Baron Davis a Clipper

Yep, LJ was great, I would love to have seen the career he could have had if not for the back issues.

 

I got a couple of basketball cards signed by LJ at Belks once, he was the man. My favorite all-time Hornet, I really appreciated how he didn't throw in the towel despite losing almost all of his amazing athletic ability. To still be a productive player after that said a lot for his character and natural talent, considering how small he was.

Hersey Hawkins was a blast from the past, remember that year where LJ missed half the year and Zo missed nearly the same amount? Hawk was a killer on the boards that year, sometimes coming down with double figures. He was a throwback, the type of player you don't see anymore, a tough guard who could score but loved to mix it up. I remember we would post him up at times, he was a fun player to watch.

 

Since this has turned into a Hornet memorial thread...


Where were you when you heard Bobby Phills died?

I was playing a videogame and half-listening to The Fabulous Sports Babe. I'll never forget her voice as she said almost off-mic 'oh my God, that's horrible.' My ears immediately tuned in for the awful news. I made the trip down from Raleigh to go to the game where they retired his number, I still have my pin. I'll never forget that night.

 

I have an autographed (replica) jersey of his. Man had shoulders as wide as a semi. He was a horse

 

I remember non-Hornets fans talking endless shit about Phills because of how he died. I tried brow-beating as many as I could, telling them about his charitable efforts and how only months before he had stopped to help a motorist injured in an accident.

 

Well the situation is a little different.

The Hornets leaving is viewed as a a city souring on a team and the owner moving because he just had no choice, whereas the Sonics get sympathy because the Sonics were "stolen" by a guy who bought the Sonics and was like "oh no, we'd never move the team!"

it is utterly retarded but most people simply aren't aware of the shenanigans that Shinn was up to.

 

That may be true, but all Shinn did differently was 'co-opt' a bad-guy owner to steal the team. Ray Wooldridge, a guy who isn't even with the team. I could have told him that was going to happen, too. Doesn't anyone learn their history? There are 8 businessmen in town that could have told him what Shinn would do once he got what he wanted (a ticket out of town.)

But yes, that is an accurate view of how our situation is perceived, rightly or wrongly.

It's too bad that George Shinn's trial didn't happen today, the coverage would have been much greater. More people would have heard that he fucks like Speedy Gonzales.

 

I was in the Miami Airport, on my way to my first semester of Med School. Another guy from Charlotte (who is one of my best friends now) also on his way there, asked me if I had heard what happened to Bobby Phills. Figuring they had traded him or something, I said no. "He's dead." WTF

 

it wasn't a 4-pt play, just a 3-pt one. apparently, they had determined before-hand that they wouldn't allow him to "turn and shoot" even tho it was clear he did so with time remaining.

edit: i see you posted a correction later....

 

Earl Cureton and Dr. K were my favorite Hornets. Brian Rowsom was badass, too.