Born in St. Louis and nicknamed, “The Sheriff”, David Thirdkill was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 15th pick in the 1982 NBA Draft out of Southern Idaho and Bradley University. The 6-7 small forward played five seasons in the League, from 1982 to 1987, playing for the Suns, Pistons, Bucks, Spurs and Celtics. After averaging nearly 26 minutes per game for the Spurs to finish the 1984-85, Thirdkill found himself in Boston averaging around 8 minutes but winning a ring in 1986. He’d later play overseas.
30 Years Later, Part 8: Jerry Sichting
Jerry Sichting was a scrappy 6-1, 190 pound guard from Martinsville, IN who excelled in three sports in high school, including quarterbacking his team to a 14-0 record in 1974. He played at Purdue alongside Joe Berry Carroll.
He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 4th round of the 1979 NBA Draft but never played for them. He started the season with the Indiana Pacers and spent five season in his home state before being traded to the Boston Celtics before the 1985-86 season. Sichting became a fan favorite and a scrappy defender, even getting into a donnybrook with Ralph Sampson in Game 5 of the NBA Finals before winning his Championship ring in ’86. He would later play for the TrailBlazers, Hornets and Bucks before retiring in 1990. Sichting later made his way to the broadcast booth with the Celtics.
His coaching career is mostly as an assistant with the Timberwolves, Warriors and Wizards and currently in Phoenix. He had other stints at Marquette and Martinsville High School.
30 Years Later, Part 7: Robert Parish
“The Chief” was the oldest of the Big Three, he played the most games and you won’t find any of his collegiate statistics in an NCAA record book. Robert Parish came out of Centenary College in 1975 and was drafted by three different basketball teams in three different leagues but chose to sign with the recent NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, who were already in a bit of a decline. His college stats are unknown because of a NCAA rule named the 1.6 rule, which is like trying to get credit from ITT Tech to transfer to Stanford.
In 1980, Red Auerbach traded 2 first-round picks, including the #1 overall included to Golden State for the #3 overall(McHale) and Parish. And so began The Big Three Era.
Parish played in an NBA record 1161 games and is the oldest player to win an NBA title(as of 2015) and 3rd oldest ever to play an NBA game.
The Chief is a consultant to the Celtics organization and is a mentor and coach for the Boston big men.
30 Years Later, Part 6: Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale may be the best power forward to play the game before we saw Tim Duncan take the floor. McHale, the 6-10 power forward voted the #1 player in the University of Minnesota’s 100-years of basketball, was drafted third overall by the Celtics in 1980.
After playing his rookie year coming off the bench behind Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and helped Boston win the 1981 NBA Finals. McHale was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year following the ’84 & ’85 campaigns and would also win titles with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986. Named to the All-NBA First Team in 1987, the 7-time All-Star, was also a 3-time All-Defense First Team winner. McHale’s #32 is hang in in the rafters at the TD Garden, while his #44 Golden gophers jersey is retired by Minnesota.
McHale took over the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004-05 for 31 games, leading them to a 19-12 record. In 2008 he took the reigns again, this time for 63 games amid a 20-43 record. In 2011, the Houston Rockets hired McHale and he’s helped them progress to a Championship caliber unit, losing in the Conference Finals this past year.
You can look forward to another uptempo, chaotic brand of basketball in Houston this year as the roster has been updated and the quality of talent has been upgraded with the addition of Ty Lawson at the point.
30 Years Later, Part 5: Greg Kite
When the Boston Celtics selected Greg Kite in the 1st Round of the 1983 NBA Draft out of Brigham Young University, the 6’11” center was coming off a 4-year career in which he averaged 6.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Lucky enough to spend time on the court with HOF inductees Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Dennis Johnson, Kite won NBA Titles with the Celtics in 1984 & 1986. He was part of the inaugural season of the expansion Charlotte Hornets in 1988-89 and later played for the Orlando Magic, starting in their second season of 1990-91. Kite played for 7 teams and retired in 1995.
30 Years Later, Part 4: Dennis Johnson
Straight Outta Compton to the Hall of Fame
Dennis Johnson wasn’t going to the NBA. Hell, he wasn’t even going to play in college.
