Category — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Of course we would have picked Wilt, but that’s not the point here.
Phil Jackson has said plenty of things lately. He’s promoting a book. Still, we’ve always been fond of Phil’s commentary (and what he’s reading since his list of recommended books is always awesome). We can only imagine why the Lakers’ Jim Buss, a former horse trainer, and his henchmen aren’t.
But as much as he’s promoting his new book, Phil made some interesting observations over the past week. The latest 1 being that if he had to start a team he would take Bill Russell instead of Michael Jordan. Imagine that.
SI.com

33 x 2.
Some of us old timers rank you ahead of Jordan on the GOAT list. Cheers!

Phil Jackson told the best story of the night, telling how Shaq mooned the Sacramento fans after Game 7 in 2002. We’d never heard that 1. Second best part was Laker fans chanting “We want Phil.” And Shaq “I want Phil too.”

Of all the statements Magic Johnson made today regarding the death of Dr. Jerry Buss, none struck a cord (because he’s so accurate, but Dr. Buss’ son Jim is too full shit to realize it) with me more than this one: “I hope Jeanie Buss takes over the team.”
Though Magic and Dr. Buss operated on a much larger platform, I couldn’t help thinking about Barry Switzer and Billy Sims. Back in my days in Norman in the late 70s, there were always stories about the off-the-field exploits of Barry and Billy.
But this was a much larger party. And a lot more of them. Magic and Dr. Buss, regardless of your opinions of either, were the origins of “Showtime” and the legends of it crossing a ton of barriers, the Hollywood element, the Laker girls (Paula Abdul among the most famous), the parties (did we mention the parties?) and Johnson stunning the world years after the high times when he announced he was HIV positive.
And those are just starter pistols.
Having moved to L.A. in 1986, during the height of Showtime, I was as consumed with it as any basketball fan. And this was as a time when the Herald-Examiner, particularly the sports section, was the best read in town.
Before Buss purchased the team in 1979 from Jack Kent Cooke, the Lakers were practically 2nd city to the Dodgers, Rams, USC football and UCLA basketball. Imagine that now.
Columnist Bill Plaschke scratches the surface with some quick-hitting recollections from Magic.
L.A. Times

“When someone as celebrated and charismatic as Jerry Buss dies, we are reminded of 2 things. First, just how much 1 person with vision and strength of will can accomplish. Second, how fragile each of us is, regardless of how powerful we were. Those 2 things combine to inspire us to reach for the stars, but also to remain with our feet firmly on the ground among our loved ones. Dr. Buss embodied that compassionate entrepreneurial spirit. He strove to reach greater heights without forgetting his community roots. During his stewardship, the Lakers exemplified his personal standards of excellence and became one of the dominant teams in the NBA and a force of good within the community. The man may be gone, but he has made us all better people for knowing him.”
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The greatest owner in sports, who turned the Lakers into 1 of the NBA’s hottest franchises, passed this morning in L.A. after complications of cancer. He was 80.
L.A. Times

At least we’re in good company.
From the Facebook page of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “Mike D’Antoni will prove to be an excellent choice to coach the Lakers. Mike has proven his ability to get the most from players with differing talent levels, blending them into an effective unit. The Lakers may even try an up-tempo approach on offense. That would be just what many Laker fans have been waiting for.”

With a tip of the cap to The Hoop Doctors, a 15-year-old interview with the greatest of all time, Wilt Chamberlain, on the Roy Firestone show.
The Hoop Doctors

Tip of the cap to HoopsHype for providing this list of donors to the campaigns of President Obama and Mitt Romney. Clay Bennett doesn’t surprise us, particularly since Oklahoma’s heavy hitters and politcians are some of the most outrageous thinking (if you want to call it that) in the country. But Pat Riley donating $7500 to Mittens? Oh doctor. What in the name of LeBron James is that all about?
HoopsHype

Many of you youngsters have no clue who Willie Wise is. But some of us old heads remember dude balling with Drake in the late ’60s, when the Bulldogs almost shocked the world and beat unbeatable Lew Alcindor and UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. Wise also played in the colorful ABA, including a season with the Los Angeles Stars, before retiring after the 75-76 season and hitting the road as a truck driver.
Rob Trucks catches up with him.
Deadspin