Artis Gilmore

2011-08-15T22:26:00.004-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE

INDUCTED INTO THE

NAISMITH MEMORIAL

BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

Click here for video of A-Train's enshrinement speech:

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/hall_of_fame/2011/08/12/20110812_hof_gilmore_speech.nba/index.html

Click on any of the following links for more great coverage

of the 2011 Hall Of Fame ceremonies:

http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/smith_gilmore_110811.html

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_18678467

http://espn.go.com/nba/halloffame11/story/_/page/110811-Gilmore/artis-gilmore-entering-hall-fame

http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/08/hall_of_famer_artis_gilmore_wa.html

http://jacksonville.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-08-12/story/artis-gilmore-enjoys-hall-fame-induction-17-years-making

http://www.shelbystar.com/sports/gilmore-57513-gardner-webb.html

http://jacksonville.com/sports/basketball/2011-08-12/story/inside-artis-gilmores-great-career

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6856029/nba-artis-gilmore-hall-fame-portrait

http://www.projectspurs.com/2011-articles/august/video-artis-gilmore-hall-of-fame-induction-speech.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brh2kIvgFcw

The Kentucky Colonels lead by Artis Gilmore force a game 7 in front of the great Indiana Pacers crowd. Mel Daniels has no chance of stopping Artis in this one. Link above.

2011-08-10T09:23:00.002-04:00

HALL PATH WASN'T EASY

FOR FORMER BULL
ARTIS GILMORE

BY LACY J. BANKS - Chicago Sun Times

lbanks@suntimes.com August 9, 2011 1

Greatness isn’t measured by how high you reach, but by how far you’ve come.

On Friday night, former Bulls center Artis Gilmore will be introduced by Julius Erving and inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. That rare distinction will mark the end of his long, often tough, climb from sandlot basketball to the sport’s pinnacle.

“Make sure you tell everybody that this is the full-circle stamp; this is not my final destination,” Gilmore, 61, said with a laugh. “I don’t want the Man upstairs to call me just yet because I still have a lot to do, and I’m working hard every day as a special assistant to the president of Jacksonville University, and I work for a mechanical-engineering company in project development.”

The 7-2 Gilmore started his long journey as a poor boy growing up in his native Chipley, Fla., and Dothan, Ala., where his first job was as a cotton picker in the racially segregated South.

“My family and I experienced a lot of racial discrimination and segregation when I was growing up,” Gilmore said. “School, water fountains, bathrooms, restaurants and other places of business were segregated. We were not allowed to knock on the front door of a white man’s house. We could not look a white man in the eye when we talked with him. This is another story for another day, but it shows how my life has come full circle.

“My father was Otis Gilmore, no middle name. He had no formal education or skill whatsoever, but he was an outstanding common laborer who worked his hardest to support nine children. My mother’s name was Mattie Lou Gilmore.

“Of course, I’d pitch in by picking cotton for $2 per hundred pounds, stacking peanuts or whatever. We’d have to get up at about 4 o’clock every morning to catch that flat-bed truck that took us to the cotton field. The earlier you started picking, the better your chances of picking at least 100 pounds before noon because that cotton would be heavier when it was still wet with the midnight dew.”

Imagine the sight of Gilmore starting out as a 6-6 boy picking cotton.

“I was too tall to pick it from a standing position because I kept having to bend over and reach down,” Gilmore said. “So I did most of my picking on my knees.”

That experience humbled him and gave him an incredible work ethic that fueled his success in the classroom and on the basketball courts at Gardner-Webb Junior College and Jacksonville.

Gilmore, the NBA’s all-time field-goal percentage leader and the Bulls’ career leader in blocked shots, said he never played basketball with the aim of making the Hall of Fame.

“I played for the joy and, of course, for the salary to support my wife of 39 years, Enola Gay, and our five kids and twin grandkids,” he said. “I never thought of any additional accolades. Until now, my happiest achievement was winning the 1975 ABA championship with the old Kentucky Colonels.

“I took as much pride and joy in that championship as I would’ve taken winning an NBA championship. Otherwise, I found great pleasure in playing for the Colonels [five seasons], the Bulls [61/2 seasons], the Spurs [five seasons] and the Celtics [half a season].”

Friday night’s honor will make all his struggles worth the effort.

2011-08-09T09:29:00.003-04:00

A-TRAIN STORE NOW OPEN!

Artis Gilmore's "A-Train Store" offers autographed memorabilia,
collectibles and fresh new items like A-Train's logo T-shirt's and golf shirts, action photos, basketballs, and the poster shown above. Access the store through:
http://www.artisgilmore.com/
or directly at:
http://www.artisgilmore.com/A_Train_Store.htm

2011-07-28T20:27:00.004-04:00

A-TRAIN'S EVENTS & APPEARANCES CALENDAR

Updated August 16, 2011

Sept 25 MAB Celebrity Memorabilia Show -- Philadelphia, Pa

Oct. 14-15-16 The Show at Chantilly Dulles Expo Center 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Chantilly, VA 20151

Dec. 2 Artis Gilmore Celebration Dinner - Swisher Gym, Jacksonville University

Dec.11 MAB Celebrity Cover Boys Card Show -- Secaucus, New Jersey

Jan. 21 MAB Celebrity Card Show -- Houston, Texas

2011-07-28T16:55:00.002-04:00

GILMORE'S CONSISTENCY AT BOTH ENDS EARNS A SPOT IN THE HALL

by: Steve Aschburner

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/steve_aschburner/07/27/artis-gilmore-hall-of-fame/

2011-07-11T19:18:00.002-04:00

Julius Erving Will Introduce Artis Gilmore at Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

4:19 PM, Jul 11, 2011
VIDEO LINK:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/article/210637/14/Dr-J-to-Present-Artis-Gilmore-Into-Hall-of-Fame

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In one month, former Jacksonville University star Artis Gilmore will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Gilmore has chosen his long-time friend Julius Erving as his presenter for the induction ceremony.

"I could've selected a number of people to introduce me," said Gilmore. "My relationship with Julius goes back as far as anyone else that I could think of. That's the reason I asked him to introduce me."

Artis spoke with First Coast News on Monday following the first day of a basketball camp that he is hosting this week with his former JU teammate, Rex Morgan.

After a long wait, Gilmore will finally be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12th. Dozens of his family members and friends are expected to make the trip to Springfield, MA for the enshrinement ceremony and other related festivities.

2011-07-10T09:25:00.000-04:00

NBA Hall of Famer

Artis Gilmore Talks Frankly

With Richard Miller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0bVSYIdP6A

2011-07-09T15:45:00.002-04:00

GameTime: Hall of Fame - Artis Gilmore - NBA Videos and Highlights. Steve Smith discusses Artis Gilmore's career before entering the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2011/07/05/20110705_gt_hof_gilmore.nba/index.html

2011-07-09T15:38:00.002-04:00

SOCIAL EVENTS

Left to right:

Big Red Machine/NY Mets Gold Glove Second Baseman - Doug Flynn

University of Kentucky Womens Basketball Coach - Matthew Mitchell

Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore

Hall of Famer Johnny Bench

Jacksonville University Alum - Frank Pace (television writer and producer)

JU Basketball Alum - "Stylin" Bob Nylin (retired after 25 years as a HS principal in Kentucky )

Artis with Hall of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron - Winner of more than 7,000 races including two Kentucky Derby's Two Preakness Stakes and two Belmont Stakes.

2011-07-09T08:51:00.000-04:00

Jon Paxson on Artis Gilmore induction to NBA Hall of Fame

http://www.wgntv.com/videogallery/62433879/Sports/Jon-Paxson-on-Artis-Gilmore-induction-to-NBA-Hall-of-Fame

2011-07-07T22:05:00.012-04:00

From The Sports Illustrated Vault

'Do You Play Basketball?'

'No, I Wash Giraffe Ears'

Rick Telander

February 23, 1981

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1124238/1/index.htm

2011-07-06T20:27:00.000-04:00

Artis has a monster game against the Spirits with 33 points.
April 22, 1976.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1xqwh7PE4I

2011-06-10T18:20:00.006-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE INDUCTED INTO

KENTUCKY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011, inducted on June 8 at Louisville’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. (Seated, l-r) Judy Holiday, representing her sister Bunny Daugherty, Artis Gilmore, George Tinsley, Kaelin Rybak, representing her father, Ed Kallay. (Standing, l-r) KAHF President Jim Ellis, Jerry May, Rex Chapman, Phil Roof, high school athletes of the year, Sara Hammond and DeVante Parker, and event emcee Dick Gabriel.

