The temperamental side of McDermott’s personality made him a forerunner to the Billy Martins and Bobby Knights, although Buddy Jeannette, his outstanding backcourt mate with the Pistons, noted, “Compared to Mac, Bobby Knight is a saint.”
Author Archives: bobkuska
No One Plays It Harder Than Dave Cowens, 1977
Cowens’ defensive brilliance is probably more valuable to the Celtics than his offensive contributions.
Calvin Murphy: The Little Man Plays It Big, 1972
It doesn’t matter where Calvin Murphy will be operating—even among all those tall Texans—he’s sure to be one of the giants in his specialty. So what if he’s only 5-foot-10 . . . errr, 5-foot-9. Every inch of him is a professional.
The Two Faces of Walter Dukes, 1963
Dukes isn’t especially proud of his roughneck reputation, but neither does he sound like a guy who wants to play Ferdinand the Bull.
John Brisker Sent Down to the Minors, 1974
Brisker does have a bad rep, pedigree blotched with unsavory tags like punch-out artist and troublemaker, league jumper, money-grabber and, it is even whispered, fixer and thrower of basketball games.
George McGinnis: Would You Believe . . . A Strong Julius Erving . . . A Tall Elgin Baylor?
At the age of 22, McGinnis has already been compared—favorably—with a man many considered the finest and most complete forward in basketball history—Elgin Baylor.
Dolph Schayes: The Boy from Syracuse, 1953
All the near riots which have occurred in the New York-Syracuse series. Almost always, at the bottom of the basketbrawl pile, you’d find a big National with the number 4. That was Adolph Schayes.
Hal Greer: Call Me Coach, 1974
This is not the way Hal Greer had wanted to start his professional coaching career. Not with a defeat, not in the near anonymity of the minor leagues. He had wanted to coach the 76ers when it was ordained last year that his playing days were over. He had wanted to stay in the limelight he had known so well.
Luther Rackley: Reserve Power for the Knicks, 1972
Now even the cynics know Luther Rackley can play.
Kevin Stacom: An NBA Career in Five Newspaper Clips
He is the last of the true ones left, the only Celtic who knows the difference between Galway and Waterford, and who wouldn’t ask for a frosted mug for his Guinness.
From Way Downtown 