Earl the Pearl
Page 43
Cooper, Marvin, 241, 246–47
Cowboy Hill, 17–18
Cowens, Dave, 382
Cunningham, Billy, 253
Cunningham, Joe, 135, 143
Curry, Willie, 103, 104
D
Dandridge, Bobby, 385
Davis, Mike, 249, 255, 256
Davis, Miles, 310–11
DeBusschere, Dave,* 271, 302, 330, 356, 387
Deford, Frank, 186
Dumars, Joe, 398–399, 401
Duncan, Tim, 396–97
Durant, Kevin, 394, 395
E
Early years (1944–1956)
beaten up by cousins, 28
birth, 3
crate basketball, 10–11
“dirty Jew” lesson, 23–24
drowned acquaintance, 30–31
elementary school graduation, 9–10
good luck for gamblers, 6, 26–27
knife killing witnessed, 15–17
leg injury, 21–22
music loved, 31–32
silver dollars given by his father, 7–8
standing up for himself, 29–30
summers and winters, 11–13
at Vacation Bible School,* 9–11
Erving, Julius, 384
English, Jim, 135, 149
Ewing, Patrick, 382
F
Ferry, Bob, 209
50 Greatest Basketball Players in NBA History, 359–60, 403
Fleischer, Larry, 236–38, 292, 294, 296
Ford, Ron, 75
Frazier, Walt “Clyde”,* 280, 300, 301, 302, 332–34, 398–401
Future of pro basketball
media coverage and, 366, 368–69
referees’ impact and, 370–72, 374
rule changes recommended, 372–74
young players and, 362–68
G
Gaines, Clarence*
advice about girls from, 142, 164–65
“Big House” nickname, 105
“Chocolate” nickname for Earl, 111–12
contract with the Bullets and, 162–63
disagreements with players, 151
Earl’s style endorsed by, 125–26, 128, 181
as father figure, 127–28
first meeting with, 98
freshmen not started by, 109, 110, 112, 116
ignored due to racism, 376
integration attempt of, 105–6
negotiations about Earl returning, 116–17
pro-style offense of, 128
realities taught by, 152–53, 164–65
tests for categorizing players, 136–37
white point guards liked by, 104–5
Gangs, 24–25, 28, 29, 63, 67–68
Gervin, George “the Iceman,” 387, 388
Ginobili, Manu, 397
Glover, Richard, 103
Gola, Tom, 218
Golden Era of Basketball, 402–3
Goldstein, Alan, 193
Goodrich, Gail, 390
Gottlieb, Eddie, 215–16
Greer, Hal, 253–54
Groove Phi Groove, 137–40
Gudger, Jim, 159
all, Jimmy, 175–76
H
Hall, Jim (uncle), 4
Hall, Mom (grandmother),* 6–7, 8–9, 14, 183
Hall, Nicey (aunt), 8–9, 38
Hall, Rose. See Monroe, Rose (mother)
Hand-checking, 189–90, 373
Harden, James, 397
Harlem Globetrotters, x, 46–47, 91
Haskins, Don, 145, 146
Havlicek, John, 390
Hawkins, Connie “The Hawk,” 384
Haywood, Spencer, 385–86
Hazzard, Walt, 377, 379
Height of the basket, 372–73
High school years (1959–1962)
academic ineligibility, 56
accused of exposing himself, 65–67
All-City team made, 78
ambitions, xi, xv–xvi, 57, 61
becoming “the man” in sport, 76
Chamberlain’s “hunter socks,” 77–78
city championship game, 72–73
clothes style, 71–72
college rejections, xiii, 94–95
compartmentalization, 54, 58, 68
developing ball skills, x–xii, xiii–xvi, 58–59, 61–62, 74–76
disagreements with stepfather, 68–70
enjoyment of integration, 53–54
getting into girls, 64–65
judged for dark skin, 59–60
junior varsity play, 55, 56–57, 58, 59, 61–62
league championship game, 78
left back in tenth grade, 55–56
music loved, 67
parties, 68
playground games, x–xii, xv, 57–59
regaining regular class, 56
scholarship offers meager, 79, 84, 93
shooting practice, xii
spin move learned, 75–76
