Rebound Magazine Vol1 Issue2 by Matt Fish

Official Publication of the NBRPA

Cedric Ceballos Turning Dreams into Reality

We Made This Game Living Large Kareem’s New Book

Spring 2012 • VOL. 1 ISSUE 2 www.reboundmag.com

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INSIDE this ISSUE

Volume 1, Issue 2 • Spring 2012 NBRPA REBOUND MAGAZINE

Features 8

Remembering Bob Boozer

See You in the Big Easy

10 Turning Dreams into Reality 15 Staying Agile 16 Cowens Gets Candid 22 Persistence Pays Off 24 Legends Helping Out 25 Better or Easier? 26 Choosing An Advisor 30 Golf Course Living

Publisher/Sales Eric Carlyle • eric@reboundmag.com Associate Publisher/Managing Editor Connie Wardman • connie@reboundmag.com Advisor Bernard Thompson • bernard@reboundmag.com Editor Matthew Fish • matt@reboundmag.com Art Director Jay Gelnett • jay@reboundmag.com Writers Dr. Richard Barnett, Bryce Carter, Cedric Ceballos, Paul Corliss, Nella Decesare, Brett Rice, Jason Riley Website/IT David Riach • david@reboundmag.com Sales Shane Hicke • shane@reboundmag.com Executive Editor Paul Corliss • pcorliss@legendsofbasketball.com NBRPA CEO Arnie Fielkow

Departments

Staff Adrian Colón, Paul Corliss, Kim Durr, Scott Roskind, Mark Scoggins, Charece Williams, Sam Vincent

5 Tip-Off

NBRPA Board Members Robert A. Elliott, President & Chairman Otis Birdsong, Vice President Marvin Roberts, Treasurer Steve Hayes, Secretary Dr. George Tinsley Sr., Past President Thurl Bailey, Director Harvey Catchings, Director James Donaldson, Director LaRue Martin Jr., Director Johnny Newman, Director Danny Schayes, Director

Eric Carlyle, Publisher

FISH Talk

Matt Fish, Editor

Executive Summary

Arnie Fielkow, NBRPA CEO

18 Center Court 28 Luxury Lifestyles 30 Hoop Dreams

Dr. Dick Barnett

s u i t s

h i g h – e n d

d e n i m

w i l l i s a n d w a l k e r . c o m

s u e d e

From REBOUND Magazine

Tip-Off By Eric Carlyle

It amazes me how much the media business is like basketball. Both are comprised of a team of skilled members, both are competitive and both of them entertain. But what makes basketball so different is the ability Eric Carlyle, Publisher and drive of many former players to give back to the communities where they live and/or have played. In this issue you will catch up with Cedric Ceballos. Cedric’s non-profit, Hoop2Heal, is an amazing charity. I recently had the opportunity to attend a Hoop2Heal event and was not only impressed by Cedric’s hard work but also by the support of his fellow athletes who turned out to support Hoop2Heal. You can read more about Cedric on page 10. But Ceballos isn’t alone in his desire to give back to others; he has great company in his philanthropic efforts. We have spotlighted a few other players who give back, including Chris Dudley and Dikembe Mutombo, on page 24. Giving back can be more than establishing a charity, though. In this month’s Center Court you can read about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s new children’s book, What Color is My World? What about golf tournaments, bowling fundraisers, and youth mentoring? The Legends give back in countless ways—too many for us to cover them all. So while the media business is a lot like basketball in a number of ways, the athletes give back so much to the community in the spirit of friendly competition that they have the media beat (in a good way).

Big Guys, Big Hearts By Matthew Fish

The Phoenix NBRPA Chapter recently held its 8th Annual Kids Fight Cancer Golf Classic, an event that’s always near and dear to our members’ hearts. As we were wrapping it up, it caused me to reflect on my experiences over my last seven years as an NBRPA member. As I’ve become more and more Matthew Fish, Editor involved with NBRPA at the national level, one of the things that has continued to impress me is the overall willingness of our members to get involved in community outreach efforts, especially those projects and events relating to children. We’re all big guys—that’s just one of the reasons we got to play basketball in the pro ranks. And when we retired, we could all have rested on our laurels as retired NBA, ABA or Harlem Globetrotters and never become active in our communities across the U.S. But based on my observations, I think our guys also display very big hearts in their willingness to give back to the people and communities who have so eagerly supported all of us over our playing careers. None of us have to do that—there’s no requirement for NBRPA membership that says we have to be good community citizens, there’s no demerit system if we don’t participate. No, this is an inner drive, a desire to leave a legacy for our families, friends, teammates and fans that goes beyond our individual and team records for points, rebounds and dunks. It’s a common desire to be positive role models, using our sports notoriety and fame to leave a positive legacy for the latest generation of kids who look up to us. It makes me proud to say I’m an NBRPA member!

Executive Summary Dear NBRPA Member,

hey say time flies when you’re having fun. I am already seven months into my job serving you as CEO of the National Basketball Retired Players Association and it feels as if we’re moving a mile a minute. Since my fullArnie D. Fielkow, NBRPA Chief Executive Officer time arrival in October, we have looked hard at what was working and we have tried to make those programs and services even better. We have eliminated what was not working and we are constantly introducing new programs and services to add value to NBRPA members. We now offer free programs in the areas of health, finance, career/life skills, education and legal to help equip our members with tools for success. Our newly re-launched web site, LegendsofBasketball. com, is a world-class portal for news, information and interactivity. We also continue to innovate with sociallyaware events for members and the general public. During the recent NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, the NBRPA partnered with Wells Fargo to celebrate Black History Month. As part of a daylong celebration on Feb. 26, former New York Knicks star Dr. Dick Barnett and our own Legends Band—a soulful music act comprised of former NBA and WNBA players–delivered a rousing assembly program to a group of local school children to celebrate AfricanAmerican heritage and the opportunities that lie ahead. Later that evening, the NBRPA and Wells Fargo hosted a public reception and historic panel discussion on the African-American impact on the game of basketball and sports, in general. For two hours NBRPA members Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Spencer Haywood, Earl Lloyd and Dolph Schayes—joined by Sharon Robinson (daughter of Major League Baseball’s first African-American player,

