Author Topic: "Greatest teammate I ever had" (Read 9785 times)

Windyplayer · « **on:** January 31, 2013, 12:15:58 AM »

During the Oregon-Stanford game tonight, a strong finish by Josh Huestis, junior power forward for Stanford, prompted this dialogue between Brent Musberger and Bill Walton (the game was televised on ESPNU)...

Walton: I love that pass over the top when you just cut down the lane and draw all the defenders and just throw it up on the glass and your power forward a la Maurice Lucas of Marquette University comes in and just throws it down.

Musberger: For you folks that don't remember Maurice Lucas, he was Bill Walton's body guard. Let me tell you, he was one of the toughest power forwards I ever watched in the NBA.

Walton: Greatest teammate I ever had.

Maurice Lucas was before my time, but to hear Bill Walton say with utmost confidence that he was the best teammate he ever had is something that I'll always remember. Furthermore, both Walton and Musberger were praising Lucas' toughness during the 1976-77 NBA season in which the Portland Trailblazers--led by Walton and Lucas--shocked the basketball world by winning it all (Not transcribed above because the DVR cut out for this portion of the conversation). Sounds like I really missed out on seeing him play. Something tells me his toughness put the current Big East's reputation to shame.

JoeSmith1721 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2013, 12:27:13 AM »

Bill actually named his son, Luke, after Maurice.

romey · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2013, 06:29:35 AM »

I witnessed him while at MU - pop's season tickets. As a kid in MKE that was a HUGE! If this blog was around then, Mo would have had five times the number of pages as Treveor Mbawe did a few years back

Oh, and he was the subject of a Sports Illustrated article on "NBA Enforcers" that also included Calvin Murphy and Kermit Washington among others.

Goose · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2013, 07:02:52 AM »

Man against boys. Plus had great style. A joy to watch both MU and NBA.

TheTulsaWarrior · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2013, 07:39:58 AM »

During the 1974 NCAA Tittle game you could just see him willing the team to comeback. A give me the ball and I'll get it done look. With a little more help he would have gotten it done that night.

MU82 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2013, 08:58:11 AM »

Mo Lucas = absolute stud.

He's one of many guys who played before today's MU students were born that I think of whenever somebody starts an "is so-and-so our best ever" conversation.

In the 70s, Marquette had some true All-American superstars, guys who today's young Scoopers would swoon over. Aside from Wade, nobody I've seen in the last 30 years would make either my first-team or second-team Marquette all-time great squads. (Novak might if there were a "specialist" category ... though I wonder how many treys Earl Tatum would have made!)

akmarq · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2013, 09:17:32 AM »

I thought for sure this would have been posted already:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3C-LQWF2s&noredirect=1

That boxing technique...

Goose · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2013, 09:59:08 AM »

After watching that fight again, he was a man amongst men. He was bigger than life and today's younger fans would have loved him and Earl Tatum and the boys a great deal.

Windyplayer · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2013, 10:15:52 AM »

Quote from: akmarq on January 31, 2013, 09:17:32 AM

I thought for sure this would have been posted already:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3C-LQWF2s&noredirect=1

That boxing technique...

Wow. I like how the refs back then treated it as a hockey fight and backed away when the players raised fists (I can't blame them). It was certainly a different game back then.

4everwarriors · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2013, 10:29:12 AM »

An eye witness should retell the story of Luke holdin' some hairy wet cat out a McCormick window by his ankles.

PickNRoll · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2013, 11:03:33 AM »

When I lived in McCormick (75-76) that story was well known and had acquired mythical status but I don't know the details.

ZiggysFryBoy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2013, 11:22:48 AM »

Quote from: 4everwarriors on January 31, 2013, 10:29:12 AM

An eye witness should retell the story of Luke holdin' some hairy wet cat out a McCormick window by his ankles.

So that's how you got to know those guys.

Avenue Commons · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2013, 12:10:13 PM »

Best Marquette-bred NBA player other than #3 on the Miami Heat.

TallTitan34 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2013, 12:17:23 PM »

Anyone else think Steve Taylor looks like Maurice Lucas without the hair?

4everwarriors · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2013, 12:26:58 PM »

Quote from: TallTitan34 on January 31, 2013, 12:17:23 PM

Anyone else think Steve Taylor looks like Maurice Lucas without the hair?

Looks mean nothin'. Wanna compare their games?

Goose · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2013, 12:47:11 PM »

I am Taylor but not even in team photo with Luke. He walked onto campus as a stud and played like one everyday he was here.

jsglow · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2013, 01:13:20 PM »

Quote from: MU82 on January 31, 2013, 08:58:11 AM

Mo Lucas = absolute stud.

He's one of many guys who played before today's MU students were born that I think of whenever somebody starts an "is so-and-so our best ever" conversation.

In the 70s, Marquette had some true All-American superstars, guys who today's young Scoopers would swoon over. Aside from Wade, nobody I've seen in the last 30 years would make either my first-team or second-team Marquette all-time great squads. (Novak might if there were a "specialist" category ... though I wonder how many treys Earl Tatum would have made!)

+1. And that's not to say anything bad about our players from the last decade. But several of those dudes were simply incredible. Not to quibble but 1-2 of our recent players in addition to #3 would make my Top 10-15 all time list starting with Jae.

Of course all credit goes to Coach Al for quietly insisting that a young man's character was not influenced by the color of his skin.

leever · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2013, 01:31:26 PM »

Quote from: akmarq on January 31, 2013, 09:17:32 AM

I thought for sure this would have been posted already:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3C-LQWF2s&noredirect=1

That boxing technique...

I think that if they had allowed that fight to go on, Mo would have killed or seriously injured Dawkins. On the other hand, Lucas always looked like he was ready to kill someone. Scary guy. For sure one of the best ever at MU.

keefe · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:22:36 PM »

Quote from: Goose on January 31, 2013, 12:47:11 PM

I am Taylor but not even in team photo with Luke. He walked onto campus as a stud and played like one everyday he was here.

I believe Luke was a Dapper Dan Roundball Dude. That used to mean something.

Goose · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:24:13 PM »

Luke was a Dapper Dan and it did mean something.

keefe · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:42:14 PM »

Quote from: Goose on January 31, 2013, 04:24:13 PM

Luke was a Dapper Dan and it did mean something.

So was Ulice Payne.

Blackhat · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:49:36 PM »

Fullodds · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2013, 05:11:43 PM »

I met Mo with my then 8 yr old son. Great guy. When my son went to take his signed ball back, Lucas held it tight and my son tried to pull it from his hands...I don't think two people could have taken the ball away from him. Great guy and underrated pro.

Dawson Rental · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2013, 06:37:22 PM »

Quote from: Goose on January 31, 2013, 04:24:13 PM

Luke was a Dapper Dan and it did mean something.

McDonald's All-American game of its time.

Warrior · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2013, 07:32:03 PM »

He does look like Taylor.

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Author Topic: "Greatest teammate I ever had" (Read 9785 times)