. Along with being an 8-time All Star while in the NBA, Yao Ming’s emergence in the NBA helped create a new fan base for the league in China. His impact continues to be seen today. Sherryl Swoopes is considered one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time. While in the WNBA, she made the All Star team six times, was named Defensive Player of the year three times, won the WNBA three times and won four straight WNBA Championships with the Houston Comets.
Lisa Borders Named WNBA President
R
ebound Magazine congratulates Lisa Borders being appointed President of the WNBA by Adam Silver on February 10, 2016. Lisa Borders leaves the Chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation and Vice President of Global Community Affairs at The CocaCola Company. She brings 25 years of operations, marketing, government relations and public service to the best women’s basketball league in the world, known as the WNBA. In 2008, Boarders brought the WNBA to Atlanta while serving as Vice Mayor of Atlanta and President of City Council. She joins the league March 21st, to begin the WNBA’s historic 20th season May 14. Arnie Fielkow, CEO and President of the NBRPA stated, “The National Basketball Retired Players Association is proud of its affiliation with the WNBA and excited about the appointment of Lisa Borders as President of such a great league. Lisa will bring about great leadership to the association and the NBRPA looks forward to working with her and continuing our wonderful partnership with the WNBA.”
14
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
From College to the NBA Draft: Revised
College players making the life decision of “To play (NBA) or not to play” has often been the question.
U
nder the new rules, the NCAA, working together with the NBA, has pushed back the date by which men's basketball players must remove their name from the NBA Draft to 10 days after the conclusion of the NBA Draft Combine held in Chicago. Additionally, studentathletes can enter the NBA Draft multiple times without jeopardizing their collegiate eligibility and also participate in both the NBA Draft Combine and 1 tryout per NBA team per year. Previously college players needed to declare for the draft in mid-April, one full month before the NBA Draft Combine, in order to maintain their college eligibility. Under the new rule, invited student-athletes will be able to go through the Combine and also receive additional opinions through NBA tryouts before having to make the life decision as whether to give up college eligibility and try to go professional.
As it pertains to the NBRPA and the membership roster of former pro players, this is an excellent rule change. Commissioner Silver and NCAA leadership should be commended. There are hundreds of examples of former college players who left college early to pursue their pro dream, only to realize that they may have been better to have stayed in college for additional years. This happens because of where they were drafted or not being drafted at all. This new NCAA policy allows student-athletes more time to get better feedback from NBA coaches and teams before they have to make this life-long decision. This will hopefully help individuals also be more prepared through enhanced education for life after basketball, whether this be an NBA career or college basketball.
TREE ROLLINS RETURNS TO CLEMSON TO FINISH DEGREE NBRPA member Wayne “Tree” Rollins has returned to Clemson University to receive his bachelor’s degree. Rollins, along with 20 other former Clemson sports stars are a part of the school’s Tiger Trust program - an IPTAY funded program through the athletic department to help them get the last several credits they need for their undergraduate degrees.The NCAA recently ran a piece highlighting Rollins and his fellow former Clemson Tigers athletes as they journey into obtaining their degrees. Rollins left the school in 1977 to enter the NBA Draft where he went on to enjoy a very successful 18-year professional basketball career. In the article from NCAA. com, Rollins states:"All four of my kids have their degrees and graduate school and
more," said Rollins, who is working on his degree online from his Orlando, Florida, home. "They tease me all the time about leaving school (without his degree), and I tell them Dad went to work so they could get the best educations. "Rollins is grateful for the living basketball afforded him and his children, but that life didn't allow for academics because of the schedule. Now, at age 60, he wants to finish what he started. "I was supposed to be the first in my family to graduate college, but that didn't work out. ... Hopefully I'll get this done this time." Rollins currently serves as an assistant coach for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky and is the NBRPA Orlando Chapter President.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
15
NBRPA NEWS
JEROME WILLIAMS HOSTS READ60 POEtrY JAM
L
as Vegas National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) Chapter President and Toronto Raptors legend Jerome Williams helped kick off the NBRPA’s 11th annual NBA All-Star Weekend celebration on Thursday afternoon when he hosted a special Read60 Poetry Jam event at Jarvis Collegiate Institute. The day included poetry readings from finalists of the Poetry Jam program, a question & answer symposium with NBA Legends and celebrities and a star-studded Charity Jam basketball game. Guests included NBRPA member Steve Francis, along with Morris Peterson, John Wallace, Drew Scott, Snoop Dogg, Kardinal Offishall, Joe Carter and more. NBRPA CEO Arnie Fielkow conducted the charity basketball game’s ceremonial opening tip and later presented a $2,000 check on behalf of the NBRPA to the Read60 program, a
program designed to provide books for Toronto District School Board students. Snoop Dogg was so touched by the gesture that he immediately matched the donation, promising to donate $2,000 himself to the program. Jerome’s All Star team of celebrities and former players gave the crowd at Jarvis Collegiate Institute a show they will never forget and more importantly, raised over $4,000 for the Read60 program.
NBRPA Launches Groundbreaking Financial Assistance Grant to Benefit Former Players
T
he Atlanta Chapter of the National Basketball Retired Players Association took to the communities this past holiday season to give back to youth and families. In November, Atlanta Chapter members Dale Ellis, Marvin Roberts, LaVon Mercer, Harold Keeling, Reggie Johnson and more joined with Butterball Corporation and had “The Great Turkey Give-Away”. Members gave away 100 turkeys to families at three Boys & Girls Clubs around Georgia. In December, members helped fellow NBRPA member Shaquille O’Neal for his annual “Shaq-A-Claus” at Columbia Middle School in Decatur, Georgia. They all teamed with the American Diabetes Association to give 400 families an unforgettable Christmas with toys, food, and coats. Shaq made sure the environment was filled with great musical entertainment, a bicycle “Give Away” and he made sure to bond with each family by shaking their hands and taking photos with them.
16
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
As well, several members including Dikembe Mutumbo and Marvin Roberts attended the Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta. The ball is a fund raising gala founded by former Mayor Andrew Young and the great Baseball legend Hank Aaron’s wife, Mrs. Billye S. Aaron. Atlanta Chapter members continue the momentum. On Friday, February 12, 2016, NBRPA member Kevin Willis was be inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame joining President of the NBRPA Atlanta Chapter Dale Ellis who was inducted last year.
MIKE GLENN: GEORGIA HALL OF FAME
R Knicks Legend Anthony Mason Has South Jamaica Street Named In His Honor
A
nthony Mason, a former Knicks forward from 1991 to 1996, suffered a massive heart attack and died at the age of 48. Mason grew up in a South Jamaica section of Queens, NY. After his untimely death, a corner will soon be named after him. A portion of 147th Street, between 123rd Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard, the name of the street, “Anthony Mason Way.” Mason also played for other teams in the NBA including the Hornets, Nets, Nuggets, Bucks and Heat, he earned the NBA’s Sixth Man Award in 1995 while playing for the Knicks. Mason’s family founded the “Family On Three” youth mentoring program that will no doubt leave a legacy for decades to come. Congratulations Anthony, you are missed … but not forgotten!
ebound congratulates Mike Glenn for being awarded two prestigious honors: being inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and being honored at the sixth annual Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield Rotary “Service Above Self” Luncheon. Glenn will be inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame on February 27, 2016 in Macon, Georgia. He joins a class of eight that includes Hines Ward and Chipper Jones. Glenn started his outstanding basketball career at Coosa High School in Rome, Georgia before becoming an Academic All-American at Southern Illinois University and then playing ten seasons in the NBA, including four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks (1981-85). Glenn has also organized the Mike Glenn All-Star Basketball Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the country’s first basketball camp for deaf and hard of hearing teenagers and recently unveiled his literary and pictorial display of his historical collection of rare American History and Sports History books, newspapers and magazines with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Stonecrest Library in Lithonia, Georgia. It is due to Glenn’s work off the court, such as through his organization and touring artifact collection, that The Basketball Hall of Fame and The Rotary Club of Springfield named him a national honoree at their sixth annual “Service Above Self” Luncheon. Glenn received this distinction on Friday, December 4 and happily thanked The Rotary Club of Springfield for shining a light on his organization’s mission.
