By Adam Tschorn
They were the team to beat in the 1980s — and didn’t they know it. In just a few months, the 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers would take Showtime to a new level with their fourth championship in eight years, so who’s to blame them for a moment of silliness? Sometimes in hubris lies great camp.
In January ‘87, for a Miller Lite promotional poster, the team headed down to Redondo Beach, where Body Glove co-founder Bob Meistrell and his wife Patty kept their 74-foot yacht, Disappearance. The team, in all its thigh-baring ’80s-era glory, was captured by NBA senior photographer Andy Bernstein. As for the concept? Blame Lon Rosen, director of promotions for the Lakers (and now a William Morris agent) for taking the players on this afternoon cruise. Click here to continue reading this article.
By Adam Tschorn
They were the team to beat in the 1980s — and didn’t they know it. In just a few months, the 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers would take Showtime to a new level with their fourth championship in eight years, so who’s to blame them for a moment of silliness? Sometimes in hubris lies great camp.
In January ‘87, for a Miller Lite promotional poster, the team headed down to Redondo Beach, where Body Glove co-founder Bob Meistrell and his wife Patty kept their 74-foot yacht, Disappearance. The team, in all its thigh-baring ’80s-era glory, was captured by NBA senior photographer Andy Bernstein. As for the concept? Blame Lon Rosen, director of promotions for the Lakers (and now a William Morris agent) for taking the players on this afternoon cruise. Click here to continue reading this article.
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November 10th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Kareem, I just read the NYT story about your health and your ongoing recovery from leukemia. Here’s wishing a true sports icon and a person worthy of all the fame and adulation he has received over the years the very best. Live long and be well.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Hi Kareem,
I just read about you “project” in the NY Times. Have you ever explored Jin Shin Jyutusu? I believe in it and have seen miracles occur with this ancient art. Check it out when you have a chance. Best of Luck
Brian
November 10th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I’m an italian Kareem & Lakers fan since early eighties. I’ve read the bad bad news about your health. I hope and believe that the cares that you’re going to start junction to your great will power can make to regress your disease.
I’ve read that the prognosis is encouraging and i hope to see you soon in your place at the lakers’ bench.
As we say in Italy: “In bocca al lupo! Forza Kareem.”
I wish to send to you the best wishes from a lot of italian lakers fans.
http://www.lakersland.it/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2535&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
November 10th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Hi! I just want to say THANK YOU for being upfront about your diagnosis of CML. Also, THANK YOU for agreeing to be a spokesperson for Novartis. My daughter was diagnosed 2 years ago with CML and has been in remission for 1.5 years thanks to Gleevic. Because this is a rare form of leukemia, it is wonderful that you are helping to educate and inform society about this disease. It was a devastating diagnosis for Adrienne. However, she is a strong, healthy college student with a wonderful future ahead of her. Before Gleevic, that would not be the case. It is an expensive medication (we hope that the future will show a reduction in the cost), but invaluable to all of those that it is helping. Our family’s prayers are with you and your family.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
From a die hard Boston Celtics fan:
Kareem, I’m sure many of my fellow Bostonians will join me in wishing you the very best of luck in your recovery. You are truly one of the greats.
-Kieran
November 10th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
In anybody’s life there are a few people that motavate them to reach beyond what they are told they are. For me. two of those people came from the Lakers – You and Magic. You showed me how to succeed and how to behave. I wish you the best and you will always be in my prayers. Godspeed on your recovery.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Hoping a speedy & full recovery, Big Fella!
November 10th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
My twin sister and I were at St. Judes with you, two grades lower, but lived in the projects too. I hope and pray you’ll be OK. Elvie
November 10th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Be not trouble my friend. For Allah is best Knower.
You are the Greatest Kareem.
From Karriem to Kareem
November 10th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Gods speed in your recovery. If you attack this the way you attacked your basketball career, you’ll be fine.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Hang in there big guy. Im praying for you. Sky hook this disease right in the trash can. And thanks for show time.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Thank you for speaking up for CML. People need to know about this. I was diagnosed on sept. 07 2008. I take gleevic every day. I hope you do well!!!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Hang in there my friend..you are loved by all.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:59 am
You are a man who is deeply admired and respected by your many fans
We love you Kareem
November 11th, 2009 at 3:01 am
as a former account Executive of lakers task force season seat sales team of the show time lakers, my prayers are with, you were one of the first players i met when i joined the organization cap,thanks for all your incouragement, watching you guys stick togather and win championships over and over agian. insiperd me to keep on living and not give up on life,you inspire so many people over your career.I know you will win this game as well.as scripture say this to shall past.Thank you for all the Great moments.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:03 am
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know your faith in God will help you through this trying time in your life. Be blessed.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Cap, all best wishes for a speedy and full recovery. Thank you for using your position as the greatest player ever to put a face to all blood borne diseases. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
From a lifelong UCLA and Laker fan…
Kareem…My all time best wager was that you would be the NBA MVP in your rookie year. Very nearly won and you made me very proud of that wager!!..Should have had the same bet the next 10 years, right??….Wishing you the best and knowing that you, as Coach Wooden and Magic have, will continue to prosper!!