THE FOLLOWING WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON LOUISVILLEKY.COM

by Billy Reed

LOUISVILLE – At a Kentucky Colonels reunion before Artis Gilmore’s induction into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, the biggest man in the room sat quietly in a corner, listening and laughing as old friends and former teammates told stories, some of which may have even been truthful, about the late, great American Basketball Association.

It has never been Gilmore’s way to dominate anywhere except on a basketball floor. He was never as, ah, socially active as Wilt Chamberlain…never as politically active as Bill Walton…never a self-promoter like Shaquille O’Neal. If anything, his quiet, almost regal demeanor, was more like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, against whom he had many epic battles after he joined the NBA in 1977.

Impossible as it might seem to overlook a man officially listed as 7-feet-2 –and who seemed even taller because of the huge Afro he wore during his heyday – Gilmore has never gotten the recognition he earned during a remarkable career with Jacksonville University, the Colonels, and several NBA teams, most notably the Chicago Bulls.

Only this year was he elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. His fans believe it should have happened 10 or 15 years ago, given his records and stats. The honor from the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame came years after his most celebrated Colonels’ teammates, Dan Issel and Louie Dampier, were inducted.

Asked about it the night of the Colonels’ reunion, Gilmore took the high road, of course, and said that the honors have come when they were supposed to. He was gracious and grateful instead of angry and bitter.

“Yeah, Artis,” piped up Dampier, the shooting guard for the University of Kentucky’s famed “Rupp’s Runts” team of 1966 before becoming the Colonels’ foundation signee, “maybe it would have happened sooner if you had gone to college in Kentucky.”

“Louie,” said Gilmore, smiling and pointing a longer finger at Dampier, “I like you too much to respond to that so we’re going to leave it right there.”

At 61, Artis has lost the Afro and gained some pounds. When you say he fills up a room, it is more than a cliché. But he has aged gracefully and happily. After his pro career ended in 1988, Gilmore went into business for a few years. He now works as a special assistant to the president at his alma mater.

When O’Neal announced his retirement in June, it immediately touched off a debate about where he ranked on the list of all-time-great centers. He was compared frequently with Chamberlain, Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Walton. Typically, however, Gilmore was on the fringe of the conversation despite the fact that his roots in the Deep South were closer to O’Neal’s than any of the others.

Born in the rural town of Chipley, Fla., Gilmore was raised there and in Dothan, Ala., a larger town to the north. For many of his formative years, Gilmore and his eight siblings lived in a three-room house. He has vivid memories of picking cotton and doing other hard farm labor as a youngster.

After graduating from Dothan’s Carver High in 1967, he played college ball for two years at Gardner-Webb, then a junior college, before transferring to Jacksonville, where he joined another 7-footer, Pembroke Burroughs, on a team coached by Joe Williams, whose trademark was the white suits he wore on the sidelines.

In 1970, at the end of Gilmore’s junior season, he and Issel crossed paths in the finals of the NCAA Mideast Regional in Columbus, Ohio. It was the first season after Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) had ended his run of three consecutive national titles at UCLA, and it was widely assumed that the Jacksonville-Kentucky winner would be the next NCAA champion.

The game was a classic until Issel fouled out on a controversial backcourt collision with Jacksonville’s Vaughn Wedeking. That opened the way for a 106-100 Jacksonville victory that put Gilmore’s team in the NCAA Final Four against Villanova and its star, Howard Porter.

After dispatching the team from Philadelphia, the Jaguars went for the championship against a UCLA team that had Steve Patterson at center instead of Jabbar. Nevertheless, thanks in large measure to bookend forwards Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe, the Bruins upset Jacksonville, 80-69, in the Houston Astrodome to give Coach John Wooden his fourth consecutive title and sixth in seven years.

A year later, Gilmore’s senior team was eliminated by Western Kentucky in the NCAA’s opening round. Nevertheless, Gilmore was the No. 1 draft pick in both the NBA and ABA. Many were surprised when he rejected the Bulls to accept the Kentucky Colonels’ offer of $1.5 million spread over 10 years. More than anyone except maybe Rick Barry, he gave the upstart league the credibility it needed to land future superstars such as Julius Erving, and Moses Malone.

His first season (1971-’72), he teamed with Issel and Dampier to take the Colonels to the ABA finals, where they were defeated by Utah. Nevertheless, Artis was named both Rookie of the Year and MVP. During his ABA career, Gilmore set league records for career field-goal percentage (.557), blocked shots (750), blocked shots in a season (287 in 1973-’74), and rebounds in a game (40).

The only championship of his college or pro career came in 1975, when the Colonels defeated the Indiana Pacers in the ABA finals. After the final game, Colonels’ owner John Y. Brown Jr. offered to put up $1 million (big money in those days) if the NBA champion Golden State Warriors would agree to play the Colonels in a best-of-three series to decide the overall champion.

But the Warriors declined, quite possibly because they had nobody who could match up against Gilmore. Brown’s response was to put “World Champions” on the Colonels’ rings. Alas for Brown, he made the mistake of trading Issel to Denver and the Colonels were unable to repeat in 1976, the last year of the ABA, even though Gilmore had another dominating season.

When Brown decided to fold his franchise instead of joining the merger that brought Indiana, the New York Nets, San Antonio and Denver into the NBA, his players were put into the ABA dispersal draft. To the surprise of nobody, the Bulls made Gilmore the No. 1 pick and paid Brown $1.1 million to finally get the star they had drafted five years earlier.

From 1977 through 1982, Gilmore was the Bulls’ main attraction. He led the NBA in field-goal percentage for four consecutive years, including a career-best .670 in 1980-’81, the third best in league history. Unfortunately for Gilmore and Bulls fans, he was traded to San Antonio in 1983, a year before Michael Jordan arrived from North Carolina to take the franchise to unprecedented heights.

After playing with the Spurs for four seasons, Gilmore rejoined the Bulls for part of the 1988 season before finishing his NBA career with the Boston Celtics. He’s still the NBA career leading in field-goal percentage (minimum of 2,000 shots made) at 59.9 per cent.

Maybe the fact that Gilmore never played on an NCAA or NBA championship team is one of the reasons he’s overlooked. Or maybe it’s because he played with an economy of motion that sometimes made it seem that he wasn’t playing as hard as, say, a Dave Cowens or a Walton. But that’s baloney. A man doesn’t play in 670 consecutive pro games, as Gilmore once did, unless he has a work ethic that’s off the charts.

Where does Gilmore rank on the all-time list?

Well, although he didn’t win an NCAA title at Jacksonville, he took his team to a championship game and became one of only five players to average 20 points and 20 rebounds for his career. And although he didn’t win a championship in the NBA, he played on an ABA championship team that arguably was the best pro team in the nation that season.

He was a force who always gave contemporaries Jabbar and Walton all they could handle. Other than his championship season with the Colonels, he never was surrounded by the kind of talent that surrounded Russell during his never-to-be-repeated run with the Celtics. His numbers argue that he deserves to be ranked with Shaq, if not above him.

But Gilmore lets others worry about that sort of stuff. He’s at peace with himself and his place in basketball history. He didn’t need that to be certified by the Kentucky and Naismith Halls of Fame, but he’s appreciative that his accomplishments finally are getting recognized. As Gilmore said upon his first Hall-of-Fame induction in Louisville, “This is a special summer for me.

THE FOLLOWING WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE HERALD-LEADER

By Mark Story — Herald-Leader Sports Columnist

When Artis Gilmore shocked the basketball establishment by shunning the NBA to sign with the Kentucky Colonels of the renegade ABA in 1971, he had one concern.

"I was afraid the fans in Kentucky didn't like me," Gilmore recalls.

As a star player at Jacksonville University, Gilmore had been part of two epic NCAA Tournament games against schools from the commonwealth.

In the 1970 NCAA tourney, Gilmore led Jacksonville (25-1) into an Elite Eight matchup with Dan Issel and Kentucky (26-1). The 7-foot-2 Gilmore had 24 points and 20 rebounds against Adolph Rupp's Wildcats. Issel had 28 points and 10 rebounds but fouled out midway through the second half on a controversial charging call.

