http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13052867p-13898516c.html
NBA beat: Mikan was always big man to ex-aide
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, June 12, 2005
Lee Meade knew George Mikan as well as anyone, from afar as a youth and up close as his right-hand man.
Meade idolized the man growing up in Minnesota, marveling at the skills and tenacity of the NBA's first true superstar when the bespectacled big man captained the league's first dynasty with the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1950s.
Meade would work for Mikan years later in the front office of the American Basketball Association, to be the fledgling league's public relations man (Mikan was the commissioner) after running the Denver Post sports department as editor.
Meade, an Elk Grove resident throughout the 1990s now back in his native Minnesota in blissful chase-the-grandkids retirement, recalled the Mikan Impact that continues now. Right up to these NBA Finals, in which a former ABA member - the San Antonio Spurs - is three wins shy of claiming its third NBA title since 1999.
Mikan died June 1 at age 80 after a long illness. There was a moment of silence to recognize the game's pioneer Thursday before Game 1.
Meade said a part of him died with Mikan. Meade talked glowingly about his former boss, how he influenced the game - from the advent of the 24-second shot clock to twice widening the lane to handicap his scoring to his frustrations with the ABA to his classic quotes.
In Mikan's first six seasons, the only time the Lakers did not win the NBA title was in 1951, when he broke his arm. The Rochester Royals, the forefathers of today's Kings, took the crown.
"Fifty years ago, he could have picked up any phone book in America, dialed a number at random, and if he said, 'This is George Mikan,' they would have known who he was," Meade said. "He was that big.
"George probably should have died five years ago, but his dying was symbolic of his life. He just wouldn't give up."
Meade said Mikan willed the ABA to survive in the league's early years. He implored Meade to come up with something fresh, something different to hook fans to the ABA box scores. So Meade came up with the novel idea of expanding box scores to include offensive rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers and assists.
When the ABA folded (some teams merged with the NBA), the NBA adopted those statistics that are splashed across TV screens for every broadcast.
And there was the red, white and blue ABA ball that Meade and Mikan regretted not copyrighting.
"But his greatest disappointment was when he convinced the league to raise a million dollars to sign (rookie) Lew Alcindor," Meade said. "Instead, Alcindor signed with Milwaukee. But (Mikan) was always trying."
Mikan quotables
Mikan quotes, always worth a good laugh, signified the man after his playing days.
In introducing the ABA ball, he proclaimed to reporters, "People will stand and cheer when they see our balls."
Honoring the Oakland Oaks for the 1969 ABA championship, a team that included former Encina High School great Jim Eakins, Mikan announced to the Oakland crowd, "I can't tell you how glad I am to be here in Oklahoma."
And Meade's favorite, though it never hit the papers. Asked what it would take to pry him from the Denver Post, Meade thought for a moment and said $25,000, double his annual newspaper salary.
Mikan said instantly, "You got it."
Meade then tried to up it a bit, to which Mikan cut him off and barked, " ... you, Meade! You work for me now!"
Comings and goings
Vladimir Radmanovich - in a ploy his agent, David Bauman, hopes shakes the SuperSonics' cages - has put his Seattle home up for sale. Radmanovich will be a free agent July 1 with the ever-desired long-ball ability.
* Earl Watson will attract considerable free-agent interest this summer, if there's an NBA summer. The backup to Jason Williams in Memphis the last three seasons, though often logging more minutes in the fourth period, Watson is a good defender and a capable ballhandler. Twenty teams reportedly were interested in trading for Watson last summer, if that's any gauge of his worth.
Coaching turnover
It was in with the new and out with the old in Orlando after new/old coach Brian Hill returned as the Magic's coach.
The four assistants from last year will not return, including big-man specialist Clifford Ray, which has Dwight Howard concerned. Howard, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, out of high school, flourished under Ray's guidance.
Baseline Jumpers
* Brent Barry on how brutal it was to play against Bruce Bowen before they became teammates this season in San Antonio: "I got poked in the eye with a stick once. I enjoyed that more."
* When notified of the news that former FBI No. 2 Mark Felt was indeed "Deep Throat" of Watergate fame after three decades of silence, Shaquille O'Neal, he of law enforcement ambitions, said, "If you would have given me a week, I'd have made a phone call" to unearth the truth.
* Miami's Dwyane Wade admitted that Bill Russell played a major role in Marquette landing Wade's services, which lends one to wonder, what about USF, the school that put Russell on the map?
* A reporter during the Eastern Conference finals: "Chauncey, have you been a little surprised ..." Player's immediate response: "My name's Tayshaun." Surprise, interview over.
* Brian Wheeler, the lead radio voice for the Portland Trail Blazers for seven seasons and former Kings backup announcer, is in the running for the Lakers' radio gig. That would be a homecoming for "Wheels," who grew up in the Southland.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
NBA beat: Mikan was always big man to ex-aide
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, June 12, 2005
Lee Meade knew George Mikan as well as anyone, from afar as a youth and up close as his right-hand man.
