“Hey, it has to come from the heart,” Tripucka said, poking himself in the chest. “If you can’t be excited about a game like this, if it doesn’t give you any kind of thrill, you’ve got absolutely no business in the game.”
Tag Archives: 1980s NBA
Isiah Thomas: Is He the Pistons’ Savior? 1982
“He has charisma, an ability to inspire confidence in his teammates that only a few players have like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, or Julius Erving,” says Rod Thorn, the Chicago Bulls’ general manager.
Kyle Macy: No Sophomore Jinx, 1982
“This kid is probably going to double his scoring average this year, and that’s what everyone will talk about. But as a former guard myself, who always worked at stopping the other guy, I’m really impressed with how much more defense Kyle is playing this season.”
Elvin Hayes: The Meaning of the Letter E, 1982
“I’ve achieved. I would be backtracking to compare myself with the younger players in the league today. They’re still trying to prove what I already have achieved.”
Abdul-Jabbar Remains Kareem of the Crop, 1983
“His skyhook is still the cruise missile of the NBA. But we need to shore up in the areas where we’re weakest, and they happen to be in areas where he can also dominate.”
Rick Robey: The Ultimate Backup Center, 1982
Adjustment to the life of a sub requires a subjugation, not abandonment, of ambition, and it appears that Robey has acquired the perfect professional attitude.
Joe Hassett: A Sonar Salute, 1979 – 1981
Some guy inbounded the ball to Hassett. He shot it with a flick, as it were a free-throw. Only it was a 28-footer, and was quite good.
The Resurrection of Bernard King, 1982
In his place is an introspective 24-year-old man capable of this amazing restitution. And the common thread through it all has been King’s explosive talents as a basketball player.
Michael Jordan: The Real No. 1 Draft Choice, 1984
Like Van Cliburn coming to Carnegie Hall for the first time or Beverly Sills to the Met, Michael Jordan came to Madison Square Garden as a professional.
Marques Johnson: Wanting into the Dream Showcase, 1984
Former great forward Rick Barry, asked to compare Marques Johnson and Julius Erving, replied, “That’s difficult. It’s like comparing Mantle to Mays.”
From Way Downtown 