Jackie Robinson), sports/social activist Dr. Richard A. Lapchick, author Mark Johnson (son of former Harlem Globetrotter, Andy Johnson) and emcee Marc H. Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League—were united in frank and captivating discussion about the historic relevance of race in sports. Several hundred people attended the Hardwood Pioneers Reflect panel at the Walt Disney Swan Resort in Orlando and thousands more accessed the historic discussion live online at LegendsofBasketball.com. Without the support of our partner, Wells Fargo, the NBRPA would not have been able to produce such an historic and culturally-relevant menu of programming in celebration of Black History Month. These are the types of impactful partnerships we are working hard to create and execute at the NBRPA. From an event standpoint, our organizational focus now turns to the 2012 Legends World Sports Conference in New Orleans on August 17, 18 and 19. As the former President for the New Orleans City Council and Executive Vice President of the New Orleans Saints, the Crescent City is obviously a place I hold dear to my heart and I can promise our members and partners a truly unique world-class event. Are you ready to hit the French Quarter for a weekend of philanthropy, fraternization, food and fun? Our annual retreat to share ideas, to network and learn from one another will be held at the historic Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans. Located on Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, the Royal Sonesta offers quick access to everything New Orleans has to offer. And we are putting together a one-of-akind, all-inclusive itinerary that combines business with entertainment for NBRPA members in good standing. NBRPA membership dues cover a two-night hotel stay as well as a host of entertainment, dining and learning opportunities. The agenda won’t be limited to just the Royal Sonesta—we’ve booked activities to take place on the Mississippi River as part of a steamboat cruise for conference attendees. If you know former teammates or friends from your playing days who aren’t

Executive Summary current NBRPA members, now is the perfect time for them to sign up and take advantage of everything our conference has to offer—the 2012 Legends World Sports Conference promises to deliver members far more in value than their $250 annual dues. Look for registration materials in your inbox soon. In the meantime, please email us any ideas for conference sessions or topics you wish to be addressed as part of the 2012 Legends World Sports Conference at memberalert@legendsofbasketball.com. Our other primary focal point at the NBRPA is solidifying the long-time partnership we have with the NBA as we negotiate new terms for our Group Licensing Agreement. Your Board of Directors has created a committee that is meeting regularly with one another and with the NBA to reach the best agreement possible to support not only our members but also

A Forever Legend

Bob Boozer The recent passing of NBA Legend Bob Boozer has rekindled many wonderful stories of his amazing basketball career from those who knew and loved him. And while the stories come from different eras— college, Olympic and professional play—what remains the same throughout them all is that he was a great man—a great Hall of Fame basketball player, an ultimate professional with a great jump shot. Boozer often used to say that an open 15-foot jumper was like a layup. From winning All-American honors at Kansas State University in 1958-59, the 6-foot-8 power forward went on to become the first overall pick in the 1959 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals, the start of an 11-year career with six different teams—the Royals, New York Knicks, L.A. Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics and finally the Milwaukee Bucks where he was part of their 1971 NBA championship team. Jerry West was his teammate on the gold medal U.S. Basketball team at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. “In 1960, when we all started playing professional basketball, that was really the start of the change of the bigger players in the NBA…part of the era where players started looking more like the modern-day athletes,” said West. “He knew the game and how to play,” said Chicago teammate Jerry Sloan, referring to Boozer as a pro’s pro. And his good friend and Olympic teammate Oscar

the programs and services we offer. Look for updates with regard to our NBA negotiations as the discussions progress. As I reflect on my first seven months working alongside you, I want to say thank you. The opportunity to serve the NBRPA is truly one-of-a-kind—the potential of this organization is limitless and I am excited by the daily progress our Board of Directors and staff are making. There’s never been a better time to be a member of the NBRPA and I thank each and every one of you for your support. Yours in basketball,

Arnie D. Fielkow Chief Executive Officer

Robertson described him as “a big man who could shoot outside,” noting that “he could stretch the defense.” Coming of age as an African-American player in the late 1950s and early ‘60s, Boozer had expressed concern to Kansas State Coach Tex Winter Bob Boozer during the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2010 reception on about the potential August 13, 2010 in Springfield, Mass. of being forced to stay in different hotels when the team was on the road. But his Wildcat teammate Jack Parr doesn’t recall any racial problems, especially inside the locker room. “How can you be prejudiced against someone who is so wholesome and has such a sense of humor and is such a terrific player?” Parr said. He remarked that Boozer was so special he thinks it would have taken someone with a real case of prejudice not to recognize that. After retiring from the NBA, Boozer returned to his native Omaha, Neb. and worked as an executive for Bell Systems. He was later appointed to the Nebraska Parole Board and also volunteered his time at Boy’s Town, a facility for troubled youth. Boozer, who died due to a brain aneurysm at the age of 75, will always be remembered as one of the great NBA Legends.

Legends World Sports Conference

he National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), the only Association comprised of NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters alumni, will host its annual Legends World Sports Conference for members in New Orleans on August 17-19. Widely recognized as the premiere gathering of its kind for former professional basketball players, the Legends World Sports Conference (LWSC) is the NBRPA’s annual retreat for members and partners to share ideas, network and learn from one another. Wells Fargo will serve as the presenting sponsor for the 2012 Legends World Sports Conference, with registration information set to be distributed to NBRPA members in early June. “As the former President for the New Orleans City Council and Executive Vice President of the New Orleans Saints, the Crescent City is obviously a place I hold dear to my heart and I can promise our members and partners a truly unique world class event,” said NBRPA Chief Executive Officer Arnie D. Fielkow. “We would like to thank Wells Fargo for their support of the 2012 Legends World Sports Conference—a weekend that promises to be chock-full of idea-sharing, philanthropy, fraternization and fun.” The historic Royal Sonesta Hotel—located on Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter— will host the 2012 LWSC. All members attending the conference will receive two complimentary room nights from the NBRPA at the Royal Sonesta, a timeless landmark hotel that offers quick access to everything New Orleans has to offer. Members in attendance will also receive a host of all-inclusive entertainment, dining and learning opportunities.

The NBRPA also has a host of unique hands-on philanthropic events planned to help give back in New Orleans, including a charity fishing rodeo, a healthrelated event and a special youth basketball clinic in the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Ninth Ward. The agenda won’t just be limited to activities at the Royal Sonesta, as the NBRPA has booked an excursion on the Mississippi River as part of a steamboat cruise, multiple city tours and a casino party for conference attendees. Additional opportunities for recreation include dinners at renowned New Orleans restaurants and home-grown jazz and blues concerts. NBRPA members may register for the 2012 Legends World Sports Conference at www.legendsofbasketball. com/event/legends-conference/register/test/.

The Royal Sonesta

Conference workshop sessions will feature industry experts covering a variety of relevant topics, including Franchising Opportunities, Jobs in Sports, Finance, Career Transition, Continuing Education, Speakers Bureaus, Social Media, Health & Wellness, Starting a Charitable Foundation and more.