ERIC FLOYD AND ANTAWN JAMISON ARE NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS HOF INDUCTEES
R
ebound and the NBRPA, would like to congratulate member Eric “Sleepy” Floyd on being named an inductee to the 2016 North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Floyd started his renowned basketball career at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, North Carolina before going on to be an All-American at Georgetown University. His All-Star NBA career featured one of the greatest playoff performances in league history when as a member of the Warriors he scored 29 points in a quarter and 39 overall in the half of Game 4 of the 1987 Western Conference Semifinals versus the Lakers. Joining him in the Class of 2016 will be Antawn Jamison, Rod Brind’Amour, David Fox, James “Rabbit” Fulghum, Haywood Jeffires, Freddy Johnson, Ray Price and Susan Yow. Jamison recently retired from a great sixteen-year career in the NBA in 2014 and is one of the greatest athletes in North Carolina playing sports in middle school and high school before an outstanding tenure at University of North Carolina. The NBRPA congratulates Floyd, Jamison, and all members of the 2016 class. The induction ceremony took place May 6 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
17
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WORLD SPORTS CONFERENCE
schedule OF EVENTS
sunday, july 17 START END
Location
9:00am 5:00pm
Heart Screening Exams (Tropics A&B – For local Las Vegas Members Only)
12:00pm 5:30pm
Registration in Legends Lounge (Islander D)
12:00pm 5:00pm
Ear Q Hearing Testing (Mariners A)
12:30pm 1:00pm
Partners & Board of Directors Meet & Greet (Islander Registration)
1:00pm 5:00pm
Board of Directors Meeting (Captains Boardroom)
5:30pm 6:00pm
Opening Press Conference (Mariners B)
6:00pm 7:30pm
Legends Welcome Reception (Tradewinds – Appetizers and beverages will be served)
7:30pm 9:30pm
"Full Court" the Spencer Haywood Story (Private Screening) (Tradewinds)
monday, july 18 START END
Location
6:30am 7:30am
Legends Exercise Hour (Mariners B)
7:30am 8:00am
Legends Breakfast (Tradewinds)
8:00am 10:45am
Membership Meeting (Board Election Voting Begins) & Member Photo (Tradewinds)
11:00am 4:00pm
Legends Lounge Open (Islander D)
11:00am 4:00pm
Reel Reporting Demo Filming (Mariners A)
Workshops
18
11:00am 11:55am
Branding Your Likeness School Yard All-Stars’ Dane Jensen & Nicolas McRae (Coral A&B)
Life Phases: Are You Ready? An Interactive Approach for Retired Players Gwendolyn Bell, Eddie Gill, Joseph Frank & Susan Inwood (Mariners B)
Career Opportunities Jon Harris, Glenn Sugiyama & UNLV’s Men’s Head Basketball Coach, Marvin Menzies (Tropics A)
Wellness & Nutrition Black Health Tv’s Dr. Corey Hebert & Carolyn Moos (Tropics B)
12:00pm 12:55pm
Strengthening Your Marriage Coach Mo Morris Michalski & Dave Lower (Coral A&B)
Life Phases: Are You Ready? An Interactive Approach for Retired Players Gwendolyn Bell, Eddie Gill, Joseph Frank & Susan Inwood (Mariners B)
Developing/Expanding Board Options in Your Career Larry Stybel (Tropics A)
Building a Career in Broadcasting Big Ten Network producers Quentin Carter & Lamont Mims & Stephen Bardo (Tropics B)
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
monday, july 18 con't START END
Location
1:00pm 1:55pm
Basketball Training Opportunities with Ultimate Hoops John Thomas (Coral A&B)
Timed to get Checked! Black Health TV’s Dr. Corey Hebert (Mariners B)
Paid Professional Speaking Thurl Bailey, Stephen Bardo & Mark Eaton (Tropics A)
The Playbook for Networking Chasity Melvin & Jimmelle Dee Melvin (Tropics B)
1:00pm 1:55pm
Legends Lunch (Served during Breakout Sessions)
2:00pm 3:00pm
Real Estate as Your Sixth Man Presented by Wintrust Mortgage (Tropics A)
2:00pm 3:00pm
DirtySixer Bike Skills Clinic (Coral A&B)
3:00pm 4:30pm
Legends Ladies Event Presented by Wells Fargo Advisors (Mariners B)
3:00pm 4:30pm
NBRPA/Vegas Chapter Military Chalk Talk (Tradewinds)
6:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 12:00am
NBA Summer League – Championship Game (Ticket required) (Buses Depart Hotel at 4:45pm, 5pm, 5:30pm & 5:45pm and Depart Arena at 7:15pm, 7:45pm, 8:15pm, 8:30pm & 8:45pm) Legends Party & Members Photo (Light Nightclub – Must be 21 years old to attend)
tuesday, july 19 START END
Location
7:00am 8:00am
Legends Exercise Hour (Mariners B)
8:00am 9:30am
Entrepreneurs Summit Presented by Wells Fargo Advisors (Tradewinds)
10:00am 11:30am
Legends Farewell Breakfast (Tradewinds)
****Only Members, Guests and Partners who are credentialed will have access to the Schedule of Events. ****
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
19
LEGENDS of BASKETBALL
A Tribute to
Meadowlark Lemon By Dean Lampereur
L
emon was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended Williston Industrial School, graduating in 1952. He then matriculated into Florida A&M University, but was soon drafted into the United States Army, serving for two years stationed in Austria and West Germany. Lemon made his first basketball hoop out of an onion sack and coat hanger, using an empty Carnation milk can to sink his first 2-point hoop. Lemon first applied to the Globetrotters in 1954 at age 22, finally being chosen to play in 1955. In 1980, he left to form one of his Globetrotters imitators, the Bucketeers. He played with that team until 1983, then to play with the Shooting Stars from 1984 to 1987. In 1988, he moved on to "Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem All Stars" team. Despite being with his own touring team, Lemon returned to the Globetrotters, playing 50 games with them in 1994.
20
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
In 2000, Lemon received the John Bunn Award, the highest honor given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame outside of induction. In the 1970s, an animated version of Lemon, voiced by Scatman Crothers, starred with various other Globetrotters in the HannaBarbera animated cartoon series Harlem Globetrotters, as well as its spinoff, The Super Globetrotters. The animated Globetrotters also made three appearances in The New ScoobyDoo Movies. Lemon appeared alongside Fred "Curly" Neal, Marques Haynes and his other fellow Globetrotters in a liveaction Saturday-morning television show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine, in 1974–1975, which also featured Rodney Allen Rippy and Avery Schreiber. In 1978, Lemon appeared in a memorable Burger King commercial by
making a tower of burgers until he found a double-beef pickles and onions with nocheese burger. In 1983, Lemon appeared in a Charmin toilet paper commercial alongside Mr. Whipple (actor Dick Wilson). In 1979, Lemon starred in the educational geography film Meadowlark Lemon Presents the World. Also in 1979, he joined the cast of the short-lived television sitcom Hello, Larry in season two, to help boost the show's ratings; in the same year, he played Rev. Grady Jackson in the movie Pittsburgh. It was several years before he actually became an ordained minister himself. In 1982, Lemon was featured in the Grammynominated video Fun & Games, an interactive educational video produced by Optical Programming Associates and Scholastic Productions, on the thenemerging LaserDisc format. Lemon had 10 children: Richard, George, Beverly, Donna, Robin, Jonathan, Jamison, Angela, Crystal, and Caleb. Lemon's estranged first wife, Willye, pleaded guilty to simple assault after admitting to stabbing Lemon with a steak knife in 1978. After his first marriage ended in divorce, Lemon married Dr. Cynthia Lemon in 1994. A born-again Christian, Lemon became an ordained minister in 1986 and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Vision International University in Ramona, California, in 1988. He was also featured as a gospel singer within several Gaither Homecoming videos. In his last years, he took up residence in
Scottsdale, Arizona, where his Meadowlark Lemon Ministries, Inc. is located. A non-profit organization dedicated to “changing lives, to change the world.” In 1998, he received a Doctorate of Divinity from Vision International University. In 1994, Dr. Cynthia Lemon became an ordained minister and they work together as a team with a heart for people and a mission for the world; a team with a message of hope, joy, grace and unmerited favor. Meadowlark’s life as a basketball celebrity and as one of the world’s most recognizable athletes and entertainers has given him access to millions who might not otherwise hear the “good news” of a loving God who knows them by name and loves them. Meadowlark’s humorous, dynamic and engaging style of communication makes him a highly sought-after conference speaker, keynote speaker and evangelist. Meadowlark Lemon Ministries along with Camp Meadowlark and Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All Stars uses both conventional and unconventional methods to reach out to young and old alike. Through the means of writing books, preaching, evangelical outreaches, music, basketball, television media and technology, Meadowlark Lemon Ministries presents a life-changing message that brings hope, joy and inspiration to millions — encouraging all to stay focused and “finish strong” in every endeavor. Meadowlark Lemon Ministries In 1994 Meadowlark and his wife, Dr. Cynthia Lemon, founded Meadowlark
Lemon Ministries, supports and partners with many other existing outreach ministries, charities and foundations that include working with wounded warriors and visiting military hospitals, visiting schools and children’s hospitals, collaborating with many foundations benefiting the health and protection of children, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Police and Fireman Charities, Smile of a Child Foundation, Native American outreaches, NBA and NFL guest Chaplin to encourage the young professional athlete. Meadowlark was a motivational and keynote speaker for many leadership conferences for corporations, colleges and military bases across the country including the Pentagon in Washington DC.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
