Criss became known as “The Mosquito,” and it was not a phony alliterative or geographical title invented by a P.R. man. It was a high sign to Criss that even though there were guys on the playground nobody ever heard of, many of them could hold their own with the best in the NBA.
Author Archives: bobkuska
Dave Stallworth: ‘I’m One Lucky Man,’ 1970
A silver medallion hung around his neck and flew in and out of his practice uniform. Dave fingered it as he moved around the court. There were sweatbands on each of his wrists.
Kevin McHale: Superstar in His Own Right, 1989
This is Kevin McHale, who will turn 31 years old early in the 1988-89 National Basketball Association season, talking about his future.
Emmette Bryant: Living the NBA Dream, 1970
Now the world knows what Bryant did for the Celtics when he got a chance to play for them last winter. He steadied them for a playoff position, then produced many clutch moments in the burst to glory.
Rick Barry Rates His All-Time Opponents, 1980
As one of the few players who had the chance to play pro basketball in three different decades (the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s), it also was my fortune to play both against—and with—most of the great players produced by the National Basketball Association.
Bobby McDermott: Blast from the Distant Past
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.”
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.