Jacksonville 106, Kentucky 100.

The loss meant Issel — arguably the most revered player ever to wear UK blue — never made a Final Four appearance. Jacksonville went on to lose to John Wooden's UCLA dynasty 80-69 in the NCAA finals.

In the 1971 NCAA Tournament first round, Gilmore faced another big man showdown against Western Kentucky University star Jim McDaniels.

Jacksonville led 40-22 in the first half. After a stunning rally, WKU won 72-70 on a Clarence Glover layup with four seconds left. The 6-10 McDaniels had 23 points; Gilmore had 12. Western went on to reach the Final Four.

His college career over, Gilmore's next official game would be played on the same side as Kentucky basketball fans, not against them.

The 61-year-old Gilmore was back in the news in a big way last week. It was announced in Houston during the Final Four that Gilmore is at long last being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Gilmore — who led the Kentucky Colonels to the 1975 American Basketball Association title — was chosen by the Hall of Fame's "ABA committee."

As a star-caliber player in college basketball, the ABA and then the NBA, he should have been elected long ago via the traditional selection process.

This year is turning out to be a very good one for the Chipley, Fla., native in terms of Hall of Fame recognition.

On June 8 at a banquet in Louisville, the guy who wore No. 53 in the red, white and blue of the Colonels will be enshrined into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.

"It turned out, I loved playing in Louisville," Gilmore said.

'Barely had a roofover our heads'

Gilmore was 22 when he came to the Colonels for the 1971-72 season. Kentucky secured the big center because it offered a 10-year, $1.5 million contract before the NBA held its 1971 draft.

"My agent said (the Kentucky offer) was the one to take," Gilmore said. "I did what he told me to do."

In a LeBron world, $150,000 a year seems like a pittance for a big-time pro athlete, but to Gilmore in 1971 it seemed like unimaginable riches.

He had grown up without much in the small Florida town of Chipley.

His dad, Otis, was a fisherman who "was basically disabled," Gilmore says. "My mother (Mattie) was a stay-at-home mom. My father had no education; my mother had very little. There were eight kids, six boys, two girls. We barely had a roof over our heads."

Gilmore's father stood 5-foot-7. His mom was 6-2. Artis, the second-oldest child in the family, took after his mom.

In Chipley in the 1950s and early '60s, public accommodations were segregated by race. Black people, Artis recalls, were required to sit in the balcony at the town's movie theater.

Still, the one time he was excluded from the movies had nothing to do with skin color. Children got in to see the pictures for 15 cents, while adults paid a quarter. A 12-year-old Artis showed up with his 15 cents — but he was so tall, he couldn't convince the theater ticket taker that he was a kid.

"And I didn't have 25 cents," Gilmore says.

In the 1960s and '70s, the NBA was known as "the big-man's league." Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and, later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated play.

The ABA had no such giants, so sweet-shooting guards and dynamic small forwards tended to be the stars in a league whose style of play was wide open and fast-paced.

Signing Gilmore represented a direct challenge by the ABA to the NBA's defining strength. To boast, the Colonels took Gilmore to New York City for a news conference.

Decked out in platform shoes and boasting a robust Afro, Gilmore was measured at 7-8 from sole of shoe to top of hair in New York.

Gilmore was an immediate hit with the Colonels, averaging 23.8 points, 17.8 rebounds and five blocks in 1971-72. He helped Kentucky to a staggering 68-14 regular-season record and was named ABA Rookie of the Year.

Yet in what became a disturbing pattern, the Colonels were stunned in a six-game playoff loss to Rick Barry and the New York Nets. The next season, Kentucky made it to the ABA finals only to lose in seven games to the hated Indiana Pacers. In 1974, Kentucky went out in the second round of the playoffs.

The resulting frustration was immense. Most observers considered a roster that included Gilmore, his former NCAA Tournament rival Issel and long-range bomber Louie Dampier the most talented in the ABA and one of the best in all of pro basketball.

"I really can't pinpoint that," Gilmore says of what kept the Colonels from winning more titles. "Naturally, the first thing you do is blame the coach. Then you put it at the feet of the players. We had truly great talent. For whatever reason, we were unable to make that count in the playoffs."

Finally, champions

Before the 1974-75 season, Colonels ownership hired an up-and-coming NBA assistant, Hubie Brown, to coach Kentucky.

The new boss decided to run more of the team's offense through Gilmore, meaning less offensive emphasis for Issel. Given that Big Dan was arguably the most popular person in the commonwealth, it was a controversial, if gutsy, coaching move.

Gilmore's scoring rose from 18.7 in 1973-74 to 23.6; Issel's fell from 25.5 to 17.7.

With 10 contests left in the season, the Colonels were five games behind Julius Erving and the Nets. Then Kentucky caught fire.

The Colonels won the last 10 games of the season, beat the Nets in a one-game showdown for the division crown, and then rampaged through the playoffs. Kentucky lost only three games total while beating Memphis, St. Louis and, finally, the rival Pacers for the elusive ABA championship.

The night the Colonels clinched the crown, May 22, 1975, a Freedom Hall throng of 16,622 witnessed both history and something bizarre. As the Kentucky players began to cut down the nets, a thunderstorm knocked out electricity and plunged the arena into darkness.

Before the game, Gilmore and his wife, Enola Gay, had left their daughter, Shawna, with a young baby sitter.

"That was such a thrilling moment," Gilmore says of the Colonels' championship. "My wife and I, we were talking the other day about the big storm that night. Our baby sitter, she lit candles after the lights went out. Our daughter lit her hair on fire. We had to leave the arena and get that tended to."

End game

For the Colonels, the championship feeling was fleeting.

The ensuing summer, team owner John Y. Brown Jr. sold Issel's contract to the Baltimore Claws. He said it was necessary to keep afloat a franchise that was not making money in spite of its winning ways.

An infuriated fan base never forgave the team.

One year later, four ABA franchises, the Nuggets, Spurs, Pacers and Nets, were absorbed into the NBA, The Colonels and the rest of the league fell defunct.

"I was upset," Gilmore says. "They told me I would be going to Chicago (in the dispersal draft). At the time, I much rather would have been here in Louisville."

The reason Gilmore should have been a Basketball Hall of Famer long before now is that he went into the NBA, first with the Bulls, then the Spurs and briefly the Celtics, and was an elite player.

He averaged a double-double (points and rebounds) in eight of his first nine years in the league. His career averages in NBA action are 17.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 assists.

Today, Gilmore and Enola Gay have five children and two grandchildren. Artis has returned to Jacksonville University where he works as a special assistant to the school's president.

Yet the Florida native still feels a connection to the state where he won his only professional championship — the state he worried did not like him at the time he signed with the Colonels way back in 1971.

"They never forget you," Gilmore said of Kentucky sports fans. "They respect athletes there. If you are part of a Kentucky team, they treat you like a Kentuckian."

2011-05-23T14:30:00.003-04:00

NEW VIDEO AND AUDIO INTERVIEWS WITH ARTIS

Thank you Bill Smith for permission to use

the above photo of Artis powering over Kareem!

Below: some new interviews with the A-Train.

Kerasotis: Gilmore embarking on summer of excitement

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110522/COLUMNISTS0306/105220321/Kerasotis-Gilmore-embarking-summer-excitement

[Also available at:]

http://projectspurs.com/2011-articles/may/video-former-spur-artis-gilmore-talks-hall-of-fame-basketball-career.html

TalkZone

Sports & Torts: Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel

http://www.talkzone.com/episodes/155/Torts0519.html

2011-05-10T15:27:00.004-04:00

NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL

HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT TICKETS

Friends ---

Some of you have been asking about the availability of tickets for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies. The following link will take you to all the details of the events on August 11-12-13, 2011.

http://www.hoophall.com/enshrinement-tickets

Thank you so much for your interest and please know that your support will always be truly appreciated by me.

