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RUCKER OLYMPIANS Contd. Charlie Scott Rucker historians say there was an article, that featured him “:Charlie Scott The Best of The Lot” when he was drafted. This New York City product was the first African American scholarship player to go to North Carolina. He was touted as the best to come out of New York for many years. His participation in the 1968 Olympics offered inspiration for many young ballplayers from New York.  The 6’5” guard/forward Charlie Scott is known well in Rucker history for his involvement in one of Rucker Parks “Greatest Games”.  Staring him, “Dr. J”, Pee-Wee Kirkland & Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond.  There are several subplots to this game, but many dispute whether the main catalyst for the games high competition was when Scott and Kirkland got into an exchange that consisted of a see-saw battle scoring exchange that had the crowd reaction similar to Kevin Durant’s performance in the EBC, but eyewitnesses say it was like 2 Durant type players on the court at one t.me. Not to be out shadowed by his averaging 30+ points in the ABA for 2 years and his trips to the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns, that I watched as a kid and the NBA Championship he won with the Boston Celtics in 1976. The fact is that he would return several years to play in The Rucker Pro Tournament after winning his Olympic Gold with the likes of Spencer Haywood and Jo Jo White.
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RUCKER OLYMPIANS Contd. Charlie Scott Rucker historians say there was an article, that featured him “:Charlie Scott The Best of The Lot” when he was drafted. This New York City product was the first African American scholarship player to go to North Carolina. He was touted as the best to come out of New York for many years. His participation in the 1968 Olympics offered inspiration for many young ballplayers from New York.  The 6’5” guard/forward Charlie Scott is known well in Rucker history for his involvement in one of Rucker Parks “Greatest Games”.  Staring him, “Dr. J”, Pee-Wee Kirkland & Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond.  There are several subplots to this game, but many dispute whether the main catalyst for the games high competition was when Scott and Kirkland got into an exchange that consisted of a see-saw battle scoring exchange that had the crowd reaction similar to Kevin Durant’s performance in the EBC, but eyewitnesses say it was like 2 Durant type players on the court at one t.me. Not to be out shadowed by his averaging 30+ points in the ABA for 2 years and his trips to the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns, that I watched as a kid and the NBA Championship he won with the Boston Celtics in 1976. The fact is that he would return several years to play in The Rucker Pro Tournament after winning his Olympic Gold with the likes of Spencer Haywood and Jo Jo White.
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RUCKER OLYMPIANS Contd.

Charlie Scott

Rucker historians say there was an article, that featured him “:Charlie Scott The Best of The Lot” when he was drafted. This New York City product was the first African American scholarship player to go to North Carolina. He was touted as the best to come out of New York for many years. His participation in the 1968 Olympics offered inspiration for many young ballplayers from New York.  The 6’5” guard/forward Charlie Scott is known well in Rucker history for his involvement in one of Rucker Parks “Greatest Games”.  Staring him, “Dr. J”, Pee-Wee Kirkland & Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond.  There are several subplots to this game, but many dispute whether the main catalyst for the games high competition was when Scott and Kirkland got into an exchange that consisted of a see-saw battle scoring exchange that had the crowd reaction similar to Kevin Durant’s performance in the EBC, but eyewitnesses say it was like 2 Durant type players on the court at one t.me.

Not to be out shadowed by his averaging 30+ points in the ABA for 2 years and his trips to the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns, that I watched as a kid and the NBA Championship he won with the Boston Celtics in 1976. The fact is that he would return several years to play in The Rucker Pro Tournament after winning his Olympic Gold with the likes of Spencer Haywood and Jo Jo White.

Senator Bill Bradley  This champion with the NY KnIcks, teammate to Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Hawthorne Wingo in the 1970 and 1973 was a full seasons participant in the Rucker Pro Tournament 1969-1970.  John “Butch” Purcell, coach of Julius “Dr. J” Erving  in the 1972 Rucker Pro Championship remembers Bradley well. Butch sited Bill Bradley as a player who “came to the park at 7am for a 12 o’clock game.” One morning after checking the cracks and slopes on the playing surface The Rhodes Scholar who took two years before deciding to play pro, played one on one  a few games with Holcombe Rucker pupil Ernie Morris who played his college ball at Benedict College in the mid 60’s with Bob McCullough Sr., Co-founder of the Rucker Tournament with Fred Crawford. Ernie Morris said when asked the outcome said, “You don’t go into games with guys like him to win. It was a good genuine workout.” The guy was a freak about practicing, so you just did it for the workout” This Princeton grad and future Hall of Famer (1983) would choose to hone his skills in Rucker Park even after winning the Gold Medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. In his book, “Values of The Game” Bill writes, “When I had failed as a rookie guard in the NBA, my desire to succeed placed a grid of practice over my entire off-season.” In addition, he states, “I had worked all summer not just to hone my skills but to regain my self respect. This Olympian did it in Rucker Park.
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Senator Bill Bradley 

This champion with the NY KnIcks, teammate to Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Hawthorne Wingo in the 1970 and 1973 was a full seasons participant in the Rucker Pro Tournament 1969-1970.  John “Butch” Purcell, coach of Julius “Dr. J” Erving  in the 1972 Rucker Pro Championship remembers Bradley well. Butch sited Bill Bradley as a player who “came to the park at 7am for a 12 o’clock game.”

One morning after checking the cracks and slopes on the playing surface The Rhodes Scholar who took two years before deciding to play pro, played one on one  a few games with Holcombe Rucker pupil Ernie Morris who played his college ball at Benedict College in the mid 60’s with Bob McCullough Sr., Co-founder of the Rucker Tournament with Fred Crawford.