21
LEGENDS of BASKETBALL Meadowlark Lemon Ministries has a special heart for young people in youth prisons and detention centers across the country. Meadowlark’s focus is to help direct children of all ages in a positive way, to let children know they are not alone, they are uniquely special, and that God has a wonderful plan for their life and most importantly, they are forgiven. The mission is to keep these young people from going to adult prisons by helping them identify the vision and dream God has put in their heart; teach them to never give up and to focus on achieving their dream as they move forward in God’s love, forgiveness, unmerited favor and grace. Meadowlark’s message to these young people is, “Life’s most meaningless statistic is the half-time score, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s always half-time.” Meadowlark encourages them to forgive themselves and forgive others. He shares with them what a loving God says to them, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Meadowlark says: Success in life is not measured by how fast we sprint away from the starting line. No! Victory is won by running the full race, finishing strong, and crossing the finish line. Make up your mind to finish strong. It has been said that it matters less where you begin in life than where you end up. Life can be likened to a race or a game with a definite beginning, a definite end, and a whole lot of time in the middle where people jockey for position. As long as you are still in the race, there’s a chance you will win. Take yourself out of the game and it’s certain you will lose. Since Meadowlark was
22
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
appointed as an Ambassador to the White House by Nancy Reagan, as part of her “Just Say No Drug Awareness Program,” he has been actively helping young people avoid the catastrophe of drug abuse. He uses his basketball talents to break down barriers. Now, Meadowlark Lemon Ministries also incorporates the support of local agencies like M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions), P.A.L. ( Peer Assistance Leadership) and D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) teaching children—from kindergarten through college— that popularity can be found in positive behavior, that belonging need not require them to abandon their values, that self-confidence and self-worth come from asserting themselves and resisting destructive temptations. Meadowlark Lemon Ministries gives young people the skills needed to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs and alcohol or become involved in gangs or violent activities including bullying. The mission is to encourage students and their peers to make healthy life decisions by getting involved in youth leadership, mentoring and sports. Our aim is to build trust, understanding and a positive self-image among students, as a fortress against the temptation of alcohol and drug abuse and to live violence-free lives. Meadowlark Lemon Ministries also supports residential treatment programs for youth such as Mercy Ministries and Teen Challenge that work with alcohol and drug addictions, unplanned teen-pregnancies, eating disorders, depression, self-harm, abuse issues and other life-controlling issues.
Meadowlark teaches the importance of keeping a good name: A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1) He conveys that in order to be respected by others; a person must first have respect for themselves and give respect to others. Meadowlark Lemon Ministries brings love and hope to the nation’s first people, the Indian Nations on our forgotten lands. Meadowlark Lemon Ministries and Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All Stars have partnered with Pastors Ray and Ceci Ramos of Festival of Life World Outreach Ministries
from the United Auburn Indian Community (Miwok Tribe) in Auburn, California. Pastor Ceci is a beautiful American Indian from the Miwok Tribe, with the gift of giving and bringing joy to others. Pastor Ray has great insight from the Word of God and teaches how to live in prosperity and God’s favor and blessings. Both ministries working together have a mission to provide compassionate, loving, and competent services in the name of Jesus Christ to these beautiful Indian people. We help raise funds and bring entertainment and encouragement to the reservations with Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All Star comedic basketball games while sharing the good news of a loving heavenly father and a message of Hope and Joy! We are now planning a series of Camp Meadowlark basketball camps for many of the schools located on reservations. Evangelism is at the heart of all we do. Our most important mission is to provide spiritual help and life-changing principles by demonstrating Christ’s love through our relief efforts. We are developing programs to provide medicine, toiletries, water, coats, blankets, food and other essential goods. We also promote Native American leadership and training Native American Ministry Leaders. Meadowlark encourages and motivates young Native American athletes to dream big dreams and focus to excel in education and sports to achieve professional status… Meadowlark learned at the beginning of his career that health affects everyone physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, socially, and emotionally. He could see that people who were taking care of their bodies by making healthy choices on a daily basis were much happier and more
productive in their lives. It was clear for him to see that it’s easier to maintain a healthy body and resist disease than try to fix a health challenge with drugs, surgeries, or many visits to doctors. It was also clear to him that each person needs to care for their own body and if his body broke down —– there is no amount of money or fame that can turn things around. By continuing to keep the maintenance of his health at the top of his priority list,
Meadowlark says: One significant difference between life and any other game or race is that in life we only compete against ourselves. Even though others may be involved, each person’s life is judged by no greater criteria than how they did when measured against their own individual potential. Decide right now that you are going to begin a new chapter in your life. Why wait until January 1 to make your resolution? Make your declaration today and
Former basketball great, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Director of Professional Relations at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Fran Judkins, actor Kevin Sizemore, wife Gina and son Gunner honor the great Meadowlark Lemon.
Meadowlark was able to do everything he wanted to do. In Meadowlark’s new book, Trust Your Next Shot, you can learn details about Meadowlark’s longevity and common sense approach to health. Meadowlark shares some of the fundamental and basic health choices he does each day including supplements, exercise and food choices. Meadowlark follows what the Bible recommends for great food choices. He also shares in his book the connection between healthy food and exercise, healthy thoughts, forgiveness and obtaining optimum health that is restored daily.
ReboundTalk
finish this day strong, this week strong, this month strong, and this year strong. The common denominator for all mankind is that we all get 24 hours in a day, just like everyone else. What you do with that time is up to you. Choose well… - Meadowlark Lemon Even after Meadowlark Lemon has passed, his words will resonate with many people and his organizations will continue to support charities for the betterment of the world. Below is a recent event to celebrate Meadowlark’s life: http:// www.fox10phoenix.com/news/ arizona-news/132309716-story
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
23
LEGENDS of BASKETBALL
JEFF HORNACEK UNDERDOG? NO WAY!
24
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
J
on Teitel visited with Jeff Hornacek about being an All-Star and making 67 straight free throws. Expectations were not high for Jeff Hornacek after being selected 46th overall by Phoenix in the 1986 draft, but he proved how much of a steal he was by averaging 14.5 career PPG and playing in more than 1000 games. With career stats of 40.3 3P% and 87.7 FT%, an argument can be made that he was 1 of the best shooters in NBA history. He made the All-Star Game in 1992, was a 2-time winner of the All-Star 3-PT contest, and was in the playoffs during 11 of his final 12 years in the league before being hired to coach the Suns in 2013. Your dad was a basketball coach at St. Joseph High School: what kind of impact did he have on your basketball career? He had a great impact on me and my basketball career. From age 5 I was going to practices, hanging out at the gym, and dribbling a ball on the sideline while he was coaching. To see how he brought his teams together was great: there was 1 kid in particular who would always lift me on his shoulders and get me a Kit Kat bar! As I got older he was always there to give me little hints to help my career. The most important thing that he told me is that the best coaches will see players who do everything: you do not have to be great at any 1 thing but you should be good at everything. After redshirting at Iowa State in 1981 you became a walk-on in 1982 for Coach Johnny Orr: did you ever think when you were a walk-on that your #14 jersey would be retired less than a decade later? I knew that they were having trouble with a couple of their guards, which is why I ended up going there, but I never dreamed about having my jersey retired or playing in the NBA. I just wanted to get a scholarship so that I could find someone to pay for my education! Take me through the 1986 NCAA tourney: You made a 26-foot jumper at the buzzer in a 2-PT OT win over Miami Ohio (the school’s 1st NCAA tourney win since 1944): where does that shot rank among the highlights of your career?