A-Train

2011-04-10T14:30:00.005-04:00

SELECTED MEDIA LINKS

REPORTING THE A-TRAIN'S ELECTION

TO THE NAISMITH MEMORIAL

BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

AND HIGHLIGHTING HIS CAREER

VIDEO:

ABA AND NBA HIGHLIGHT CLIPS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=227FWcC9ETI&feature=related

ABA HIGHLIGHT CLIPS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXsEhz-V3Lo&feature=related

1972 ABA/NBA ALL STAR GAME:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fQDipb-uSI

ARTIS POSTERIZES KAREEM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS1GJ5wxyTc&feature=related

ABA 1976 DUNK CONTEST:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhIdTip5cjo&feature=related

ARTIS ON THE BREAKDOWN WITH DAVE AND AUDLEY:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr7n8bJ5j1M

SHORT HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO CLIP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ3uaGbdWf4&feature=related

ARTIS VERSUS BILL WALTON, 1977 PLAYOFFS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaVxEyEzs-w

1975 ABA FINALS --- KENTUCKY VERSUS PACERS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hROUCfLtLk

ARTIS GILMORE RECOGNIZED:

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/8178/2351220cpt=3&title=homepage_channel&wpid=9614

PHOTOS:

http://www.wgntv.com/news/local/breaking/chi-110404-artis-gilmore-chicago-bulls-photos,0,7479441.photogallery

COLUMNS/BLOGS:

Artis Gilmore elected to basketball Hall of Fame

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Artis-Gilmore-elected-to-basketball-Hall-of-Fame/TE5Ojtq6PUyIEwdN11fBBQ.cspx?rss=1

Artis Gilmore's Hall of Fame selection long overdue (Mike Herndon)

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/04/artis_gilmores_hall_of_fame_se.html

Artis Gilmore getting national love after HOF election

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/08/%09%09artis-gilmore-getting-national-love-after-hof-election/

Artis Gilmore earned call from Hall

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/04/10/1702587/gilmore-earned-call-from-hall.html

Gene Frenette: Hall of Fame corrects injustice with election of Artis Gilmore

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400617/gene-frenette/2011-04-04/gene-frenette-hall-fame-corrects-injustice-election

Artis 'The A-train' Gilmore scores spot in Hall of Fame

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-04-05/story/artis-train-gilmore-scores-spot-hall-fame

2011-04-04T12:53:00.014-04:00

THE A-TRAIN HEADS FOR SPRINGFIELD!

Artis Gilmore elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Video of official announcement:

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2011/04/04/20110404_hof_gilmore.nba/

NBA highlight video clips:

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/originals/2011/04/05/20110405_hof_gilmore_broll.nba/index.html

News Release from Jacksonville University

http://www.judolphins.com/news/default/206/15356/

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a record-setting college career and a stellar professional career that included being named an all-star in three different leagues, Artis Gilmore will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011.

Gilmore’s career has been legendary from the beginning – starting with taking Jacksonville University on a Cinderella run to the national title game in 1970. From there, he was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA – leading them to the title in 1975, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the playoffs. After the merger, Gilmore was the first pick in the ABA dispersal draft by the Chicago Bulls, playing 12 seasons in the NBA with Chicago, San Antonio and Boston.

He will be inducted into the Hall during the annual enshrinement ceremony set for Aug. 11-13 in Springfield, Mass.

"As a youngster growing up in Chipley, Florida l admired with awe, baseball legends like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. I never imagined that one day I might share a stage with them as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,” Gilmore said. “On behalf of the entire Gilmore family I want to thank everyone who made this honor possible. I hope to represent you all proudly."

His basketball career was blossoming when he signed with Jacksonville University in the spring of 1969. Less than a year later, Gilmore had put not just the school, but the entire city on the map.

“This is a tremendous and well deserved honor for Artis and on behalf of the entire JU community, we congratulate him on receiving this recognition,” said JU president Dr. Kerry Romesburg. “Artis has meant so much to the University, from his days as a student-athlete to his current position with the school that it thrills everyone to see him receive this prestigious honor and to take his place among the best in the history that have ever played basketball.”

Standing at 7-foot-2, Gilmore teamed up with 7-foot tall Pembrook Burrows to form the tallest front line in America for the 1969-70 season. Joined by JU legends Rex Morgan, Vaughn Wedeking, Rod McIntyre and a cast of others, the Dolphins went on an unprecedented run to the national title game.

His legend grew with each game – whether it was scoring, rebounding or blocking shots. In just two years at JU, Gilmore scored more than 1,200 points, set the school record with more than 1,100 rebounds and blocked more than 300 shots – recording at least 12 triple-doubles in his career.

Today, Gilmore remains the all-time leader in NCAA history for rebounds per game average for a career at 22.7 – a record that has stood for 40 years.

While he was a star on the court at JU, he didn’t slack off in the classroom – getting his degree from JU in 1971. He was a member of the inaugural class in the JU Athletics Hall of Fame and is one of six Dolphins to have their jersey number retired.

“When it comes to Jacksonville University basketball, Artis Gilmore is the gold standard for the young men in our program,” said current JU head coach Cliff Warren. “He and his teammates set the bar very high for our program – and it is something our young men work at each day to reach, not only on the court, but in the classroom and in the community.

“He has done so much for our program that I can’t begin to thank him enough. With his wisdom and his example of what to do and what not to do, he is great mentor for impressionable young men in college. On behalf of our young men and coaches, we congratulate him on receiving this honor.”

With his college career behind him, Gilmore signed a 10-year, $2.5 million contract with Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association. What ensued was an 18-year professional career for the ages.

In his five seasons in the ABA, Gilmore led the league in rebounding each season and block three times, earning league MVP honors in 1972 and named MVP of the playoffs after leading the Colonels to the title in 1975.

With the ABA-NBA merger in 1975, Gilmore was once again a hot commodity – becoming the first pick in the ABA Dispersal Draft, going to the Chicago Bulls. That started a stellar 12-year run in the NBA that resulted in six All-Star game appearances and six trips to the NBA Playoffs with Chicago, San Antonio and Boston – advancing to the conference finals twice in his career.

The numbers he piled up in his professional career are mind boggling.

"Artis epitomizes everything that the Hall of Fame represents both on and off the court," said John L. Doleva, President & CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "He is one of the greatest players to ever put on a college, ABA and NBA uniform and we are proud to include him as a member of the Class of 2011."

In 17 years as a professional, Gilmore played in 1,329 games and remains the NBA’s all-time leader in field goal percentage – having hit 59.9 percent of his shots during his career. He shot .600 or better in six different seasons, and he led the NBA in field-goal percentage four times. His 1,747 NBA blocked shots rank him near the top in that category as well.

He scored 24,941 points during his professional career ranks 20^th on the all-time list, just behind legends such as Rick Barry, John Havlicek and George Gervin. He racked up 16,330 rebounds, which is fifth on the all-time list trailing only Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His 3,178 blocked shots is fourth on the all-time list, trailing only Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo and Abdul-Jabbar.

Gilmore grew up in Chipley, Fla., and was a third-team All-America as a senior in high school in Dothan, Ala. Following graduation, he went on to star for two years at Gardner-Webb Junior College in Boiling Springs, N.C.

In 2007, Gilmore was hired by his alma mater as the Special Assistant to the President – helping raise money, develop relationships in the community and reconnect fellow alumni with the University. He has also taken on a role as the color analyst during JU basketball radio broadcasts.

Links:

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/steve_aschburner/04/05/gilmore-hall-of-fame/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

http://20secondtimeout.blogspot.com/2011/04/basketball-hall-of-fame-finally.html

http://www.nba.com/history/players/gilmore_bio.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JPt107X-zo

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400617/gene-frenette/2011-04-04/gene-frenette-hall-fame-corrects-injustice-election

2010-11-04T02:32:00.004-04:00

MAURICE LUCAS - THANK YOU.

Thank you, my friend, for all the memories. You lived a good life. You lived a strong life. We are proud of you. We were blessed to know you.

"Train."

2010-10-15T15:06:00.001-04:00

MAURICE LUCAS

A reader of this blog recently asked me about Maurice Lucas and whether he and I are still in touch with each other.

I’m pleased to say that my friend Maurice and I have maintained a very good relationship since our playing careers ended.

Most of you with an interest in the answer to this question will know that Maurice and I were teammates for the Kentucky Colonels during the last year before the ABA and the NBA merged.

In addition to having been a great hard-nosed basketball player, Maurice also has an equally great heart and has hosted or supported numerous charitable events over the years. He has, as many of you know, struggled with health issues in recent years and if all of his fans across the country will keep Maurice in their prayers, my friend would really appreciate that, and likewise so would I.

Let me share two memories of my days on the court with Maurice.

