Comments on: Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

chaz — Wed, 12 May 2004 14:22:09 -0800

He is a Muslim, a coach of Native Americans, a noted Jazz expert, a Kung-Fu star, a prescription pot smoker, and a best-selling author whose new book is the story of the 761st Tank Battalion, known as the Black Panthers, the first all-black armored unit to see combat in World War II. Who is he? The man that some say is the greatest Basketball player of all time, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar.

By: geoff.

geoff. — Wed, 12 May 2004 14:33:40 -0800

I never knew. I never knew. So like when you're perfection it's going to bite you in the ass right? Some of us would try our whole life to become just one of those things. If I were Kareem, I'd be in an underground bunker because karma or something is going to catch up with him.

By: botono9

botono9 — Wed, 12 May 2004 14:50:49 -0800

Karma is supposed to reward the good, not exact retribution on the fortunate. If anything he's being rewarded for an exemplary past life. That is, of course, if you buy into that shit.

By: John Shaft

John Shaft — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:01:34 -0800

"My dad says you don't work hard enough on defense, and he says that lots of times you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try, except during the playoffs."

By: keswick

keswick — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:06:52 -0800

Well, I'll be damned.

By: xmutex

xmutex — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:09:02 -0800

Thank you for that John Shaft.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:10:00 -0800

I remember his migrane headaches during the early 80s Laker games, and how debilitating they sounded. I didn't know the state of CA let you smoke pot to get rid of them though.

By: filchyboy

filchyboy — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:16:40 -0800

He's one of my heroes. His new book is really good. Leonard "Smitty" Smith was his dad's best friend while Kareen was growing up. It wasn't until he was an adult that the stories of the 761 were revealed to him. Thanks for the great FPP!

By: hadashi

hadashi — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:18:32 -0800

Wow. Just... wow. Fantastic post.

By: jann

jann — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:22:03 -0800

As a person who was seven year-old white girl living in Los Feliz, when the Lakers won the championship in '88, I can honestly say that the only two pop-culture figures I have ever totally loved without reservation are LeVar Burton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

By: jonp72

jonp72 — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:23:14 -0800

I'm a record collector and I've heard about people who've had first-hand knowledge of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's jazz collection and I'm told it's quite impressive.

By: mcsweetie

mcsweetie — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:52:12 -0800

religion of peace, huh?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Wed, 12 May 2004 15:54:08 -0800

"My dad says you don't work hard enough on defense, and he says that lots of times you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try, except during the playoffs." "The hell I dont! I've been hearing that crap ever since i was at UCLA. Kid, you tell your old man to run down the court with Malone and Erving on your ass." My Dad used to go to dances at Power Memorial high school in the early 60's and would hang out watching the basketball practices that went on beforehand and told me he remebered the gigantic black kid with the hookshot named Lew Alcindor. To add to what Jann said, as a kid in the 1970's Kareem was right beside Reggie Jackson, and Muhammad Ali in my pantheon of athletic dieties. This post here just makes me appreciate him all the more. Thanks, chaz.

By: Windopaene

Windopaene — Wed, 12 May 2004 16:03:31 -0800

Karma is a blind wheel... It doesn't "reward the good", it just is. Kareem kicks ass

By: chaz

chaz — Wed, 12 May 2004 16:06:03 -0800

While MJ is the greatest pro basketball player of all time, I would say that Kareem is the greatest player at all levels of all time. He is the most dominating college player ever, and in the top 4 all time in the pros, making him the complete package in my mind.

By: abcde

abcde — Wed, 12 May 2004 16:10:06 -0800

Windopaene: Aha, so by your understanding, there's no such thing as positive Karma, to contribute to a more fortunate next life and eventual Nirvana? *cough* Not that I believe it, but still, I've never heard it much different.

By: davebarnes

davebarnes — Wed, 12 May 2004 18:50:16 -0800

Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics is the greatest basketball player.

By: Dreamghost

Dreamghost — Wed, 12 May 2004 19:46:30 -0800

Wrong! We all know in our hearts & in our minds that Mr. Bill Laimbeer is the greatest basketball ever...

By: Dreamghost

Dreamghost — Wed, 12 May 2004 19:48:15 -0800

Mr. Bill Laimbeer is the greatest basketball ever... well i also heard he was a damn good basketball player too¿ worst typo ever

By: laz-e-boy

laz-e-boy — Thu, 13 May 2004 00:36:28 -0800

He used to attend my mosque when I was growing up in LA. It was really funny to see him stick out 2 feet above everyone else when we lined up for prayer.

By: doozer_ex_machina

doozer_ex_machina — Thu, 13 May 2004 02:51:34 -0800

Thanks, Dreamghost, I hadn't noticed, but you nearly made me spill my coffee. Plus, great post.

By: callmejay

callmejay — Thu, 13 May 2004 08:06:52 -0800

According to an interview I saw with him and Bob Costas (IIRC) he's been trying to get a coaching job in the NBA but had apparently pissed off too many people in the league to get one. Seems like mostly a great guy though.