Randy Smith (G)..Buffalo Braves RIP

Anyone remember who was the star of the team he played with?

Are you thinking Bob Mack-ahhhh-dooooo? I loved the way they would say his name when I watched Knick games on TV way back when.

"Who Do?
McAdoo!"

And don't forget Ernie D

Wasn't Jim McMillian on a few of those Braves teams as well?  They were good but never quite good enough...

Brad

Big Mac!  Yup... U guys r ok!  Did you guys use to or still play ball? 
I have a friend, who is 65 and he's still playing 3 times a week in Manhattan.  He had his hip replaced and he's fine...

Ernie De Gregorio.. Providence?  St. Bonnie's? Yes?  No?  I say Providence....Billy Donovan's old school.  Ernie D!

Jim McMillian - Played for the Lakers also?  Yes?  No?  Pretty sure...
Where the heck did he play college ball?  Wracking my brain.......I'm thinking Columbia?  If I got that one right...I'm giving myself some props!  

Baah Ben


Big Mac!  Yup... U guys r ok!  Did you guys use to or still play ball? 
I have a friend, who is 65 and he's still playing 3 times a week in Manhattan.  He had his hip replaced and he's fine...

I only played pick up games...never on a school team or anthing. Still play a lot out in the driveway with my neighbor and my kids. 

Ernie D played for Providence. I graduated from Niagara in '74, and am glad Ernie didn't play against us for St. Bona.

No, I was useless at basketball. I played football in high school and pick up games in the neighborhood.

Tony - I played 4 times a week (pick-up indoors-Manhattan) until I was 38 and my knee finally gave out.  Dick Barnet, long after he retired, and with a pretty decent belly, use to play.  His favorite saying at the gym was "Too Late."  His shot long gone as you attempted to reach that unusual step back jumper..Of course, they didn't call it that at the time.  Tennessee State?  Tennessee A&I?  Some obscure college. 

Niagara..Calvin Murphy!  Right?  Houston Rockets?  Great free throw shooter?  One of the best free throw shooters ever!

Baah Ben


Tony - I played 4 times a week (pick-up indoors-Manhattan) until I was 38 and my knee finally gave out.  Dick Barnet, long after he retired, and with a pretty decent belly, use to play.  His favorite saying at the gym was "Too Late."  His shot long gone as you attempted to reach that unusual step back jumper..Of course, they didn't call it that at the time.  Tennessee State?  Tennessee A&I?  Some obscure college. 

Niagara..Calvin Murphy!  Right?  Houston Rockets?  Great free throw shooter?  One of the best free throw shooters ever!

Didn't Barnett have an unusual kick when he'd shoot that jumper? I rememeber as younger kids we'd try to imitate that shooting style. I can still hear my friend yelling "Dick Barnett" in his best Marv Albert voice as he let that imitation shot fly.

Yes he did..Very unusual.  He got into some questionable business dealing about the time he was coming to the gym to play with us amateurs 

Baah Ben


Big Mac!  Yup... U guys r ok!  Did you guys use to or still play ball? 
I have a friend, who is 65 and he's still playing 3 times a week in Manhattan.  He had his hip replaced and he's fine...

Ernie De Gregorio.. Providence?  St. Bonnie's? Yes?  No?  I say Providence....Billy Donovan's old school.  Ernie D!

Jim McMillian - Played for the Lakers also?  Yes?  No?  Pretty sure...
Where the heck did he play college ball?  Wracking my brain.......I'm thinking Columbia?  If I got that one right...I'm giving myself some props!  

 
Just got back home last night after almost 3 weeks on the road T C B, I am devastated to learn about the demise about one of my favorite NBA player of all time, Randy Smith, thanks for posting this--never thought I'd learn about the passing of a pro athelete first on Roadfood.  Randy was a most gifted athelete, he was a world class futbol--soccer player as well, he had amazing endurance. It is a shock to learn he died on a treadmill of a heart attack.
 
When the Braves moved to San Diego and became the Clippers in the late 70s I used to drive down to S D to see them play and even got to meet Randy.
 
