R.I.P. Orlando Woolridge "O"

Anklebreaker702 · Post #1 » by **Anklebreaker702** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 6:18 pm

December 16, 1959 – May 31, 2012

Even though he was only a Laker for 2 seasons he still remains as one of my all time favorites. Affectionately known as "O" he would dunk all over the top of you no matter who you thought you were! When he was traded to the Lakers myself & couple of other friends started chanting OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO every time he checked in at the scorers table. After that it caught on in the forum.

In a playoff game in 1989 the Lakers were down 41-12 to the Sonics & "O" was a big part of the greatest comeback in NBA history. Wish there was footage on that game. We'll miss you "O"!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ijzLPcx1I[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5JbAfX70kk&feature=topics[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=SunK6wOo1dY[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJcL2k2uxQE&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=eMuTxYqlZy4[/youtube]

laduane1 · Post #2 » by **laduane1** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:04 pm

If he could have refined the rest of his game, he would have been better. Great dunker. Not a lot of outside stuff. Freak athletic skills...He will be missed..

salmahayek · Post #3 » by **salmahayek** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 10:35 pm

I was saddened to hear of his passing.

He was an exciting player to watch. Even though he was only a Laker for two seasons, I agree he was one of my favorites as well. Woolridge was thought of as a selfish player coming to the Lakers, but really fit in well to the Showtime Team and provided excellent scoring off the bench.

Playing with Magic, he had a lot of amazing plays, dunks and layups. He also really improved his on the ball defense and rebounding under Riley those couple of seasons too.

I think he would have won a championship in '89 had Magic and Byron Scott not been injured for The Finals. The Lakers had swept through the Western Conference Playoffs that year and had an excellent chance at "three-peating" until the injuries.

The '89 team was better than the '88 team that actually did repeat, IMO, and Woolridge was one of the reasons why I think that.

laduane1 · Post #4 » by **laduane1** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 1:07 am

Who can ever forget the hamstring pulls. I just wonder if Pat did not run them so hard, would that of happened..We shall never know.

Anklebreaker702 · Post #5 » by **Anklebreaker702** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 1:08 am

salmahayek wrote:I was saddened to hear of his passing.

He was an exciting player to watch. Even though he was only a Laker for two seasons, I agree he was one of my favorites as well. Woolridge was thought of as a selfish player coming to the Lakers, but really fit in well to the Showtime Team and provided excellent scoring off the bench.

Playing with Magic, he had a lot of amazing plays, dunks and layups. He also really improved his on the ball defense and rebounding under Riley those couple of seasons too.

I think he would have won a championship in '89 had Magic and Byron Scott not been injured for The Finals. The Lakers had swept through the Western Conference Playoffs that year and had an excellent chance at "three-peating" until the injuries.

The '89 team was better than the '88 team that actually did repeat, IMO, and Woolridge was one of the reasons why I think that.

We actually should have won a title with him. Great defender, perfect fit coming off the bench. Guess it just wasn't meant to be with Magic & Scott going down in the Finals

Anklebreaker702 · Post #6 » by **Anklebreaker702** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 1:09 am

laduane1 wrote:If he could have refined the rest of his game, he would have been better. Great dunker. Not a lot of outside stuff. Freak athletic skills...He will be missed..

He was pretty well rounded. Decent 16 foot "J" & could play on the block.

LAKESHOW · Post #7 » by **LAKESHOW** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:02 am

freak of an athlete. can jump out of the building. RIP one more chant . . . "OOOOOOOOOOOO"

ALL HAIL · Post #8 » by **ALL HAIL** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:28 am

I can't think of a better dunker that has played for the Lakers ... Byron Scott, Billy Thompson, Kobe Bryant, Eddie Jones, Cedric Ceballos.

Woolridge was the best. Woolridge dunked with power off of two legs (think Dominique).

Kobe jumps more like Jordan and off one leg.

Maybe I'm romanticizing the past but I remember Woolridge just hitting you out of nowhere.

A great backup to AC Green and James Worthy.

DEEP3CL · Post #9 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:03 am

Sad that O has left us, he was one of my favorite Lakers even in his short 2 seasons. Use to love it when O would just crash on somebody with no regard what so ever. RIP O.

Air Poohdini · Post #10 » by **Air Poohdini** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:52 am

R.I.P.

Mamba Venom · Post #11 » by **Mamba Venom** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 9:07 pm

He got to play w/ Magic & Jordan. Pretty cool life.

MAMBAEMD · Post #12 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Mon Jun 4, 2012 12:23 am

RIP O.
I remember when the Lakers got him. I got so happy becasue we depserately needed bench help.
He was very atheletic, could jump like crazy, and had a sweet 15-17 ft shot.
He was kind of like Larry Nance.

Very sad to hear of his passing at a young age.

R I P

salmahayek · Post #13 » by **salmahayek** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:41 pm

Here are some great Youtube videos of Woolridge...

Interview with Chick Hearn in 1989:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SunK6wOo1dY

Also, a great Laker montage featuring some awesome plays by O:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwlhcnoljnM

Also, when the Lakers signed Sam Perkins, they traded Woolridge and kept AC Green to come off the bench. As much as I like AC, it may have been prudent to keep O for coming off the bench. Perkins, Vlade Divac, and Mychal Thompson and even Magic some, could have handled all the minutes at center and power forward. Woolridge would have given them some more open court and scoring ability, in general.

hourockman · Post #14 » by **hourockman** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:40 am

Anklebreaker702 wrote:
In a playoff game in 1989 the Lakers were down 41-12 to the Sonics & "O" was a big part of the greatest comeback in NBA history. Wish there was footage on that game. We'll miss you "O"!

That's the recap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48PWr2AQ45c

Jan_Sobieski · Post #15 » by **Jan_Sobieski** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:00 am

Dude was my man back in the day.

miggs · Post #16 » by **miggs** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:05 am

This showed up on my fb newsfeed from Magic Johnson

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ-CH_dHw8Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/youtube]

Anklebreaker702 · Post #17 » by **Anklebreaker702** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:52 am

miggs wrote:This showed up on my fb newsfeed from Magic Johnson

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ-CH_dHw8Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/youtube]

Great stuff! Didn't know he had a son in college.

Anklebreaker702 · Post #18 » by **Anklebreaker702** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:53 am

miggs wrote:This showed up on my fb newsfeed from Magic Johnson

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ-CH_dHw8Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/youtube]

Great stuff! Didn't know he had a son in college.

salmahayek · Post #19 » by **salmahayek** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:13 pm

I don't think Woolridge is at Tennessee anymore. I think he is looking for a school to finish out his eligibility.

No Jumper · Post #20 » by **No Jumper** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:29 am

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO............... He was fun to watch....... Sad Day.... RIP My brother......