Ernie Morris said when asked the outcome said, “You don’t go into games with guys like him to win. It was a good genuine workout.” The guy was a freak about practicing, so you just did it for the workout”

This Princeton grad and future Hall of Famer (1983) would choose to hone his skills in Rucker Park even after winning the Gold Medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. In his book, “Values of The Game” Bill writes, “When I had failed as a rookie guard in the NBA, my desire to succeed placed a grid of practice over my entire off-season.” In addition, he states, “I had worked all summer not just to hone my skills but to regain my self respect. This Olympian did it in Rucker Park.

ruckerumblr: The Rucker Olympians Never before have the participants in the famed Rucker Pro Tournament been so scrutinized as they will be here in the coming years, with an in depth documentary slated for 2015 and the large corporate interest in the phenomenon. Interest that has not weaned, even after having changed the original function of the tournament Rucker Park now proving to have lasted in it’s prestige and allure. Respected participants either earn or loose credibility with participation within it’s gates. In this Olympic year far from the fan fare of gold medals and the begging question of when the rest of the world will keep us from getting Gold in Men’s or Women’s basketball. Hidden deep in these assessments lie other questions. The one I’d ask would be about Rucker Park & it’s Olympians. Never before has there been a list of Original Rucker Pro Tournament participants who also were honored to play for the USA in the Olympics. Whether they played the season before or after their once sometimes twice in a lifetime Olympic experience, the affiliation of the two is truly honorable. Over the next few days Read and comment about: Senator Bill Bradley Charlie Scott Nancy Lieberman Gail Marquis & Pam McGee Evaluating The Summer OlympicsSo hearing that Rasheed Wallace will be joining the NY Knicks had me thinking if we may see this NY Knicks team playing as a unit in Rucker Park like the1970 NY Knicks Championship Team. (Can’t happen since the Original Rucker Pro Tourney is not around.)Bill Bradley an extremely important part of that team, will be highlighted Monday as an appetizer for Basketball fans. In our series honoring this past Olympics (See “It’s over and already on to the next”)Well not so easy for us. Documenting history is what we do. Look for our post.
Zoom

ruckerumblr:

The Rucker Olympians

Never before have the participants in the famed Rucker Pro Tournament been so scrutinized as they will be here in the coming years, with an in depth documentary slated for 2015 and the large corporate interest in the phenomenon. Interest that has not weaned, even after having changed the original function of the tournament Rucker Park now proving to have lasted in it’s prestige and allure. Respected participants either earn or loose credibility with participation within it’s gates.

In this Olympic year far from the fan fare of gold medals and the begging question of when the rest of the world will keep us from getting Gold in Men’s or Women’s basketball. Hidden deep in these assessments lie other questions. The one I’d ask would be about Rucker Park & it’s Olympians.

Never before has there been a list of Original Rucker Pro Tournament participants who also were honored to play for the USA in the Olympics. Whether they played the season before or after their once sometimes twice in a lifetime Olympic experience, the affiliation of the two is truly honorable. Over the next few days Read and comment about:

Senator Bill Bradley

Charlie Scott

Nancy Lieberman

Gail Marquis

& Pam McGee

Evaluating The Summer Olympics

So hearing that Rasheed Wallace will be joining the NY Knicks had me thinking if we may see this NY Knicks team playing as a unit in Rucker Park like the1970 NY Knicks Championship Team. (Can’t happen since the Original Rucker Pro Tourney is not around.)

Bill Bradley an extremely important part of that team, will be highlighted Monday as an appetizer for Basketball fans. In our series honoring this past Olympics (See “It’s over and already on to the next”)

Well not so easy for us. Documenting history is what we do. Look for our post.

The Rucker Olympians Never before have the participants in the famed Rucker Pro Tournament been so scrutinized as they will be here in the coming years, with an in depth documentary slated for 2015 and the large corporate interest in the phenomenon. Interest that has not weaned, even after having changed the original function of the tournament Rucker Park now proving to have lasted in it’s prestige and allure. Respected participants either earn or loose credibility with participation within it’s gates. In this Olympic year far from the fan fare of gold medals and the begging question of when the rest of the world will keep us from getting Gold in Men’s or Women’s basketball. Hidden deep in these assessments lie other questions. The one I’d ask would be about Rucker Park & it’s Olympians. Never before has there been a list of Original Rucker Pro Tournament participants who also were honored to play for the USA in the Olympics. Whether they played the season before or after their once sometimes twice in a lifetime Olympic experience, the affiliation of the two is truly honorable. Over the next few days Read and comment about: Senator Bill Bradley Charlie Scott Nancy Lieberman Gail Marquis & Pam McGee
Zoom

The Rucker Olympians

Never before have the participants in the famed Rucker Pro Tournament been so scrutinized as they will be here in the coming years, with an in depth documentary slated for 2015 and the large corporate interest in the phenomenon. Interest that has not weaned, even after having changed the original function of the tournament Rucker Park now proving to have lasted in it’s prestige and allure. Respected participants either earn or loose credibility with participation within it’s gates.

In this Olympic year far from the fan fare of gold medals and the begging question of when the rest of the world will keep us from getting Gold in Men’s or Women’s basketball. Hidden deep in these assessments lie other questions. The one I’d ask would be about Rucker Park & it’s Olympians.

Never before has there been a list of Original Rucker Pro Tournament participants who also were honored to play for the USA in the Olympics. Whether they played the season before or after their once sometimes twice in a lifetime Olympic experience, the affiliation of the two is truly honorable. Over the next few days Read and comment about:

Senator Bill Bradley

Charlie Scott

Nancy Lieberman

Gail Marquis

& Pam McGee

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