Topic: An Observation Re: Pre Season NBA Game In Htgn

[Daherdboy]

A thread over on Nation talked about MU bringing NBA teams to Huntington for a pre-season game as a fundraiser.  Talked about teams coming to the old field house in 65 or 66, but individual couldn't remember who the teams were.....

I remember.  I was at that game. 

It was the fall of 1966 (66-67 season), the Celtics played the '76ers.  I was in my 2nd year at MU.  Was and still am a big Celtic fan.  So, I got my seat right behind the Celtic bench...the team sat in the first row of bleachers and I was on Row 2.  Man, I was in heaven.  My knees literally touched the warm ups of the bench players.  The Celtics had Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Tom Heinson (sp), Satch Sanders, Sam Jones (I think).  This was the first year Russell was the Celtic player coach.  The refs asked the team captains to come out for a confab.  Russell went out.  Ref said not the coach but the captain of the team.  Russell said he was both.  Ref said we got to get that fixed before the regular season began.

The Sixers won the NBA championship that season, the only season in the 60's that the Celtics did not.  Their starting five were arguably one of the best starting 5's in the NBA.  They were Wilt Chamberlain, Lucius Jackson, Chet "The Jet" Walker, Wally Jones and Hal Greer.  Greer was the reason the Sixers came in for that game...a guaranteed sell out.  The Sixers won by 2, but I didn't care (well, maybe a little bit).  I sat behind greatness for that game.  I never saw a game in the old Boston Garden, but I did see my Celtics play in person.....in Huntington.

[parshall2marshall]

The Atlanta Hawks came to Fieldhouse in late '71 or '72. Forget the opponent.

Pretty sure Pistol Pete was still with them. I am thinking Darrell Dawkins too. I seem to recall some banter of his within earshot, as we sat in the first row at mid-court. All smiles.

p2m

[marshallmark]

Dawkins wasn't playing in the NBA that early.  I think you're recalling a '73 game between the Hawks and the KC Kings arranged to let Mike come back and play in front of the home crowd.

[Huffnagel]

Didn't the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers play in the Cam back in the 80s?

[The E-Man]

Dawkins wasn't playing in the NBA that early.  I think you're recalling a '73 game between the Hawks and the KC Kings arranged to let Mike come back and play in front of the home crowd.

You are correct sir! I remember the star attraction to play at the fieldhouse was Nate "Tiny" Archibald. Also, John Drew played for the Hawks. The Washington Bullets led by Wes Unseld and co. also played there. How can I forget Artis 7ft Gilmore. The fieldhouse was rockin back in the day. I'll never forget the Godfather of Soul James Brown burning the house down. Huntington had the local Fire Dept on standby, because JB was cooking so hot! :D

[MUPE84]

I was at the Baltimore Bullets - Atlanta Hawks game in the early 70's.  I remember being really disappointed because Pete Maravich did not play in the game.  It was learned later that his Mother was sick and he needed to be with her.  I do remember Wes Unseld and Walt Bellomy though.  What a thrill for a 12 yr old.

[backontrack]

The Bulls played the Bullets at the Field House in 1980--I remember being impressed by Rick Mahorn, then an unknown rookie for Washington...don't recall anything else...

[HerdFanJ]

The Bulls played the Bullets at the Field House in 1980--I remember being impressed by Rick Mahorn, then an unknown rookie for Washington...don't recall anything else...

Artis Gilmore played for the Bulls and Elvin Hayes for the Bullets - late in Hayes' career.

Spud Webb's Hawks played in the Henderson center and around that time, maybe a year or 2 before/after, the 76ers with Charles Barkley played an exhibition game nearby, I believe at the Charleston Civic center

[coalherd]

Daherdboy, if Sam Jones was in the backcourt, then probably K.C. Jones was his running mate; part of the Celts famous "Jones boys" tandem.  Tommy Heinsohn was a talented and rugged forward, as I recall, and after his playing days had a lengthy, and pretty successful, head coaching career in the NBA!!  Good memories!!

[Thundering In MD]

I saw Wes Unseld, Kevin Grevey and the Big E of the Bullets play Artis Gilmore and the Bulls in the 1980 at the Fieldhouse.  I remember thinking you just have to be 6'10" to play for the Bulls after watching Colby Dietrick.

I was also at the Hawks preseason game at the Cam in 1988; I don't remember who they played. 

[Daherdboy]

coalherd....

Yes, K. C. was on the team. He was a teammate of Bill Russell at Univ. of San Francisco (Dons) who won the NCAA championship two years in a row, I believe.  K. C. was the defensive specialist of the team.

[coalherd]

coalherd....

Yes, K. C. was on the team. He was a teammate of Bill Russell at Univ. of San Francisco (Dons) who won the NCAA championship two years in a row, I believe.  K. C. was the defensive specialist of the team.

Good memory, Daherdboy!!  Now I do recall that about K.C.  Sam was a little bigger and a better offensive threat.  One thing for sure, the Celtics of that era personified "Team" basketball under Red Auerbach, no doubt about it!!  It was great basketball to watch.