Ng was chosen for the Bleacher Report video because of his passion for the sport and for his special connection with the court. Jack recalls his son asking his guests at his tenth birthday party to contribute donations to the court in lieu of giving him birthday presents. After it was built, the court became an integral part of his life. He has spent many days out of the year practicing and playing pick-up games on its distinctive blue surface.
He is hoping to secure a scholarship playing ball at the college level. Coupeville agriculture icons Dale and Liz Sherman are retiring from farming. A fermentation expert will address myths and misinformation about the process at an upcoming class. The pumpkin sitting in… Continue reading. The C. Students, staff members and Americorps service members worked together on the self-serve stand. Coupeville celebrates a Halloween tribute to the film with decorations and special showings.
Two community volunteers took on a project to make it easier to locate graves in Sunnyside Cemetery. Volunteers approach bushes of kush with shears in hand at the South Whidbey farm owned by Adam Lind.
The dazzling northern lights appeared in the skies across the state this week. Thomas, who stood barely over 6-feet, was in his day the grittiest performer to play the position, a feisty competitor who offered no quarter and expected none in return. Like Johnson, Thomas possessed the skill and determination to take over a game at will. Thomas helped build a last-place Detroit Pistons team into back-to-back NBA champions in the late s.
Like many of his teammates, Thomas was tempestuous, edgy, vocal and not opposed to balling up his fist when he felt the need. And he knew how to handle pain; he often played with injuries resulting from his rough-and-tumble style. That fighting spirit, coupled with a shrewd business sense, served Thomas well as president of the NBA Players Association in the late s and early s, and continues to serve him well in his post-playing days, whether as a coach or executive, roles he filled with the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and as the former coach at Florida International University.
Though Thomas was an unselfish player, his personal achievements were impressive. His Thomas refused to let his height limit what he could do on the court. He was a dangerous shooter from any spot on the floor, a smart passer and a smooth, clever playmaker.
He was also known for his full-speed, acrobatic drives into the teeth of the toughest and tallest frontcourts. Thomas took whatever defenses gave him, whether it was a 3-pointer, the baseline, the lane or an alley-oop opportunity.
He combined intelligence, court savvy and physical gifts to attain true NBA superstardom. Off the court, Thomas was a tireless charity worker known for his sincerity and compassion.
He was the youngest of nine children growing up in one of the poorest and dangerous neighborhoods of West Chicago. His family sometimes went without food or heat, and the lack of bed space forced some of the kids to sleep on the floor. Mary Thomas, whose courage inspired a television movie, did her best to shield her children from the drugs, violence and crime that plagued the area.
He was unbelievably optimistic for someone who had gone through all the misfortune that has occurred in his family. He was very focused. Isiah Thomas starred at Chicago's St. Thomas played high school ball at St. That fall Thomas enrolled at Indiana University. The street-hardened freshman impressed coach Bobby Knight from the outset, averaging That summer, Thomas was selected to play on the U. Olympic Team, but a U.
As a year-old sophomore, Thomas Following that season, he passed up his final two years of collegiate eligibility and entered the NBA draft. The Pistons, who finished , were the second-worst team in the league. In , with center Bill Laimbeer and rookie forward Kelly Tripucka also aboard, the Pistons posted an game turnaround and climbed to third in the Central Division. Thomas had a solid first year Although just a second-year pro, Thomas assumed the role of floor general, leading the team in assists, steals and minutes played.
As a team, however, the Pistons posted no improvement in the standings, finishing at But the league started to take notice of the little man with the big smile who seemed to be able to do with the basketball whatever his heart desired.
During the mids, Thomas, Magic and Sidney Moncrief were the best all-around guards in the league. But above all, he was the consummate quarterback, consistently placing near the top of the league in assists. In those games, Thomas recorded 15 and 10 assists, respectively. When Chuck Daly came aboard as coach in , the Pistons became a playoff team once again. The Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics was one of the roughest of the era. Recriminations flew off the court, while elbows and expletives were traded on it.
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