Cedric

Ceballos Ðreamer Extraordinaire

rying to pick just one adjective to describe Cedric Ceballos is an exercise in frustration because his talents go far beyond basketball. But when you ask Ceballos to describe himself, without hesitation he calls himself a dreamer. He’s a man with lots of dreams and he intends to reach all of them. Or at the very least, he intends to try out all of them. That determination to experience all his dreams, to experience each new adventure, sets him apart from other talented people who tend to be risk-adverse. Hip-hop rapper, music producer, radio and television host, actor, sports team owner, philanthropist, “kitchen guy”—Ceballos is all these things…and more.

n spite of all Ceballos’ dreams, being an NBA player was never one of them when he was growing up on the island of Maui and later in Los Angeles. Music was really his first love. But it turned out that he was also good at basketball. He was a strategic player, using his time on the bench to watch his opponents, gauging the most effective way to deal with them. If anything, he saw himself as a big NBA fan. But all that changed in his last year at California State University, Fullerton when Jerry West, legendary player-turned-coach and general manager, came to watch one of their games. Interest in watching his opponents disappeared as Ceballos focused on getting coach John Sneed to tell him who West was there to see play. Once he learned that West was there to watch him play, it was a life-changing moment. For the first time it allowed him to entertain the idea that he might be one of the NBA’s newest players instead of one of its biggest fans. And in 1990 that dream came true—he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the second round, the 48th overall pick. During the Suns’ record-breaking 173-143 win over the Denver Nuggets in November 1990, Ceballos scored a game-high 32 points, earning him the nickname, “The Point-a-Minute Man.” He played for the Suns twice during his 11-year NBA career as well as the L.A. Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and the Miami Heat. In the 1992-93 year he led the NBA in field goal percentage (57.6) and in 1992 won the NBA slam-dunk competition at the AllStar Weekend in Orlando with a blindfolded “hocuspocus” jam that earned him a perfect score of 50. Other career highlights include a career-high 50 points in December 1994 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and being awarded the NBA Player of the Month that same month for averaging 27.8 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game.

1995 was a banner year for Ceballos—he scored 25 points in six consecutive games from November 7-15, was named NBA Player of the Week for the week ending November 19 and was chosen for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers although due to an injury, he wasn’t able to play. In the 1995-96 season Ceballos again led the Lakers with a 21.2 average, racking up the first 50-point game for the team in over 20 years, and in 1996 was named Comeback Player of the Year. While with the Dallas Mavericks, he scored his 7,000 career point against the Timberwolves in March 1998 and played in his 500th career game in February 1999. Ceballos has also done his share of playing overseas. In 2002 he signed with Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv, and shortly thereafter moved to Russia to play for the BC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody, finally playing for the

either with a team or a broadcast network. But Ceballos was also co-host of the weekly Suns.com web show, Nothin’ But Net AND he was a morning radio personality for a rhythm & blues radio station in Phoenix. Clearly, throughout his life Ceballos’ multi-dimensional dreams have led to multi-tasking in the real world. As it turns out, Ceballos wasn’t spending his time over the past 20some years just playing basketball.

Cedric Ceballos #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Clyde Drexler #22 of the Houston Rockets.®1996 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

San Miguel Beermen team, part of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). But his experiences abroad weren’t particularly positive. Comparing his experiences there to how U.S. teams, players and fans go out of their way to make foreign players feel welcome and comfortable here, Ceballos recounted how their foreign counterparts never went out of their way to make him or any other non-native players feel welcome—once the game was over, you were on your own. No surprise then when he came back to the U.S. and signed in 2004 with the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA. In March of 2007 he was signed by the Phoenix Flame, part of the IBL, for its inaugural season. But by the next month he moved into being assistant coach. It wasn’t long after his return to the states that Ceballos was hired as the in-arena emcee for the Phoenix Suns. Again, no particular surprise—many professional athletes move seamlessly from playing into some type of announcing or analyzing position

Long before he discovered his talents with a basketball, Ceballos entertained people by spinning long-playing records as a DJ. If you know that music was his first love and you’ve also heard his silky-smooth deep voice, then you can see why he’s involved in the entertainment industry as well as the world of basketball. It is, as he says, “a good fit.” Over the years his voice and personality have garnered him radio spots on a number of stations in Phoenix, Los Angeles and multiple stations in Dallas. And once he tried radio, the silver screen also beckoned. During the 199698 timeframe Ceballos appeared in 10 movies, including “Jimi,” “High Anxiety,” “Space Jam,” “Hang Time” and “Eddie.” He also worked on the 1994 album, B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret featuring a number of early 1990s NBA friends and hip-hop star and former neighborhood pal, Warren G on the “Flow On” track. He also worked on the track “Ya Don’t Stop” that featured fellow-NBA AllStar Dana Barros and rappers Grand Puba, Sadat X, AG, and Diamond D. In 2000 he released his own rap album titled ‘Nuff Ced, an experience that makes him look forward to additional producing opportunities. A dream to gain ownership experience in the basketball world prompted Ceballos to become part-owner of the ABA team, the Arizona Scorpions

Former player Cedric Ceballos signs autographs during an appearance at the Adidas Experience at Jam Session during NBA All Star Weekend in Orlando, Florida. ®2012 NBAE. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images)

in 2011. “After talking to and learning from [then Suns President and CEO] Rick Welts, he encouraged me by saying that I should go and learn and get as much knowledge as I could,” said Ceballos. Until he was struck by a series of small heart attacks in November of that year, he was also playing for the Scorpions. Fortunately, he was in overall good shape, having just lost 30 pounds getting back to playing weight. However, following an angioplasty where two stents were inserted into his blocked arteries, he knew that while he’d be good for a pickup game or two, his semipro playing days were over. Talking about his occasional weight problem, Ceballos says he’s a “kitchen guy.” After years of being on the road and eating out, he loves to cook and would at some point like to host a television cooking show. Based on his dream-toreality track record, perhaps we should all get ready for the latest cooking show with Chef Ced!

their children involved in sports. According to Ceballos, his foundation “benefits kids who have had sports injuries and need surgery and can’t afford treatment.” The interesting thing is its different structure—it’s the children, not the parents, who have to pay to keep the kids in sports. And the way kids do that is through education and hard work—doing research, writing a paper or taking a test. With a big heart and a belief that “freely ye give; freely ye receive,” he held his first foundation fundraiser in April at a local bowling alley. Called “Super Bowl Sunday,” the event brought out current and retired sports greats from both the Arizona Cardinals NFL team and the Phoenix Suns, including Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Nash, Kurt Warner, Charles Barkley, and Grant Hill. They teamed up with Ceballos to raise money for the foundation in a bowling tournament as well as giving out autographs and having their pictures taken with the fans.

