Yeah that's right, 50 years :)

upnorthfan · Post #1 » by **upnorthfan** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 1:12 pm

As my 50th birthday approaches (this Saturday March 8 ), I find myself reflecting back on some of the things I have seen basketball wise over the years. I started watching and playing basketball seriously in 1970. I grew up in the basketball capitol of the world, Indiana, where large crowds are known to gather at the mere sound of a dribbling basketball.

The hoop in my back yard was just like the movie Hoosiers, as was my High School gym like the small

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #2 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 1:21 pm

Damn. That was an awesome post. Definitely one of the best ive ever read. Happy Birthday.

upnorthfan · Post #3 » by **upnorthfan** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 1:31 pm

Thanks. I hope guys jump in and tell a story in the past of a game they played in or a moment in BB be it on TV or in person that they saw.

We had a rule in my home that any young man comes to my house as a guest of one of my kids, they had to play me in a game of one on one.

I should mention I retired undefeated in my driveway.

smauss · Post #4 » by **smauss** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 1:42 pm

Great job upnorth! I have you by four days shy of 1 year, my friend. Unfortunately, my past has clouded many of my memories but your post brought many of them back - thank you! I know when I see old friends we all are very appreciative of growing up when we did vs now-a-days. We spent almost all day outside, either playing the sport of the season at a park down the street, or hunting, fishing, trapping, or just exploring in a woods by the creek. We didn't need watches because the sound of mom's voices calling their children home for a meal was the only time we needed to know........

Thanks for the memories upnorth! Happy Birthday!

fam3381 · Post #5 » by **fam3381** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 2:56 pm

Thanks for that, up. And happy birthday!

jerrod · Post #6 » by **jerrod** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 9:14 pm

this is gonna sound dumb, but the posts by you and some other people on here do kind of help my fears about being pissed off and bitter when i get to be too old to play anymore. at this point right now, if i couldn't play the game it'd probably annoy me too much to watch it.

but you guys are still big fans so maybe i have some hope.

good post

Post #7 » by **paulpressey25** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 9:51 pm

I was at that 1984 Olympic team v. a Pro traveling team game at Mecca well.....was an awesome time....hot night in July in Milwaukee. Got tons of autographs of all the college guys who later became big time....Jordan, Perkins, Bobby Knight, etc.....

What was cool was the accessibility of Michael Jordan. Even though he had been drafted #3 by the Bulls a month earlier, he still wasn't anything big. He was approachable and you could talk with him outside the Hyatt. Six-months later, you couldn't get within 100 yards of him as there were hundreds of fans and security. His fame just exploded after his first month in the league.

Neapolitan Buck · Post #8 » by **Neapolitan Buck** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 10:10 pm

Very nice post, upnorth. Happy Birthday!!
In Italy a spot on Tv says: "Who says the best part of life is before 50?" I hope you to have your best days ahead of you.

WEFFPIM · Post #9 » by **WEFFPIM** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 10:40 pm

Jeez you're old.

I kid, Happy B-Day, up

upnorthfan · Post #10 » by **upnorthfan** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 10:56 pm

Thanks fella's, it wasn't my intent to get a birthday wish from you, I just get a need to write sometimes, and this is what came out, lol. Smauss, I believe we talked about this a couple of years ago, remember the "greatest pass I ever saw" thread I did over at JSO?

Scott Skiles in the tournament against (Georgetwon?), he comes down the court, begins to pass the ball with his right hand across his body going left, but at the last minute he kept the ball and hooked it around his back! IOW, he faked a pass left but passed right, to a streaking wing player for an uncontested lay up.

Great pass. MSU got robbed in that game as I recall. Remember great names like Baskerville Holmes? Villanova the "perfect"game? Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers? Ralph Sampson?

Danny Ainge, Tyus Edney, Rolando Blackman.

Phi Slama Jamma vs The Doctoers of Dunkenstein. UNLV had some wonderful teams but their weak schedule would always be their down fall come tournamnet time because they never were prepared to play better teams. They always played cupcakes.

Fly Williams from Austin Peay. Heck, Austin Carr from Notre Dame. I saw David Thompson, Tom Buleson and Monty Tow beat UCLA. Marquette!

Ernie Digigorio and Bad News Marvin Barnes.

All good stuff.

upnorthfan · Post #11 » by **upnorthfan** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 11:00 pm

paulpressey25 wrote:I was at that 1984 Olympic team v. a Pro traveling team game at Mecca well.....was an awesome time....hot night in July in Milwaukee. Got tons of autographs of all the college guys who later became big time....Jordan, Perkins, Bobby Knight, etc.....

What was cool was the accessibility of Michael Jordan. Even though he had been drafted #3 by the Bulls a month earlier, he still wasn't anything big. He was approachable and you could talk with him outside the Hyatt. Six-months later, you couldn't get within 100 yards of him as there were hundreds of fans and security. His fame just exploded after his first month in the league.

I remember Kevin McKale and Doc Rivers were on the Pro team. Coach Knight calls Rivers over and jacks him up telling him to really go at his kids and then smacks him on the ass for encouragement.

In practices leading up to cuts ('84 Olympic Team), Terry Porter was the only guy who would consistanly get in line to man up against MJ. I asked Porter about that a couple of years ago when he was the Bucks coach and he admitted that was true.

upnorthfan · Post #12 » by **upnorthfan** » Thu Mar 6, 2008 11:08 pm

jerrod wrote:this is gonna sound dumb, but the posts by you and some other people on here do kind of help my fears about being pissed off and bitter when i get to be too old to play anymore. at this point right now, if i couldn't play the game it'd probably annoy me too much to watch it.

but you guys are still big fans so maybe i have some hope.

good post

Geez man, lemme tell you, I played so much basketball anywhere and everywhere it isn't even funny. Sounds like you and me are allot alike. When did I quit? I never really quit totally until maybe 6 years ago when my youngest (Aimee) went off to college and no more kids came around much.

I drastically slowed down though when I was in the gym playing a pickup game, and I bent over with hands on knees, and I knew that was it. I was just so dam tired of it, to the point I was sick of it.

So after that I played on some city leagues and certainly down at the park, and in my driveway, but not much else. Fineeto! Totally burned out. After a Hiatus I was able to pick it back up again because it is my first true love. Now, there are only memories, and with one grand baby and hopefully more soon to come, the old player will turn coach and help the next generation of my familty along IF they choose to play the game.