Coming Tuesday: Kareem!
Please enjoy an excerpt from our weekend visit with the newest star Substacker — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — with the full interview to be published tomorrow
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made quite a newsy splash in the media realm on Friday when he announced that he was launching his own Substack to expand on his many years of commentary on "the intersection of sports, politics and popular culture."
Soon after the announcement, Abdul-Jabbar published his first piece on the 9/11 anniversary and how the devastating terrorist attacks 20 years ago changed the sports landscape in this country by leading numerous athletes to find their political voice.
Next up was my own personal Kareem surprise: My BlackBerry buzzed with an opportunity to connect with the Hall of Fame center for a Q & A that will run in full on this Substack on Tuesday. (Sign up for Kareem’s Substack here.)
I’ve included a sample taste from the back-and-forth below, but I can assure you in advance that we got into a lot, from Kareem's passion for writing to his views on the Player Empowerment Era, how his famed skyhook evolved and, yes, where he stands on the GOAT debate.
Make sure you're signed up for my Substack to ensure you receive the entire interview as soon as it drops. As always, Tuesday’s edition of my newsletter is free to all and just an e-mail address away.
The excerpt:
To go back to Milwaukee as a spectator and sit next to Oscar Robertson and other Bucks teammates from the 1970s … what was it like to reconnect with that fan base and watch from up close as the Bucks finally won it all again after 50 years?
Kareem: The Milwaukee fans were always very supportive of me, even when I converted to Islam and changed my name. That had to be a hard transition for them, especially 50 years ago. So being back in Milwaukee was like returning to my place of birth, because that’s where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born. Being there with Oscar was especially rewarding because he’s always been like a big brother to me. I often relied on his wisdom and experience to help me navigate my early career.
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A compelling case could easily be made for Kareem as the GOAT. We know about the MVPs and the 6 Rings. His numbers and longevity have never been eclipsed although I expect LeBron James will eventually top all of those lists. All time scoring leader with more than 38k points. Do younger fans know that the NCAA banned the dunk because of his utter dominance at UCLA? It took years for college hoop to allow it back into to the game. If you watch Bill Walton's 44 point game in the 1973 NCAA Title game, many of his buckets were gentle layups because of the 9 year "no dunks" legacy left behind by Kareem. The ban led him to develop the sky hook, the most ruthless offensive weapon in NBA history. Many point to MJ's 6 rings as to why he is the GOAT. Kareem has 6 and played in 10 NBA Finals overall. He has a case.