November 11th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Kareem – I am from Portland, Oregon and want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you for good health. You brought us sooo many wonderful memories of the true sport of basketball during your playing years – we look forward to many more with you in your new roles as a NBA coach, consultant and expert. You know, I am 49 years old now, and I will always remember the great games you had against the Blazers – both as a Buck and Laker. I hope there is an opportunity for you to visit the Rose City for our 40th Anniversary this season – you are very special to us.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I am writing from Turkey.
All our prayer with you. We love you Kareem
November 11th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Hello Kareem,
My name is Liz Caulfield. My family and I have been following your story. We have been trying to get into contact with you for the fact that we have an extremely similar story. I have 2 daughters and one son. My son Robert, who is my youngest, was diagnosed when he was 5 years old with leukemia and the philadelphia chromosome. The cancer was found early, however, he only had a 50% chance of living. Robert is now 8 years old and has now been in remission for 2 years after going through many medications, such as Gleevic, many months in the hosptial, and a bone-marrow transplant. He is doing very well with a few minor set backs because of the after affects of radiation that he went through. This was the hardest thing that my family and I had to go through, and as a family and along with our friends, we try our best to earn money for childhood cancer and have this disease become more well known. We do many fundraisers for cancer and have raised a couple thousand dollars over the years to help find a cure. Robert loves to play basketball. Therefore, one of the fundraisers that we have is an annual basketball game at my daughter’s high school. We would love for you to come to this game and share your story with everyone. We think that more people need to know about this disease and help to find a cure. It would be an honor for you to be there and we would love it if you could make it and contact us any way that you could. We know what you are going through and our prayers are with you everyday. Best of wishes.
The Caulfield Family
November 12th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I just saw you with Keith Olberman. There are so many people in this country that look up to the example you have set for excellence, honesty, and strength. I sincerely wish you the best, and continued blessings to you and yours.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Hello Kar33m, I am writing to you as a fan of you from the early days. I met your parents at a bucks ,back in 1970 and had the chance to met you thru your paents. It is the most treasure of sports in my life time. I want to thank you and i am praying for your long life to continue. The meeting of your parents wa just as a treasure as it was to meet you as well. I have always looked up to you literally and most of respectfully, you are a very humble and a person to be a role model. Good Luck to you and your son i witnessed the interview to which you spoke of your son, I hope you get the chance to read this and from the bottom of my heart god’s speed to and continued strength, in all Thank you as eddie doucette and Ron Blomberg would say Kareem with the skyhook With Love Sam
November 12th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Kareem, I am just devastated to know about the bad news, I grew up in Spain watching the games in the late night programmes in the 80’s and I just wanted to have that magic hook. You inspired me a lot not just as a player but as a true sport gentleman.
I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery
Jaime
November 14th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Hi Kareem,
My thoughts and prayers are with you for a long and happy life. Over the years I have gained much joy from following your basketball career and an invaluable social education from reading your books. I eagerly look forward to seeing the film version of “On the Shoulders of Giants.”
Recently, I read Shelton Johnson’s book “Gloryland.” I thought about you all the way through and I wondered if you and Mr. Johnson are acquainted. You are both such excellent teachers.
Peace,
Jim
November 28th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Hi Kareem!
This is Dino Rodriguez from the Philippines. You are and always will be my favorite player of all time. Watching those games in the 80’s inspired me to play basketball and try hard to imitate your skyhook. But ofcourse only you can do it perfectly.
You are loved by millions and millions of fans all over the world and please don’t ever think that you’re alone in this battle. As you’ve done in past battles, the ball will be given to you in the final seconds for you to execute that elegant sky hook.
God bless you and have a speedy recovery. See you soon on the Laker bench. They still need you.
Best regards to you and the family….
