Sports Poets Society

Posted by bobkuska January 2, 2023 Posted in Uncategorized Tags: ABA , ABL , Bill Bridges , Bill Sharman , Connie Hawkins , Dick Barnett , Ed Fleming , George Mikan , George Steinbrenner , Minnesota Pipers , Pittsburgh Pipers , Vince Cazzetta , Wayne Hightower , Wilt Chamberlain [Happy New Year! This article comes from Jim O’Brien, a journalist who would cover the ABA like no other in the 1970s for the New York Post and The Sporting News .  But here, O’Brien is still in back his hometown (where he is today, actually) writing for Pittsburgh Weekly Sports . His subject is none other than Connie Hawkins. O’Brien’s article, which appeared in the magazine Fast Break 1969 All-Pro Basketball Annual (or pre-David Wolf’s classic book Foul ) doesn’t cover much new territory. But it does include some really nice quotes, which put Hawkins’ unique talent in perspective before his bolt to the NBA. That’s why I’m kicking off 2023 with a tribute to The Hawk. May all readers of this blog use their un

https://from-way-downtown.com/2023/10/12/connie-hawkins-the-hawk-ages-gracefully-1991/ Posted by  bobkuska  -  October 12, 2023 [This is a nice article about Connie Hawkins as a 48-year-old NBA retiree living in his beloved adopted city of Pittsburgh . What’s doubly nice is the story’s told by Jim O’Brien, best remembered today for his 1970s ABA column in The Sporting News . As O’Brien gladly would have told you, he was a proud native Pittsburgher through and through and had known and admired Hawkins for decades from seeing him around town. The two were almost the same age, and, when he writes of Hawkins, O’Brien is writing about a friend—and vice versa. In fact, The Hawk once passed along the following note of mutual admiration: “To Jimmy O’Brien & Family. From one super player to one super writer equals two great persons. Peace & Love, Connie Hawkins #42.” In his retirement, The Hawk had taken up tennis. “I would classify myself as a moderate weekend hacker who can possibly