Coach Jim White asked DJ to come play at LA Harbor College, a 2-year college which lead him to Pepperdine University where he developed into a tough defender with huge leaping ability. Drafted 29th by Seattle in 1976, he played for legends Bill Russell and Lenny Wilkens. Helping the Sonics win the 1979 NBA Title, DJ was named Finals MVP. Traded to Phoenix after the 1980 season, Johnson changed his game from a scoring 2-guard to an all-out scoring machine. When Phoenix traded him to Boston following the 1983 campaign, DJ changed his game again, becoming a pass-first point guard. The Celtics won titles in 1984 & 1986 before Johnson retired after the 1990 season. The Celtics retired Johnson’s #3 in December of 1991.
Johnson passed away in 2007.
His nephew, Nick, was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 2nd round of the 2014 draft. The Rockets recently traded Johnson to the Denver Nuggets as part of a deal for Ty Lawson.
30 years later, Pt. 3: Rick Carlisle
Considering those of us here in Michigan have our own fine opinion of Rick Carlisle and the job he did in the Motor City, I’ll do my best to be the Celtics homer I am to describe what possibilities this ‘86 Celtic has in the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season.
Born and raised in New York state, Carlisle attended Lisbon HS before finding his way to the University of Virginia to play alongside the likes of Ralph Sampson and Olden Polynice. Drafted in the 3rd round at number 70 overall by the Celtics, he played 3 years in Boston, playing in 3 NBA Finals, before spending a season each in New York and New Jersey. After only 5 games in New Jersey playing for Bill Fitch, Carlisle was waived by the Nets before coach asked him on the same call to add him to the coaching staff. Thus, his coaching career began. Later, he be called upon by Celtic teammate Larry Bird to be an assistant in Indiana with the Pacers.
After a long run of Eastern Conference Finals appearances with the Pistons, he was being tossed to the side in favor of the original coaching maverick, Larry Brown. Carlisle soon found his footing and again made a new home office in the vicinity of fellow Celtic and Pacers GM Bird. Friends from their time in Celtic green, Carlisle was an easy choice for Bird after his success with the Pistons. When Carlisle eventually took Dirk Nowitzki and a ragtag team of Mark Cuban’s Mavericks to an NBA Finals win, it was the icing on the cake and the notch needed to make writers and historians realize his true greatness as a coach.
After a year in which Dallas had the top offense in the League before making a franchise and team chemistry alteration in adding former Celtics mercurial point guard Rajon Rondo to the mix, the Mavericks are rife with salary-cap room and the ability to choose their direction for the future with only Dirk, Chandler Parsons, Devin Harris and Gal Mekel on the books for under $30M and Monte Ellis($9M) and Raymond Felton($4.5M) holding player options for next year. With an expected salary cap of over $67M, the Mavericks are in position to chase marquee free-agent, LaMarcus Aldridge, who is from Texas, as well as Kevin Love and others.
If the Mavericks are able to move a couple pieces and sign a higher-tier free agent, I expect them back in the Playoffs in the deep Western Conference. But barring a major free-agent signing or a spectacularly unexpected trade, the Mavericks will not be making the move back to the NBA Finals next year.
(photo credit: nbae getty images)
30 years later, part 2: Larry Bird
How easy is it to figure out this story? The greatest shooter of all-time ends up in the front office back in his home state, loses his best player for a year due to a freak injury during Olympic training and then his team fights their way to a deciding playoff/lottery game in the season’s final day.
We all know what Larry Legend did for the Celtics back in the ‘80s, but what he’s got going into next year for the Pacers is a force to be reckoned with. After losing almost a full season to a horrific (at least, on video) injury to his leg, Paul George returns to an Indiana Pacers team that nearly made the Playoffs this year despite numerous setbacks. With key figures like David West, George Hill and the new cast of role players returning as well, Frank Vogel looks to have a roster that can get him back to the Playoffs and quite possibly contend for an Eastern Conference title. A late-lottery pick and an expiring contract could be the bait the Bird needs to capture(trade for) another prized star, possibly Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge. The key will be health, as it has been for years in this league. Another factor may be the possible movement of Roy Hibbert, Luis Scola or one of the many “unknown” guards.
I look for the Pacers to make a staunch comeback in the 2015-16 season and end up in the Top 5 in the East. With a couple moves here and there, the Legend could once again have this team in the NBA Finals.
