Stories from Frank and Nate
During yesterday's public memorial service for Maurice Lucas, there arose a few choice stories about the man.
When former NBA big man Frank Brickowski got to the podium, he talked of his rookie season with the Seattle Sonics. He mentioned a time when he was sitting down for dinner with the team - and the veteran Maurice sat next to him. Frank admitted being intimidated by Luke, but the thing that came next made it even more interesting. Maurice had brought a friend. On Frank's other side sat Magic Johnson...a guest of Maurice for the dinner. Maurice turned to Frank. "Do you talk, rook?" Frank froze. After a moment, he decided to feign deafness - and turned to Magic to make conversation. Before he could speak, Magic turned and said, "The man ASKED you if you talk." After the initial hazing, the two became close friends.
Later, when Maurice was sick in the hosptial, Frank would come to visit - more often than Maurice could bear. On one evening, Frank had showed up just to sit and read in the corner. Maurice wanted him to go, but Frank persisted - wanting to be near. He later fell asleep reading his book. In the morning, Frank awoke to the feeling of something on his face. He opened his eyes to find little balled up pieces of paper on him and around him on the floor. He had fallen asleep with his mouth open....and Maurice had decided to practice his shot, with little balls of Kleenex.
Finally, a remembrance from Nate McMillan...
When Nate was a rookie with the Sonics, he had a defining moment with Luke. One day, Nate was warming up for a practice. Across from him sat veteran center George Johnson, leaning on a soda vending machine. "Hey rook....why don't you get me a soda?" Johnson barked. Nate leaned forward. "You're sitting next to the pop machine. Why don't you get one?" Johnson frowned..."I said...why don't you get me a soda. Rook?" Again, Nate offered logic as a solution. Johnson stood up and walked over to McMillan, who was streching on floor. Just then, Maurice walked in carrying his game shoes. "What up, George? There a problem?" George told Maurice that the rookie wasn't following the protocol, which included a few sundry chores for the vets. Maurice dropped his shoes. "Don't mess with my rook, George. McMillan is mine."
Great memories...
When former NBA big man Frank Brickowski got to the podium, he talked of his rookie season with the Seattle Sonics. He mentioned a time when he was sitting down for dinner with the team - and the veteran Maurice sat next to him. Frank admitted being intimidated by Luke, but the thing that came next made it even more interesting. Maurice had brought a friend. On Frank's other side sat Magic Johnson...a guest of Maurice for the dinner. Maurice turned to Frank. "Do you talk, rook?" Frank froze. After a moment, he decided to feign deafness - and turned to Magic to make conversation. Before he could speak, Magic turned and said, "The man ASKED you if you talk." After the initial hazing, the two became close friends.
Later, when Maurice was sick in the hosptial, Frank would come to visit - more often than Maurice could bear. On one evening, Frank had showed up just to sit and read in the corner. Maurice wanted him to go, but Frank persisted - wanting to be near. He later fell asleep reading his book. In the morning, Frank awoke to the feeling of something on his face. He opened his eyes to find little balled up pieces of paper on him and around him on the floor. He had fallen asleep with his mouth open....and Maurice had decided to practice his shot, with little balls of Kleenex.
Finally, a remembrance from Nate McMillan...
When Nate was a rookie with the Sonics, he had a defining moment with Luke. One day, Nate was warming up for a practice. Across from him sat veteran center George Johnson, leaning on a soda vending machine. "Hey rook....why don't you get me a soda?" Johnson barked. Nate leaned forward. "You're sitting next to the pop machine. Why don't you get one?" Johnson frowned..."I said...why don't you get me a soda. Rook?" Again, Nate offered logic as a solution. Johnson stood up and walked over to McMillan, who was streching on floor. Just then, Maurice walked in carrying his game shoes. "What up, George? There a problem?" George told Maurice that the rookie wasn't following the protocol, which included a few sundry chores for the vets. Maurice dropped his shoes. "Don't mess with my rook, George. McMillan is mine."
Great memories...
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home