We made the tourney for the 1st time in school history in 1985 but lost pretty handily, so we had a little experience going into the 1986 tourney. Miami’s Ron Harper was 1 of the best players in the nation and it was a close game the whole way. I remember making a shot in the final 10-12 seconds of regulation to help us get to OT. Coach Orr called a timeout and drew up a play for me to come off the baseline and catch and fire, and the play worked exactly how he drew it up. It was such a big win for the school: we had thousands of fans at the game since we were in the Midwest region and it was an exciting time for all of us. You scored 7 PTS in a 3-PT upset of #2-seed Michigan (which Orr later called the greatest victory of his career): why was it such a big deal for Orr to beat his former school and his former assistant Bill Frieder? We were down 11-2 to start the game against a team with several guys who later played in the NBA (Roy Tarpley/Gary Grant/Glen Rice). Billy Packer said on TV that it looked like the “men against the boys”. The play I remember was looking at 1 of my teammates and giving him a headshake to go backdoor: I found him inside the FT line for an easy dunk that sealed the game for us. Coach Orr was oldschool and we wanted to win the game more for him than for us. As sick as he was all game long (he was hoarse the whole time), it was great to win it for him. You graduated in 1986 with a conference-record 665 career AST: what is your secret for being a great PG? Growing up as a coach’s son I always felt that I could see things developing on the court under his tutelage. I was an unselfish player who enjoyed making the pass to get a guy a layup or dunk rather than getting a shot for myself. I played in a pickup game as a high school freshman with Isiah Thomas. I was not really paying attention and he fired a pass to me for a reverse layup that I barely saw out of the corner of my eye. I learned from Isiah that if the defender is not looking you can throw it right over his shoulder for an easy bucket. Once I got to Iowa State I would hit my teammates in the head with some of my passes because I thought that they were open! Most coaches would tell their players to stop doing that but Coach Orr told me that he had confidence in me and that I should keep making those passes because the guys would realize that they had to start looking for the ball and catching my passes. In the summer of 1986 you were drafted 46th overall by Phoenix: were you thrilled to get drafted, or disappointed that you slid to the 2nd round, or other? I never thought that I would get drafted. I was an alternate at the Chicago pre-draft camp but I did pretty well there. The Suns called me up to their suite and said that they had 3 picks in the 2nd round and that if I was available they would probably
take me, which made me excited. My dad knew Isiah and I found out later that Isiah’s college coach Bobby Knight was able to make a phone call to Jerry Colangelo to get me into the camp, which I found pretty interesting. In the 1990 Western Conference 1st round you scored 10 PTS and Kevin Johnson scored 26 PTS including the series-winning shot with 0.8 seconds left in a 2-PT win at Utah in the decisive Game 5: what is the key to winning playoff games on the road? It is very difficult to win on the road at all: to do so in the playoffs you have to have a great team with some clutch players. It seemed like we were battling Utah almost every year as a 4/5 seed. Colangelo said that he would treat us to a trip to Hawaii if we beat the Jazz that year…but my wife was pregnant at the time so she and I did not get to go on the trip. The key is to play the game as if you are at home. You have to just tune out the crowd, buckle down, and get after it defensively. You cannot let the home team get its confidence so you have to win the 1st quarter. In 1992 you scored 11 PTS in your only AllStar Game appearance (a 40-PT win by the West): what was it like to play in a game featuring a whopping 15 future Hall of Famers (Magic Johnson/Clyde Drexler/Chris Mullin/Karl Malone/David Robinson/Hakeem Olajuwon/John Stockton/James Worthy/Michael Jordan/Isiah Thomas/Charles Barkley/Scottie Pippen/Patrick Ewing/Dennis Rodman/Joe Dumars)?!
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
25
LEGENDS of BASKETBALL That was something else. We had a great starting 5 on the West but we still thought that we were going to get killed by the East. The starters kind of balanced each other out but we had a lot of 1st-time All-Stars on our bench. I was surprised at how well those guys passed the ball: we put up over 150 PTS! Back then everyone played somewhat hard but since then guys have given their opponents a little more room to operate. In Game 4 of the 1992 Western Conference Semifinals you scored 23 PTS in a 153-151 2-OT home loss to Portland (which set a record for most combined PTS in a playoff game): was it a result of both offenses clicking, or the refs calling a total of 75 fouls, or something else? We were 2 of the highest scoring teams in the league that year and it was 1 of those games with great shooters and a pair of up-tempo teams. There were some guys who were in foul trouble but a 2-OT game is always going to be exciting.
26
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
In November of 1994 you set a then-NBA record by making 8 consecutive 3-PT shots in a game for Utah, and you won the NBA All-Star 3-PT competition in 1998/2000: what is your secret for being a great 3-PT shooter? I got labeled as a 3-PT shooter and was a career 40% shooter from behind the arc, but in that game I was hot and they kept feeding me the ball. The biggest thing is that we did not take a ton of 3-PT shots: when you take good shots you have a better chance of making them rather than if you just come down the court and think about shooting a 3. The All-Star competition was more fun for my kids. I did not perform well in the 3-PT contest early in my career because I tried shooting a set-shot like Danny Ainge without any practice and I did terrible. After that I just shot my normal jumper and did not worry about getting every single shot up. In Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference Finals you scored 18 PTS and John Stockton scored 25 PTS including a 3-PT series-winning shot at the buzzer in a 3-PT win over Houston on the road: where does that rank among the most clutch shots that you have ever seen?
It was huge for us because we had 3 veteran guys in Karl Malone/John/myself who were older and had been trying to get to the Finals for many years. We were down in that game but had the luxury of going home for Game 7 if we lost Game 6. We just started to climb back into the game in the 4th quarter which gave us so much confidence. I saw the whole play develop: Karl set the screen on John’s man and he was wide open. I could tell when the ball was about halfway there that it was going to be all net. It was great for us to finally get over the hump and make it to the Finals. In Game 5 of the 1997 Finals (known as the “Flu Game”) Michael Jordan scored 38 PTS in 44 minutes and had to be helped off the court at the end by Scottie Pippen: how was he able to play so well despite being so sick? It happens over and over. I can remember games when I was sick and did not feel like playing, but I felt kind of relaxed. There is a reason if you do not play well so nobody expected me to do anything. It was not surprising to me because great players like Jordan really step up when they are needed, regardless of whether they are sick/hurt.