Jim McMillian,  Jimmy Mac was on the Laker team that won 33 in a row, still an all time pro sports team record and the first of their L A Championships in 1971-72. Jim replaced the retired Elgin Baylor  early in the season and they went on a roll with Wilt, Jerry West-the Logo, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston and reserves like Pat Riley, Keith Erickson,  Flyn "point a minute" Robinson and others
 
Bob McAdoo also played for the Lakers towards the end of his career, he was still a magnificent shooter.
 


 

Baah Ben


Didn't Barnett have an unusual kick when he'd shoot that jumper? I rememeber as younger kids we'd try to imitate that shooting style. I can still hear my friend yelling "Dick Barnett" in his best Marv Albert voice as he let that imitation shot fly.

 
Yup he did, his nickname was was "Fall Back",  he played for my beloved Lakers for a few years in the mid-60s before he moved on to the dreaded Knickerbockers. I can still hear the greatest NBA announcer ever Chick Hearn make his trademark call after a Dick Barnett baseline fadeaway, "Fall Back Baby!"

Baah Ben

 Did you guys use to or still play ball? 
I have a friend, who is 65 and he's still playing 3 times a week in Manhattan.  He had his hip replaced and he's fine...

Jim McMillian - Where the heck did he play college ball?  Wracking my brain.......I'm thinking Columbia?  If I got that one right...I'm giving myself some props!  

 
Give you self some props and dap as Brooklyn raised Jim played for Jefferson H S in Brooklyn and then went on to Columbia, I was a fan of his from the Lakers to the Braves
 
I am 59 and still play half court ball in the park once or twice a week with 30 and 40 year olds. I shoot baskets in my backyard 3 or 4 times a week. I played h s ball but couldn't make my junior college starting team so I quit rather than sit on the bench. Even in my early 40s I played in an adult basketball league, but my strong sport was baseball, I still go to the batting cage once a month and shag flies, toss B P, hit grounders and fungoe for the youngsters in the park
 
Many of the younger players chuckle when they see me because I often play with a traditional tank top jersey, short shorts and canvas high top sneekers, they call me Grandpop Hop

Baah Ben


Tony - I played 4 times a week (pick-up indoors-Manhattan) until I was 38 and my knee finally gave out.  Dick Barnet, long after he retired, and with a pretty decent belly, use to play.  His favorite saying at the gym was "Too Late."  His shot long gone as you attempted to reach that unusual step back jumper..Of course, they didn't call it that at the time.  Tennessee State?  Tennessee A&I?  Some obscure college. 

Niagara..Calvin Murphy!  Right?  Houston Rockets?  Great free throw shooter?  One of the best free throw shooters ever!

Yes, Calvin played for Niagara - he graduated in '70 from NU, but I used to see him play there when I was in high school.  We also lived in Houston when he played for the Rockets, and saw him play a lot there.
 
Frank Layden, Hubie Brown & Larry Costello all played for NU, too. Frank went on to coach at NU and all 3 coached in the NBA.

Niagara

Baah Ben


Frank Layden, Hubie Brown & Larry Costello all played for NU, too. Frank went on to coach at NU and all 3 coached in the NBA.

 
Isn't that Frank in the walker for that Old School Video Shoot ad for Verizon with Dr Jay, Magic and that fool Barkley?

Is that Frank Layden?  It has to be someone important!  I love that commercial.  I say that Charles Barkley is a better tv personality than he was a ballplayer.  And, he was a really good ballplayer!  He just has that gift for television.

JonJaX - That's great that you still play.  Don't worry about them calling you Granpa.  Good for you!  Pick up basketball (half court 4 on 4 especially in NYC) is the best.    

Larry Costello..Syracuse Nats!  Dolph Shayes (sp)  Larry Costello..Had a two handed set shot right?  Played against Cousy and Sharman.  Costello was another great foul shooter and two handed bounce passer.  Remember Hal Greer?  Philadelphia Warriors...These guards were all terrific.  He played with Wilt.  Did you ever see one of them pound their chest after making a shot?  I don't think so.

