Remember him well, a big fella. Was it Corona?74 years old.
RIP. My era and a tough, skilled player.74 years old.
Remember him well, a big fella. Was it Corona?
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Unseld's family said he passed away surrounded by relatives and following lengthy health battles, most recently with pneumonia.
I asked the friend who txted me the news and he agreed with my impression that he was the first great "undersized" center (6'7"), which probably also ends up meaning best ever, because the Barkley would be the next in height/toughness/rebounding mix and didn't play center.Wes was 2 months my junior. Tried to model my rec league game after him.
Never really succeeded.
One of my coaches on my American Legion team was the head basketball coach at Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Va. Wes came to his summer clinic one year and came to one of our Legion games with the coach. In those days, we drove cars to our games and I happened to ride in the back seat of the coach's car. Wes was in front seat and I had never seen a wider human in my life. His shoulders covered about half of the front seat. We were in awe being in the same car with a NBA star, but he was interested in our athletic accomplishments, where we were going to college, etc. A great night I will never forget. Rest in peace Wes.
League MVP as a 6-6 center. He always liked to have two targets down court by the time his feet hit the ground coming down with a defensive board. He definitely didnt mind contact, because if it came down to core strength he'd already won the battle before you even knew there was one.I asked the friend who txted me the news and he agreed with my impression that he was the first great "undersized" center (6'7"), which probably also ends up meaning best ever, because the Barkley would be the next in height/toughness/rebounding mix and didn't play center.
Does that sound right to you as well, or who am I forgetting?
Wes Unseld, Earl Monroe and Gus Johnson on the Bullets had some great playoff series with the Knicks. Wes was a 6'6" fire hydrant. Amazing how long he stayed with one team during and after his playing days.
Willis Reed might also be in the mix.I asked the friend who txted me the news and he agreed with my impression that he was the first great "undersized" center (6'7"), which probably also ends up meaning best ever, because the Barkley would be the next in height/toughness/rebounding mix and didn't play center.
Does that sound right to you as well, or who am I forgetting?
Yes, though his 6'9" was in the ballpark.Willis Reed might also be in the mix.
That's awesome.One of my coaches on my American Legion team was the head basketball coach at Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Va. Wes came to his summer clinic one year and came to one of our Legion games with the coach. In those days, we drove cars to our games and I happened to ride in the back seat of the coach's car. Wes was in front seat and I had never seen a wider human in my life. His shoulders covered about half of the front seat. We were in awe being in the same car with a NBA star, but he was interested in our athletic accomplishments, where we were going to college, etc. A great night I will never forget. Rest in peace Wes.
My tiny aunt worked on an education council with Willis Reed years ago. She said when they shook hands his hand basically went up to her elbow, she said he's a great man.Willis Reed might also be in the mix.
Another undersized center who occasionally played PF at 6'8"-6'9" was Dave Cowens of the Celtics..Never forget the NBA exhibition game at the XL Center(then the Civic Center) in Hartford.. Celtics vs 76ers.. Chocolate Thunder's(Darryl Dawkins) first NBA game.. Cowens is playing C.. DD comes into the game as a sub..Is in the game for no more than 30 seconds.. Ref calls an injury timeout..DD is down on a knee holding his face.. Cowens had broken his nose with an elbow to his head as he was battling him for a rebound..Welcome to the NBA young fella..LOL..Cowens was a tough dude..I asked the friend who txted me the news and he agreed with my impression that he was the first great "undersized" center (6'7"), which probably also ends up meaning best ever, because the Barkley would be the next in height/toughness/rebounding mix and didn't play center.
Does that sound right to you as well, or who am I forgetting?