So what’s new in his life right now? Two things—the first is his new charity, HOOP2HEAL Foundation (H2H). Ceballos connects well with people of all ages, especially children. As a devoted father himself, he sees how expensive it’s become for parents to get and keep

Clearly, Ceballos knows himself well. If you really need only one word to describe him, his own choice of dreamer couldn’t be more on target. However, all things considered, adding just one more word— extraordinaire—seems totally appropriate.

Staying Agile by Jason Riley, Director of Sports Performance

gility is a fundamental key to being a successful basketball player. It encompasses the ability to accelerate, decelerate and change direction while maintaining proper balance and posture. It can be described as multi-directional quickness. Coaches and athletes used to believe that athletes’ speed and agility were determined by their genetic make-up. Coaches now understand that speed and agility are skills— skills that can be taught. When developing effective agility drills for basketball, fundamentals are universal: apply greater force into the ground, apply it in less time and in the proper direction while maintaining the center of mass over the base of support. When determining the most important movement skills in the game, the shuffle, cross-over step and acceleration rank at the top of the list. Proficiency at creating positive angles, keeping the center of mass low and developing a powerful first step are critical to becoming a better offensive and defensive player. To maximize speed and agility, a systematic approach must be applied for developing movement mechanics. Athletes should progress from slower, more deliberate actions requiring conscious thought to more dynamic, reactive movements. Emphasis should constantly be placed on body and joint positioning, allowing movements to become more coordinated and efficient. An athlete must learn to synchronize recruitment patterns in each individual muscle as well as recruit the proper firing sequence of multiple muscle groups. Jason Riley, Director of Sports Performance at The Athletes Compound. jriley@elementznutrition.com

Example training drill Set-up 2 cones placed between center court and top of 3-point line.

Drill 1 Have athlete shuffle between 2 cones, changing direction once his outside foot reaches the cone.

Drill 2 Same as above but add resistance via bungee cord or resistance belt.

Drill 3 Take bungee off and see if athlete can perform at game speed.

Drill 4 Have athlete react to an external stimulus and see if he can maintain movement proficiency with reaction (i.e. point in direction you want him to go, change direction with whistle, change direction of ball drops, etc…). If players can’t maintain proper form during any drill, go back and perform the previous drills with emphasis on technique. Each step is an opportunity to create new neuromuscular patterns, engraining them into their movement repertoire. By creating movement proficiency, athletes improve their first step quickness and power capabilities, preserving their energy throughout the game as well as warding off injury.

Basketball 101

Dave Q&A Cowens

A Candid About the NBRPA with One of its Founding Members by Paul Corliss

ave Cowens helped found the NBRPA alongside Archie Clark, Dave Bing, Dave DeBusschere and Oscar Robertson in 1992. Just the year before, Cowens had earned a berth in the Basketball Hall of Fame because of his tenacity and work ethic as a mainstay of the Boston Celtics in the 1970s, leading the team to NBA Championships in 1974 and 1976. An unlikely hero in a sport dominated by men of greater size and natural ability, the redhaired lefthander relied on hustle and heart to achieve NBA greatness. His determination helped to resurrect a Celtics dynasty presumed dead after the departure of legend Bill Russell. Cowens ultimately joined his venerated predecessor in the Hall of Fame. Still active in the NBRPA, Cowens recently visited with NBRPA Senior Director of Communications Paul Corliss to discuss a myriad of issues pertaining to the NBRPA and retired NBA players. How did you get involved as a founder of the NBRPA in 1992? I heard about [forming a retired players association] from Oscar Robertson in the very beginning. I was at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in 1991 and when I got off the stage after being inducted, Oscar was in the audience and approached me. He asked if I would like to get involved with forming a retired players association and when Oscar asked you to do something, you said yes. So that’s how I got involved. There was an effort to form a retired players association in the 1980s but for some reason, that effort was not successful. So forming the NBRPA wasn’t an original idea, but its time had come with the right people involved—Oscar, Dave Bing, Dave DeBusschere and Archie Clark. I was really honored that I was asked to be involved with them in something like this. The others leagues had retired players associations, so we figured that we should too and we should try to do a really good job at it. We wanted to form a big enough group so we could work on some group licensing arrangements with the

NBA or other partners. We would charge a nominal fee to get in and hopefully provide some group benefits, continue the brotherhood so people could continue to network, and maybe be able to provide some group health insurance. Our motives were pure and no one was trying to gain an advantage. No one was getting anything special—we were just trying to form something for the good of all concerned. The NBRPA is now in its 20th year. How would you assess it today? I think it’s evolving in the right direction and I think our leadership and staff today is as good as it has been. The biggest action item should be to grow the association and get more members. Get more people involved and that will take the organization to different places—you’ll have different people with different ideas and contacts. The more members we get makes us stronger in our relationship with the NBA and NBPA. It would be nice if we could have a trifecta with the NBA, the current players and the retired players all working together on things that are good for everybody. Eventually the guys that are playing today are going to be retired and they should want to be a part of our organization and to support it.

Basketball 101

Dave Cowens (C) of the Boston Celtics poses with the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the Southwest Airlines Slam Dunk One crew at Logan International Airport in Boston, Mass. ©2010 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

As you know, the NBRPA has a relationship with the NBA in which there is a Group Licensing Agreement (GLA) where the league awards our members with licensing monies. What are your thoughts on this program and the relationship with the NBA? What we have is a great partner in the NBA— they’re as good as anybody in the world at putting deals together. Their strength is forming partnerships with different corporations or creating licensing deals, and they’re doing it worldwide. It’s a blessing that we have them and that they’re able to do that with us. We get a million dollars a year to pay our overhead and set up shop, and then we get appearance monies and royalties from the NBA for uniform sales, video games and other stuff that uses our likenesses. For us to think that we can do as good a job on our own of finding people that want to partner with us is kind of ludicrous, really. We need to work as good an agreement as we possibly can with the NBA—and we are in line for an increased deal after several years operating under the current GLA—and then we need to be proud partners with them. I think a lot of guys think the NBA is holding us down, holding us back and we can be bigger. I just think we’re blessed to have this relationship with the NBA, one of the world’s leaders in business and licensing. Look at how the Legends Brunch has turned out…it was a small get together when it started out and now it’s on TV where you get to see the NBA and its legends as part of All-Star Weekend. It’s pretty cool, really, the way the whole thing has grown. We have such a great partnership with the NBA and I know of lots of retired players organizations in other sports that don’t have such a harmonious relationship with their parent league.

