“I’m a simple man,” he says. “My life is very simple. You work hard, you thank God for the gifts he has given you, and you enjoy life.”
Author Archives: bobkuska
Scottie Pippen’s Breakthrough, 1992
The irony of all the questioning of Pippen’s character was he had hurdled so much just to get to the NBA.
The ‘New’ Elvin Hayes, 1973
He knew he had something to prove this season in Baltimore. Leading the Bullets to a championship would be the best way to silence his many critics. That’s why in 1972, the Big “E” stood for Effort.
Are NBA Games Losing Their Excitement? 1979
There has been a great deal of hype since the merger of the two leagues to the effect that things have never been better, either on or off the floor. “All the stars are under one roof,” they say. That’s true, but the question is: What game are they playing?
What’s Left for Lew Alcindor? 1972
What, then, will incite Alcindor and keep his interest? The same thing that incites all great athletes—a competitive challenge.
It Takes Two: Johnny Dawkins and Hersey Hawkins, 1990
Watching the two players interact, one gets the sense that they are as advertised: good guys with good attitudes who don’t indulge in petty jealousies or self-promotion. They know Barkley and Mahorn are the stars of the team, yet they’re willing to accept their roles and abide by them.
Balls of Confusion: Signing Lew Alcindor, 1969
Brown handed him the certified check from Chemical Bank. Alcindor fingered the paper, eyed his name printed as clearas day across the middle, and handed it back. “Mr. Brown said to me, ‘We’ll give you a million dollars,’” recalled Alcindor, but without mentioning a timeframe.
Meet the NBA’s Sultans of Swing, 1994
Not all players who defy classification by position, however, are destined for success as NBA swingmen. NBA coaches and general managers know all too well that a fine line exists between the swingman and the “tweener.”
Power Forward: Tracking the NBA Power Surge, 2000
Many all-time greats believe the term “power forward” was invented by New York sportswriters looking for a way to describe Dave DeBusschere, who played every minute on the court with reckless abandon.
The NBA Before Load Management, 1973
More and more these days, Russell and other sportscasters appraise the product pointedly, with such asides as, “If there’s a loose ball around here today, you can be sure those guys won’t go get it.” Welcome as honest descriptions may be, they hardly compensate for a home fan’s boredom.
From Way Downtown 