During a game against the Spirits of St. Louis, tempers flared up for some reason I can’t even remember. The result was that Maurice, who was then a rookie, punched me good to the jaw. Maurice was a strong man who, unlike me, enjoyed a good brawl, and he landed a solid fist. Believe me --- I felt it from my head to the end of my sneakers. I think my knees may have gone in a few different directions. Over the years this story has grown to where I supposedly chased Maurice around the arena until, when cornered, he put my lights out. Well, that's a fair amount more dramatic than what really happened. As it was, some accounts claim that the incident made Maurice so confident in himself that it contributed to his career-long success as a player. If my chin gave an assist to Maurice, I'm happy. He's a great guy. I doubt, though, that this had much to do with his many great years as a player. Maurice was pretty damn good to begin with!

The other memory comes from when Maurice and I were teammates being coached by the famous Hubie Brown. Hubie, as all basketball fans know, was a truly great coach and I am honored to have played for him. He cared about me as a player and as a person and I will always appreciate everything he did for me. As a coach, Hubie was a stickler for being sure that even the smallest detail was done correctly. If something was being done wrong he had no problem getting up in a guy's face and yelling until he ran out of breath. A couple times he lit into me so bad, cussing at full volume, that other guys felt bad for me and tried to calm him down. Maurice Lucas actually got benched once during a game for telling Hubie to stop yelling at me!

Yes, Maurice was and is a friend of mine. I’m proud to have played with and against him!

2010-10-15T14:49:00.006-04:00

A SHORT NOTE ABOUT DEFENSE

(AND OFFICIALS)

In response to my earlier blog about how I would defend myself if I had to play against myself (an interesting reader question), ug2b asked:

“I love the pinching - did that really happen?”

ug2b is referring to my comment about administering a hip pinch now and again to keep an opponent mentally and physically off-balance.

Did it happen?

Oh yeah.

Here’s a little tip to all you Rec League ballplayers (although I’ll deny I said it) --- referees rarely see fouls that happen below the waistline! A sociable clamping of the thumb and pointer finger onto a guy’s hip will, at the very least, annoy him and take his mind off the game. Add a little extra pressure by using your body weight to press downwards and he might jump sideways but he won’t be jumping too high vertically! This is a nice little way to get to know your opponent when you are guarding a low post player who works with his back to the basket. It’s also an effective way to make friends with a guy who’s gained position on you for a rebound!

2010-10-13T19:40:00.006-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE INDUCTED

INTO THE KENTUCKY ATHLETICS

HALL OF FAME - 2011 CLASS.

The selection committee and the board of directors of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame have announced that Artis Gilmore has been selected to be inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame - 2011 class. An induction banquet will be held on June 8, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza, Louisville, Kentucky.

The mission of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame is twofold:

— To recognize those individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports and have achieved a high standard of athletic success representing the honored traditions of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

— To support, in a meaningful way, Kosair Charities, which supports world class medical care for thousands of children throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

In 2005 the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame inducted the 1975 Kentucky Colonels --- as an entire team --- on the 30th anniversary of their American Basketball Association championship. The 1974-75 Kentucky Colonels, led by Artis Gilmore, gave Louisville its only major-league sports championship.

Artis Gilmore began his professional career with the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association for the 1971-72 season, signing a record high-paying contract. He was so immediately dominant that he earned the rare distinction of being selected both the Rookie of the Year award and the league Most Valuable Player award for his first season.

Over his five-year ABA career, Artis led the ABA four times in rebounding average, twice in both field goal percentage and blocks per game, and once in personal fouls. He was named to the All-ABA First team five straight seasons, and the All-Defense team four times. He played in the ABA All-Star Game all five years he was in the league, earning the 1974 game's MVP.

The capstone of his time in the ABA was leading the 1974-75 Kentucky Colonels to the 1975 ABA championship and being named the ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player.

During his days as an ABA dominator, Artis established league records for career field goal percentage (0.557), career blocked shots (750), blocked shots in a season (287 in the 1973-74 season), and rebounds in a game (40).

2010-10-12T18:34:00.004-04:00

HOW I WOULD DEFEND MYSELF.

A PERSONAL SCOUTING REPORT!

A few weeks back one of the readers of this blog, ug2b, asked a very interesting question:

".. It would be great to have Mr. Gilmore do a scouting report on himself, how to defend him when he was at his peak, describe his tendencies, his strengths and weaknesses, etc.”

I’ve been thinking about this and it’s been enjoyable to put my mind back to my playing days and think about how men like Kareem and Bill Walton, to name but just two great players, defended against me. It also got me recalling how I went to battle against them.

There are many basics of defense but many of them can be boiled down to a single statement:

“Know the man you are playing against.”

So --- what do I know about me as a player? Obviously, many things, but I’ll focus on three to explain how I would defend against myself.

1.) I’m left-handed.

You’d be amazed at how many players don’t pay attention to a key fact like that --- until they get burned! As a left-hander I’m obviously going to position myself to maximum advantage given how I’d prefer to move to shoot a hook or to drop step toward the basket or to block out for rebounding. Being a lefty is not a strength in-and-of itself, but it sure becomes a big one if the guy defending doesn’t realize it!

2.) Because of my height but also because of being blessed with physical strength, I have a very high shooting average when in close to the basket.

This at face value is a strength. However, even a smaller, weaker man can do a good job defending against a larger, stronger one. Part of this is positioning. If I were defending against myself one of my main concerns would be to keep me out of position. A good defender always studies where his man WANTS to be on the floor, then works to DENY him that position. This is especially important in fighting a guy who, like me, plays the low post with his back to the bucket. Such a player depends on picking his spot, then moving based on his awareness of exactly where he is on the court. Get a knee against a guy’s butt and move him just a few inches from where he is most comfortable and you’ve made real progress toward defending him successfully.

3.) My footwork also enables me to position for high percentage buckets and rebounds.

When a big man gets in down deep it’s tough to handle him. If I were defending me I’d do what I always tried to do to other large centers --- I would not be shy about using a couple hard fouls. Following that I would not hesitate to use more subtle moves that technically may not be legal but sure work. A hip pinch here and there. A nudge at hip level. A small shove in the small of the back. Why are those moves so important? Because many guys who lived in the low post paint like I did have a tendency to catch the ball in a shooting rhythm. Anything a defender can do to disrupt that rhythm --- either physically or mentally --- pays off over the course of a game.

Thanks for the very interesting question!

2010-09-17T16:11:00.004-04:00

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY VERSUS IOWA, NCAA TOURNAMENT, MARCH 12, 1970

Friends ---

As promised let me begin chipping away at the many great questions you’ve asked. Again --- thank you in advance for being patient as I do this.

I’ll start with a question from Kevin who asks:

“As an Iowa fan you and Pembrook Burrows broke my heart. Do you have any recollections about that game that won't make a middle-aged man cry?”

Well, Kevin --- I was almost the one crying during that game. I’ll tell you why in a minute.

The March 12, 1970 NCAA tournament game between my school, Jacksonville University, and Iowa, was sandwiched in between two other great games. On March 7 our JU Dolphins played its first-ever nationally televised game in Dayton, Ohio against Western Kentucky. We won 109-96 and I was fortunate enough to have a 30-point, 19-rebound game. My team mate Rex Morgan added 24 more points. On March 9 we faced Kentucky in what is one of the single most memorable wins of my career. Kentucky: number one in the nation. Kentucky: a legendary basketball powerhouse. Kentucky: coached by Adolph Rupp. But that’s a story for another day.

In between those games we went up against Iowa in Columbus, Ohio, and our NCAA bid almost ended right then and there.

First: my team mate Vaughn Wedeking was sick as a dog with the flu.

Second: Rex Morgan had an ear infection.

Third: I got a bit too aggressive on defense and fouled out with a full eight minutes left in the game.

A tip-in by Pembrook Burrows off a missed shot by Vaughn gave us a squeaker over Iowa by 104-103 in the last second. Pembrook also made 11 or 12 field goal attempts in that game for a total of 23 points.

Rex Morgan takes every opportunity, even now, to remind me that I almost cost the team the game by fouling out at a crucial moment. He's fond of recalling how I sat on the bench trying to coach Pembrook. According to Rex I said: “Pembrook, listen man, you really have to make this thing happen.” To which Pembrook turned and replied, “I guess so, man, you're sitting on the bench!”

I've posted on this blog entry a couple photos of Pembrook and me from back in the day.