What do you get out of the NBRPA? For me, I like the fellowship and the ability to network and stay in touch with former players that I competed with and against. We had an NBRPA conference call the other day and I heard from so many guys I hadn’t talked to in years. I was like, “Man, I’m glad they’re still alive and doing well.” It’s neat to hear from them and to network through the NBRPA. What are the biggest issues for today’s NBRPA? As I mentioned earlier, it’s important we grow membership to have a larger voice. We now have chapters in the NBRPA and I think chapters are important because that keeps things local. The chapters can do different things—put on local events, hold meetings—and continue to build and strengthen the brotherhood. Health insurance would also be great. It would be nice to have that ability to fall back on a group insurance plan that is affordable for guys—it’s challenging to do that when your membership is older. Overall, we just need to strengthen our ability to help guys who have fallen upon tough times. What are you up to today? I’m semi-retired. Since I stopped working for Detroit as an assistant coach, I’ve been spending six months of the year in the New England area, in Maine, and six months in Fort Lauderdale. I’ve been trying to learn how to play golf, taking up that challenge and doing a little bit of travelling. I do various speaking engagements and have been running basketball camps for 40 years and am now partnered with the Celtics summer camp program.

CENTER What Color is my World? What Color is my World?, the latest book by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld, is a cleverly-told children’s story about the contributions of African-American inventors. From the refrigerated trucks that make today’s supermarkets possible, to creating synthesized cortisone from soy to relieve pain, to improvements in open-heart surgery, to the fun of the Super Soaker, this book is written for readers in the 8-to-12-year age range, telling the stories of a number of brilliant African-American scientists. Against all odds, the 15 men and one woman showcased in the book shared a common desire to make people’s lives better. As a result, many of the things we take for granted in our lives today are either the direct or indirect product of their inventive, humanitarian efforts. Yet based on their race or gender, their contributions have gone unrecognized for years. Abdul-Jabbar, a New York Times best-selling author, is out to right such wrongs. Abdul-Jabbar has written seven books, all highlighting various contributions of AfricanAmericans. This, his second book with co-author Raymond Obstfeld, reflects their shared passion for history as a vehicle of change for social, cultural and ethnic diversity. Built around a story that’s both funny

Magic Johnson’s TV Channel Ready to Launch Ervin “Magic” Johnson’s new television channel focusing on an African-American audience has named a new general manager in preparation for its launch on June 30. Named Aspire, the channel will offer a 24-hour mix of inspirational, family-friendly movies, comedy, music and more to 11-million homes in the Atlanta area.

and contemporary, high-spirited twins get a lesson in Black History from a mysterious and knowledgeable handyman. The uniquely-designed book supports the main story with foldout flaps containing profiles of the inventors and fast facts about their inventions, all highlighting the ingenuity and perseverance of these mostly unknown and unsung heroic men and woman.

COURT It’s Now Dr. O’Neal!

ongratulations to Shaquille O’Neal for recently earning his Ph.D. in Leadership and Education with a specialization in Human Resource Development from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. He has more than fulfilled a promise he made to his parents when he left LSU early to become the No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic in 1992. Promising to finish his undergraduate degree, he fulfilled that during his playing career with the Magic, L.A. Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. In addition to keeping his promise to his parents, O’Neal revealed to ABC News that he also wanted to continue his education and challenge himself. So has he finally finished his education? No, it seems that this fun-loving athlete, whose thesis was on the value of humor in leadership, is now looking at law school. Thanks for continuing to be a positive role model.

Shaquille O’Neal gives a thumb’s up after receiving his Ph.D. in Leadership and Education with a specialization in Human Resource Development from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.

Innovative NBRPA/Tulane Law School Partnership Launched

irst announced at the All-Star Game in February, NBRPA members are eligible for a groundbreaking benefit. A recently-developed partnership with Tulane Sports Law Program (TSLP) enables NBRPA members to gain valuable legal guidance while Tulane law students gain needed experience with real world issues in sports law—a win-win for all concerned. TSLP students will research a variety of legal, economic and social issues that impact retired NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters players.Players can submit questions to TSLP directly to be researched and analyzed by Tulane law students. Topics for their legal research focus on the intellectual property rights of athletes, tax issues, contract law, worker’s compensation and a variety of other topics that are part of the TSLP curriculum.

NBRPA members in good standing may access the Tulane Sports Law Program in the programs section of LegendsofBasketball.com website at: www.legendsofbasketball.com/alumnis/programs/

a Golfer’s Paradise Naples, Florida

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Discover Home to a Luxury Lifestyle that is Second to None

aples, the crown jewel of Florida’s Paradise Coast, is known as the “Golf Capital of the World.” Next to beach sunsets, there are few places where the natural beauty of Southwest Florida is more prominent than on many of its fine golf courses. Major designers, including many professional playerdesigners, have left their signatures on area courses, including Pete and P.B. Dye, Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr., Robert Van Hagge, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Gary Player. There is no overlooking the exclusive and amenity-rich worldclass golf communities like Quail Creek, Pelican Bay Mediterra, Bonita Bay, Collier’s Reserve and Tiburon. In these luxurious gated communities you’ll find many choices in residential living, including villas, town homes, condominiums and estate homes. Additionally, many of these resort-style communities include exclusive golf membership packages, clubhouses, fine dining, professional tennis courts, state-of-the-

by Nella DeCesare, Marketing Specialist

art fitness facilities, a social calendar, and much more. These communities provide the “white glove” treatment to residents who enjoy luxurious resort-style living and the best in golf amenities. People flock to Naples for its inviting year-round temperatures and high-quality lifestyle. Offering numerous cultural events, live theatre, world-class dining and decadent shopping, it’s no wonder why celebrities and professional athletes from all over the world come to Naples to live, play and enjoy year-round a lifestyle of luxury that only Naples can provide. Whether you’re looking for a vacation home, second home or retirement home, Naples won’t disappoint! To look at the residential and lifestyle choices the area offers, please visit www.TeamParadise.com, call 800633-7161, or email greg@teamparadise.com. Greg Gorman, David Burke and Mary Kay Hart of Team Paradise have been experts in Naples, Fla. real estate for over 25 years. Team Paradise is ready to help you find your piece of paradise!

Join Us! SFAA members provide specialized services to professional and amateur athletes, coaches and retired athletes as well as professional sports organizations.

❖ Financial Seminars ❖ Personalized Financial Education ❖ Referrals to Investment Advisors, Insurance Agents, Accountants, and Lawyers ❖ Educational Opportunities ❖ Networking Forums

Benefits to Financial Professionals

❖ Annual Conference

The SFAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and best practices to professionals that provide services to current and former professional and amateur athletes.

