What follows are 13 poems penned by the NBA great Tom Meschery.
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Remember When St. Louis Won the NBA Title in 1958?
“We were a mixture of the old and the new, both in experience and style of play. The long jump shot was just catching on in the league and practically none of our players used it.”
Never a Dull Moment with the St. Louis Hawks, 1958
Kerner comes to a basketball game looking, fittingly, likes the best-dressed man in the hall. He leaves looking more like Emmett Kelly, the clown.
Red Auerbach Rates Basketball’s Best Battlers, 1973
It brought back memories of Auerbach’s Celtic battlers of the past, of Russell breaking Jim Krebs’ jaw, of Loscutoff decking Dick Schnittker with one punch, and of Brannum flattening Dolph Schayes.
The New Wilt Chamberlain Fights the Old, 1968
In the turbulent existence that is Wilt Chamberlain’s life, his actions have frequently been influenced by others.
Wilt Chamberlain: The ‘Shape’ of Things to Come, 1967
The big man, who once scored 100 points in one game and averaged over 50 for a full season, all of a sudden has become a so-so offensive player.
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.
Flashback 1966-67: When Philadelphia Did Win the NBA Championship, 1977
But match us up against the team now, and we’d win, no doubt about it. They’d have nobody to compete against Wilt. Chet or Billy would chase Doc, and Doc would have to come to the hoop, where Wilt would be waiting.
Nate Thurmond: He Can’t Get ‘Up’ for Every Game, 1970
“When I play the best—guys like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Wes Unseld—I get inspired. You know how great Russell was. I wanted to play my best against him.”
Wonderful Wally—76er Court Jester, 1967
A few years ago, there was a new teenage singing sensation named Little Stevie Wonder. Wally did an especially true imitation, so it was only natural that friends and teammates began calling him Wally Wonder.
From Way Downtown 