When They Reminisce Over You

Super scientifical madness, my status is the baddest when I choose to bless the apparatus...

Yesterday's tragic passing of former NBA great Dennis Johnson had myself and other NBA heads reminiscing about the NBA heyday. Like most fans, I hated the Celtics in the day, but also held a great deal of respect for their workman-like approach and team play.

Your Denver Nuggets and the Celtics were involved in some classic battles during the Boston run. Old McNichols arena would be filled to the brim, with almost a humid mist and smoke billowing in from the concourse. Larry Bird would be sufficiently harrassed and put through the ringer by Calvin Natt, while Johnson would match up with Fat Lever, one of the most underrated PGs of alltime. Michael Adams was always tough for a slower team like the Celtics to keep up with, and Alex English would use his smooth play to get open shots in between McHale and Parrish. Inevitably, Doug Moe would end up on courtside without his jacket and tie he started the game with, the crowd would "pop" the Miller bottle light display with their cheers, and the Nuggets would go home as victors more than a few times.

I'm not one of those who pines away for the "old" NBA by railing on the current product, however, a player like Johnson is a great model for many of these young cats coming up. Heady, worked hard, and bought into a system helped lead him to a higher plane than 90% of these hoopers will ever see.

Old School trivia: Name the movie that Alex English had a major starring role in.