In Game 6 of the 1998 Finals you scored 17 PTS but Jordan scored 45 PTS and made the series-winning 20-foot jumper with 5.2 seconds left in a 1-PT road win by Chicago: do you think that he pushed off of Bryon Russell to get open for the shot? Maybe…but Bryon weighed 230 pounds. Jordan is strong so it probably looked worse than it was, but that kind of stuff happens all the time. You hear it a lot when you are on the losing side, but he made the shot and we got away with plenty of push-offs during the game so I did not think much of that. From November 1999-January 2000 you made 67 FT in a row, and your 87.7 career FT% remains in the top-15 all-time: what is your secret for being a great FT shooter? I was always pretty good but during my 6th or 7th year in the league I was listening to some tapes about a POW who spent his time in captivity envisioning a golf course in his hometown. He just played the course in his head to pass the time even though he had never golfed before. After he got back to America he went to the course, played it for the very 1st time…and shot par-72! The point was to think about making the shot prior to taking it so that it is in your head, and the next season my FT shooting jumped from about 85% to 90%. I would envision my shot in advance, see it go through the net, then I would go through my routine and shoot it. Your 1536 career STL remains in the top-40 all-time: what is your secret for being a great defender? I never thought that I was a great individual defender so I just tried to keep my opponent in front of me. I tried to use the advantage of knowing what my opponent wanted to do before he even knew what he wanted to do himself. I would push him a certain way after studying the game and studying the player. The key to steals is anticipation: I tried to see everything a step or 2 ahead of everyone else. In May of 2013 you were hired as head coach of the Suns: what were your expectations and how much pressure was there on head trainer Aaron Nelson (your brother-in-law) to keep everyone healthy?! Aaron does a great job of keeping guys healthy. Coming off of a 25-win season we had to be realistic, so we just wanted to get better on both sides of the ball in terms of effort/teamwork and doing all the things it takes to win. I won a lot of playoff games so I realize what it takes: we will work hard every day to move in the right direction. Editor’s note: Hornacek was named head coach of the New York Knicks just prior to the publication of this edition.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
27
LEGENDS of BASKETBALL
LEGENDS SPOTLIGHT:
ADRIENNE GOODSON
N
BRPA writer Jon Teitel has spent time talking with many of the greatest players in WNBA history and will share his interviews at LegendsofBasketball.com. Jon visited with Adrienne Goodson about being a WNBA All-Star and hosting youth clinics. “Goody� was a basketball star from an early age, winning numerous high school All-American honors while playing at Bayonne High School in New Jersey. At Old Dominion she began her college career by winning the 1985 NCAA title as a freshman, and finished it by being named Sun Belt Player of the Year as a senior. She played professionally in Brazil after graduation and won five championships in five years before returning to America to continue her career. During her seven-year career in the WNBA she averaged 12.5 PPG, made the All-Star Game in 2002, and became known as the best 6-0 and under rebounder in the world. What was the transition like from
28
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
active basketball player to retired basketball player? It was 1 of the most difficult transitions that I have ever had to make. I loved to play basketball every single day and was successful at it, so it was hard to figure out what to do on the other side. I had skills such as marketing, video editing, and coaching, but the transition might have taken even longer if I did not get the chance to go back to my alma mater to coach. Why did you decide to join the National Basketball Retired Players Association? I wanted to expand the list of skills I brought to the table and continue to be part of the game of basketball. Being a part of the NBRPA with other basketball legends, how beneficial is the organization to players who are embarking on life after basketball? It is awesome. I have only been a member for one year but already had a chance to reconnect with WNBA players
and be around people like Nate Archibald/Johnny Newman to find out what their success was all about. I do some work with NBA Cares and they help by sending t-shirts to kids who participate in camps/clinics, which is a very nice gesture. I want to get into assistant coaching in the future and would love to get into basketball on the men’s side. In what ways has your involvement in the NBRPA allowed you to serve as an advocate to other retired players? When I post things on social media other players start to recognize that the NBRPA is really doing something. Some events led by other organizations in the past did not stick around for very long, but I am glad I became a member and can pass along the information to other players via word of mouth. It is great that the NBRPA will be at the Women’s Final 4 because all of the current coaches/assistants that will be there, and that way people can find out about what we do. You hosted a youth clinic on Saturday, March 19th, as part of the Jersey City celebration of Women’s History Month: after so much success on the court, how have you been able to succeed with such clinics off the court? We are used to seeing retired players at men’s camps but all the camps I run are co-ed. It makes sense for the NBRPA to do more things with the WNBA because retired players need someone to lean on after their career is finished and they still want to stay in the loop. As a freshman at Old Dominion you scored 9 PTS in a 5-PT win over Georgia in the 1985 NCAA tourney title game: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what do you remember about meeting President and Mrs. Reagan at
the White House? It was a phenomenal moment: when I talk about it I feel like I am right back on the court in Austin. We started the season No. 1 in the nation and probably should have gone undefeated, but our heads got a little big and we lost a few games. Georgia had some great players like Teresa Edwards/Katrina McClain so a lot of people doubted us. Congressman Bill Whitehurst was already affiliated with our team so we took a bus to DC to visit the White House. I had no idea how tall President Reagan he was about 6’5”! God bless Nancy Reagan who just passed. They asked us in advance about our favorite foods/drinks and when we arrived they had everything we listed, they rolled out the red carpet for us. You won a bronze medal as captain of team USA in the 1993 World University Games: did you think your 3-PT shot at the buzzer in the semifinal against China was going in, and where does that 2-PT loss rank among the most devastating of your career? It was the weirdest journey for me. Coach Vandeveer told me that I didn't make the final cut, which was the most devastating moment of my life. Not even 24 hours after flying out of in Colorado Springs head coach Joan Bonvicini called me and said to get back on a plane because my services were needed. I was still kind of pissed but she convinced me to head back to practice. The game against China was a battle with a score that went back and forth all night. I thought that my shot was going to stay down but it just popped right back out. It has to rank among the 3 most devastating games of my career. After winning five titles in five years playing pro basketball in Brazil, you took a pay cut to join the ABL’s Richmond Rage: why did you
ReboundTalk
make the switch, and how did you enjoy being teammates with 6-time Olympic track and field medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee? I heard from a Stanford friend that everyone was going to try out for this new league called the ABL, so I filled out a form, forgot about it, and then had a phenomenal year in Brazil. I tried out a year later at age 29 as I was really coming into my game, so it was a nice tryout. It was a chance to play at home and be teammates with Dawn Staley, which was pretty great. We were doing a drill where Dawn would hurl a long pass to me for a layup. Jackie came out there and ran the length of the court to catch 1 of the passes in mid-air: we all just stood around looking stunned because we had just witnessed the fastest woman that any of us had ever seen.
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
29
In 2002 you were a reserve for the West in the WNBA All-Star Game: what are your memories of the game, and was that the greatest team you have ever been a part of (Tamecka Dixon/Katie Smith/ Lauren Jackson joined you on as SUBS on the West!)? It is hands-down the greatest team that I have ever been a part of. Lauren was just on fire at that time and could not be stopped. She was 6-4 but could shoot threes and bring the ball up the court: she was like Scottie Pippen. You could take our bench and we could hold our own against the starters because we had so much talent. It was great to play for Coach Michael Cooper: he was a great player who I watched on TV when I was younger getting steal after steal and also a great coach. Many people have called you the best 6-0 and under rebounder in the world: what is your secret for being a great rebounder? It is just desire: offense was my forte but I always wanted the ball and would dive on the floor if necessary. As a college freshman I played with some great rebounders and they made a great impression on me. They would tell me to get out of the paint because they thought I was too small, but once I got overseas I took my former teammate Tracy Claxton’s jersey No. 15 so that it would remind me to always hit the boards. Coach Stanley was a stickler for rebounding and my other coaches also wanted me to get into the mix. Coach Wendy Larry would make whoever had the least rebounds during our 4-on-4 drills run, so that also served as my motivation. I think that will be my legacy: that I rebounded with the best of them.
30
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
JOYCE REY INTERNATIONAL DISTINGUISHED LIFESTYLES
impeccaBle New coNstructioN, tHe cresceNt palace Beverly Hills
a view to eNvy, 20 acres, aBsolute perfectioN Beverly Hills
80-acre commuNity of 17 luxury estates
maliBu
e xclusive Gated Buff & HeNsmaN oN carBoN BeacH
maliBu
private soariNG coNtemporary arcHitectural statemeNt pacific palisades
Gated HacieNda set oN a private k Noll
Bel air
refiNed traditioNal set oN a 6.5 acre promoNtory lake sHerwood
oN top of tHe world - tHe QuiNtesseNtial peNtHouse wilsHire corridor
Gated & private oN Nearly 1 acre view lot
Bel air
#1 Real Estate Team on the West Coast 2012
310.285.7529
JOYCE@JOYCEREY.COM
WWW.JOYCEREY.COM
CA DRE #00465013
©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned And Operated By a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.