Did you guys see the Boys of Second Street Park?  Tony Bad did you see it?  It is ABSOLUTELY fantastic.  You can buy it for under $10 on Ebay, if you cannot find it in your Blockbuster.  It was filmed and produced by Dan Cortese from MTV fame.  Rent that movie! You won't regret it.

Baah Ben


Larry Costello..Syracuse Nats!  Dolph Shayes (sp)  Larry Costello..Had a two handed set shot right?  Played against Cousy and Sharman.  Costello was another great foul shooter and two handed bounce passer.  Remember Hal Greer?  Philadelphia Warriors...These guards were all terrific.  He played with Wilt.  Did you ever see one of them pound their chest after making a shot?  I don't think so.

 
The 1966-'67 Philly 76ers is my favorite all time non-Laker team. Luke Jackson, Wali Jones, Wilt, The Kangaroo Kid-Billy Cunnigham,  Chet "the Jet" Walker, Larry Costello and Hal Greer who is the only player in NBA history to jump shoot his free throws. When asked why he did that he answered that way I can practice my jump shot while shooting free throws. Alex Hannum was the head coach. They won 68 games that year and beat the Celtics to go on and win the crown.
 
Agree with you about players pounding on their chest after making a simple shot or free throw, that is their job. Imagine if you went to a restaurant and a waiter pounded on his chest for serving you the food you ordered or  a clerk at Subway pulling his apron strings for making you a sandwich, no big whoop it's their job

IIRC David Meyers of the Bucks for a time shot his free throws as jumpers from the top of the key.  He turned to this method because he was struggling with the 15-foot set shot.

Brad

Brad - And he went to what college? ______________
And what was so interesting about his family?_______________________
And who was his center with the Bucks?______________

And Alex Hannum and his team moved to ______________?

And for what other team did Chet The Jet Walker play________?
And where did he go to school?___________________________

And who played opposite him at forward for that team?_____________
I'll give you a hint..He was very skinny!______________
What was his nickname?__________________________

And who was the light skinned black guard on that team?_____________

Sir, I accept your challenge!

UCLA.
His sister Ann was also a basketball star.
I'm pretty sure Bob Lanier, but he might've played with Kent Benson and Randy Breuer as well.
San Francisco.
Chicago.
Don't know.
Bob "Butterbean" Love...who started his career with the Bucks and IIRC was traded for Flynn Robinson.
The recently deceased Stormin' Norman Van Lier.
Add Jerry Sloan and Tom Boerwinkle/Dennis Awtrey/Cliff Ray/Nate Thurmond and you have the Bulls' starting 5 for much of the pre-Gilmore '70s.

How'd I do?

Interesting story about Bob Love.  He was basically illiterate for much of his adult life and after his career ended (his finished with the Sonics) he wound up as a busboy in a Seattle restaurant.  Eventually he was recognized by someone who reached out and helped him learn to read, and he actually worked for the NBA front office for awhile.  I know I left out details and there's probably more online somewhere, but that's what I remember.

Oh, and after Cliff Ray went to the Warriors he was once called upon to reach down the gullet of a marine animal (dolphin, maybe?) and retrieve a bolt that it had swallowed.  I read that in one of Paul Harvey's books.
Brad

Brad - Terrific.  I'm impressed you got Butter Bean Love!  And Norm Van Lier! Outstanding!

I got one wrong..I thought Jabar was still with the Bucks when David Meyers was there.

Chet the Jet Walker played his college ball for Bradley I believe. 

Cliff Ray did a far better job with Dwight Howard than Ewing has done.  They did not renew his contract.  That game last night was just unreal.  Hey, I could give two you know what about the Magic, but jeez they were horrible.  Howard has a loooooog way to go.  Hopefully, he sees that and will commit himself to the task at hand.
 
Anyway, Brad - Excellent!!

Brad_Olson


Sir, I accept your challenge!

