Lakers take round One

Lakers have taken a step forward in beating the Denver Nuggets in round one of the Western Conference playoffs. The ability to eliminate the Nuggets – 50 game winners this season – was a major indication of their improvement this year. First round exits in 07 and 06 were very disappointing for the Laker faithful. Read More »

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Celebrity READ poster series

The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce that  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has joined the popular Celebrity READ poster series. The Celebrity READ poster campaign is one of the most effective ways to encourage people to get a good education, improve their reading skills, and to read for sheer enjoyment. The ALA has been fortunate Read More »

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Answering My Fan Mail

Regarding Horton Hears a Racist…. I have enjoyed the various responses to my blog on “Horton Hears a Racist”. I didn’t seek to try to pin a ‘racist’ label on the makers but I just don’t think that they thought about the whole effect of the story on young minds. We need to promote the Read More »

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Jazz Review: Nina Simone’s Protest Anthology

Jazz singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone once said, “An artist’s duty is to reflect the times.” Nothing reflects the turmoil of Nina’s times or her commitment to improving those times than her newly released album, Protest Anthology. This collection of eleven previously unreleased live recordings and interviews offers fervent fans and newcomers alike Read More »

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My first Lakers playoff season

(Bill Walton trying to block me out, 1977) My first season in the playoffs with the Lakers was 1977. That was an up-and-down year in all respects. Our regular season was very successful and we felt that we had a great chance to play in the Finals. All those hopes were lost when we had Read More »

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What’s goin’ on across this land?

The following lyrics are from a song about a soldier returning from war who’s trying to catch up on what he’s missed while being overseas. Hey, baby, what you know good? I’m just gettin’ back, but you knew I would. War is hell, when will it end? When will people start gettin’ together again? Are Read More »

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Fit After Forty: Staying in the Game

(Andre, Armstead B. Line and Kareem, 1969.) When I was a kid, you rarely saw men or women over 40 doing anything more physically competitive than racing to beat someone to a cab. Or seeing who could finish mowing their lawn first. Or power walking to the corner convenience store for a pack of cigarettes. Read More »

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Thank You

I’d like to thank all the well-wishers who reached out to wish me a happy birthday. It is different from those days when they went by with impunity. But in any event it’s nice to know you guys care. I’ve yet to figure out what beach to go to but we’ve found the Dragon Inn Read More »

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