Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty ofthe 1980s
Page 57
344“It was a nightmare to the very end” Roland Lazenby, The Show, pp. 263–266.
CHAPTER 18
348“He reported . . . looking creaky” George Vecsey, “Big Fella Goes Back a Few Years,” New York Times, June 15, 1989.
348When he signed his final contract shortly before the 1987–88 season Mark Heisler, The Lives of Riley, p. 130.
349“All the guys who broke in with me are now gone” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Mignon McCarthy, Kareem, p. 6.
349This year it would be the Shirelles’ “Dedicated to the One I Love” Ibid., p. 69.
350“When you think about it” Doug Cress, “Kareem Tries to Say Goodbye,” Miami Herald, November 1, 1988.
350“Everyone is trying to keep up with the Joneses” “Kareem’s Ransom . . . Another Game, Another Gift for Enigmatic Abdul-Jabbar,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 16, 1989.
351“Cap,” Johnson replied, “you just ain’t been aggressive” Mike Downey, “He Has Fared Better Than in Farewell Season,” Los Angeles Times, January 16, 1989.
352“Quit while you’re even” Scott Ostler, “It May Not Be Time to Give Him the Hook,” Los Angeles Times, January 17, 1989.
354Woolridge “earned the reputation as a selfish” Rich O’Brien, “Odd Man for the Job,” Sports Illustrated, July 6, 1998.
356“I’m frustrated from losing” Sam McManis, “Suns Keep Heat on Lakers; Magic Ejected in 111–96 Loss,” Los Angeles Times, December 27, 1988.
356“There’s an ego factor with Pat” Sam McManis, “Pat Riley Doesn’t Always Take the Fashionable Stand with the Lakers,” Los Angeles Times, January 3, 1989.
357“I have failed miserably in trying” Sam McManis, “Suns Burn Lakers, Riley Sees Red,” Los Angeles Times, March 29, 1989.
358On the afternoon of April 22 Mike Barnes, “Abdul-Jabbar plays final regular-season game,” United Press International, April 23, 1989.
359“They’re not the defensive team they were last year” Brian Biggane, “Pistons Poised to Win NBA Title, Rothstein Says,” Palm Beach Post, April 27, 1989.
360“You see some teams jumping up and down” Don Greenberg, “Lakers Sweep Aside Blazers,” Orange County Register, May 4, 1989.
360“We wanted to win one” Michael Hurd, “Lakers Pushed in Gaining Sweep,” USA Today, May 15, 1989.
361“I have never seen a team play any better than the Lakers” Mark Zeigler, “Lakers Spectacular as They Sweep Suns,” San Diego Union-Tribune, May 29, 1989.
361“Orlando’s body was like a missile” Clifton Brown, “Lakers Make a Full Sweep into Final,” New York Times, May 29, 1989.
CHAPTER 19
365“Our players,” he said, “will wish” Mark Zeigler, “Lakers Won’t Be Relaxing,” San Diego Union-Tribune, May 29, 1989.
366During his final season Mark Heisler, The Lives of Riley, p. 131.
366“Riley thinks he’s doing the team a favor” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Mignon McCarthy, Kareem, p. 216.
367“Our goal is to go there and work hard,” Don Greenberg, “Lakers Await NBA Finals at Training Camp,” Orange County Register, May 31, 1989.
367“Pure hell” Mark Zeigler, “Postseason Excellence Is Lakers’ Trademark,” San Diego Union-Tribune, May 31, 1989.
367“The thing that upset us more than anything” Roland Lazenby, The Show, p. 265.
367“[The Pistons] are so committed to the revenge thing” Sam McManis, “Riley Wants a Piston Rematch Rather than ‘Easy Way Out,’” Los Angeles Times, June 2, 1989.
369“It hurt,” Johnson said of Scott’s absence David Aldridge, “Pistons Back Court Leads Game 1 Rout with Scott Sidelines,” Washington Post, June 7, 1989.
370“You’ve just got to get them” Anthony Cotton, “Question by Magic: ‘Why Me?’” Washington Post, June 9, 1989.
372With nineteen seconds left in Game 4 David Aldridge, “Pistons Sweep Crippled Lakers from NBA Throne,” Washington Post, June 13, 1989.
372Two months earlier, he had hit a last-second No byline, “Tulsa Sweeps to CBA Crown,” Chicago Tribune, April 23, 1989.