602-820-2220 www.sportsfinancial.org

We Made This Game

Bailey

Thurl

Persistence Pays Off

he phrase, persistence pays off, must have been created just for Thurl Bailey. While some coaches recognize talent early on and nurture it, Bailey reveals that he was “cut twice in junior high in both seventh and eighth grade” basketball. But he persisted and went on to play junior varsity basketball as a 10th grader and in his words, finally “began to blossom” toward the end of his junior season at Bladensburg High School in Bladensburg, Md.

Coast programs. But Bailey, whose parents were both North Carolinians, had a special connection to the basketball program at North Carolina State.

The eventual NBRPA Legend emerged as the leading scorer for one of the most beloved college national championship teams in history, went on to serve as team captain for the Utah Jazz while scoring double-digits, and finally closed a storied career in Greece and Italy. Today, in between spending quality time with his family, Bailey remains a hoops sage, keeping his hand in the game as a member of the NBRPA Board of Directors and working as a Jazz broadcaster.

Bailey signed on with Sloan’s Wolfpack as a high school senior and played for the leader of NC State’s 1974 national championship squad during his freshman season of 1979-80. But when Sloan moved on to coach Florida, Bailey’s life would be forever changed with the hire of former Iona coach Jim Valvano.

“I don’t miss playing, I miss the camaraderie in the locker room,” said Bailey, now 50 and enjoying life with wife Sindi and his children. “I enjoy talking basketball, I enjoy analyzing basketball. Every player that made it to the NBA has a connection and is part of a brotherhood—even if we didn’t play together, we feel that connection.” Standing 6-foot-11, Bailey, who averaged nearly 13 points per game in his 13-season NBA career, still looks like a basketball hero. While he idolized Julius Erving as a boy, he says he was more into student government and music , playing both the trombone and tuba. And his continued interest in music led to a successful post-NBA recording career as a vocalist. However, his growing high school success in basketball let to scholarship offers from several prominent East

“I sold raffle tickets to attend a basketball camp at North Carolina State [while in high school] and I think the coaching staff saw potential in me and kept tabs on me, said the ever-persistent Bailey, who built a bond with then-NC State coach Norm Sloan and his assistant, Ed Biedenbach. “I never forgot that and my folks never forgot that.”

With Bailey leading the way alongside fellowMaryland natives Dereck Whittenburg and Sidney Lowe, Valvano built momentum at NC State and looked poised for a breakout season in 1982-83, his third year in Raleigh. But with Ralph Sampson still at Virginia and the dynamic duo of Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins leading defending national champion North Carolina, the ACC was an absolute bear of a conference. Led by Bailey’s 16.7 points per game, the Wolfpack entered the ACC Tournament with a 17-10 record, firmly perched on the NCAA Tournament bubble. But NC State rose to the occasion and knocked off North Carolina and Virginia—ranked No. 5 and No. 2, respectively—en route to winning the ACC and punching a ticket to the Big Dance. Valvano, however, had loftier goals and wasn’t afraid to share them with Bailey and his teammates. “We weren’t really on anyone’s [NCAA] radar but Coach V was a great leader, Bailey said. “When he

We Made This Game

with a half-full approach instead of half-empty. We took a lot of risks and believed in each other…these were life-long lessons.” On the strength of his great tournament and career in Raleigh, Bailey was drafted No. 7 overall by the Utah Jazz. He was solid from the get-go, averaging 12.4 points as a rookie in 1983-84. Playing alongside AllStar teammates John Stockton and Karl Malone, the Jazz emerged as a force in the late 1980s with Bailey blazing a trail as a go-to Sixth Man by averaging almost 19 points a game from 1984 to 1990. “I had a great run [in the NBA],” Bailey said. “When you play with arguably the greatest point guard and power forward in the game—when you run the break [with Stockton and Malone]—it’s a dream come true.”

Thurl Bailey of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball in the post during an NBA game at The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1989. (Photo by Jim Gund/Getty Images)

talked about winning the national championship, we thought he was crazy. But Coach V was just masterful in getting us to sacrifice a little bit, and game-aftergame, something unexpected happened. We ended up in Albuquerque [for the NCAA Final] playing against one of the greatest college basketball teams ever assembled.” The Wolfpack of Bailey and Valvano made history at the Pit in Albuquerque on April 4, 1983 against the top-seeded Phi Slamma Jamma Houston Cougars of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Basketball fans know the fairytale ending well:

❵ With time expiring and the score tied at 52,

Whittenburg attemps to win the game with a long-range jumper but shoots a high-arching air ball. Lorenzo Charles leaps in the air, grabs Whittenburg’s shot and slams it home—giving NC State a 54-52 win as the buzzer sounds. Valvano joyfully sprints down the court, arms flailing in celebration.

❵ ❵

Bailey, who led the Wolfpack with 15 points in that iconic NCAA Championship game, said he carries lessons from the magical 1983 tournament run with him every day in life. “Once you experience the journey of becoming a champion, there is an application to everything you do,” he said. “You approach challenges

The Jazz never quite got over the championship hump during Bailey’s initial run in Utah and he was eventually traded to Minnesota where he played three seasons with the Timberwolves of the early 1990s. Bailey’s career wound down overseas from 1994 to 1998 in Greece and Italy before he finished his playing days with one last stint in Utah during the 1998-99 season. Bailey lost Valvano—who died of cancer in 1993— along the way. But while the loss of a man he called a “father-figure” was crushing, Bailey points to the legacy Valvano has left behind in cancer research that impacts people to this day. Also along the way, in his march through basketball, Bailey met his soul mate—a former basketball player from Utah Valley State named Sindi Southwick. The two married in 1994 and have three children in addition to three children from Bailey’s previous marriage. “I have a wonderful family,” Bailey said. “Fatherhood is not something that perfect men do, but I enjoy being a father and its challenges.” Indeed, no man is perfect. But Bailey’s life after basketball certainly seems happy and comfortable. Living in picturesque Utah, Bailey has family, music, faith (he converted to Mormonism several years ago) and—with his involvement in the NBRPA and Jazz broadcasts—basketball. Asked about his life today, the reflective Bailey sums up things in simple terms: “In life today, I am enjoying the experiences and opportunities brought to me through my pro basketball career.” For Thurl Bailey, life is all about the destination that came as a result of his persistence in pursuing his basketball journey.

Legends Helping Out

It’s Beter to Give … A large number of former and current NBA players have created their own foundations that serve and support causes and communities. The following is a brief list of such charities.