Rey - Rebound Mag Full Page - March 2013 - V4.indd 1
3/19/2013 9:07:57 AM
LEGENDS of BASKETBALL
By Bob Sakamoto DePaul Athletics Communications
Bryant's Life Story an Inspirational Tale
T
here's nothing like curling up to a colorful tale in the midst of a winter snowstorm, and that's exactly what you'll find in the life story of DePaul basketball great Emmette Bryant. It's a once-upon-a-time narrative about a Damon Runyonesque character who rose up from rough-and-tumble teenage years and reform school to graduate from college and go on to win an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics. Along the way of a precarious path that could have veered off in the wrong direction at any time, Bryant encountered Secretary of State Jesse White, the Air Force and a legendary coach named Ray Meyer. Bryant's remarkable accomplishments are something everyone in the DePaul community
32
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
can share in celebration of Black History Month. In his three seasons at DePaul, Bryant led the Blue Demons to NIT appearances in 1963 and 1964 at a time when the Madison Square Garden event was equal in stature to the NCAA tournament. DePaul did not belong to a conference in those days, instead taking on independent powers such as Notre Dame, Marquette, St. John's, Georgetown, Syracuse, Louisville, Miami, Villanova, Houston and Seattle. "People still talked about the legendary George Mikan when I was here, and Howie Carl kept the basketball tradition alive until my years (1961-64) playing with guys like M.C. Thompson from Marshall, Bill Debes from Fenwick, Jesse Nash from Wells---Chicago kids playing lights-out basketball. We also had Dick Cook and Jim
Murphy to keep it going. "My senior year when Jesse and I both scored about 18 points a game, I remember starting out 13-0 and winning the Queen City tournament in Buffalo, N.Y. Us and UCLA with coach John Wooden, Walt Hazzard and Gail Goodrich were the only teams in the nation to start 13-0. "In our 13th game against Indiana, I was going for a loose ball with Dick Van Arsdale. He flipped me, landed on my ankle and broke it. That finished me for the regular season. We really had it together with all five starters averaging between 12 and 18 points a game. We headed into the NIT with a 21-3 record and I came back for the postseason---playing with a removable cast. "I had injured my take-off leg. I had to learn to shoot off my right foot, and it felt so un-natural. I'll
never forget when we lost to New York University in the semifinals, this NYU player named Stan McKenzie kept kicking me in my cast." In many ways, the multi-talented point guard from the West Side embodies DePaul's Vincentian mission of transforming the lives of society's deprived. And in Ray Meyer, Bryant had an ideal role model and father figure. "Coach Meyer was demanding, and I remember how he rewarded guys with playing time over moretalented players who didn't play hard," Bryant said. "As the point guard, I'd spend time with coach in film sessions. He allowed me to call the offensive and defensive sets. I pretty much ran the show. "We had a good relationship. It helped that I was 23 years old and already a grown man after spending time in the military service. Coach lived in Oak Park and I lived on the West Side, so he would go straight out on Jackson Boulevard and drop me off at home. We had lots of talks on those rides. "There were times when he took me with him on speaking engagements before driving me home. I remember going with him to Indiana for one function." Bryant was drafted in the seventh round (53rd overall) by the New York Knicks in 1964. "I had made up my mind once I got to the NBA that I was going to be one of the best defensive players in the league," Bryant said. "Everybody in the NBA was a big scorer in college. I said I'm going to specialize in defense and be a stopper. I had been drafted by the Dallas Cowboys to be a defensive back because my defensive skills translated football-wise. "But my leg injury still hadn't healed 100 percent and they wanted me to come to training camp in July. The Knicks wanted me in camp by October, and that gave me three more months to heal." During his four seasons in the Big Apple, he played with standouts such as Bill Bradley, Phil Jackson, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Walt Bellamy, Dave DeBusschere, Dave Stallworth, Butch Komives
and Dick Barnett. He was a big supporter of Bradley during his run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000. "Being a good defensive player is how I stuck around the first several years," Bryant said. "I always faced the top scoring guard---guys like Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Walt Frazer, Earl Monroe, Lenny Wilkens and Jeff Mullins. In terms of locking a guy up, I always gave Hal Greer fits. "I remember the 1969 Eastern Conference playoffs
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
33
LEGENDS of BASKETBALL
when Hal had been averaging 25 points a game in the postseason. I held him to 10 points per game during our series that we won 4-1. He hated me. "I kept myself in great shape and would stay on my man from the baseline and be in his face from that point through the entire offensive sequence. If he gave the ball up, I'd play deny defense and wouldn't let him get it back. "I could do that the whole game and it demoralized people. They would get frustrated and turn it into a one-on-one battle to prove a point. It became a personal thing. They would forget about the rest of the team and the flow of the game." The Celtics had won nine of 10 NBA titles when Bryant joined them for the 1968-69 season. This would be the last season for player-coach Bill Russell and Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones had just retired. John Havlicek, Don Nelson, Satch Sanders and Bailey Howell were back to defend the title. Team president Red Auerbach had seen Bryant playing at a resort in the Catskills in a benefit game for Maurice Stokes. "The new expansion team in Phoenix had purchased my rights from the Knicks in 1968," Bryant said. "I told general manager Jerry Colangelo I didn't want to live in Phoenix and would retire. Red contacted me and said if he made a deal, would I play for Boston. I
34
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
jumped at the chance. "We backed into the playoffs as the No. 4 seed when Cincinnati lost on the last day of the season. We faced the 76ers in the conference semifinals and won that series 4-1. We beat the Knicks in the conference finals 4-2 and then defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games for the NBA title. We did not have home-court advantage in any series." Bryant played a pivotal role in games four and five. The Celtics were down 2-1 in the series and trailed late when Bryant's steal with 15 seconds left led to Sam Jones' game-winning shot 12 seconds later in the 89-88 win. The Lakers took game five 117104 but not without suffering the biggest injury of the series. Bryant had stolen the ball from Jerry West in the fourth quarter and when West lunged for the ball, he sustained a hamstring injury that had him limping through a game six loss in Boston. In game seven, the aging Celtics overcame the LA superstar trio of West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor to squeeze out a 108-106 victory. Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had thousands of balloons proclaiming "World Champion Lakers" in a giant net suspended from the Forum rafters. During pregame warm-ups, Russell told West: "Those bleepin' balloons are staying up there." West had a memorable game with 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, but Havlicek finished
with 26 points, Jones 24 and Bryant 20. It was Russell's final NBA title and culminated the end of an era. When Bryant arrived in Los Angeles for the championship opener, he received a telegram asking him to call a Mr. Hunter. It turns out this was the same park district instructor who had kept a watchful eye on a young Bryant while allowing him to stay late and play against the older players. "He taught me how to play ball, and now he was living in LA," Bryant said. "He had my tickets for all four games at the Forum because he was like my family. When we won it all, I brought him on the floor. We embraced and both started crying. Neither of us knew what life had in store for us. I was a 10-year-old kid hanging out in a gym and he looked out for me." Bryant was double-promoted in grade school and entered McKinley High School at the age of 12. He ran into problems and was sent to Montefiore Academy which specializes in students with behavior or emotional issues. From there, Bryant wound up at a state reform school in St. Charles where his physical education instructor was eventual Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. "He was my gym teacher and basketball coach," Bryant said. "He was All-City in baseball and basketball at Waller High School (Lincoln Park), starred in both sports at Alabama State and
played in the Cubs minor league system. "We used to have intramural basketball with cottage against cottage. The best players were selected for the all-school team and outside teams from Boys Clubs and organizations like that would come in and play us. "He told me I should be playing somewhere else and that I was wasting my time at St. Charles. Everybody told you that, and I thought it was just another voice in the wilderness." Bryant enlisted in the Air Force and became a skilled radar operator stationed in Panama. He starred on the base team that played in a military conference against teams from the Army and Navy and led his team to several championships. After one game, a serviceman who wound up playing football for the Baltimore Colts told him he was good enough to become a college basketball star. "I took the GED test just to see if I could pass it," Bryant said. "When I passed, I began to seriously consider offers to play ball and go to college. I liked Seattle University after reading about Elgin Baylor leading them to the NCAA title game. I considered an offer from Michigan State because I Iiked `Jumpin' Johnny Green. "When I got out of the service, the Seattle U. coach was now coaching in the ABA. I went to Michigan State but coach Forddy Anderson was working clinics in Europe and no one knew about the arrangement we had discussed." A disappointed 21-year-old Bryant returned home to the West Side and successfully tried out for an all-star team that barnstormed through the Midwest with the New York Harlem Satellites, an offshoot of the Harlem Globetrotters. A year later, he enrolled at Crane Junior College (Malcolm X) where he led the nation in scoring averaging 36 points a game. "My coach at Crane was Paul Mall, who had been an assistant coach at DePaul," Bryant said. "He would bring us to have scrimmages against DePaul's freshman team. Coach Meyer liked the way I played and that was the start of a wonderful relationship with DePaul." After his career was over, Bryant worked for the National Basketball Retired Players Association and is currently the vice-president of the Chicago chapter. Through various service programs, he is helping NBA players transition into life after basketball. He still plays ball at the age of 77, competing in a 70-and-over league. "My days at DePaul came along at a critical time in my life," Bryant said. "I'll always be thankful for the opportunity to play ball for coach Meyer and for everything I learned while going to college."
From author Bob Sakamoto on interviewing Emmette ...