30 years later, Part 1: Danny Ainge
Gritty, reliable hustler. It showed back in ‘86 and it’s shown in his undeniable need to make the next big move, acquiring players, contracts and draft picks that are both desirable and talented, as well as being able to liquidate assets if necessary. We saw that this year with the acquisition of Brandon Wright in the Rajon Rondo deal, moving him to Phoenix when the opportunity to add one of the most desired player contracts in the league arose in lightning bug Isaiah Thomas.
2015: Boston owns both their 1st round pick and the Clippers pick(Doc Rivers), as well as their own and the 76ers’ 2nd round pick.
2016: Boston owns their pick, the Nets’ 1st round pick(Pierce/Garnett), the Mavericks’ 1st round pick(protected 1-7 until 2021) and the Timberwolves 1st round pick(protected 1-12, or becomes 2nd rd. picks in 2016 & 2017).2nd round picks from Cleveland, Dallas, Miami and Philadelphia are also on the board of possibilities. Boston will lose its’ 2nd round pick to either Memphis or Utah in 2016.
2017: Boston has the right to swap picks with Brooklyn(Pierce/Garnett), but would convey its’ own 2nd round pick(protected 31-45 or extinguished). Boston owns 2nd round picks from Cleveland and the Clippers, as well as their own.
Although draft picks aren’t the asset they once were, think 1992(Shaq, ‘Zo, Laettner, Sprewell) & 2003(LeBron, Carmelo, Bosh, DWade), they can be the “raise the bet” to get a deal done(see Brandon Knight to Phoenix). When players like have to decide where to sign next year, the ability to complete a sign-and-trade, though more difficult than in past NBA off seasons, can be the edge needed to get a top or 2nd tier player to build a franchise around. Ainge has the assets, the financial freedom and the cigars to get the Green back to the Finals.
The Beer City moratorium
Our week away in the Mitten
It took a couple days for the crew to get ourselves packed and head out on our Pure Michigan adventures, but by Monday morning the show was on the road.
With a quick early morning trip south to the Gun Lake Casino, we piled up all our change and headed on in to the penny slots to gamble the morning away. What seemed like an eternity to go through nearly $30 in coins actually only lasted a couple hours seated at the slots consistently luring us in for the ultimate risk and reward. But, playing on the penny slots really helped keep some change in our pocket for later in the day. By the time we were ready to head out to lunch, the last of our paper credits were being played in a $5 machine just to “see what the rich people play like”. No big winners but the house.
On Tuesday it was off to Michigan’s Left Coast and a trip to see our friends at the Grand Haven Brewhouse. But first, as always, the long stroll down the boardwalk from the Marina’s cleaning station past the Surf Shop and south down to Snug Harbor before turning back toward downtown amid the hustle and bustle of a summer day near the Big Lake. As we turned up Washington, we were stunned that we had all previously been to the movie theatre to see a film. Who goes to the movies in Grand Haven? Beer City Hoops crew! Upon our arrival at the GH Brewhouse, we chose to sit outside, which for the weather was a good idea but maybe not so much for the atmosphere. Although the outdoor seating area is in a nice spot behind the restaurant, the surroundings are more reminiscent of a smoking patio for the late-night crowds. That led us to quickly finish up our first round and seek yet another adventure. Having checked in at the Brewhouse on Facebook our good friend and beer aficionado Chuck was adamant that we take our tastebuds over to Oddside Ales across the street, albeit from his home in Pennsylvania.
Oh, dear Varano, thank you for your wonderful gift.
We sat at the bar at Oddsides (I had the Fussy IPA.) and met some interesting folks from Fairmont, IN who just love Michigan beer and spend their days traveling throughout the State vacationing and visiting breweries near and far. Today, Grand Haven was on their agenda. As we talked about where we’ve been and what we’ve enjoyed for local beer, our attention turned toward GR. Although they were fans of Founders’ beer, their take on the Taproom was a bit more sour. Our focus was on getting them over to the Mitten or Harmony Brewing. #WestSideGR Surprisingly, at least to me, their favorite spot in Beer City is the Hideout near Lamberton Lake on the City’s Northeast side. Tucked back behind the Plainfield mile near FOX17, it’s now a place we’ll be seen on the Beer Tour.
You can catch up with the rest of our week away from Beer City right here or by listening to the Beer City Hoops nightly podcast at 6:30pm on blogtalkradio.com or at beercityhoops.com
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