Basketball from a fans perspective
55 years ago
March 2, 1962 Wilt Chamberlain set a record that will never be duplicated. The Philadelphia Warriors faced the Knicks in Hershey (PA). At that time it was not unusual for NBA teams to “farm” out home games to other cities. Hershey the Chocolate Capital of America is located about 95 miles from Philadelphia. The Warriors won the game 169-147, although the team only score 69 points.
The remaining 100 points by the Warriors were produced by the 7-1 275 pound Chamberlain. 4,124, spectators were packed inside the Hershey Sports Arena, over the years more and more fans have come forward "claiming" they were in attendance. The game was not on television nor is there film of the game. In 1988 a fourth quarter radio broadcast of the game was uncovered, two different entries are available on YouTube.
I can’t hear you……
It was reported Pat Riley left the Lakers after leading them to multiple NBA Championships. Riley resigned because the team had reached the point they no longer listened. He coached in the normal manner called timeouts discussed strategy, had the usual pre-game talks and morning shoot around but he lost the team. They heard him but tuned him out, I’m watching the Clippers Rockets game and it appears the Clippers have tuned Doc Rivers out.
The Rockets scored 101 points and the game was yet to reach the 4th quarter. I notice the Clippers I watch body language and wonder if the same issue might prevail. Not stating the team is not making an effort it’s the little things this Clipper team fails to accomplish. Those things I’ve mentioned I’m sure Doc Rivers has pointed out over and over. I could be wrong on the other hand I believe in body language too.
“What’s his name?”
We cannot include World B. Free or Metta World Peace in this piece because both changed their names. Lloyd Free and Ron Artest were the given names at the time they arrived in the NBA for others that‘s a different story. This is an account for a number of unusual names who played basketball. Several managed brief NBA careers while others played in Europe. He’s still in high school but Bol Bol leads off this account, son of the late Manute Bol who played in the NBA.
The younger Bol transferred from Miege in suburban Kansas City and now plays for Mater Dei in Santa Ana (CA). The University of Virginia once had Majestic Mapp playing for them his brother Scientific Mapp at Florida A&M. We also have God Shammgod at Providence and Longar Longar at Oklahoma. Tommy Gunn not the character from the Rocky movie franchise, this one played at Middle Tennessee State. 6-8 God’sgift Achiuwa played his college ball at St. John’s. These are but a few of the unusual names I located I’m quite sure I miss a number.
An enigma
You must be a real basketball historian to recognize the name John Brisker. He was a talented player in the ABA for the Pittsburgh Condors however the 6-5 Brisker was better known as an enforcer. He’d been trained as a boxer and could hold his own with anyone. Brisker fought with teammates, coaches and even the police at times. Brisker left Toledo University for the ABA and was a success. Issues and a larger paycheck would see him jump to the NBA and the Sonics prior to the merger. Dr. J. left for the NBA Hawks prior to the merger but was taken to court and forced to return to the ABA Squires. The Condors felt no need to retain Brisker when he left despite his talent?
With the Sonics Brisker fell into disfavor with Coach Bill Russell (yes that Bill Russell) he soon found himself exiled to the Eastern League. Brisker would leave for Africa and that’s where we lose track of him and his story becomes murky. He was reported to have made a friend of Uganda dictator Idi Amin. Amin would be overthrown in 1979 and that’s when reports circulated Brisker may have been shot by a Uganda firing squad no proof was ever uncovered. In 1985 a Washington State Court declared Brisker legally dead; he would have been 35 in 1979. When ever we discuss players of that era John Brisker is often omitted but he too was the ABA in that period
