2024 has been a year of legends lost throughout the NBA and it is impossible right now, even as a new season is starting, not to be deeply saddened by the death of Mister Ambassador: Dikembe Mutombo
Yao Ming’s 2016 Hall of Fame acceptance speech is pretty damn sobering. Each of the legendary sponsors who sat beaming on stage as Yao spoke, Bill Russell, Bill Walton, and now Dikembe Mutumbo, have passed on.
Over the summer I wondered who held the title of “best non American to never play at the Olympics.” With honorable mention to Stein Line favorite Goran Dragic, the answer is Mutumbo. Unlike Dragic, who was fortunate enough to experience a stellar FIBA career despite Slovenia’s Olympic absences, Mutumbo’s native Congo🇨🇩 didn’t appear in so much as an AfroBasket tournament until Deke was close to retirement. As profoundly international as the man was, I wonder how he felt never experiencing national competition. He certainly more than made up for it to his country, continent and planet.
Mutumbo eventually became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006. Was there ever any thought to his following in Hakeem Olajuwon’s footsteps of playing for Team USA? He could’ve really helped his adopted nation from 2000-2004, a time when his skill set and presence were sorely needed. The lack of three-second violations could’ve taken FIBA fingerwags to a different level.
On our 48 Minutes podcast this week, I began with a tribute to Dikembe Mutombo and I mentioned the shot of him at the end of that 1994 series win over Seattle. It remains one of the most iconic scenes burned into my NBA brain ... and I went to my first NBA game in November 1966 (St. Louis Hawks @ Celtics). The Big Man will be missed and the world is a sadder place without him.
Happy to share! I was 9 years old ... It was early in the year that Boston's streak of 8 straight titles was snapped (Wilt's 76ers won it). Both teams featured Player/Coaches (Bill Russell, Richie Guerin). Lou Hudson was a rookie for STL ... Some of his teammates were future ESPN colleague Paul Silas, Bill Bridges. Joe Caldwell, Lenny Wilkens, and Zelmo Beaty. What I remember most was that it was the second game of a doubleheader at the old Garden. There was some sort of exhibition game involving the Israeli national team in the first game. One of the things I remember was that the old Garden had not replaced it's original scoreboard so it had these analog timers above the court that were very hard to read.
Two rules: (1) Family first; and (2) take care of your body. Fantastic that you got to travel with your son even if it meant missing a bit of breaking news, and just as well that you crashed before finishing your newsletter. Oh, and I do think that the Bulls should retire Rose’s number. His tenure wasn’t that long, but he was special to the fanbase, and it’s likely to be a long time before we see any other candidates on the Bulls deserving of that honor.
I didn't .... but I still have a program from a 1971 Bulls/Celtics game signed by Bob "Butterbean" Love!
*Finger Wags
Yao Ming’s 2016 Hall of Fame acceptance speech is pretty damn sobering. Each of the legendary sponsors who sat beaming on stage as Yao spoke, Bill Russell, Bill Walton, and now Dikembe Mutumbo, have passed on.
Over the summer I wondered who held the title of “best non American to never play at the Olympics.” With honorable mention to Stein Line favorite Goran Dragic, the answer is Mutumbo. Unlike Dragic, who was fortunate enough to experience a stellar FIBA career despite Slovenia’s Olympic absences, Mutumbo’s native Congo🇨🇩 didn’t appear in so much as an AfroBasket tournament until Deke was close to retirement. As profoundly international as the man was, I wonder how he felt never experiencing national competition. He certainly more than made up for it to his country, continent and planet.
Mutumbo eventually became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006. Was there ever any thought to his following in Hakeem Olajuwon’s footsteps of playing for Team USA? He could’ve really helped his adopted nation from 2000-2004, a time when his skill set and presence were sorely needed. The lack of three-second violations could’ve taken FIBA fingerwags to a different level.
Great questions. Will try to find out. Also … who else is on that list with Mutombo and Dragic? Good column topic.
I’ll nominate Pascal Siakam, Al Horford, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Rik Smits and Hedo Turkoglu.
On our 48 Minutes podcast this week, I began with a tribute to Dikembe Mutombo and I mentioned the shot of him at the end of that 1994 series win over Seattle. It remains one of the most iconic scenes burned into my NBA brain ... and I went to my first NBA game in November 1966 (St. Louis Hawks @ Celtics). The Big Man will be missed and the world is a sadder place without him.
You never told me about going to your first game in 1966. We need to hear more about that!
Happy to share! I was 9 years old ... It was early in the year that Boston's streak of 8 straight titles was snapped (Wilt's 76ers won it). Both teams featured Player/Coaches (Bill Russell, Richie Guerin). Lou Hudson was a rookie for STL ... Some of his teammates were future ESPN colleague Paul Silas, Bill Bridges. Joe Caldwell, Lenny Wilkens, and Zelmo Beaty. What I remember most was that it was the second game of a doubleheader at the old Garden. There was some sort of exhibition game involving the Israeli national team in the first game. One of the things I remember was that the old Garden had not replaced it's original scoreboard so it had these analog timers above the court that were very hard to read.
Please tell me you saved a ticket stub or program!
If Rodman is not on the rafters, it is hard to imagine Rose will make it there...
Two rules: (1) Family first; and (2) take care of your body. Fantastic that you got to travel with your son even if it meant missing a bit of breaking news, and just as well that you crashed before finishing your newsletter. Oh, and I do think that the Bulls should retire Rose’s number. His tenure wasn’t that long, but he was special to the fanbase, and it’s likely to be a long time before we see any other candidates on the Bulls deserving of that honor.