Meade idolized the man growing up in Minnesota, marveling at the skills and tenacity of the NBA's first true superstar when the bespectacled big man captained the league's first dynasty with the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1950s.
Meade would work for Mikan years later in the front office of the American Basketball Association, to be the fledgling league's public relations man (Mikan was the commissioner) after running the Denver Post sports department as editor.
Meade, an Elk Grove resident throughout the 1990s now back in his native Minnesota in blissful chase-the-grandkids retirement, recalled the Mikan Impact that continues now. Right up to these NBA Finals, in which a former ABA member - the San Antonio Spurs - is three wins shy of claiming its third NBA title since 1999.
Mikan died June 1 at age 80 after a long illness. There was a moment of silence to recognize the game's pioneer Thursday before Game 1.
Meade said a part of him died with Mikan. Meade talked glowingly about his former boss, how he influenced the game - from the advent of the 24-second shot clock to twice widening the lane to handicap his scoring to his frustrations with the ABA to his classic quotes.
In Mikan's first six seasons, the only time the Lakers did not win the NBA title was in 1951, when he broke his arm. The Rochester Royals, the forefathers of today's Kings, took the crown.
"Fifty years ago, he could have picked up any phone book in America, dialed a number at random, and if he said, 'This is George Mikan,' they would have known who he was," Meade said. "He was that big.
"George probably should have died five years ago, but his dying was symbolic of his life. He just wouldn't give up."
Meade said Mikan willed the ABA to survive in the league's early years. He implored Meade to come up with something fresh, something different to hook fans to the ABA box scores. So Meade came up with the novel idea of expanding box scores to include offensive rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers and assists.
When the ABA folded (some teams merged with the NBA), the NBA adopted those statistics that are splashed across TV screens for every broadcast.
And there was the red, white and blue ABA ball that Meade and Mikan regretted not copyrighting.
"But his greatest disappointment was when he convinced the league to raise a million dollars to sign (rookie) Lew Alcindor," Meade said. "Instead, Alcindor signed with Milwaukee. But (Mikan) was always trying."
Mikan quotables
Mikan quotes, always worth a good laugh, signified the man after his playing days.
In introducing the ABA ball, he proclaimed to reporters, "People will stand and cheer when they see our balls."
Honoring the Oakland Oaks for the 1969 ABA championship, a team that included former Encina High School great Jim Eakins, Mikan announced to the Oakland crowd, "I can't tell you how glad I am to be here in Oklahoma."
And Meade's favorite, though it never hit the papers. Asked what it would take to pry him from the Denver Post, Meade thought for a moment and said $25,000, double his annual newspaper salary.
Mikan said instantly, "You got it."
Meade then tried to up it a bit, to which Mikan cut him off and barked, " ... you, Meade! You work for me now!"
Comings and goings
Vladimir Radmanovich - in a ploy his agent, David Bauman, hopes shakes the SuperSonics' cages - has put his Seattle home up for sale. Radmanovich will be a free agent July 1 with the ever-desired long-ball ability.
* Earl Watson will attract considerable free-agent interest this summer, if there's an NBA summer. The backup to Jason Williams in Memphis the last three seasons, though often logging more minutes in the fourth period, Watson is a good defender and a capable ballhandler. Twenty teams reportedly were interested in trading for Watson last summer, if that's any gauge of his worth.
Coaching turnover
It was in with the new and out with the old in Orlando after new/old coach Brian Hill returned as the Magic's coach.
The four assistants from last year will not return, including big-man specialist Clifford Ray, which has Dwight Howard concerned. Howard, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, out of high school, flourished under Ray's guidance.
Baseline Jumpers
* Brent Barry on how brutal it was to play against Bruce Bowen before they became teammates this season in San Antonio: "I got poked in the eye with a stick once. I enjoyed that more."
* When notified of the news that former FBI No. 2 Mark Felt was indeed "Deep Throat" of Watergate fame after three decades of silence, Shaquille O'Neal, he of law enforcement ambitions, said, "If you would have given me a week, I'd have made a phone call" to unearth the truth.
* Miami's Dwyane Wade admitted that Bill Russell played a major role in Marquette landing Wade's services, which lends one to wonder, what about USF, the school that put Russell on the map?
* A reporter during the Eastern Conference finals: "Chauncey, have you been a little surprised ..." Player's immediate response: "My name's Tayshaun." Surprise, interview over.
* Brian Wheeler, the lead radio voice for the Portland Trail Blazers for seven seasons and former Kings backup announcer, is in the running for the Lakers' radio gig. That would be a homecoming for "Wheels," who grew up in the Southland.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
