General Forum

It's quite simple, gentlemen: I have two daughters. One is older than the other. She's the starting daughter. The other, younger daughter is the backup daughter. (I'm into sports...) Don't worry, the "backup" knows I call her this and she's quite fine with it. In fact, she's looking over my shoulder as I type this.

(Nice haul, Billy.)

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Hi, back-up daughter! (In case she's still looking over your shoulder)

That's too funny. The perils of having a dad who loves sports!

Looks like a few of my extra gifts have arrived: two signed Adrian Dantley Jazz jerseys! My wife says there is more to come, too. Excited!

Moonbeam, I have to ask, how did you choose him as a favorite? Sounds like you have quite a collection of his stuff!

I recieved money as family have no idea what's in my collection, most has been spent on 3 complete base sets of hockey and one series plus a few inserts, I think when they arrive it will knock off about 1400+ cards

Too funny!

Hi Billy,

It was in 1986 that I first started watching basketball, as my parents got caught up in the fever of the Detroit Pistons, excited by the two rookies John Salley and Dennis Rodman. I quickly became obsessed, to the point where I would spend hours outside at our hoop working pretending to be my favorite player, Adrian Dantley. Dantley was absolutely masterful on offense, with a series of pump fakes and exquisite footwork that I would only come to understand much later. Even then, though, I knew the guy could score off of a variety of moves, but especially through drives to the basket and utilizing the backboards. Even more noteworthy was his free throw routine (which I've come to learn was toned down a bit from his earlier years): dribble, dribble, wipe foreheard twice, dribble, flip the ball and catch, then shoot. I'm sure I annoyed all of my friends at school with countless Dantley gushing, and I even dressed as him for Halloween one year.

Watching the Pistons became my first deep connection to sports and the ensuing heartbreak, as the infamous Bird steal in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals and the Dantley/Vinnie Johnson collision at the end of the 3rd quarter of Game 7 which sent Dantley to the hospital left the Pistons so close to the Finals but ultimately a tiny bit short. Then again in 1988, when the Pistons would vanquish the Celtics in 6 (and Michael Jordan before that), and go up 3-2 needing just one more victory to become champions. Detroit would end up losing those final 2 games by a combined 4 points. They seemed poised to make another run the next season. Lo and behold, they did, but not before breaking my heart.

I remember hearing at school from a friend that the Pistons had traded Dantley, and I was incredulous, trying to calm myself by saying "Maybe they'll trade for him back", not understanding that this wouldn't be possible that season. I came home and sobbed in my mom's arms. When Detroit traded him, my 8-year-old heart was crushed. I swore off the Pistons and that is how I became a Blazer fan (as well as a fan of Utah and Seattle, but Portland was my new #1). I attended the first game against Dallas (his new team), and Dantley was given a loud ovation.

Pretty cool story! I always like to learn how somebody becomes a favorite. I never got to see him play live, as I discovered the NBA in 1996, but I have seen some footage after the fact.