So that, Kevin --- is my Iowa story. I’ll add, just as a matter of trivia --- I almost went to school in Iowa. After my second year at Gardner-Webb junior college I was honored by interest from many schools. I visited Iowa, and I had a chance to spend some time out there it was pretty good program. However, in 1969 JU became my ultimate choice because it was closer to home. My parents were getting older, so it gave me an opportunity to be near them, as well as my younger brothers and sisters.

2010-09-15T09:04:00.004-04:00

TO ALL THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZER FANS WHO WROTE TO ME:

Friends ---- thank you all for your very kind words and for having taken time to write to me after I posted the blog below with observations about Greg Oden. I appreciate your interest in what I have to say and I am also grateful for the many suggestions for future blogs. Be patient with me and check back every now and then because I do intend to respond to the great questions and suggestions you made.

In the meanwhile I have attached an old --- VERY OLD --- photo of me during a game with Jacksonville University. This image has special importance to me --- not only because it proves that once upon a time I could actually jump --- but because my father always kept a copy of this newspaper photo on his refrigerator at his home in Chipley, Florida.

Once again --- you all made me feel great. Thanks for sharing your time and your thoughts with me.

Best regards to all ---

A-Train

2010-09-10T11:56:00.004-04:00

RESPONSE TO A READER'S QUESTION ABOUT GREG ODEN

A reader of this blog recently left a message asking if I would comment on what Greg Oden of the Trailblazers needs to do to become what fans had hoped he would be in the NBA --- a true force at center. The reader also inquired if I would work with Greg if asked by the Trailblazers to do so.

Second issue first. I’m always open to helping any ballplayer. However, I suspect that in the “young eyes” of most basketball organizations, I’m rapidly becoming part of sports history. Low post players of my era are not too far removed from dinosaurs! Still, if the phone rings I’d sure answer it!

As to Greg. It’s very difficult to comment in that a true evaluation of his potential can only be made if and when he is healthy enough to play sustained minutes over the course of a season. I believe he has put in less that a hundred games and, although his performance showed promise (especially in rebounding and shot blocking), it’s tough to draw hard conclusions from what we’ve seen so far.

What can be said is that, injuries aside, he possesses natural athleticism and power. That is both a plus and a potential minus. Many young players grow to rely overly-much on their sheer strength. I believe I was a physically strong players, as were legends such as Wilt Chamberlain. That only gets you so far. A strong young ballplayer like Greg Oden will also need to pay a lot of attention to learning proper footwork and low post moves to truly take advantage of his physical gifts. I’m not saying he needs to be an offensive superstar but he does need to develop the finer skills necessary to always be a threat to the defenses. In short, he needs to focus on out-thinking his opponents in addition to over-powering them.

The other advice that I would give has nothing to do with physical attributes. It has to do with the fact that, having had to endure so many injuries, Greg Oden’s real challenge in the near-term will be mentally readjusting to the professional game at the highest level. To do this he needs to work closely with the coaching staff and his team mates to understand how and where he fits into the scheme of things. He should not feel that he needs to carry the entire burden of the team on his shoulders but, rather, look for the best ways to work within the system to contribute at optimum levels while his body and his mind get back into the flow of the game.

2010-09-07T19:39:00.005-04:00

CHICAGO BULLS GOLF CHARITY

August 31, 2010 -- The annual Chicago Bulls/Verizon Wireless Charity Golf Outing was held on Monday at the White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, IL.
Bulls’ personalities including Scottie Pippen, Joakim Noah, James Johnson, Artis Gilmore, Toni Kukoc, Jay Williams, Will Perdue, Tom Boerwinkle, Dave Corzine, Bob Love, John Paxson, Gar Forman, Tom Thibodeau, Bill Wennington, Neil Funk, Chuck Swirsky, John Mengelt, Benny the Bull, the Luvabulls and many more including former Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee were all on hand for a day of golf.

Guests attending the event had the opportunity to play golf, have lunch and mingle with their favorite Bulls’ celebrities while bidding on a wide selection of sports memorabilia. The silent auction, raffles and contests included Bulls’ autographed jerseys, shoes and basketballs as well as items from other Chicago sports teams.
All proceeds from the Chicago Bulls/Verizon Wireless Charity Golf Outing benefitted CharitaBulls, the Bulls charity and Prevent Child Abuse America. CharitaBulls is dedicated to enhancing the lives of Chicago’s youth by actively supporting educational, recreational and social programs to help make Chicagoland a better place to live. Prevent Child Abuse America engages communities through the important work of strengthening families and valuing children. For more than 30 years, Prevent Child Abuse America has been the leading national organization focused on preventing child maltreatment before it occurs.

2008-06-11T23:12:00.003-04:00

WHO’LL BE LEFT STANDING?

Thoughts about the remaining 2008 NBA Playoffs

UPDATED: June 11, 2008

In my opinion the lag time between games in this series continues to contribute to less-than-peak-performance from both teams. The irony here is that the NBA and the media have gone to great lengths to promote the “historic” Lakers versus Celtics match-up, and yet the schedule, created by the league for the purpose of maximizing the commercial value of the series, has caused the professional athletes involved to be out of sync. The games, quite frankly, have not showcased truly great basketball.

Normally, this loss of rhythm would favor the team playing he best defense. Unlike offense, which can be easily impacted by many factors including excessive downtime between games, defense can be delivered night-in-and-night-out by a team that is committed to the concept of hard-nosed defense. Going into the series it was assumed that Boston would play the toughest defense, but the Lakers have done well on that end of the court too.

Game Four in L.A. may, in fact, be the most important game of the series. Should the Lakers even the series at 2-2 I believe the momentum will swing their way, giving them the energy to take Game Five and return to Boston with a one game cushion. Should L.A. drop Thursday’s game they may have enough pride to win one more game but it’s difficult to see how they would ever win two straight in Boston.

Injuries are now a potential factor against Boston. Rondo is dealing with an ankle bruise. This is potentially critical in that L.A. has already apparently decided that Rondo is the weak link in the Boston offense and are cheating off him to help guard others whose offensive production is more reliable. Perhaps of greater importance, I believe that Paul Pierce’s injury has in fact slowed him in his ability to make quick first steps and also to move strong to the basket. He is now relying on finesse rather than power and speed.

In a series where a consistent level of production from superstar performers is not in strong evidence, I expect to see a continued and perhaps growing importance with regard to role players and substitute players. We may well see the entire series determined not by the big name players, but by those who come off the bench and play above and beyond their normal capabilities.

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2008-06-06T15:10:00.002-04:00

WHO’LL BE LEFT STANDING?

Thoughts about the remaining 2008 NBA Playoffs

UPDATED: June 6, 2008

Game One is done.

Paul Pierce: hurt or hype?

Lakers versus Celtics: history or hype?

Let’s take the second question first.

There is no doubt but that any time the Lakers and Celtics play in a final series history is being made. We’re talking about the two most storied franchises in the history of professional basketball.

And yet --- could it be that the hype made Game One a bit less than what it could have been and should have been? Frankly, I think that the time lag between the Celtic’s last conference finals game and the first game played in the league finals was just too long. It’s obvious that both the NBA and the media want to stretch out the time between games to gain as much promotional value --- and money --- out of the events as possible. For professional sports teams, however, this causes a loss of rhythm that was very obvious in last night’s game. Kobe, who has performed exceptionally all year, had his worst game since having back problems earlier in the season. I believe that this, as well as inconsistent performances from other key players, is the result of having too much downtime. Daily practices can never match the intensity of playoff games and when teams sit too long without doing real combat, even the best squads tend to become out-of-sync.

As for Paul Pierce. Well --- you can’t fault his performance as of late. In years past he has been a scorer but not a leader. He seems now to have matured and is putting the Celtics on his shoulders. It remains to be seen how much weight he can now bear on those shoulders having obviously injured his knee in Thursday’s game. The drama of his exit and entrance is being called legendary by some and showboating by others. As always, proof is in the performance and next game will reveal the extent to which Pierce can continue to contribute.

