Jul
16
July 16, 1979 – The Passing of Robert Douglas
Filed Under On This Day . . ., Loose Balls | 1 Comment
More likely to know about abolitionist Frederick Douglass, today’s students, especially those with an insatiable craving for learning more about the history of race relations and sport in the United States, would be well suited to read up on Robert Douglas, the founder of the powerful New York Rens and a visionary and pioneer for African Americans in the game of basketball during the early 20th century.
Jul
15
July 15, 1989 – Not a Bad Boy but a Rich Boy
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While hardly fitting the image of a Bad Boy, former NBA center Jon Koncak was certainly a happy boy when the Atlanta Hawks matched a 6-year, $13-million offer sheet from the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons on this day 19 years ago. Coming off a 1988-89 campaign in which he only averaged 4.7 points per game, Koncak would amazingly earn more than Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird during the first season of an economically stimulating New Deal that even FDR wouldn’t have envisioned.
Jul
14
July 14, 2004 – Lakers Bids Adieu to Shaq Fu
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While the summer of 1996 was one of love for the Los Angeles Lakers, the summer of 2004 was one of separation for the franchise as team owner Jerry Buss decided that he would rather have this Staples Center menu feature Kobe beef over the next decade rather than a rack of Shaq and a fill of Phil.
Jul
14
Similarities Abound for Dunkers of Different Statures
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While David “Skywalker” Thompson and Anthony “Spud” Webb may share the same birth date and alma mater in North Carolina State University, the names of these players most often conjure up images of the most powerful act in the sport of basketball – the slam dunk – which would actually come as a surprise to anyone who stood these guys back-to-back during the prime of their professional careers and compared their physical attributes.
Jul
13
July 13, 1981 – Magic’s $25 Million Contract for 25 Years
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In what was an unprecedented deal at the time, the Los Angeles Lakers signed Magic Johnson to a $25 million contract for 25 years – not bad in terms of today’s slumping economy but quite farcical for the NBA’s current financial climate, considering that the average salary for the 2007-2008 season was $5.2 million.
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