CHAPTER 20
374In the early morning hours of December 21, 1981 John Schulian, “Dailey Is a Sorry Character in Deed,” Chicago Sun-Times, July 1, 1982.
374During the court proceedings Fred Mitchell, “Bryant on Dailey: For Anyone Else, It’s Jail,” Chicago Tribune, July 4, 1982.
374To celebrate his home debut Will Urbas, “Dailey’s Home Debut Draws Protesters,” New York Post, November 1, 1982.
374“If you really want to know how badly the values” Robert H. Boyle and Roger Jackson, “Bringing Down the Curtain,” Sports Illustrated, August 9, 1982.
375“It’s an honor to play with a team that can win” Scott Howard-Cooper, “Ex-Clipper Dailey Signs 1-Year Deal with Lakers,” Los Angeles Times, September 13, 1989.
375He entered the gym, shook some hands Sam McManis, “Lakers’ Camp Opens on Sour Note,” Los Angeles Times, October 7, 1989.
375“He just didn’t come in mentally or physically” Sam McManis, “Dailey Misses Laker Practice, Says He Overslept,” Los Angeles Times, October 13, 1989.
377“Laker employees grew used to seeing [Riley]” Mark Heisler, The Lives of Riley, p. 136.
379“Riles changed” Ibid., pp. 136–137.
380When West asked his top scouts Richard Hoffer, “Mister Clutch, Master Builder,” Sports Illustrated, April 23, 1990.
381West arranged for Divac’s military Michele Himmelberg, “Top Pick Divac Signs with Lakers,” Orange County Register, August 8, 1989.
381Divac was presented with a home Randy Youngman, “Language Barrier Puts Omalev in the Spotlight,” Orange County Register, August 9, 1989.
382Divac dominated a Denver-Sacramento hybrid team Marc Stein, “Divac Impresses in Debut,” Orange County Register, August 9, 1989.
384“I think Vlade’s a good player” Sam McManis, “Camp Divac,” Los Angeles Times, October 10, 1989.
385“He was really pushing us in practice” Mark Heisler, The Lives of Riley, p. 138.
386CBS hired a producer Pat H. Broeske, “Outtakes: Go, Laker Girls!,” Los Angeles Times, January 7, 1990.
387“I do have faith,” Riley said afterward Sam McManis, “Suns ARE Too Good to Be True,” Los Angeles Times, May 13, 1990.
388“This is a residual award of winning” Michael Hurd, “Riley Named Top Coach,” USA Today, May 15, 1990.
388“He singled me out the other way” Mark Heisler, The Lives of Riley, p. 143.
CHAPTER 21
390“I’ve been with the Lakers for twenty years” Don Greenberg, “Riley Unsure about Return with Lakers,” Orange County Register, May 18, 1990.
391“Man’s greatest fear is his fear of extinction” Jeff Hasen, “Riley Resigns; Dunleavy Named Laker Coach,” United Press International, June 11, 1990.
392On December 1, 1984, Dunleavy, at the time Steve Springer, “Laker Change a Smooth One,” Los Angeles Times, June 12, 1990.
394“I saw a lot at an early age” Mark Zeigler, “Bullish on Basketball,” San Diego Union-Tribune, May 20, 1991.
398Mychal Thompson, the ex–Portland standout Kerry Eggers, “Thompson Passed Up on Workout,” Oregonian, October 13, 1990.
398“There wasn’t anyone from Maryland State” Don Greenberg, “Lakers, Blazers Split Exhibitions,” Orange County Register, October 14, 1990.
399According to police reports, James Worthy Michael Hurd, “Undercover Sex Sting Nets Worthy,” USA Today, November 16, 1990.
399Less than a week after the arrest No byline, “Worthy’s Name Surfaces in Portland Escort Case,” Los Angeles Times, November 21, 1990.
399Stunningly beautiful, with cocoa skin Angela Wilder, Powerful Mate Syndrom
e, pp. 20–21.
400When, on August 15, 1984, James handed Angela Ibid., p. 160.
400She even purchased a license plate Ibid., p. 74.
400“For all intents and purposes my vows” Ibid., pp. 21–22.
400“I no longer love my husband” Ibid., pp. 97–98.
401“After one month I’ve learned one thing” Mark Heisler, “They Call Him Coach,” Los Angeles Times, April 24, 1991.
402“Any time you go 27–4 and do it on the road” Don Greenberg, “Magic Yields Division Race to Blazers,” Orange County Register, January 3, 1991.
