Willis Reed was past 30 now, and in the compressed lifespan of athletics that is to be past middle-age. It is a time when the body begins to betray its promises of youth, a time when the infinite resilience and boundless energy start to become less dependable certainties.
Tag Archives: Dick Barnett
Can Connie Hawkins Find Happiness in the ABA? 1969
Can Connie Hawkins be satisfied starring in the second-best league? Can Connie Hawkins find happiness in the ABA? Asked these questions, Connie can say he’s satisfied. But is he sincere?
Jeff Mullins: The Making of a Pro, 1970
For Mullins, the biggest kick in basketball is running and moving the ball. He says, “There’s no thrill like moving well, coming down the court five or six times in a row and getting the ball to the man with the easy shot.
The Secret Behind the Amazing Knicks, 1970
To many, who had become accustomed to the Knicks being have-nots unable to make the playoffs for seven straight seasons (1960-1966), their “instant success” seemed almost unreal.
The Ladies Who Love the Knicks, 1971
The newly discovered charm of the Knicks is undeniable, and as Ilene Goldman puts it, “For many of us, the game has become a very personal experience.”
Baltimore Bullets: Once Upon a Time in Madison Square Garden, 1971
The Bullets needed a change of luck in the Garden.
Red Holzman: A Humpty-Dumpty Situation, 1968
Holzman knows the game of basketball. And he probably knows it better now than back in 1957, when St. Louis fired him after a losing record.
Is Pro Basketball Getting Too Rough? 1964
Wilt Chamberlain might object to this observation, but a lot of the excitement and color of pro basketball lies in the bruising body contact between big men in action.
Willis Reed and the Icing on the Cake
So through it all, one shining fact evolves. Basketball and Willis Reed are so entwined, the two are one.
The Knicks—Pro Basketball’s Next Dynasty
Red Holzman criticized Willis Reed unmercifully in the early days. The team captain was generally the target when Holzman screamed: “Don’t turn your head . . . get back . . . pick up your man.” The Knick coach knew Willis had the temperament to handle the abuse while the other players learned the biggest and the smallest [players] would get the same treatment.
From Way Downtown 