I
really enjoyed interviewing and writing the story on Emmette, as you could probably tell. I was a Chicago Tribune sportswriter for 32 years and was the Bulls/NBA beat writer from 1984 through 1988. I had the great fortune to take over the beat when Michael was drafted. Those four years were some of the best in my life. I spent every day, nine months a year watching him practice, play in games and traveling with him. In those days, as you well know, teams flew commercial flights. I flew with MJ and the Bulls everywhere, stayed in the same hotels and often ate in the same restaurants. Being a happy-golucky bachelor in those days, I’d also socialize with the guys from time to time. We were flying Southwest one time on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day. MJ led a prank that had the players tying me up in my seat (pilot and crew went along with it). MJ said they didn’t want me taking down the plane kamikaze-style! Of course, this was way before 9/11, so it brought all kinds of laughter from the other passengers. MJ was amazing. It was at a time when everything about the NBA was new and he didn’t know a soul in Chicago. We became close on and off the court and he shared things in confidence knowing I wasn’t out to expose him or make my career using him. The trust factor was mutual and ran pretty deep. Although I never got to write about certain things, the experiences I had and the inside look at MJ’s life were priceless. I guess Michael sensed I was a different kind of journalist---not cut-throat and looking to make my name at the expense of others. My editors told me I needed to me more callous, indifferent and tougher, but that just wasn’t my nature. I followed my conscience and allowed my humanity to prevail. The rewards were unbelievable. I’m sure I covered many of the guys in your membership during my NBA days. I also spent 25 years covering high school basketball in Chicago and became close to a multitude of basketball stars during their formative years. Anyway, thanks for publishing our story and helping to elevate the name of DePaul. Hopefully there will be opportunities in the future for my DePaul-related stories to find a place in Rebound.” Take care, Bob Sakamoto
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
35
Partner Spotlight
You Mean I Can’t Do A Lay-Up?
H
ALDEY Pharmaceutical Compounding recognized early on in its service to the public that pain management was, and still is, the driving force for much of its business. We understood that with life expectancy reaching 85 years old many chronic pain illnesses would need to be managed far longer than our parents and their parents before them would have ever imagined. Due in part to the advances in types of medications we are being prescribed, we are afforded longer lives, but not always a healthier or enjoyable one. We at HALDEY Pharmaceutical Compounding understand the issues regarding the type and amount of medications needed to be taken in the treatment of pain management, and know that we have an effective alternative. Let us first define what compounding is, it is the creating of a customized medication specifically for you, the patient, that is not commercially available either in form or strength or dose. We believe that you are an individual, and that commercial “one size fits all” medications do not really reflect your individual needs, when it comes to pain management treatment. HALDEY Pharmaceutical Compounding has years of expertise in treating pain by way of formulating topical medications that contain either one, or a variety of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications. These medications can be applied and absorbed through the skin at the point(s) of pain and inflammation, and is important to you for a number of reasons. The number of prescription medications now being taken by individuals has increased over the years, and this does not include over–the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements. It is estimated that patients over 65 years old take on the average 14 prescription medications per year, and those 85 and older take 18 prescription medications per year. Adverse reactions constitute 28% of all hospitalizations per year, and 32% of all seniors suffer hip fractures caused by medication related problems. The advantage of topical treatment is not having it interfere with already existing medications
36
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
currently taken. It is not an oral medication so interfering with other oral medications is generally minimal. Another very important advantage that HALDEY Pharmaceutical Compounding provides through its topical pain medication therapy is the ability to use the most effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications that might otherwise not be prescribed orally. As we age certain body systems tend to slow down in their function, the Kidney and Liver are prime examples of this. The kidney’s function is for ridding our body of wastes, and the liver is responsible for breaking down chemicals in our body. Both systems are crucial when it comes to the types of oral medications we take. Another system, the Stomach and Intestines, can become very sensitive and this too can be age related. Unfortunately many of the highly effective anti-inflammatory medications are oral and will have a negative impact on each of these systems, and while there are anti-inflammatory medications commercially available as gels, they are only available in single dose medication forms. At HALDEY Pharmaceutical Compounding we can add two or more medications with varying combinations of strengths, and being topical will have little to no effects on these systems. As an athlete, currently playing or retired, you have trained and played hard putting your joints and muscles through far more workout than the average person. We at HALDEY understand this and offer our services to all athletes with our topical pain management medications customized to you, the individual athlete, to lead a healthier and more enjoyable future with less pain.
NBA Greats Seek Long-Term Health
Bernard King, other retired NBA greats seek long-term health
B
ernard King hopes that regular health screenings will prevent his basketball friends from dying prematurely. Heart disease is a prominent topic now among retired NBA players. ''Obviously we've lost a lot of our brethren - Moses Malone and Darryl Dawkins recently and Pat Cummings, Marvin Webster and Jerome Kersey over the last few years,'' King said. ''We're in a situation where we'd like to stem that tide.'' King and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Dominique Wilkins joined longtime NBA stars Dale Ellis and Grant Hill in undergoing physical exams February 27th on the club level at Philips Arena. Organizers estimated that 22 retired players from the Atlanta area participated in the screenings. Former head coach and player Johnny Davis drove four hours from North Carolina to learn more about his body, too. Following the heart-related deaths last year of Malone, 60, and Dawkins, 58, the NBA has partnered with the players association and retired players association to hold events in different cities. Houston was the first stop in December. The Hawks hosted this clinic. ''It's an unfortunate set of events that you've seen far too many of our former, retired players die because heart disease,'' said Hill, a Hawks minority owner and a seven-time All-Star with Detroit and Orlando. ''From what I'm hearing, some of it maybe could've been avoided if the players knew or were aware of what they were dealing with.'' Hill has only been retired three years and still looks slim and trim. Even so, he wants as much information as possible about his condition. ''I'm at that age, over 40, when you shouldn't take anything for granted and check these things out,'' Hill said. ''I don't know that I've gone through a full cardio evaluation like this, probably not since I was playing or before. It's better to be safe than the alternative.'' After filling out their medical history the retired players had an echocardiogram, a carotid scan, blood work and sleep apnea tests. They also had the option of an orthopedic exam before meeting with Emory University sports cardiologist Jonathan Kim. Joe Rogowski, the director of sports medicine and research for the NBAPA, was also on hand to answer questions. ''You have to build a blueprint of your health and how you do that is to get screened,'' said former Hawks
star Wilkins. ''That way if something is wrong you'll know how to treat it. I've been preaching this for nine to 10 years. It's really a passion for me. When I found out when I was a diabetic, these were the things I had to do.'' Ellis, a 17-year veteran, estimated that he's had one physical since retiring in 2000. He was long overdue and still thinks regularly about friends like Malone and Dawkins. ''I traveled with Darryl to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait and got a chance to get to know him when we were overseas entertaining our troops,'' Ellis said. ''Moses and I played ball together in Milwaukee. I didn't go to the All-Star Game this year in Toronto, but one of the highlights of the All-Star week was always seeing Moses Malone. He was a friend of mine, so I'm glad the NBA and the retired players association are taking a look at this to take care of the players.'' King said it's not hard for retired players to take their health for granted, even if they aren't in excellent shape as the years pass by. But now that he's 59, the former New York Knicks great tries to listen to his body. ''I always have a yearly physical but as with anything related to your health, things can change before you know it,'' said King, who drove 30 miles south from his home in Alpharetta. ''My wife implored me today - ''Go, please, go!'' This program will continue to travel across the United States and beyond to help former pro athletes screen for health issues, answer any questions they have and assist in ensuring a healthy person for years to come.
