Here are some Statistics and trivia on my Sports Heroes, and anecdotes and stories from their lives.
PISTOL PETE MEMORABILIA
In 1980, Pistol Pete Maravich retired from the game of basketball, having played his last games as a Boston Celtic, having been recruited and signed by the legendary Red Auerbach. Over the next few years, Pete wandered and wavered through periods of depression and disillusionment. Unlike Joe Namath or Muhammad Ali, he never had realized his dream of winning a championship. He also considered whether basketball was really meaningful, as he had been nurtured and mentored into what Pete called a "basketball android" by his coach father. In the mid-80's, Pete found a meaningful relationship in Jesus Christ and began to boldly proclaim his faith to others. It was in 1988, while a guest of Focus on the Family and Dr. James Dobson, that he died playing pickup basketball on a court in southern California.
I remember sending his wife Jackie Maravich a sympathy card to the funeral home where Pete's memorial service was being held. It offered my condolences to her and her family, but also detailed my devotion and admiration of Pete over the years of my following his basketball career.
Not too long after his death, I happened upon a former LSU teammate of Pete's, who was then the head basketball coach at Coastal Carolina. He seemed happy that I had made the effort to contact him, and we talked a bit about his association with the Pistol. Then he offered to send me some memorabilia. He said that he had a few odds and ends that he would put together and have his secretary mail out to me. A few days later, I got a VHS tape in the mail, which was a live broadcast of Pete's legendary 68-point game against the Knicks. While a version of this game is now available, this particular one was a "live" broadcast over the New Orleans TV station that carried all of the Jazz basketball games. So it even includes the TV commercials during the station breaks.
I still continue to be a big "Pistol Pete" fan even to this day. I love it when those rare occasions allow me to see an old game film, or see a documentary or movie on Pete's life.
His basketball exploits were legendary, but he was more than just a legend. He lived to become a wonderful person of faith and courage.
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