https://nypost.com/2022/05/11/nba-hall-of-famer-bob-lanier-dead-at-age-73/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSi6iF9kVBs
Lanier was one of my earliest NBA heroes. It is a Detroit thing.
Lanier was one of the first dudes I grew up watching for the Bucks. Loved when he decked Laimbeer. Incredible career. A dude that held his own with Kareem
Quote from: Uncle Rico on May 11, 2022, 06:42:55 AM
Lanier was one of the first dudes I grew up watching for the Bucks. Loved when he decked Laimbeer. Incredible career. A dude that held his own with Kareem
He decked Laimbeer? Cool. May he rest in peace.
He had the two greatest feets in basketball (Miller lite reference).
Quote from: lawdog77 on May 11, 2022, 07:09:37 AM
He had the two greatest feets in basketball (Miller lite reference).
Great commercial
Wow this one hits hard. I followed Bob Lanier on radio and they whenever I could. He played a beautiful brand of basketball and was amazingly consistent in his excellence.
Many years later I was eating dinner with colleagues at Dan Tana's in West Hollywood and lo and behold Bob showed up seated at the table next to us . That restaurant has very tight seating so we kidded around . Lanier had a very funny high pitched voice that was very unusual for a man his size.
The next evening we were having dinner at The Grille on The Alley in Beverly Hills. Next thing I know Bob is towering over our table giving us crap because we somehow scored a booth( I guess that was a thing) . We asked him what he was doing in LA and he told us he was working with the NBA on youth initiatives . I usually don't ask for autographs but I made an exception and asked Bob to write a note to my very young son, which he did on The Grille stationary . I put that In my dresser drawer and figured I would give that to my son some time in the future. I guess now is a good time to celebrate Bobs memory.
Quote from: Herman Cain on May 11, 2022, 07:37:58 AM
Wow I his one hits hard. I followed Bob Lanier on radio and they whenever I could. He played a beautiful brand of basketball and was amazingly consistent in his excellence.
Many years later I was eating dinner with colleagues at Dan Tana's in West Hollywood and lo and behold Bob showed up seated at the table next to us . That restaurant has very tight seating so we kidded around . Lanier had a very funny high pitched voice that was very unusual for a man his size.
The next evening we were having dinner at The Grille on The Alley in Beverly Hills. Next thing I know Bob is towering over our table giving us crap because we somehow scored a booth( I guess they was a thing) . We asked him what he was doing in LA and he told us he was working with the NBA on youth initiatives . I usually don't ask for autographs but I made an exception and asked Bob to write a note to my very young son, which he did on The Grille stationary . I put that In my dresser drawer and figured I would give that to my son some time in the future. I guess now is a good time to celebrate Bobs memory.
Awesome story Howard.
I was too young to ever see Lanier play. But I knew of him and his time as a Buck. He played in an event at the golf club we belonged to and I hung out at when I was younger in the early 2000s.
I knew the assistant pros and clubhouse guys pretty well from trying to cajole them into letting us slip out onto the course for 4-6 holes during gaps in groups or later in the evening. For some reason, they were short staffed last minute, so the assistant asked my buddy and I if we would work one of the beverage tables out on the course for a few hours. We said sure, but only if we could play our way out there. So we grabbed our bags and headed to the first tee. Lanier and his crew were the first group, so they were waiting out there. #1 had a right dogleg and plenty of room, so even if I overdid my fade, I was almost always fine. I stepped up and swung out of my shoes and laced one. Lanier goes "OH! Boomed that young fella!" and flexed his bicep which was hilarious. He then stopped and chatted with us after hole 6, asked why we were out there if we were playing, etc.. Great dude.
RIP big man
While still with Detroit, My Dad was golfing in Jamaica, ready to tee off, when Lanier and his manager walked toward the first tee. My Dad noted to Bob they just had a twosome and Bob plus one was welcome to join them. Initially, Bob was politely begging off.
My Dad said "fine...I am really a Kareem fan anyway". Lanier laughed loudly, and they golfed 18. The next day, Dad gets a call in the room (staying at the same resort)...Bob invites dad for another 18. Just the two of them. After the 36, Thay never golfed again, but to hear dad tell it (quite often, I should note) the two were friends for life. Poor Bob could never shake off my hang around dad.
When Bob got traded to Milw ....Mom says Dad would attend many a Bucks game, go early and haunt the sidelines during shootaround to hook up with his buddy Bob. I am told Bob was always gracious to Dad.
Dad died in 2010. Today... I am guessing Dad was right there at the pearly gate, and was one of the first there to greet his ole pal Bob Lanier.
Thanks Bob, for your kindness to my dad...Dad will be happy to show you around up there, lol
I ran in to Lanier around 1990 in Freeport, The Bahamas at a casino. I was with a couple other Milwaukee buddies, and we talked to him for a few minutes. He was very friendly and said he really enjoyed his time playing in Milwaukee. He also seemed to enjoy the gambling down there.
Quote from: lawdog77 on May 11, 2022, 07:09:37 AM
He had the two greatest feets in basketball (Miller lite reference).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1K4LnnsTIA
A friend of mine worked for Bob Lanier Enterprises in MKE for a number of years. She always spoke well of her time working for Bob.
https://youtu.be/fI0wEzIPgSk
Hell of a player. Really enjoyed watching him with the Bucks during my college years.
Quote from: real chili 83 on May 11, 2022, 12:46:30 PM
https://youtu.be/fI0wEzIPgSk
Solid execution there by Bob.