It's funny. About 2 weeks ago I was driving through Monticello NY, returning home after a college visit with my son in upstate NY, and my thoughts turned to the Stokes Game. The Maurice Stokes game would be played every summer at Kutscher's Hotel in Monticello thorugh the 60's and 70's to raise money for Stokes and, since he died much earlier than I remember, his family, I guess. All the NBA's biggest stars would show up each summer, guys like Wilt and Bellamy and Cousy, etc. Can you imagine what would happen today? Although Magic has a fund raiser each summer (or he used to), I would think the Jordan's and Shaq's of today's NBA would send a check and a video! But then again, they didn't play doubleheaders where 4 teams got to interact and share trains and buses, much less room together and get each other off season jobs! I never saw Stokes play and when I see tapes of the players I grew up loving and imitating, I will admit their game is rather limited. But despite the high scoring and the lack of athleticism that is characteristic of those days, I'll take the NBA of the 60's and 70's over today's in a second. Oh to see Van Arsdale and LaRusso again, not mention Earl the PEarl and Russ!!
The Sad tale of Maurice Stokes.
It's funny. About 2 weeks ago I was driving through Monticello NY, returning home after a college visit with my son in upstate NY, and my thoughts turned to the Stokes Game. The Maurice Stokes game would be played every summer at Kutscher's Hotel in Monticello thorugh the 60's and 70's to raise money for Stokes and, since he died much earlier than I remember, his family, I guess. All the NBA's biggest stars would show up each summer, guys like Wilt and Bellamy and Cousy, etc. Can you imagine what would happen today? Although Magic has a fund raiser each summer (or he used to), I would think the Jordan's and Shaq's of today's NBA would send a check and a video! But then again, they didn't play doubleheaders where 4 teams got to interact and share trains and buses, much less room together and get each other off season jobs! I never saw Stokes play and when I see tapes of the players I grew up loving and imitating, I will admit their game is rather limited. But despite the high scoring and the lack of athleticism that is characteristic of those days, I'll take the NBA of the 60's and 70's over today's in a second. Oh to see Van Arsdale and LaRusso again, not mention Earl the PEarl and Russ!!