Former U-M basketball star Roy Tarpley dies at 50

Post #1 » by **roc** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:17 am

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2015/01/09/michigan-basketball-roy-tarpley/21532135/

RIP Roy

Notanoob · Post #2 » by **Notanoob** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:32 am

You have to be kidding me. That's awful.

I suppose I should have assumed this would happen, given his drug issues, but damn.

mercury · Post #3 » by **mercury** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:56 am

I recall playing against this young kid at Peterson Park... he had amazing hops and strength for his age... he could elevate like Kelser (Henry Ford HS)... he rose up and hit me in the eye socket with his knee.... I knocked him on his ass next time down with a elbow shiver.
I thought when he went to UM he'd end up as good as Spencer Haywood (NBA legend from University of Detroit who also ended his career to cocaine)... the NBA was pretty lax about drugs in the late 70's... weed was not considered substance abuse... in the ABA refs would get high with the players after games... it was just part of the times... took away some potential HOFers like Michael Ray Richardson & Shawn Kemp... David "skywalker" Thompson was the only druggie that stayed in the game long enough to get his HOF benefits.
They finally implemented the substance abuse policy in '83 to weed out the rampant coke problems... too bad they waited so long.

Warspite · Post #4 » by **Warspite** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:11 am

We honestly thought Tarpley was the best bigman in college and then the midshipmen came into the building and Drob put a quad double on UofM.

They would have beaten the Lakers had he gotten clean and we might have seen Mavs vs Bad Boys.

hoophabit · Post #5 » by **hoophabit** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 2:35 pm

Made me sad when I saw this as well. Roy had a ton of talent, and sadly a lot of it was wasted.