tapes of play misleading, xii–xiii
team’s off-court race relations, 73–74
varsity play, 62, 72, 78
Hill, Bobby (cousin), 27
Hill, Cleo, 109–10, 374
Hill, Jimmy (cousin), 27, 28–29, 63, 64
Hill, Joe (cousin), 28, 29, 64
Hill, Mary (aunt),* 25–27, 124
Hill, Sam (uncle), 38–39
Hill, William Randolph “Sonny,” 118, 169–70, 171, 173, 215–17, 295
Holte, Patricia “Patti LaBelle,” 76–77
Holzman, Red, 297, 298, 305, 341–42, 353
Hudson, Lou “Sweet Lou,” 388–89
I
Ice, iceboxes, and icemen, 11–12
Ike, Reverend, 306–7
International basketball, 367–68
Irving, Kyrie, 398
Iverson, Allen, 393
J
Jack (dog), 13–14
Jackson, Matt, ix, xvi–xvii, 85–89, 92, 93
Jackson, Phil, 164, 330–31
James, Andrew “Big Jimmy” (brother-in-law),* 5–6, 164
James, LeBron, 363, 365, 394–95
Jeannette, Buddy, 126, 161–62
Johnson, Arthur “Artie,” 109
Johnson, Gus
backboard shattered by, 271–72
character of, 178
dressed in gray leather, 279–80
Earl’s desire to play with, 126
importance to team, 230–31
newcomers crushed by, 174, 177–78
skills of, 181–83, 245–46, 270–71, 387
traded by the Bullets, 324
Johnson, Magic, 376–77, 378, 392, 398, 400, 401
Jones, K.C., 375
Jones, Sam, 374
Jordan, Michael, 378, 392–93
Junior high school years (1956–1959)
Activity Club times, 49, 50
anger at class experimentation, 34
baptism scare, 40–41
baseball experiences, 44
Bible found confusing, 41–42
competition increased in school, 34–35
dislike of stepfather, 37
eating habits, 43
fear of dying, 41
getting into sex, 49, 50
good friends, 33–34
graduation, 51
introduction to organized basketball, 44–45, 47–48
learning to drive, 48
love for his mother, 49
love of white comedians, 51
move to new home, 39–40
paper route, 48–49
playground games, 46–47, 51–52
poem in school newspaper, 34
racial tension noticed, 51
religious and moral beliefs, 41, 42
three Es and downhill slide, 35–36
K
Kefalos, Chris, 72, 78
Kennedy, John F., 61, 112–13
Kennedy, Robert, 213
King, Bernard, 387
King, Martin Luther Jr., 101–2, 204–5
&
nbsp; L
LaBelle, Patti, 76–77
Levane, Andrew, 374
Lillard, Damian, 398
Littles, Gene, 150
Lloyd, Earl, 180
Logan, Henry, 159–60
Loughery, Kevin, 196–97, 198, 255
Love, Bob “Bean,” 384–85
Lucas, Jerry, 331
M
Malcolm X assassination, 132–33
Malone, Karl “the Mailman,” 369, 386–87
Malone, Moses, 382
Manning, Ed “Razor,” 175, 178
Maravich, “Pistol Pete,” 268, 276–77, 362
Marin, Jack, 181, 336
Marshall, Thurgood, 165
Mays, Willie, 44, 45–46
McAdoo, Bob, 385
McCloskey, Jack, 148
McLendon, John, 375, 403
Media coverage, 192–93, 366, 368–69, 375
Meminger, Dean, 302, 329, 350–51, 355
Miles, Eddie, 189–90
Mobley, Willie, 72
Monroe, Ann (sister),* 3, 8, 31–32, 59–60, 120, 340
Monroe, Earl “the Pearl”.* See also Early years (1944–1956); High school years (1959–1962); Junior high school years (1956–1959); specific seasons
admitting to being lucky, 135
basketball statistics, 126, 137, 150, 235, 260, 285, 360
on best backcourts, 398–401
birth of, 3
“Black Ben” nickname, 59, 60
“Black Jesus” nickname, 145, 146, 287, 289, 341, 353–54
Black Magic film produced by, 360, 375
children and grandchildren of, 205–6, 234–35, 290, 404
“Chocolate” nickname, 111–12
competition enjoyed by, xv–xvi, 129
credentials for opinions of, 359–62
