Kareem Abdul-Jabbar auctioning off championship rings, more to benefit charity
This isn’t a former player in need of money.
This is a former player looking to use his money for good.
Hall of Famer and player often overlooked in the GOAT conversation, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is auctioning off some of his legendary memorabilia — four championship rings from his time with the Lakers, game-used All-Star jerseys, and more. Abdul-Jabbar has partnered with Goldin Auctions, but said this is not about him, it’s about helping his foundation. From the blog on his website:
My sports memorabilia also have a history. My history. My life. And, oddly, since my life is still happening and ever-evolving, I am less personally attached to those items than I am to my desire to create new history for myself—and futures for others. Much of the proceeds from my auction will go to support my charity, the Skyhook Foundation, whose mission is to “give kids a shot that can’t be blocked.” We do this by sending children from economically challenged schools to five days in the Angeles National Forest to experience the wonders of nature and learn the basics about science, technology, and engineering….
So, when it comes to choosing between storing a championship ring or trophy in a room, or providing kids with an opportunity to change their lives, the choice is pretty simple. Sell it all. Looking back on what I have done with my life, instead of gazing at the sparkle of jewels or gold plating celebrating something I did a long time ago, I’d rather look into the delighted face of a child holding their first caterpillar and think about what I might be doing for their future. That’s a history that has no price.
Abdul-Jabbar emphasized that he is on solid financial footing and not doing his because he personally needs the money.
There is memorabilia stretching back to then Lew Alcindor’s high school days in New York (where he was a phenom) through an autographed ball that he scored his final NBA points with (the still-standing an NBA-record of 38,387).
Kareem seems like a great guy. I think a lot of people don't like him because he doesn't play the networking game. He also isn't afraid to voice unpopular opinions. Good for him, its a great thing to sell useless trinkets to help others.
Joined: 07 May 2014 Posts: 13823 Location: Boulder ;)
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:55 pm Post subject:
His finesse not only allowed him to do things almost magical it also lengthened his career
I remember Wooden talking about some of the vitriolic racism he had to go through in his earliest years
What lucky men those two were.. to be coaching each other
After a policeman shot and killed a 13 year old and riots broke out..
He was coming up the stairs from the subway and realized what was
happening.. said he was so scared that his size would make him a target
for a bullet that he sprinted all the way home in fear and it led to rage..
Quote:
“Right then and there, I knew who I was,
who I had to be.
I was going to be
black rage personified,
Black Power in the flesh.”
Immediately, Alcindor proved an unstoppable force on both ends of the court. He cut an imposing presence: “long, long legs raddled with whipcord muscle; a looming torso,” and, a Newsweek reporter wrote, “a lordly head with soft brown eyes that peer calmly well above other men’s line of sight.” Towering over Lilliputians, he controlled the space near the basket, swatting basketballs into the stands. Smooth and agile, he possessed a unique array of skills, balance and quickness. Alcindor tossed hook shots into the hoop the way ordinary men flipped a wad of paper into a wastebasket. No single player could guard him alone. Opponents tried double-teaming and triple-teaming him, but Alcindor, a deft passer, hit open teammates for easy buckets. So defenses pushed, pulled, tugged, elbowed and kneed him, sending Alcindor to the brink of explosion.
Yet he exhibited poise and grace under pressure, leading the Bruins to an undefeated season (30 straight wins) and the school’s third national championship in four years. Throughout the season, coaches complained that Alcindor was too good. As long as he reigned at UCLA, the college basketball season would end with predictable results. No other school could imagine winning the national title. Some coaches even suggested raising the basket to neutralize him. The Saturday Evening Post asked the one question weighing on the minds of coaches everywhere: “Can Basketball Survive Lew Alcindor?”
Why is Jordan considered the greatest player ever and not Kareem?
If I had to give one name as the greatest, it would be Jordan, but I have Kareem and Magic in the same tier, pretty close to him. I believe Magic would be #1 for a lot of people if wasn't the HIV. _________________ ....
In 83, his house was gutted by a fire. You gotta wonder how much memorabilia of that nature was lost then. He still has quite a bit. Hope he got the best deal he could with that house, otherwise Heritage might've gotten more bidders into it. They've sold some great NBA history sh, was browsing their site the other day after I read about this gesture by Kareem. Respect. Not the first former Laker to sell rings, but he is the most famous. Most of the cases were players who needed the money, guys like Tony Campbell or Billy Thompson. Coop sold his 80 ring for 11K or so about a decade ago. _________________ GOAT MAGIC REEL SEDALE TRIBUTE EDDIE DONX!
Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 11197 Location: The Other Perspective
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:36 pm Post subject:
Is there any doubt Cap is the greatest center of them all? _________________ "Chick lived and breathed Lakers basketball…but he was also fair and objective and called every game the way it was played."
-from Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Knew Him
Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 8377 Location: Santa Monica
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:56 am Post subject:
CandyCanes wrote:
Why is Jordan considered the greatest player ever and not Kareem?
It seems like a lot of that has to do with his perceived personality. Kareem had a reputation (from what I read) of lacking social skills and blowing off journalists.
Doesn't really matter to me. He seems like a good guy. I never saw him play, but I've watched lots of ESPN classic and I know what he accomplished.
If Jordan isn't the GOAT it's definitely Kareem. _________________ Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers
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