403The Rockets won a franchise-record 52 games Mike Barnes, “Dunleavy Recalls Lifting Rockets Past Lakers 10 Years Ago,” United Press International, April 24, 1991.
403“This maneuver is not permissible in basketball” Frank Brady, “Scott’s Shot Ticks Off Rockets,” San Diego Union-Tribune, April 26, 1991.
403“It doesn’t get much stranger than that” George Shirk, “‘Slowtime’ Replaces ‘Showtime’ for Lakers,” San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 1991.
404At one point during the regular season Mark Heisler, “Campbell’s Arrival Is Timely,” Los Angeles Times, May 14, 1991.
404Portland had upended Los Angeles Randy Chase, “Computer Says Blazers Should Dump Lakers,” Oregonian, May 18, 1991.
404“We match up well against Los Angeles” No byline, “Blazers Feel Good Going into Lakers Series,” United Press International, May 15, 1991.
404The difference was Divac Paul Buker, “Frustrated Duckworth Will Need to Regroup,” Oregonian, May 25, 1991.
405“A lot of people say that [Showtime is dead]” Kerry Eggers, “They Were Dancing in the Forum as the Lakers Resurrect ‘Showtime,’” Oregonian, May 27, 1991.
405“The playoffs—that’s what it’s all about” Mark Heisler, “For Game 6, Call Him Big Sprain James,” Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1991.
406“I knew they were going to foul me” Mark Heisler, “Lakers Survive Final Threat,” Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1991.
407“Oh, boy. Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy” No byline, “Magic vs. Michael a Dream Matchup for NBA Title Series,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 2, 1991.
407“Michael and Magic, Magic and Michael” Mark Heisler, “A Rivalry Not to Be Kissed Off,” Los Angeles Times, June 2, 1991.
407“This was the way basketball is supposed to be played” David Aldridge, “Bulls Just Miss as Lakers Take Game 1, 93–91,” Washington Post, June 3, 1991.
407“We won the first game” Roland Lazenby, The Show, p. 269.
408“Tex Winter is a genius” Jeff Baker, “Tex Winter: Architect and Theorist Behind the Chicago Bulls’ Offense,” Oregonian, June 2, 1991.
409“You’re dejected. You’re frustrated” David Hutchinson, “Bulls Put Lakers in ‘Ditch,’” Washington Times, June 10, 1991.
409“When I went to congratulate him after the game” George Shirk, “Jordan, Bulls Win NBA Title,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 13, 1991.
CHAPTER 22
411On August 18, 1991, Magic Johnson visited Milton Kent, “Life Hasn’t Lost Its Magic for Lakers’ Johnson,” Toronto Star, August 23, 1991.
412“I felt like God was saying” Earvin Johnson with William Novak, My Life, p. 269.
412On September 20, 1991, USA Basketball Jeff Hasen, “Jordan, Johnson Head U.S. Olympic team,” United Press International, September 21, 1991.
412The man, William Carter No byline, “Laker Star Asks for Resignation,” New York Times, September 26, 1991.
412During a trip to the Eiffel Tower Mark Heisler, “Uncommon Marketing,” Los Angeles Times, October 18, 1991.
413“We need to get back” No byline, “Magic Helps LA Win McDonald’s Open,” Oregonian, October 20, 1991.
413“I was actually in the best shape of my NBA career” Magic Johnson with Roy Johnson, “I’ll Deal with It,” Sports Illustrated, November 18, 1991.
414Upon arriving at the physician’s office Earvin Johnson with William Novak, My Life, p. 275.
416“One o’clock, I want you at the Forum” Ibid., p. 290.
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INDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. To find the corresponding locations in the text of this digital version, please use the “search” function on your e-reader. Note that not all terms may be searchable.
Abdul-Jabbar, Amir, 207, 358
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem. See also Alcindor, Ferdinand Lewis, Jr.
acquisition by the Lakers, 5
anger and moodiness, 51–53
Bel Air mansion, 206–207, 212, 251
Brentwood house, 252–253
children, 204
coaching by McKinney, x–xi, 32
comparison to Chamberlain, 50, 65–66, 250
declining performance, 277, 292–293, 295, 309, 320–321, 331–332, 348–349
injuries, 95–96, 105, 167
migraine headaches, 232–233
money mismanagement, 304, 347
recollections of Showtime, 422
relationship with fans/public, 252, 303, 320, 346–347, 349–351
relationship with Magic, 66–69, 166, 351
retirement, 320, 331, 347–350, 352, 358–359