ReboundTalk
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
37
OBITUARIES “Legends” Ring and had his jersey number 36 retired. Along with his basketball career, Lemon was also an actor, appearing on shows such as ABC’s Wide World of Sports, CBS Sports Spectacular, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine and Scooby Doo. Following his hugely successful basketball and acting career, Lemon served as an ordained minister and motivational speaker. Meadowlark Lemon
REX MORGAN (1948-2016) NBRPA member Rex Morgan (October 27, 1948 – January 15, 2016) has passed away. Morgan is a former member of the Boston Celtics where he played two seasons with the team after being drafted in 1970. Morgan played collegiate basketball at Jacksonville University where he became one of the school’s most iconic players. He helped lead the team to the 1970 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball national championship game before losing to UCLA. After his professional career came to a close, Morgan spent nearly two decades at the helm of the Arlington Country Day boys’ basketball program in Jacksonville. JOHN JOHNSON (1947-2016) Former NBA All Star and NBA Champion John Johnson (October 18, 1947 – January 7, 2016) has passed away. Johnson played collegiate basketball at Iowa University where he set a record for points per season during his senior year with 27.9 points per game. Johnson then played twelve seasons in the NBA after being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970 with the 7th pick. After three seasons
38
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
with the Cavaliers where he recorded the franchise’s first triple double and was named an All Star twice, he also played for the Portland Trailblazers and Houston Rockets before joining the Seattle Supersonics. In Seattle, he was a key contributor to the 1978-1979 Supersonics team that went on to win the NBA Championship. Johnson retired in 1982 with a career scoring average of 12.9 points. MEADOWLARK LEMON (1932-2015) NBRPA member and Basketball Hall of Famer Meadowlark Lemon (April 25, 1932 – December 27, 2015) has passed away. Lemon is a legendary member of the Harlem Globetrotters known by many as the “Clown Prince”. While serving two years in the army, Lemon applied to be a Harlem Globetrotter in 1954 before he was chosen to join the team in 1955. He went on to play in over 16,000 games for the Globetrotters and was awarded the John Bunn award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, which recognizes outstanding lifetime contributors to basketball, followed by being named a Hall of Fame inductee in 2003. In 2001, Lemon received a Globetrotters
BOBBY WANZER (1921-2016) NBRPA member Bobby Wanzer (June 4, 1921 – January 23, 2016) has passed away. After a stellar career at Seton Hall University, Wanzer was drafted tenth overall by the Rochester Royals in 1948. He played his entire ten year career with the Royals, making the All Star Game five times and the All-NBA second team three times. In 1951, Wanzer helped lead the team to the NBA Championship where they defeated the New York Knicks in seven games. Wanzer also coached the Royals for four seasons, two of them as a playercoach in during 1955-1957. An impressive feat of his basketball career is the fact that Wanzer was the first NBA player to shoot over 90 percent from the free-throw line in a season (.904 in 1951-52). Wanzer was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. KENNY SAILORS (1921-2016) NBRPA member Kenny Sailors (January 14, 1921 – January 30, 2016) has passed away. Credited at times with being the first player to use the modern jump shot, Sailors played his Hall of Fame college basketball career at University of Wyoming, where he led the Cowboys to the 1943 NCCA Men’s Basketball Championship. After his college
career, he played professionally in the Basketball Association of America before playing in the NBA for five seasons with several teams, including the Warriors, Nuggets, Celtics and Bullets. The University of Wyoming plans to erect a specially commissioned sculpture of Sailors outside of the University’s basketball stadium due to Sailors’ contributions to the institution. YORK LARESE (1938-2016) York B. Larese passed away on February 6, 2016 at age 77. As a 6'4" standout guard at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was a three-time All-ACC selection from 1959-61 and a second-team AllAmerica as a senior. Nicknamed "the Cobra," for his singular style of shooting free throws, he shot the ball, with no pause, as soon as the official handed it to him. He was timed taking anywhere from 0.8 to 1.1 seconds to let it fly. One of the best pure shooters in the school's history, he made all 21 of his free throw attempts in a victory over Duke on December 29, 1959, setting a single-game record that still stands today. He shot 86.8 percent from the free throw line in 1959-60 which was the single-season UNC record for 25 years. York was drafted by the NBA in the second round (20th overall) and played with the Chicago Packers and the Philadelphia Warriors (#34 pictured above) in the 1961-62 season. On March 2, 1962, in Hershey, PA, he played a role in the historic Wilt Chamberlain 100-point game, passing to Wilt for the assist on his 98 point. From there, he played several years in the Eastern League. Also during this time, keenly aware of his own humble beginnings, York would often head up to Dobbs Ferry, NY, just outside New York City and hold free
basketball clinics at The Children's Village, an organization that supports children and families in the metropolitan New York City area. His playing and teaching led him next to coaching, and in the 1969-1970 season of American Basketball Association, he served as a head coach of the New York Nets. York desired a steadier career and more time with his family and for the next 20 years, worked in Sports Promotions with Converse and Puma.York is remembered as a man who loved his family, loved to play basketball, and never forgot the importance of remembering and honoring where he came from. STEVE HARRIS (1963-2016) NBRPA member Steve Harris (October 15, 1963 – February 22, 2016) has passed away. After an All-American career at University of Tulsa, Harris was selected in the first round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. Harris spent five seasons in the NBA, playing for the Rockets, Warriors, Pistons and Clippers. At Tulsa, he earned AllMissouri Valley Conference honors three times and led Tulsa to three NCAA tournament appearances. Harris was nicknamed “Silk” for his ‘silky’ smooth mid-range jumper. Harris' Tulsa jersey #20 was retired by the school and he was inducted into The University of Tulsa's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. EUGENE SHORT (1953-2016) Eugene Short (August 7, 1953 – March 16, 2016) has passed away. Short was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1975 NBA Draft after a stellar basketball career at Jackson State University where he was a two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Prior to his selection in the NBA Draft, he was
ReboundTalk
also drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the ABA draft when the two leagues were separate and he also played for the US National Team in the 1974 FIBA World Championship. He won a bronze medal during his tenure on the team. Short is the older brother of another former NBA player, Purvis Short. CLYDE LOVELLETTE (1929-2016) NBRPA member Clyde Lovellette (September 7, 1929 – March 9, 2016) has passed away. Lovellette has the distinct honor of being the first basketball player to play on an NCCA Championship team, Olympic gold medal basketball team, and an NBA Championship team. After a legendary career at Kansas University where he led the Jayhawks to the 1952 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Lovellette played twelve years of pro basketball where he was named an All Star four times and won three NBA Championships (one with the Lakers, two with the Celtics). He was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in May 1988 and Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. MURRAY WIER (1926-2016) Murray Wier (December 12, 1926 – April 6, 2016) has passed away. Wier played college basketball at the University of Iowa, where he had a marvelous career. He holds the distinction as the inaugural NCAA scoring leader during the 1947-1948 season where he was also named a consensus first-team All-American. Wier played professional basketball for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) under Red Auerbach and the Waterloo Hawks. Following his professional
ReboundMagazine
ReboundMagazine.com
39
OBITUARIES career, Wier gave back to the game by coaching high school basketball. He coached for 24 years and guided his team to a state championship in 1974. VINCE BORYLA (1927-2016) Vince Boryla (March 11, 1927 – March 27, 2016) has passed away. Nicknamed “Moose”, Boryla played for the New York Knicks for five seasons and then became the head coach from 19561958. He was named an All-Star during the 1951 season. Following his coaching career, he became general manager of the ABA’s Denver Larks and then rejoined the franchise when they joined the NBA as the Denver Nuggets. He won the NBA Executive of the Year award in 1984. Boryla was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and National Polish-American Hall of Fame. PEARL WASHINGTON (1964-2016) Dwayne “Pearl” Washington (January 6, 1964 - April 19, 2016) passed away. Washington developed his famous “Pearl” nickname from friends because his game resembled legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. Washington played at Syracuse from 1983 to 1986 where he led the school in both assists and steals in all three years. He was named an All-American in each year of his Syracuse career. His in-game flair and mastery of the ‘shake and bake’ made Washington a phenomenon at the school and in the local area. He was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the 1986 NBA Draft where he went on to play three seasons in the league. Washington remained beloved at Syracuse following his basketball days and is one of the most beloved athletes the school has ever had. The university retired his number 31 jersey in March 1996.
40
Rebound / Vol. 5 / Issue 2
ARCHIE DEES (1936 – 2016) Archie Dees (February 22, 1936 – April 4, 2016) passed away at the age of 80 in Bloomington, Indiana. A 6'8" forward/center born in Ethel, Mississippi, Dees started his basketball career at Mount Carmel High School in Mount Carmel, Illinois, where he was named an All-American his senior year. Afterwards he attended Indiana University, where he received the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player award twice, in 1957 and 1958. He is one of just three people (the others being Jerry Lucas and Scott May) to have received multiple Big Ten MVP honors. When he graduated in 1958, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals of the National Basketball Association, and he went on to play four seasons in the league with the Royals, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Packers, and St. Louis Hawks. Dees was inducted into the Indiana University Hall of Fame in 1983. In 2001, he was named to the Indiana University All-Century Team.
JIM MCMILLIAN (1948-2016) Jim McMillian (March 11, 1948 – May 16, 2016) has passed away. McMillian was a star at Columbia University, where he led the school to their last NCAA Basketball Tournament appearance. During his tenure, he was a three-time All-American and All-Ivy Leaguer, All-East each year and the ECAC Sophomore of the Year. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 NBA Draft and spent three years with the team, including the 1972 season where he helped lead the team to the NBA Championship. During that season, he also helped lead the Lakers to 33 straight wins, a record that still holds today in the NBA. The team also finished the season with 69 wins, third most in NBA history. McMillian played a total of nine seasons in the NBA, including stints with the Braves, Knicks, and Blazers. Following his NBA career, he played in Italy for two years. Upon retirement, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Vince Boryla