UCLA.
His sister Ann was also a basketball star.
I'm pretty sure Bob Lanier, but he might've played with Kent Benson and Randy Breuer as well.
San Francisco.
Chicago.
Don't know.
Bob "Butterbean" Love...who started his career with the Bucks and IIRC was traded for Flynn Robinson.
The recently deceased Stormin' Norman Van Lier.
Add Jerry Sloan and Tom Boerwinkle/Dennis Awtrey/Cliff Ray/Nate Thurmond and you have the Bulls' starting 5 for much of the pre-Gilmore '70s.

How'd I do?

Interesting story about Bob Love.  He was basically illiterate for much of his adult life and after his career ended (his finished with the Sonics) he wound up as a busboy in a Seattle restaurant.  Eventually he was recognized by someone who reached out and helped him learn to read, and he actually worked for the NBA front office for awhile.  I know I left out details and there's probably more online somewhere, but that's what I remember.

Oh, and after Cliff Ray went to the Warriors he was once called upon to reach down the gullet of a marine animal (dolphin, maybe?) and retrieve a bolt that it had swallowed.  I read that in one of Paul Harvey's books.
Brad

 
I am super impressed with the basketball IQ of some of the members of this food forum, I'm elated to know I am not the only one. I seem to top recall the original Jet-not the one of the TBS crew Kenny Smith, but Chet Walker went to Bradley U.
 
A pair of Bob Lanier's sneeks are in the B ball Hall of fame because he wears a size 22 triple E, the largest  ever worn.
 
That's a true stroy about Bob "Butterbean" Love who would most always hit a crucial shot against the Lakers. In the 1970s, the Lakers and the Bulls always played the hardest nose games, game after game for several seasons, every game was a war
 
Nate Thurmond is in my all time top 7 centers lists, Kareem, Wilt, Hakeem, Russell, Shaq, Ewing and Nate the Great who began playing power forward next to Wilt with the S F Warriors as well as back up center but Wilton Norman averaged 47 minutes a game, he never took a rest, one year he averaged more than 48 minutes a year because of OT games. Nathanial had a great hook shot, excellent defender, rebounder and shot blocker, from Bowlng Green
 
"Some folks eat to live, others live to eat"

Baah Ben

And Alex Hannum and his team moved to ______________?

 
Just to clear matters up about Alex Hannum, My dad was a pal of Alex, his was the same age as Alex and a native Angeleno as well. Alex was a jazz fan and in the 1940s and early 50s, Hannum would go to the famed Central Avenue corridor, (the equivalent of NYC's 52nd St) where my dad as a trumpeter played in local bands. So even as a 9 and 10 yrd old onward in the late 50s and early 60s I was aware of Alex Hannum's career as a player and then coach. The championship team of Philly that Hannum coaced and is discussed here is not the Philadelphia team that moved to SF. The Warriors moved to SF in 1962 or '63 and Alex who had been coaching the Syracuse Nationals went to coach S F Warriors team from there while Syrcause moved to Philly and became the 76ers. When the SF Warriors traded Wilt back to his home town to play for the 76ers, Hannum became the coach for the 76ers. 
 
Alex is a under rated and almost forgotten great coach. He played college b-ball for the USC Trojans and didn't begin his pro playing career until he was about 27 years old as he had tried other ventures after graduating from USC. He also coached and won a championship in the ABA. When Hannum coached the San Diego Rockets before they moved to Houston, this was circa 1970 and 1971, my dad would drive to see his former crosstown high school rival coach, Hannum went to Hamilton High, my pops went to Dorsey H S and played baseball there years before Sparky Anderson attended the same H S. When my pops passed  in 1999, Alex sent a nice card and a reef to the funeral home from his home in San Diego.

Ok JonJax..Thanks for the correction...But the team did move to SF and became the San Francisco Warriors..Just not the team he coached....They had an weird owner I remember.  Didn't they play at the Cow Place?

Now I am going to guess on this one too...Frank Mulie?  Something like that?  He had a goatee?  Not your typical owner...Totally surperfluous information.