Ah, another interesting intersection for us! Being just a few years older-- and from Oregon --my team was of course the 1977 Trailblazers. That team-- from about 1976-1980 or so --was in fact the only professional sports team I ever cared about. And when the news of Bill Walton's death broke this week it triggered a flood of memories and recall of the names of at least a dozen Blazers from that era. We would watch all the game on our 19" black and white TV with the sound turned off so we could listen to Bill Schonley call the game on the radio. I remember Slick Watts, Jack Sikma, and Lonnie Shelton from the Sonics as "bad guys" our team had to beat.
I'm not sure when I last watched an NBA game on TV, but it was probably around 1991. But I'll always have a soft spot for those late-70s Blazers and all the teams they set out to beat-- especially LA, Seattle, Philly, Boston, and Denver.
I love these memories, Derek! In the late 1970s, the PNW was a basketball juggernaut. I once tried to transfer my loyalty to the Blazers after the Sonics became the Thunder, but it just didn't take.
I remember my comment about Jack Sikma's feet as something said quietly to you. I'm right! We all enjoyed those Sonics Days.
I'm sticking to my story!
Me too!
Ah, another interesting intersection for us! Being just a few years older-- and from Oregon --my team was of course the 1977 Trailblazers. That team-- from about 1976-1980 or so --was in fact the only professional sports team I ever cared about. And when the news of Bill Walton's death broke this week it triggered a flood of memories and recall of the names of at least a dozen Blazers from that era. We would watch all the game on our 19" black and white TV with the sound turned off so we could listen to Bill Schonley call the game on the radio. I remember Slick Watts, Jack Sikma, and Lonnie Shelton from the Sonics as "bad guys" our team had to beat.
I'm not sure when I last watched an NBA game on TV, but it was probably around 1991. But I'll always have a soft spot for those late-70s Blazers and all the teams they set out to beat-- especially LA, Seattle, Philly, Boston, and Denver.
I love these memories, Derek! In the late 1970s, the PNW was a basketball juggernaut. I once tried to transfer my loyalty to the Blazers after the Sonics became the Thunder, but it just didn't take.