Detlef Schrempf Foundation is primarily a special event organization, raising nearly all monies through organized sporting events, celebrity dinners, gala auctions, golf tournaments, etc. www.detlef.com Dikembe Mutombo Foundation attempts to eradicate many childhood diseases that have virtually disappeared in developed countries while those diseases are still life threatening to children in the Congo every day. www.dmf.org

A.C. Green Youth Foundation serves both youth and the communities in which they live by providing information about sexual abstinence and social issues that concern our young people and educating them to make responsible choices to prepare them for their future. www.acgreen.com Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc. (“AMC”) benefits organizations that aid in the development of at-risk children and families, including those who have been abused, abandoned, and/or neglected. It is the goal of the AMC to improve the quality of life, enhance educational and economic opportunities for all minorities based on the precepts of respect for family, education, spirituality, justice and integrity. facebook.com/people/Alonzo-MourningCharities/1043828844

The John Starks Foundation provides financial assistance for disadvantaged youth in the form of academic scholarships and selfenhancement through educational and recreational development programs. www.johnstarks.org The Magic Johnson Foundation supports community-based organizations and developing programs that serve the health, educational and social needs of those residing in inner-city communities. In addition, the Foundation has made a strong commitment to raise awareness about several health and social concerns that threaten under-served communities. www.magicjohnson.org The Rasheed A. Wallace Foundation promotes programs that enhance the quality of life for all people, and assists in the recreational and educational development of youth in Philadelphia, Penn., Portland, Ore., Durham, N.C. and other selected communities.

Chris Dudley Foundation empowers and inspires all young people with diabetes to live active and dream big. Through high quality camps and educational programs, collaborative healthcare, and networks of support, all children and young adults with diabetes will live healthier, more active and fulfilling lives.

www.rawallacefoundation.com

www.chrisdudley.org

www.slamduncan.com

The Tim Duncan Foundation funds nonprofit organizations in the areas of education, youth sports and recreation, and health awareness and research in South Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and in North Carolina.

Rebound Radio

Better or Easier?

by CEDRIC Ceballos

o great players make other players better or do they make their jobs easier? This writer says they make other players’ jobs easier. There are only a few players in the NBA who have made other players better. By that I mean if you put that same player on a different team, does he play the same way? Does he compete the same way, score the same way, achieve at the same level? I say no. Do you agree or disagree? We’ll be exploring questions like this every week on Rebound Radio with Cedric Ceballos. A prime example—Steve Nash. He made Shawn Marion, Amar’e Stoudemire and Raja Bell great. I played for Phoenix and watched them closely. All three of them, as soon as they left Steve Nash’s umbrella, their games went down. Not to say they aren’t good players or won’t be great players, not to say Steve Nash made them great. I believe he just made their jobs easier. How about Magic Johnson? Magic played with a great Lakers team with Kareem, Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis—all of them great players who moved on to other teams and were still great players. Now switch to the Lakers team that Magic took to the finals, including Tony Smith, Elden Campbell, and Sam Perkins. Magic elevated them, made them better. Shaquille O’Neal was a great player who made your job easier because he demanded double teams and attention. The best players will guard Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce and LeBron James but you have to make your other players better. You have to demand that they come to work every day; demand that they train mentally and physically to take themselves to the next level.

Cedric Ceballos, Host of Rebound Radio

Michael Jordon made other players better, like Scottie Pippen and Steve Kerr; Dennis Rodman, obviously a champion himself, was in a whole new echelon with Michael. Larry Byrd, Boston Celtics Hall of Famer—he made others compete at his level and kept them there. Most players who played with Steve, Magic, Shaq, Michael and Larry continued to be great. So the ageold question—does this great player make others better or make their jobs easier? Some think it makes them better but I think it makes their jobs a lot easier. Cedric Ceballos is a former professional basketball player and NBA All-Star. He is currently featured each week on Rebound Radio featuring Cedric Ceballos.

Wealth CHOOSING AN

ADVISOR

hether you are choosing a financial advisor, financial planner, accountant, attorney or insurance agent, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that the person you select is the right one for you.

Referral—Get the name of an advisor from someone you know and trust. That’s the first step but don’t stop there. Do some checking on your own. Just like the process of interviews and background checks you went through before you were drafted as a professional athlete, you need to do the same thing by looking into the background of the advisors with whom you work. The Internet is a great place to start. In most cases you will be able to verify education, employment history and any complaints that may be on an advisor’s record:

$ $

Financial Advisors—go to www.finra.org

Certified Public Accountants (CPA)—go to www.aicpa.org

$ $

Attorneys—each state has a State Bar Association which will have information on attorneys admitted to practice in that state. Insurance Agents—each state has a Department of Insurance which will have information on agents licensed to sell insurance in that state.

There are also professional background checks that will provide a wealth of knowledge regarding a potential advisor. Quality advisors will also have a wide range of clients that include CEO’s, executives and other high net-worth individuals. As a professional athlete you face unique challenges in managing your personal finances, both during and after your athletic career. Ask your advisors to which

professional organizations they belong and what they do to stay on top of the strategies they need to know in order to help their clients who are athletes. Start small—don’t give all your money to one advisor and don’t put all your money into one investment or business opportunity. See how these relationships work out before you put in more of your hard earned money. Keep your eye on the ball—make sure you review what your advisors and business partners are doing as often as possible.

The SFAA is a professional organization whose members include financial advisors, financial planners, accountants, attorneys and insurance agents. The mission of the SFAA is to provide its members with educational opportunities and a forum for the exchange of best practices. Our goal is to help our amateur, professional and retired professional athletes reach their financial objectives and to become educated participants in the process. Board members of the SFAA have over 150 years of collective experience serving athlete clients and other members of the “Sports & Entertainment” community. SFAA members share that wealth of experience and knowledge to better serve their clients. SFAA is also actively working with leagues, unions, universities and athletic organizations to advance programs to raise levels of financial literacy within the athlete community. If you are interested in contacting the SFAA, becoming a member of the SFAA, need a speaker at an event or are looking for a financial advisor, please contact us at www.sportsfinancial.org or 602-820-2220.

Luxury Lifestyles Luxury-AIR www.luxury-air.com

After 9/11 Marsh Hollenberg recognized that commercial flying had forever changed. Taking all he’d learned from a 20-year career running his own ad agency, Hollenberg and his wife started Luxury-Air. Using a private charter brings back personalized attention and eliminates stress, confusion and hours of lost time for early check-ins. Perhaps the best part of flying a charter is that you can forget security screenings. When you fly with Luxury-Air, there is no security check. You are driven onto the tarmac right to your plane where your pilot picks up your bags and gets them stored. And your pet gets the same personal treatment, even being allowed to roam free in the cabin if it’s well behaved.