Because of his injury Pierce now becomes more of an X Factor. Interestingly, there are more X Factors than usual in this year’s match-up. How well Gasol is or isn’t fitting in with the Lakers is an X Factor. Rondo is an X Factor for the Celtics because sometimes he plays like a champ --- sometimes he plays like a kid. If he can consistently hit his jump shots the Lakers will not be able to cheat off of him to double team Garnett, Pierce or Allen. If he is inconsistent with his jumpers, L.A. will gladly let him bang away all night. Bench performance is also a big X-Factor. Guys like Perkins and P.J. Brown can make a huge difference in the eventual outcome of the series if they contribute big for Boston. A player like Radmanovic, for the Lakers, represents the truth of the saying: “live-by-the-three-point-shot, die-by-the-three-point-shot”. Even the coaching staffs constitute X Factors. Doc Rivers, although he is showing exceptional abilities as a coach, has never been this far in the playoffs. Will he be able to master the fine craft of coaching to the betterment of this year’s team? Phil Jackson obviously knows most tricks in the book. Last night, when Paul Pierce returned to the game to thunderous noise from the Boston crowd, Jackson immediately called time out to help take the steam out of the hometown fans. That may sound like a small thing, but at this level of competition, the small things add up to big victories.

What about the next games?

Although Boston has home court advantage, games three, four and five are played in L.A. This makes it EXTREMELY important for Boston to win Game Two.

Will they?

Boston has been great at home, but I give the edge to L.A. in Game Two. Although they didn’t necessarily show it last night, the smooth effective offense of the Lakers will be back in rhythm during the next game and, of great importance, the rust will be off Kobe Bryant. Boston’s defense is outstanding and the Celtics are my sentimental favorite, but I just feel that Laker firepower will be on display during Game Two and will create a significant mountain for Boston to overcome in this series.

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2008-06-01T18:51:00.004-04:00

WHO’LL BE LEFT STANDING?

Thoughts about the remaining 2008 NBA Playoffs

UPDATED: June 1, 2008

Kobe Bryant is on a mission.

Unless something unexpected happens --- which is always possible in professional sports --- I don’t see anything or anyone stopping Kobe from leading the Lakers to the NBA championship in 2008.

The match-up between the Boston Celtics and the L.A. Lakers will certainly make the NBA, the media, and many old school fans very happy. As any student of the game knows, there is no more “classic” rivalry in basketball, with L.A. holding 16 total championships and Boston 14. In head-to-head wars, however, Boston holds the advantage with 8 championships to two.

The 2008 series will be fascinating to watch because of the Laker’s tremendous offensive capabilities versus Boston’s proven defensive talents. The X Factor in the finals, I believe, will be the degree to which Boston’s “Big Three” of Garnett, Pierce and Allen can translate a hunger for victory into a team effort sufficient to contain Kobe just enough to open the door for the Celtics to outpace L.A. One edge that they will have in that challenge will be home court advantage with the first two games being played in Boston where the Celtics have been almost unbeatable all year.

Still, I return to the fact that Kobe is leading an all-out crusade to win it all. He feels that he has a lot to prove. He wants to show the world he can win it all without Shaq. He has had an M.V.P. year and he will only push harder and harder now that the trophy and championship ring are with reach. To date, Kobe has scored at will but has also involved his teammates. Gasol has not always been consistent but he provides a big added weapon for L.A. that cannot be ignored.

Look forward to some hard fought games. The Celtics will play like true warriors but my guess is that Kobe’s mission will result in another NBA championship for the great Laker’s franchise.

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2008-06-01T18:51:00.000-04:00

2008-05-29T10:51:00.006-04:00

WHO’LL BE LEFT STANDING?

Thoughts about the remaining 2008 NBA Playoffs

May 29, 2008

At this moment, the Detroit Pistons are wondering how they can pull out two straight wins to get passed the Boston Celtics. Somewhere, out west, the San Antonio Spurs are wondering why they are going home for the summer having lost 4-to-1 against the L.A. Lakers who now advance to the 2008 NBA finals.

In looking at the three remaining teams, and the potential scenarios involved, several thoughts occur to me.

First, the downward spiral of the Spurs was rooted in fatigue. No player in San Antonio will admit this because they are champions and champs don’t put the blame on such things. Still, I believe that the tough series against the New Orleans Hornets --- and the Game One loss against L.A. --- really took it out of the Spurs. They came back against the Hornets like true winners, but the effort took a toll. San Antonio remains a fundamentally great team with world class personnel, but I’m afraid that they are tired out. Sometimes the hearts of warriors can overcome tired, aging legs. This time not.

As for the Celtics and Pistons, I actually feel that Detroit has a slight edge. Will it be enough to translate into an Eastern Conference victory? It may or may not -- especially with the elbow injury to Hamilton --- but here’s why I feel the way I do. Both teams benefit from depth and veteran talent. The difference is that Detroit is experienced without being old --- and the Pistons feature a squad that has considerably more time playing together as a unit. Although Boston is capable of playing outstanding defense, the Pistons are very physical --- and playoffs are the time for tough players to make themselves felt!

For those reasons, I also believe that Detroit would have an upper hand against the Lakers. In such a match-up Detroit should have enough depth and athleticism to contain Kobe just enough to make a difference. Although L.A. has certainly improved from the trade for Gasol, I’m not sure that the Lakers, as a team, function as efficiently as Detroit because of how long the respective players have all been together with each other.

In any event --- what happens will be entertaining and, I hope, memorable. Many deserving players will be involved in the final series and it will be enjoyable to see who most wants the ultimate victory.

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2008-04-21T16:36:00.007-04:00

CHECK OUT THE A-TRAIN'S PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2008 NBA PLAYOFFS

Artis has begun a blog posted at:

http://news.jacksonville.com/sportsdesknation

Just logon and, once on that site, scroll down to find his insights about the 2008 NBA playoffs!

2008-04-04T17:11:00.011-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE JOINS
JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY
AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT

Artis Gilmore, the legendary basketball player and 1970 graduate of Jacksonville University, is joining the school as the Special Assistant to the President.

In his role as Special Assistant, Gilmore will represent the University at various events serving in community relations, working with alumni and donor development, as well as representing the University and the athletics department.

"We are excited to have Artis join the University staff and lend his skills and talents to benefit his alma mater," said JU President Dr. Kerry Romesburg. "His athletic accomplishments speak for themselves, and his outreach in the community shows his true commitment toward positive change for Jacksonville. He was a key part of a golden era at JU - he has been and always will be a key part of this University."

"Having Artis join the University in this role is a tremendous boost and will help rekindle memories and relationships from days gone by," said JU director of athletics Alan Verlander. "He is always a major presence whenever he is in a room and it is going to be great to work with him to promote the University as well as the athletics department."

A native of Jacksonville, Gilmore will also continue mentoring programs and help connect the University with the city of Jacksonville in community service with all JU students.

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2008-04-04T17:02:00.005-04:00

A-TRAIN APPEARS IN WILL FERRELL'S NEW MOVIE: SEMI-PRO

Artis, together with ABA greats George Gervin and James Silas, can be seen in SEMI-PRO, a recently released Will Ferrell comedy.

See movie clip at:

http://www.semipromovie.com

Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) is the owner, promoter, coach, and star player of the Flint Michigan Tropics of the American Basketball Association (ABA). In 1976 before the ABA collapses, the National Basketball Association (NBA) plans to merge with the best teams of the ABA at the end of the season. Only the top four teams will make the move and the worst teams will fold. The Tropics are the worst team in the league and if they want to make it to the NBA, Jackie Moon must rally his team and start winning. The only problem with that scenario is the fact that Jackie Moon is not really the coach and star basketball player he thinks he is. He was able to buy the Tropics franchise with proceeds that he had earned from his hit song Love Me Sexy. To keep his team from oblivion and leave his mark in the city, Jackie Moon must inspire his team to win fourth place in the playoffs. Jackie trades a washing machine to another team for a former NBA benchwarmer, Monix (Woody Harrelson) to reach his goal. This was Monixs last season before he retires, and he wants to go out in a blaze of glory.

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2006-08-17T16:29:00.005-04:00

MEDINA, OHIO SPORTSWRITER
RECALLS PLAYING PICK-UP BASKETBALL
WITH ARTIS GILMORE

by: Rick Noland Medina Gazette

I am a hoops junkie. I'll watch any kind of basketball game, anytime. I'll play in any game, anytime.

Over the years, I've had hundreds — maybe even thousands — of great experiences playing and watching the best sport in the world. I recently added three I'd like to share.

The first occurred Friday night, when a bunch of us old geezers won the 26-and-over championship at Pinnacle Sports Complex in our first year in the league.

