NBA Quiz: Name 5 of the 6 who scored in double figures for
the World Champion 1977-78 Washington Bullets, a team that
finished only 44-38 in the regular season but went on to defeat
Seattle, 4-3, for the title. Answer below.
1980
February 22nd was the 20th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,”
the U.S. beating the U.S.S.R. in hockey at the Olympics in Lake
Placid. It was a game that lifted the spirits of all Americans,
what with hostages being held in Iran, the Soviets invading
Afghanistan and the Cold War in full force. Slava Fetisov, then
a rookie defenseman on the Soviet team, recalled from his end,
“We were told (we could) lose to anybody but the U.S.”
The year before, in a Challenge Cup Series with the NHL All-
Stars, the same Soviet team had won 2 of 3, including a 6-0
finale. In a pre-Olympic appearance, the Soviets beat the
Americans, 10-3.
At Lake Placid the U.S. team was seeded 7th, though coach Herb
Brooks still thought they might win a bronze medal. In their
opener, the Americans salvaged a 2-2 tie with 3rd-seeded
Sweden. They then whipped 2nd-seeded Czechoslovakia, 7-3,
Norway, 5-1, Romania, 7-2, and W. Germany 4-2. Next up were
the Soviets.
You can all probably recall where you were when you watched
the game. What I”m forgetting is if I knew the result beforehand
because the game was on a 3-hour tape delay. The Soviets led
2-1 when, with one second remaining in the first period, Mark
Johnson scored to tie it at 2. The Soviets had the world”s best
goalie, Vladislav Tretiak, but he was benched for the remainder
of the game after Johnson scored.
In the 3rd period, with the Soviets now up 3-2, Johnson scored
again to tie it and then suddenly, on a shift change with 10
minutes to go in the game, Mike Eruzione scored on a screened
shot to make it 4-3 U.S. That”s the way it ended. The final 10
minutes were the longest of their lives.
What many now forget is that the U.S. still had to defeat Finland
for the Gold Medal. If they lost they”d finish 4th. They won 4-2.
Eleven of the U.S. team went on to play in the NHL.
Hurricane Carter
I haven”t seen the movie “Hurricane” and after reading some of
the reviews, I won”t. Sounds like fiction to me. But you can be
sure it will receive prominent play during the Oscars broadcast.
Just to quickly refresh your memory, Rubin Carter, middleweight
boxer better known as “Hurricane,” and his buddy John Artis,
were convicted, twice, of a triple murder at the Lafayette Bar and
Grill in Paterson, NJ on the night of June 17, 1966. The victims
were a white bartender and 2 white patrons. Carter and Artis
were black. It was felt that the killings may have been in
retaliation for the slaying of a black bartender also that night.
Carter and Artis voluntarily appeared before a grand jury, about
4 months after the shootings, to proclaim their innocence.
However, largely due to the testimony of one man, the shady
Alfred Bello, Carter and Artis were convicted.
At a recent press conference for the victims surviving family
members, the son of the lead investigator for the case, James
DeSimone said, “Rubin Carter, with the enthusiastic support of
Hollywood, continues to make a mockery of the judicial system
by maintaining that he was wrongly convicted of a crime he did
not commit.” The other relatives of the murder victims also want
to set the record straight. Said one, of the fact that Carter was
convicted a second time before the conviction was overturned,
“No court has ever ruled Rubin Carter innocent of murder.”
You can argue the merits of the case forever and it”s not my
intent to cast my own opinion. However, the case of Carolyn
Kelley should be told.
Kelley, now 61 and from Newark, NJ, was the national director
for Hurricane”s defense fund back in 1975-76. She had been
asked to get involved by none other than Muhammad Ali.
Kelley was a bail bondswoman at the time and Ali also knew that
she was involved in numerous civil rights causes.
For a year, Kelley worked tirelessly to raise funds for Carter, and
in March, 1976 he was released on bail to await a new trial. 6
weeks later, Carter beat Kelley severely.
Kelley now claims the movie distorts nearly every aspect of
Hurricane”s life story. And it says nothing about Kelley.
Kelley and her son, Michael, devout Muslims, had toured the
country attending fundraisers for Hurricane. But they became
suspicious when they would frequently see him under the
influence of alcohol, after which he would become abusive.
In Landover, Maryland for the Ali-Jimmy Young fight, Kelley
called Carter”s hotel room to discuss a financial issue. Carter
cursed her the two times she called. Thinking that he didn”t
recognize her voice, Kelley went over to his room. As told by
Star-Ledger reporter, Paul Mulshine, when Carter opened the
door he started laughing maniacally and then went into the
bathroom to gargle with cologne. Kelley then realized she
shouldn”t be there but, as she tried to leave, Carter blocked the
door and suddenly floored her. Now on the ground, the
Hurricane kicked her in the back.
Kelley”s son Michael was called to the room and when he saw
his mother laying on the floor, the members of Carter”s security
team wouldn”t say what happened. They suggested she had
fallen. Kelley ended up spending a month in the hospital for her
back injuries.
Word of the mugging, however, began to leak out. Chuck Stone,
a Philadelphia columnist and longtime supporter of Hurricane”s,
learned of the beating and he was deeply troubled. He then
broke the story in a front-page article. Stone quoted Kelley.
“Rubin used to tell me time and time again, ”You”ve met Rubin
and you know Carter, but you”ve never met the Hurricane. The
Hurricane”s bad. The Hurricane”s mean.”” Kelley, though,
never pressed charges.
The movie “Hurricane” also glosses over a long list of past
criminal charges. I”ll let Mulshine have the last word.
“Carolyn Kelley has been cured of any illusions about Carter.
She chose to speak out because she is appalled that the national
media are ignoring the facts of the case. She saw him on the
recent telecast of the Golden Globe awards lecturing the gullible
showbiz audience on love.”
[Said Kelley] “I sat there and my heart was beating out of my
chest. I was in pain. How dare you talk about love? You can”t
love anyone, even yourself.”
“(Kelley) has this explanation for how Carter has gotten the
nation to ignore his thuggish past and treat him as a hero. ”He”s
Satan, and Satan can fool a lot of people.”” Just watch the
Oscars.
Worst Presidents
After the last Bar Chat where I listed C-Span”s selection for the
top Presidents, I thought you”d like to know their bottom 3.
#39 – Franklin Pierce #40 – Andrew Johnson #41 – James
Buchanan.
Top 3 songs for the week of 2/23/63: #1 “Hey Paula” (Paul &
Paula) #2 “Ruby Baby” (Dion) #3 “Walk Like A Man” (The
Four Seasons).
Trivia: Last February 5th, in Ajijia, Mexico, Todd Karns died at
the age of 79. Who was he? It”s the final scene of the movie
“It”s A Wonderful Life.” Family, friends and neighbors are
gathered to celebrate George Bailey”s many good deeds. Karns
played Harry Bailey, George”s brother, and while in his Navy
uniform, Karns makes the toast “To my big brother, George.
The richest man in town!”
Quiz Answer: ”77-”78 Bullets – Elvin Hayes (19.7 ppg), Bob
Dandridge (19.3), Mitch Kupchak (15.9), Kevin Grevey (15.5),
Phil Chenier (14.1.he was hurt much of the year), Tom
Henderson (11.4). Wes Unseld averaged only 7 ppg, but he
pulled down 12 rebounds a game.
Next Bar Chat, Friday. All kinds of…stuff!