Intrepid Power Boats www.intrepidboats.com

Intrepid Power Boats has been delivering on its promises of leadership and innovation in performance, comfort and safety since its first boat was launched in 1983, according to Intrepid’s president Ken Clinton, who has been with the company for the past 21 years. He and business partner Mark Beaver are devoted to producing and selling a high-end luxury product. Combined with that is their excellence in customer service that continues long after the sale. Since the company doesn’t have a dealer network, the relationship is directly between Intrepid and the customer, meaning that they can customize a boat to meet individual needs and desires. They hand deliver their vessels all over the world, helping each new owner get comfortable with his or her boat. Some of their U.S. customers include Scottie Pippen, Jeff Gordon and Gloria Estefan as well as customers in such far-flung places as Egypt and Kuwait.

Using a private charter is expensive but the charter experience is worth it, according to Hollenberg. Luxury-Air buys only the best food and liquor and provides distinctive individualized service and additional benefits so you reach your destination relaxed and refreshed. When you’re ready for your next trip, give Luxury-Air a call. (760) 289-6751

Solutions Real Estate www.solutionsrealestate.com

Whether you already live in Arizona and are looking to move up to a spectacular luxury home with all the bells and whistles or if you are relocating to the state, consider Zenja Darabnia for all your real estate needs. As owner of Solutions Real Estate, a company focusing on high-end luxury homes in the beautiful Phoenix metropolitan area, Darabnia focuses on customer service combined with kindness.

specializing in high-end relocations, she also concentrates on luxury second home/vacation home buyers. So if you’re looking for a golf course location with all the amenities as a first home or a vacation get away in Phoenix, Zenja has your solution!

Moving to Ariz. just three weeks after her first visit there, she left the snowy cold of the northeast for the Valley of the Sun’s year-round outdoor lifestyle. In addition to being an Accredited Buyer’s Representative

Cornelis Hollander Designs, Inc. www.cornelishollander.com

Founded in 1984, Cornelis Hollander Designs, Inc. is a full-service jewelry design company located in Scottsdale, Ariz. Distributed throughout the U.S. and internationally, all Cornelis’ jewelry designs are manufactured in his Scottsdale studio. Highly-skilled craftsmen work with him to produce the finest quality jewelry and Cornelis also provides custom designs. Customers often bring him their own special gemstones, diamonds or old jewelry to upgrade to a modern designer look. Cornelius is happy to consult with these clients to discuss creating their dream piece of jewelry.

Old-world training and experience, combined with state-of-the-art innovations, make Cornelius Hollander a jewelry designer of distinction. His passion for beauty, his dedication to excellence and his unique vision promise a future filled with elegant and wearable art in motion.

Brunswick Billiards www.brunswickbilliards.com

If you’re a pool player, your wait for the latest best piece of equipment has just been announced. The newest addition to the Brunswick Billiards line of products is the VELVET® Series Cue Collection. Each cue features piloted joint two-piece construction that is expertly weighted and balanced for smooth play and brilliant shots. Now available for sale at select retail locations nationwide, the VELVET® series collection includes eight distinct styles ranging in price from $59.99—$149.99.

Brunswick Billiards is a world leader in the design of billiards tables, game room furnishings and billiards equipment. You can visit BrunswickBilliards.com, or become a pool fan on Facebook at: Facebook.com/BrunswickBilliards.

Hoop Dreams Dr. Dick Barnett

The Opaque Brand: Duel Personality

ho are you? Who are you really? In the opaque shadows of professional sports, like all human development, there is the public persona and hidden reality of who we really are once the invisible door closes. This duel track of human experiences, tested and shaped by nature and nurture, commands a living style suited to individual taste. In the public theater we are exposed to the light and sunshine of games, competition, performances, media coverage, public statements on-the-record, perceived living arrangements, commercials, personal profiles, and exposés–all demanding testimonials to the open and revealing existence of the action hero. Concomitantly, one is closeted behind the invisible closed door. Who are you…really? Does the personality house a valued community asset? Can you really be a rapist and abuse women? Are you a sterling role model? Are you a drug addict and dealer? Or a sensitive individual who devotes time and resources to help the homeless and lost? Is your private life antithetical to your public image? Does

your environment include spousal abuse? These questions often go unanswered and more likely they go unquestioned and unknown, lingering as personality traits of untouched psychological conundrums. So, in the clandestine arena of dissecting the vicissitudes of personality malfunction, the accepted Dr. Richard Barnett, Ph.D. behavior and public person is all we know. The individual that resides in the opaque sanctuary of the unknown remains hidden until behavior reveals one’s true self. That is the mantra of human development in the unpredictable athletic world and the athletes who comprise it.

Golf Course Living By Bryce Carter

Luxury living can take many forms—from the beach lifestyle with the sound of waves crashing against the shore to the high-rise penthouse in the center of the city. But for a former athlete, the epitome of luxury can often be found in golf course living.

Palm Desert, California

When it comes to being the king of living on the green there are many options. The first one that comes to mind is the Palm Springs area. Palm Desert, just 90 minutes from Los Angles, is famous for year-round golfing. And part of that fame is due to a plethora of gorgeous golf course homes. Luxury real estate professionals like Terri and Guy Munselle of Coldwell Banker Previews help guide homebuyers through the process of finding the ultimate home in Palm Desert chic. “Palm Desert is fabulous. Where else can you golf year-round? Not many places?” says long-time Palm Desert resident Mark Ellisburg. Luxury golf course homes, like those in Indian Canyon Country Club, range up to $2 million or more.

Phoenix, Arizona

Very few cities offer as much in luxury golf course living as does Phoenix and the surrounding valley. Real estate pro Zenja Darabnia of Solutions Real Estate knows golf course homes. Whether you like center-city

living, like Phoenix’s Arizona Biltmore, or the more suburban feel of Desert Mountain, Phoenix offers many choices. “Buying on the golf course is a great way to enjoy an active lifestyle,” says Scottsdale broker Brenda Breit of The Empowered Team. “You can wake up and get in nine holes before breakfast.” Luxury golf course homes in areas like Desert Highlands or Troon can reach upwards of $5 million or more.

Naples, Florida

For true golf caché, many look to South Florida. I visited Greg Gorman’s website, www.teamparadise.com, and researched high end communities such as Pelican Marsh and Grey Oaks, where price tags reach near $5 million. “South Florida really does give you the best climate to golf, not to mention the opportunity to jump into the water to cool off after,” says resident Marsha Bryant.

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