Liberal Arts Blog — Tour of The US XIX: The New York Knicks, The Sacramento Kings, The Oklahoma City Thunder
Liberal Arts Blog — Saturday is Sports, Dance, Fitness, and All Things Physical Day
Today’s Topic: Tour of the US XIX: The New York Knicks, The Sacramento Kings, the Oklahoma City Thunder
Last time, the San Antonio Spurs featuring legendary coach Gregg Popovich (“Coach Pop”) and superstars Tim Duncan, “The Big Fundamental,” David Robinson “The Admiral”, and Manu Ginobili (“the greatest sixth man ever.”
The premise of the series is that the more you know about the more topics more people care most about the greater your chance of having a meaningful conversation and a moment of shared joy. And the more beautiful the world becomes.
This is the eighteenth in a series that has so far taken us to: Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Denver, Miami, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Seattle.
Today, a trio of teams from across the country. The greatest player for the Knicks ever is Patrick Ewing (1985–2000), aka “Big Pat” and “Hoya Destroya.” For the Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook (2008–2019), aka “Beastbrook.” For the Sacramento Kings (once the Cincinnati Royals), Oscar Robertson (1960–1970), aka “The Big O.”
Are you from New York? Oklahoma City? Sacramento? Any fan wisdom to share?
Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
PATRICK EWING (1962 — ) THE GREATEST KNICK EVER — 15 seasons, 1985–2000. Born in Jamaica but went to high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Rindge and Latin)!!!! Who knew? Move over, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck!
1. 11X NBA All Star (1986, 1988–1997), NBA Rookie of the Year, 1986), Number 33 retired by Knicks in 2003.
2. Played center and has been ranked the 8th greatest center of all time. The top seven? Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlin, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, and David Robinson.
3. Played for Georgetown for four years, leading them to the NCAA finals in the three of the four years.
NB: Won two Olympic gold medals (1988 and 1992). Height: 7 ft 0 in. Listed weight: 255 lbs.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK (1988 — ) THE GREATEST OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER OF ALL TIME (2008–2019), COOLEST NUMBER OF ALL TIME? “0” — nickname “Beastbrook”
1. All time NBA leader in career triple-doubles (a double digit total in three of five statistical categories — points, rebounds, steals, assists, and blocks).
2. NBA MVP (2017), 9X NBA All Star (2010–2013, 2015–2020), 2X NBA All Star MVP (2015,2016). Olympic Gold Medal in 2012.
3. Also played for the Houston Rockets (2019–2020), Washington Wizards (2020–2021), Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2023), and the Los Angeles Clippers (2023 — present).
NB: Other players to sport a “O” jersey: Robert “the Chief” Parish (Celtics), Jayson Taco Jay” Tatum (Celtics), Damian (“Dame Time”) Lillard.
OSCAR ROBERTSON — THE GREATEST SACRAMENTO “KING” OF ALL TIME EXCEPT IT WAS WHEN THE TEAM HAD A DIFFERENT NAME AND CITY — THE CINCINNATI ROYALS — well close enough
1. 3X NBA All Star Game MVP (1961,1964,1969)
2. “In 1962, he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season (the only player in history besides Russell Westbrook).”
3. “In the 1970–71 NBA season, he was a key player on the team that brought the Bucks their first NBA title.” He left the Royals in 1970 and played for the Milwaukee Bucks from 1970 to 1974.
NB: Robertson has been ranked among the top ten NBA players of all time. See next to the last link below for an ESPN ranking that puts him at #9 — after Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlin, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and Tim Duncan.
Oklahoma City Thunder — Wikipedia
Patrick Ewing — Wikipedia
20 greatest centers ever: The HoopsHype list
The NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, ranked
Liberal Arts Blog — Tour of the US (V) New York (Part One) — The Yankees, The Mets, The Giants, The…
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
My spin — then periodically review, re-rank, and exchange your list with those you love. I call this the “Orion Exchange” because seven is about as many as any human can digest at a time. Game?
For the last four years of posts organized by theme:
PDF with headlines — Google Drive
ATTACHMENTS BELOW:
#1 A graphic guide to justice (9 metaphors on one page).
#2 “39 Songs, Prayers, and Poems: the Keys to the Hearts of Seven Billion People” — Adams House Senior Common Room Presentation, (11/17/20)
YOUR TURN
Please share the coolest thing you learned this week related to sports, dance, fitness. Or the coolest thing you learned about Sports, Dance, of Fitness in your life — whether on the field, on the dance floor or in the gym, whether from a coach, a parent, a friend, or just your own experimentation.
This is your chance to make some one else’s day. Or even change their life. It’s perhaps a chance to put into words something you have never articulated before. And to cement in your own memory something cool you might otherwise forget. Or to think more deeply than otherwise about something dear to your heart.