November 28th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Hi Kareem,
I was saden, yet alieved of your recent health announcement. I am glad to hear that this illness is managable. I pray and wish you long life. Like so many of your fans, and a former high school basketball team center; you were my favorite player. I too wore #33 on my jersey. I consider you the BEST big man in the middle for the NBA by far. hands down!!! Your sky hook will never be duplicated the way you developed it.”Unstoppable” I was fortunite to see you in person a couple of years ago at a convention center in Anaheim. For about a couple of weeks though, I was kicking myself in the butt because had I known that you would be there to speak; I would have brought my duplicate laker jersey of your era. “ABDUL-JABAR” is what it on the back. I am not a “star” seeker, nor do I try to hunt down celeberties, yet I felt I might have missed my only chance of possibly getting your autograph; a prize possession I would keep all my life. Oh well. Perhaps one day I will have the opportunity to see you again in person,and we’ll see. Best of luck to you in all your endeavors, and keep fighting the “good” fight. God Bless and take care Joe.
December 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Hello Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, I am wishing you a complete and vibrant life along the way to a full recovery.
December 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Dear Kareem,
I am a Bostonian and a diehard Boston Celtics fan. I heard about your illness and I just want to wish you G-d and Allah’s blessings for a full recovery. You are one of the greats the game has ever had and I must wish you life’s best. Thanks for the fits and the greatest games we have ever witnessed.
Richard F.
December 19th, 2009 at 7:30 am
Dear Kareem,
As a confused and troubled teenager of the ’80’s, most, if not all, of my enjoyment came from watching you and the rest of the team. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, when the Lakers won, I won, and when the Lakers lost, I felt as though I had lost. It was a strange “relationship”, but teenagers grasp whatever and whomever they can to make them feel good . . . like they are part of something important. It gave me identity. And while it was obviously not your nor the team’s intention to do so, I thank you for just being you and being in the right place and at the right time for me and probably countless others.
I have lost six members of my family to various forms of cancer. Some fought hard, while others had been fighting their whole lives and were ready to move on. With that in mind, I hope you fight! But if you feel The Creator has other plans for you, I would support your decision, albeit saddening.
Stay in The Center,
Travis from Las Vegas
December 21st, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Dear Kareem,
We met in July 2009 in Mexico. I want to thank you profoundly for the time you took to spend with us during your vacation. My wife and I were celebrating our 5th anniversary and meeting you only made it more special. We returned to Canada and told our friends and family about meeting you, and they were all in awe. Sir, the moments we spent with you will forever be engrained in my brain. But after learning of your ongoing battle with leukemia, which you knew about at the time we met, I appreciate that time even more. You truly embody the qualities of being a gentleman and a scholar. I lost my older brother to leukemia when i was just 3 years old and he was not quite 5. Back then (1977), the disease was not as well understood as it is today. Everyday, I wonder what it would have been like to have an older brother.
You are in our prayers, and I have framed and hanged the card you gave me. I have no doubt that you will overcome this hurdle, and serve as an ambassador in the crusade against not only this, but other manifestations of cancer. May Allah bestow upon you good health and a long and prosperous future!!!
Your friends,
Kal and Ritu
December 27th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I recently heard about your battle with leukemia and my heart goes out to you. I am a teacher and one of my students is also battling acute mylogeneous leukemia. He is only 13 years old and a strong fighter. He was diagnosed last May and just finished his last round of chemo in time to be home for the holidays:) Fortunately, he and his family have a strong support system due to our fabulous community of Lafayette, Colorado. Harain Aldama is intelligent, athletic, and an extremely considerate young man with a great sense of humor–he laughs at my jokes! Although his favorite sport is soccer, he is enthusiastic about all sports–my favorite is basketball:) Anyway, I thought maybe a photo and autograph from you would just make his day if possible. If not, I understand but please keep him in your prayers as you are in mine.
Thank you,
Karen Wallace
January 10th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Hi Kareem,
I just learned about your diagnosis and saw the interview you gave. Good for you for helping others. You have a heart of gold. You know my thoughts are with you and I have no doubt that you will live a long, long life in ever-growing happiness and fulfilment. So sweet that so much love and so many good wishes are coming to you from around the world. I’m sorry I don’t have a way to connect to you directly and hope you get this message.
Judy
January 12th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Hi Kareem
I just want to say i am a big fan of your work inside and out side of the court. You are a great person and i hope you win the war against CML, just like you did win in the NBA.
This 1987 Lakers team is my favorit af all time and i think it is the strongest of all time to.
Best regards to you and the family
Sigurður Einar Einarsson Iceland
January 20th, 2010 at 12:55 am
I really love to read articles which are very informative and the topics are based or concerned with the current issues. Great job! Regards, West – Center Caps