decision not to marry while pro, 179
dinners with mother and father, 123
“Duke of Earl” nickname, 60
in 50 Greatest Players list, 359–60
first NBA Championship, 355–57
on Golden Era of Basketball, 402–3
on greatest NBA players, 377–98
on greatest NBA teams, 398–402
on international basketball, 367–68
laxatives used by, 120
life since 1973, 403–5
Magic Johnson and, 376–77
on media coverage, 366, 368–69
music loved by, 31–32, 67, 346–47, 404
paradigm shift in NBA due to, 361–62
as part of best backcourt, 398–400
“the Pearl” nickname, 150, 155, 196, 287, 289, 341, 353–54
on pitfalls of success, 212
playground style, 125–26, 128, 361–62
practical approach of, xiii–xvi
on referees’ impact, 370–72, 374
reuniting with father, 119–23
as Rookie of the Year, 202, 210
on rule changes he’d like, 372–74
“science of the game” approach, xiv–xvi, 58, 89–91, 210, 295, 364
strengths and weaknesses known, xiv–xv
on theatrics, 365, 366, 367, 369–70
“Thomas Edison” nickname, 60
trial and error philosophy of, 58, 91
on young pro players, 362–68
Monroe, Hattie (stepmother), 122, 123
Monroe, Rose (mother)*
advising Earl about knee problems, 341
advising Earl about the Knicks, 294
advising Earl about Winston-Salem, 117
aneurysm and death of, 338–42
birth of, 4
dinners with Earl and his father, 123
Earl’s regret that she didn’t see him win an NBA championship, 404
fearlessness of, 18–19
fights with John Smith, 70–71
first TV owned by, 8–9
good cooking by, 42–43
hard work by, 15
helping Earl with paper route, 48–49
house bought for, 221–23
impact on Earl’s success, 405
ironing cord threat by, 37–38
kid chased down by, 18
laying down the law on schoolwork, 56
marriage to Vernon, 4
mink coat given to,* 337
name changes of, 3
parties at house of, 245
preparing Earl for junior high, 36–37
Smith’s Grocery Store of, 71
Monroe, Vernon Earl (father),* 4, 7–8, 119–23
Moore, Lenny, 241
Murphy, Billy, 241, 276
Muslim names, 379–80
N
Nash, Steve, 369
1962 to 1963 (lost year)
ambitions, xi, xv–xvi, 83, 91–92
commitment to practice, 89
developing skills, 84
dropout from Temple Prep, 95
first meeting with Coach Gaines, 98
with the football team, 98–100, 106
freshman ball at Temple Prep, 94, 95
great feeling for the future, 102
grudge match with Matt Jackson, xvi–xvii, 85–89, 92, 93
gun brought to Winston-Salem, 99
playground games, 84–85, 89–90
recruiter’s visits, 93–94, 95–96
SAT scores, 100
scholarship offers, 79, 84, 93, 95–96
staying at Weldon Hall, 101
Temple Prep enrollment, 83–84, 93, 94
on Temple Prep team, 94
traveling to Winston-Salem, 96–97
work at Tartan Knitting Mill, 95
1963 to 1964 (Winston-Salem)
benched for the first season, 109, 112
biology in summer school, 117–18
Cassius Clay championship fight, 115
developing skills, 118
Earl’s following at, 110–11
hazing avoided, 106
JFK assassination, 112–13
Ku Klux Klan close encounter, 113–14
negotiations about fall return, 116–17
playground games, 118
police encounter, 114–15
scoring in games, 110, 115–16
team member descriptions, 103–5
1964 to 1965 (Winston-Salem)
All-Conference made, 127
championship playoffs, 131–32
confidence and cockiness, 129
death of Aunt Mary, 124
decision to play with the Bullets, 126