I bring this up not to brag, but because I've played in a lot of leagues over the years and this one ranked right near the top due to its diversity in age, race, style of play and team makeup, not to mention its great officiating and sportsmanlike players.

Of course, that Salem Plumbing managed to come out on top with a nine-man roster that featured players 37, 38, 43, 45, 45 and 49 years of age made it even sweeter.

That none of us had a heart attack while laughing hysterically as we watched a videotape of the game — trust me, "slow-motion" replays were not needed — was icing on the cake.

Just how slow we were, are and will continue to be was driven home the next two days when I went to Ray Mellert Park to watch the fourth annual Hoop-n-Que 4-on-4 tournament.

I'm normally not a big fan of unnecessary showmanship — you don't get extra points for a no-look pass, dunk or between-the-legs dribble, after all — but this event was awesome on a number of fronts.

No. 1, it brought me back to the pickup games of my youth, when long jumpers were rare due to wobbly backboards, wind, bright sunlight and bent rims that were too low to begin with.

No. 2, the talent level was absolutely fabulous, the athleticism was phenomenal and the play was amazingly physical, yet clean.

Hoop-n-Que would have gotten raves based on those aspects alone, but what truly made it special was the vibrant atmosphere that existed at a park some people are afraid to visit.

The music was lively, the food was terrific, the play was spectacular and everyone was smiling. About 350 people were on hand each day, and that number should grow in 2007 now that Hoop-n-Que has finally gotten some long overdue publicity.

Organized by Medina natives Mantrell Price and Ramon Burnham, the event was as well-run as the 26-and-over league at Pinnacle and the men's 3-on-3 league at the Medina Community Recreation Center, which brings me to my third great basketball experience in recent days.

While loosening up for our 3-on-3 game Monday, I couldn't help but notice an extremely large gentleman. He was sitting down at the time, so I put him at about 6-foot-9, 6-10. Only when he stood up did I realize he was well over 7 feet tall.

His gait was undeniably that of a former pro athlete, but I did not recognize 7-2, five-time ABA All-Star, six-time NBA All-Star Artis Gilmore until I was told who he was.

Turns out he was in town because he is very good friends with a player on our team. It also turns out he was coming to Pinnacle the next afternoon to play pickup ball with a bunch of us who congregate there on a regular basis.

Gilmore will be 57 in September, so his legs aren't what they used to be. But he's still 7-2, he weighs about 325 pounds, his hands make the basketball look like a grapefruit and his long arms allow him to come within inches of the rim without jumping.

Needless to say, everyone in our group of chuckers was eager to play with and against a guy who scored 9,362 points in five ABA seasons (22.3 average) and 15,579 more in 12 NBA campaigns (17.1).

Now, I've played with and against NBA players and coaches before and the games have always fallen into one of two categories: Either the pro is so nice he holds back the entire time (Larry Nance, Austin Carr) or so unbelievably competitive (Barry Clemens, George Karl) no one else gets to touch the ball. Either way, the games usually aren't all that much fun once the initial thrill of playing with a pro is gone.

This was different. Gilmore proved to be a proud, competitive athlete who wanted to win and did not look down — figuratively, at least — at the unathletic hacks around him. Yet he was sane enough that he didn't suddenly explode in a burst of 100 percent effort and accidentally kill someone.

The games were competitive, yet friendly and fun. Gilmore, who put the ball over his head, muscled his way to the basket and scored whenever he really felt like it, even called a few fouls and debated a few called against him.

It all added up to yet another great basketball experience — my third in a span of just five days.

Hopefully, there are many more still to come.

Who's got next?

Noland may be reached at rickn@ohio.net

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2006-06-21T11:26:00.006-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT REFEREES

Artis Answers Questions From Readers

QUESTION:

In the recent series between Miami and Dallas it seems like everyone
was complaining about the refs. Although that has always been part of
the game, did you talk much to refs when you were playing and what is
your attitude about what seems to be a growing tendency of many
players to constantly be bellyaching to referees while the game is in
progress?

ARTIS ANSWERS:

Athletes are always going to complain about the officials --- that really is part of the game. When I was playing Rick Barry had the reputation of being the biggest crybaby of all times because he was always complaining during the game. Sometimes, though, I think refs showed him some favoritism just because they knew he’d complain. There’s one part of this subject that I never hear much about. I regret observing that there are still officials continuing in the game for the earlier years when I was there. More power to them for hanging in that long, but quite honestly, I don’t think that some of them are quick enough any more to properly referee complex situations involving today’s fast moving athletes.

A-Train
June 21, 2006

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2006-05-31T19:07:00.004-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT SHAQ

Artis Answers Questions From Readers

QUESTION:

Artis: if you were playing against Shaq, what would you do on defense and how would you come at him on offense?

ARTIS ANSWERS:

The rules of engagement haven't changed very much from the earlier years when I played the league. The best offense players are frequently not matched against each other in games. The key reason is to prevent foul trouble for offense threats, especially with big men during the early stages of the games. Of course, as the game moves forward there are occasions where the big guns go head-to-head. If I were to have had the opportunity to face Shaq I would work to prevent him from catching the ball on the box near the basket. That would mean using phyical strength to force him to catch the ball further away from the basket, and to make him use more energies on all attempts to receive the ball on offense. Many centers simply don’t have the power to do that with Shaq, but hat was exactly the type of physical game I was able to play for many years and I certainly believe that would be my edge against him.

A-Train
May 31, 2006

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2006-05-16T17:15:00.004-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT LeBRON JAMES

Artis Answers Questions From Readers

QUESTION:

As one of only three NBA players to be on the same team with both
Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, you have a first hand knowledge of
what made them great. Watching LeBron James, do you have a prediction about whether or not he has the ability to live up to expectations?

ARTIS ANSWERS:

I haven't had the opportunity to observe LeBron James during any of the CAVS practice sessions with his coaches and teammates, but from afar he certainly shows a great appreciation for the game and seems to be growing up with the same perspectives that I remember from other great players like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Respect for the game and for one’s teammates translates into leadership qualities on the court. If LeBron continues in good health he certainly will be one of the truly great players to watch in the near future.

A-Train

May 16, 2006

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2006-05-16T17:08:00.004-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE 2006
SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Artis Answers Questions From Readers
QUESTION:

As a former SPURS you've probably been following the San Antonio versus Dallas playoff series. What do the SPURS need to do to recover and get passed the MAVS?

ARTIS ANSWERS:

Unfortunately my beloved SPURS may not have the ability to recover
from this very difficult deficit against the newly revitalized Dallas Mavs.

If I had the opportunity to make some suggestions to this SPURS team, it certainly would focus on the fact that on defense the larger Dirk Nowitzki has been guarded with a smaller defender like Bruce Bowen. As good as he is, Bruce just just doesn't have the size to match up with Dirk. The imbalance in defense is also evident by the fact that the SPURS are giving up way too many points. Reliability on defense is key to success in any game, but especially so in the playoffs.

A-Train

May 16, 2006

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM

2006-05-13T13:25:00.004-04:00

ARTIS GILMORE

"A-Train"

This ABA and NBA Legend
Deserves To Be In The Basketball Hall Of Fame.

• Named to Sporting News’ Top 50 of the first 50 Years of the NBA
• Named to Athlon’s Top 50 of the first 50 Years of the NBA
• ABA Championship, Kentucky Colonels, 1975
• Career .599 field-goal percentage - highest in NBA history
• 3rd highest shot blocker in pro basketball history (3,178)
• 4th highest rebounder in pro basketball history (16,330)
• 14th of all time pro basketball scorers (24,941)
• Leading left-handed scorer in professional basketball history
• One of only eight players in college history to average
20 points and 20 rebounds per game over a career
• All Star in 11 of 17 years as a pro
• 5th best all-time for pro minutes played (43,836)
• Played 670 consecutive games
• ABA Most Valuable Player and Rookie, 1971-72
• ABA single-season record for the most blocked shots (422)
• All-time ABA rebounds per game (40)
• Won 4 out of 5 ABA rebounding titles
• Led Jacksonville University to the NCAA championship final game vs UCLA in 1970
• Top of ESPN’s list of “Players Missing From The Hall Of Fame”

For more about Artis Gilmore --- or to e-mail
questions to A-Train --- please visit:
WWW.ARTISGILMORE.COM