R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
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- The Bobster
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R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
Connie Hawkins, the first great player on the Suns has passed away -
http://www.12news.com/sports/nba/suns/s ... /481492331
Hawkins was a legendary player at Boy's High and on the playgrounds of New York before going to college at Iowa, where he was named in a gambling scandal and then kicked out of school and banned from the NBA.
Hawkins then played in the rival ABL for the Pittsburgh Rens from 1961 to 1963, then joined the Harlem Globetrotters and joined the Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association.
In 1969 Hawkins settled his lawsuit against the NBA and was signed by the Suns. After 4 years with the Suns he was traded to the Lakers and finished his career, ironically, with the Hawks in 1975-76.
Hawkins was the first Sun to have his number retired in 1976-77 and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
http://www.12news.com/sports/nba/suns/s ... /481492331
Hawkins was a legendary player at Boy's High and on the playgrounds of New York before going to college at Iowa, where he was named in a gambling scandal and then kicked out of school and banned from the NBA.
Hawkins then played in the rival ABL for the Pittsburgh Rens from 1961 to 1963, then joined the Harlem Globetrotters and joined the Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association.
In 1969 Hawkins settled his lawsuit against the NBA and was signed by the Suns. After 4 years with the Suns he was traded to the Lakers and finished his career, ironically, with the Hawks in 1975-76.
Hawkins was the first Sun to have his number retired in 1976-77 and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
Ah, I was really disappointed to read this news. I read the book Foul as a kid that chronicled his life and the scandal which I believe he had no part of.
"Be Legendary."
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
One of the true greats who would have been a star in any era of the NBA.
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
- LazarusLong
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Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
Even though he had been seriously ill for sometime, this is heartbreaking news.
Hawkins helped establish the Suns in Phoenix. Even more than the beloved Dick Van Arsdale, "The Hawk" was essential to the Suns' early success as a franchise that took roots in an otherwise disinterested fan base. Without him, the Suns may have floundered around for a couple of years like the Rockets in San Diego, and moved to another city.
He had been a Globetrotter when the Harlem Globetrotters were still popular and deeply talented. Fans flocked to see the Suns play, not so much that they were a playoff team (they were in his first year) but to watch him confound opponents. It was not so much about the numbers he posted, but the magical way in which he did so.
He was a slick stylist in a league desperate for charisma. His play was the equivalent of Bach while others were playing Chopsticks.
Hawkins helped establish the Suns in Phoenix. Even more than the beloved Dick Van Arsdale, "The Hawk" was essential to the Suns' early success as a franchise that took roots in an otherwise disinterested fan base. Without him, the Suns may have floundered around for a couple of years like the Rockets in San Diego, and moved to another city.
He had been a Globetrotter when the Harlem Globetrotters were still popular and deeply talented. Fans flocked to see the Suns play, not so much that they were a playoff team (they were in his first year) but to watch him confound opponents. It was not so much about the numbers he posted, but the magical way in which he did so.
He was a slick stylist in a league desperate for charisma. His play was the equivalent of Bach while others were playing Chopsticks.
Window is open again ... blue skies ahead?
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- The Bobster
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Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
I wasn't here to see the 1969-70 team, but that must have been exciting times. The Hawkins-Van Arsdale-Silas-Goodrich-Walk/Fox Suns must have been fun to watch!
Nobody would have guessed they would take the West-Chamberlain-Baylor Lakers to the 7th game of their playoff series, yet they did.
Nobody would have guessed they would take the West-Chamberlain-Baylor Lakers to the 7th game of their playoff series, yet they did.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
- LazarusLong
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Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
Red Kerr, God Bless him, didn't know how to effectively use Hawkins. So Colangelo took over and starting running the offense through the Hawk and made Stumpy a shooter. That's part of the reason they parted with Goodrich the next year, because they were running plays through The Hawk and could get a bigger shooting guard in Clem Haskins, also moving Van Arsdale to guard permanently.
Window is open again ... blue skies ahead?
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
I was here but too young to remember.The Bobster wrote:I wasn't here to see the 1969-70 team, but that must have been exciting times. The Hawkins-Van Arsdale-Silas-Goodrich-Walk/Fox Suns must have been fun to watch!
"Be Legendary."
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
Sad to hear it. Hawk was before my time, but I can appreciate the impact he had on our franchise. RIP.
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
I saw him at Casino Arizona a couple of years ago when I was there to play poker.JCSunsfan wrote:I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
"Be Legendary."
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- The Bobster
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Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
I was a kid living in Illinois who really wasn't interested in much other than Charlie Finley's Oakland A's at the time the Hawk was playing here, but after moving to AZ when I was a little older I read FOUL. What a sad statement on how sports were run in the 1960s. And while Hawkins did finally settle with the NBA and got his opportunity to play in the league, he was robbed of his prime and we'll never know how good he would have been if he has joined the league in 1964 before all the games and travel with the Globetrotters and having knee surgery in the ABA.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
I think you, me, and Bobster are all about the same age.JCSunsfan wrote:I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
"Be Legendary."
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- The Bobster
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Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
My God you guys are old.Superbone wrote:I think you, me, and Bobster are all about the same age.JCSunsfan wrote:I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
You're only as old as you feel. I feel great! 50s are the new 40s.The Bobster wrote:My God you guys are old.Superbone wrote:I think you, me, and Bobster are all about the same age.JCSunsfan wrote:I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
"Be Legendary."
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- The Bobster
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Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
It's all just nostalgia, but I miss the days when they played at the Coliseum and the halftime shows were the guy who juggled chainsaws or women shooting free throws for canned hams.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
I would've never guessed you were in your 50s SB, you seem younger. Props to you.Superbone wrote:You're only as old as you feel. I feel great! 50s are the new 40s.The Bobster wrote:My God you guys are old.Superbone wrote:I think you, me, and Bobster are all about the same age.JCSunsfan wrote:I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
- Aztec Sunsfan
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Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
Must be the orange capiLLmatic wrote:I would've never guessed you were in your 50s SB, you seem younger. Props to you.Superbone wrote:You're only as old as you feel. I feel great! 50s are the new 40s.The Bobster wrote:My God you guys are old.Superbone wrote:I think you, me, and Bobster are all about the same age.JCSunsfan wrote:I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
Thanks, man!iLLmatic wrote:I would've never guessed you were in your 50s SB, you seem younger. Props to you.Superbone wrote:You're only as old as you feel. I feel great! 50s are the new 40s.The Bobster wrote:My God you guys are old.Superbone wrote:I think you, me, and Bobster are all about the same age.JCSunsfan wrote:I read "Foul" as a teen too.
Seems like I just saw him at the arena not long ago.
"Be Legendary."
Re: R.I.P. Connie Hawkins
And maybe the guy under it as well.Aztec Sunsfan wrote:Must be the orange capiLLmatic wrote:I would've never guessed you were in your 50s SB, you seem younger. Props to you.Superbone wrote:You're only as old as you feel. I feel great! 50s are the new 40s.The Bobster wrote:My God you guys are old.Superbone wrote: I think you, me, and Bobster are all about the same age.
"Be Legendary."