|
|
Post by Walt Singer on Mar 4, 2018 23:19:24 GMT
|
|
2NFR
Global Moderator 
Posts: 6,297
Favourite Team: Newcastle Eagles
|
Post by 2NFR on Mar 4, 2018 23:27:12 GMT
Good to see a Legend is doing well ... I wish him well in his new project  |
|
|
|
Post by baldeagle on Mar 4, 2018 23:57:49 GMT
Truly one of the greatest ever to play in the UK. I'm old enough to remember him arriving and he is still the fastest thing I've ever seen on a basketball court and undoubtedly the best passer of the ball ever to play here. And a really bright smart and likeable guy too.
|
|
|
|
Post by connors on Mar 5, 2018 7:32:14 GMT
When I started playing basketball he was basketball in this country.
Easily one of the best players to ever play in this country
|
|
|
|
Post by massiveridersfan on Mar 5, 2018 7:38:35 GMT
He made everything look effortless - a terrific passer and reader of the game.
|
|
|
|
Post by interestedridersfan on Mar 5, 2018 7:48:48 GMT
10th round draft pick for Boston Celtics
But got an injury that season (never played for Celtics) and ended up playing for Crystal Palace
Must have been some money in BBL back then ??
|
|
|
|
Post by youngnixfan on Mar 5, 2018 10:26:50 GMT
What a player Alton was, pleasure to see him play back in the day. Great to see hes still involved
|
|
|
|
Post by sharkball on Mar 5, 2018 20:31:28 GMT
10th round draft pick for Boston Celtics But got an injury that season (never played for Celtics) and ended up playing for Crystal Palace Must have been some money in BBL back then ?? Not really. The boom period came in mid 90s and was never going to last BUT make no mistake players like Byrd, Cunningham, Bontrager, Davis were just a lot better than the players we have now. |
|
|
|
Post by baldeagle on Mar 5, 2018 23:04:38 GMT
Some were better. But not all. In the 90s there were still plenty of donkeys.
But since then NBA pay has grown massively, as has pay in lots of Euro countries.
I doubt Alton was paid that much for basketball when he came to the U.K. in 79. But Palace's owner also found him a job in his business so it probably suited them both. He never looked hurried but was like lightning in his younger years - and then just top class after that.
|
|
|
|
Post by pablocheeks12 on Mar 7, 2018 22:21:53 GMT
10th round draft pick for Boston Celtics But got an injury that season (never played for Celtics) and ended up playing for Crystal Palace Must have been some money in BBL back then ?? He went 10th round, but that was 186th overall. The draft was massive back then, and hardly anyone beyond the second or third round made the NBA. He has plenty of records still at Columbia. He was always considered too small. I believe he came to London for work, and didn't fully realise that professional basketball in the UK was that lucrative. Loved his enthusiasm off the court. Hosted NBA Jam Session and a Radio 5 American sports show. To this day he is the only professional basketball player in this country that I have seen beeing hounded for an autograph by tens of people, not even in a basketball situation. At midday in the Ponds Forge swimming complex. Legend. thebouncingballblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/17/flashback-alton-byrd/ |
|
|
|
Post by baldeagle on Mar 7, 2018 23:57:21 GMT
I'm a die-hard Eagles fan and loved Rahmon Fletcher. They are/ were different players, but Rahmon couldn't match Byrd in his real prime in the late 70s to the mid-80s. Mind you, I'd be very happy to have either of them in my team!
|
|
|
|
Post by connors on Mar 9, 2018 20:45:20 GMT
Tell you what Sharkball if you stuck Butch Hays or Brian Kellybrew in with those boys I’d fancy their chances against any 5 who’ve played in BBL since!
|
|
and3
Rookie
To beat #1, you gotta give more than your best !
Posts: 63 
|
Post by and3 on Mar 14, 2018 12:21:49 GMT
alton became truly great when he developed a smooth three point jumper at the top of the key.
Look back at Kingston v Aris Salonika from 1991, amazing performance.
|
|
and3
Rookie
To beat #1, you gotta give more than your best !
Posts: 63
|
Post by and3 on Mar 14, 2018 12:22:52 GMT
|
|
2NFR
Global Moderator
Posts: 6,297
Favourite Team: Newcastle Eagles
|
Post by 2NFR on Mar 14, 2018 14:37:39 GMT
and3 ... thanks for that ... I needed a Boost about now  |
|
and3
Rookie
To beat #1, you gotta give more than your best !
Posts: 63
|
Post by and3 on Mar 15, 2018 17:16:34 GMT
the greatest finish in a basketball game in uk in my humble opinion.
the 17 year old came off the bench at end of the game touched the ball once and scored
the feeling of elation on the night of a blizzard still remains with me 27 years later !
|
|
and3
Rookie
To beat #1, you gotta give more than your best !
Posts: 63
|
Post by and3 on Mar 15, 2018 17:20:36 GMT
dave - was it matt Cunningham? or matt xxxx?
|
|
and3
Rookie
To beat #1, you gotta give more than your best !
Posts: 63
|
Post by and3 on Jun 18, 2020 22:59:14 GMT
maccabi.co.il/GameZone.asp?GameID=762&cYear=1991&lang=enThe other great game involving Kinston that season was the match in Wembley Arena sold out to the Uk and Maccabi community while us season ticket holders were shoved up in the corner. Anyway, as you can see from the link it was another amazing game. Following on from the Aris o/t win. This match occurred when the scud missiles were dropping on Israel so the home game was handed over to the away team to organise and the whole commentary and programme was in hebrew . Plenty of fur coats in the audience that night too. It was another close game, Byrd conbasketball kited the tempo brilliantly and added his 3 point scores to the mix (unheard of in previous seasons because he was an assist master). If you can get a copy of the game do post it. Cafle and the whole teM were just xxxxing fantastic.
|
|
and3
Rookie
To beat #1, you gotta give more than your best !
Posts: 63
|
Post by and3 on Jun 18, 2020 22:59:35 GMT
Stay safe
|
|
|
|
Post by Solly on Jun 19, 2020 10:21:56 GMT
and3 - thanks for these posts.
Huge events for British Basketball in the 90s.
As well as the Aris match, I also made quite a few not-inconsiderable midweek trips from the Midlands just to be part of these Kingston/London Towers events at Wembley, and more often Crystal Palace.
The drive through south London traffic was often horrendous leading me sometimes to the alternative of a train to Euston, tube to Brixton and bus to the Palace.
Once or twice I did tube to London Bridge and then overground rail to Crystal Palace, but the problem then was that CP railway station used to be in total darkness, such that you needed to count the stops to avoid alighting at the wrong station. And once you exited the station you often had to walk in darkness across the park. Do hope that the surrounds are better-lit nowadays.
|
|