developing skills, 125
Earl allowed to shine, 125–26, 128
Earl teamed with Teddy Blunt, 126–27
Malcolm X assassination, 132–33
playground basketball, 125
reflecting on his life, 132–33
reuniting with father, 119–23
role as scorer and leader, 129–30
scoring statistics, 126
team wins and losses, 130–31
1965 to 1966 (Winston-Salem)
ambitions, 147
blindfold initiation test, 139–40
CIAA tournament won, 143–44
developing skills, 135–36, 137
Groove Phi Groove, 137–40
hemorrhoid problem, 139
late for a game, 142–43
NCAA Division II Championship, 144, 145
role as scorer and leader, 136–37
scoring statistics, 137
summer games in New York, 146–47
team wins and losses, 143
threatened with guns, 144–45
Watts riots, 134–35
1966 to 1967 (Winston-Salem)
ambitions, 166
ankle taping, 148–49
autograph signing, 152
blackmail attempt, 156–58
Chicago Invitational, 150–51
CIAA tournament, 154
contract with the Bullets, 162–64
graduation,* 164–65
High Point game, 150
Memorial Colis
eum games, 151–52
Mustang provided by Bullets, 161–62
NBA draft, 160–62
NCAA Division II Championship, 154–56
North-South All-Star game, 158
Pan American Games trials, 158–60
passed over for MVP award, 151
pre-season scrimmages, 148–49
role as scorer and leader, 153–54
scoring statistics, 150
summer race riots, 165
team wins and losses, 154
trying to teach spin move, 149
1967 to 1968 (Bullets)
army draft “refusal” issue, 192–93
Baker League, 165–66, 169–73
benched at the beginning, 182
called for palming, 188
contract negotiations, 204
country club misbehavior, 185–86
crowd-pleasing play, 197–98
death of grandmother, 183
developing skills, 190, 191, 196–97
Division finals and championship results, 201–2
draft picks for the Bullets, 203
first daughter born, 205–6
handling hand-checking, 189–90
instructed about passing, 183–85
King assassinated, 204–5
mind games by Jerry West, 194–95
named Rookie of the Year, 202, 210
rookie camp, 174–76
scoring and assist statistics, 186, 190, 191, 193–94, 202–3
season games, 186–89, 190–91, 201
Sports Illustrated article, 186
top teams for the year, 199
training camp, 176–77
travel and accommodations, 199–201
USO tour in Japan, 207–9
1968 to 1969 (Bullets)
All-Star game, 229
Baker League, 213, 214–15, 217–19
comedy act tried, 232–33
developing skills, 213–14
fans’ love, 210–12
first son born, 206
First Team of All-NBA squad, 235
Fleischer hired as agent, 236–38
fraternization with the team, 231–32
house bought for mother, 221–23
Knicks games, 233–34
Robert Kennedy assassination, 213
scoring and assist statistics, 235
season games, 221, 223–26, 228–31, 233–34
weight and strength gained, 218–19
1969 to 1970 (Bullets)
All-Star game, 252
angel dust tried, 250–51
Baker League, 242–44
Eastern Division Semifinals, 256–59
faded jump shot perfected, 243–44
knee problems, 247, 248, 249, 251, 255, 260, 261–62
Knicks games, 247, 248, 256–59
new townhouse and car, 239–40
paternity suit, 241
scoring and assist statistics, 260
season games, 246–49, 251–56
social life and parties, 240–41, 244–45
up-tempo team character, 245–46
weight and strength gained, 242
1970 to 1971 (Bullets)
All-Star game, 272–73
arrested when protecting kids, 276
Eastern Conference Finals, 278–82