good talk

Gus Johnson (b. Akron, O. Dec. 13, 1938, d. Akron, O. April 29, 1987) is considered to be one of the finest talents ever to play in the NBA.  Born into poverty in central Akron, at maturity, Gus was 6'6" and 235 lbs. and was one of the greatest leapers ever.  As a senior, in the State Tourney in 1957, Gus led a powerful Akron Central team, which also featured Nate Thurmond, only making it to the Final 16, as they ran into Jerry Lucas at Middletown.  I knew a guy who ran the Rec Center where Gus often played, and he said they couldn't keep a young Colored Gal as receptionist, as either Gus or his friend would ...  Well, we all have our faults.  After high school, Gus enrolled at Akron U. but soon dropped-out, and basically drifted for a few years, eventually winding-up in Idaho, of all places, where there were no Black People, but where he was warmly-accepted.  Gus starred at Boise State, then a JC, in the'61-'62 season, and then moved on to Moscow, Idaho, starring-on their '62-'63 team.  It was at the "Corner Tavern" in Moscow, that Gus leapt, touching a beam, into which a spike was pounded, setting a mark that stood for 23 years (and really only equalled, as Gus' was surpassed by only a half-inch).  The 10th player taken in the 1963 NBA Draft, Gus was an extremely rare combination of size, quickness, and strength, for 9 seasons with the Baltimore Bullets, averaging 17.1 points and 12.7 rebounds a game, with great defensive prowess, a lot of you old-guys remember the Bullets' Captain's battles with the Knicks Dave DeBusschere.  On the cover of the Dec. 21, 1964 issue of S.I. is a smiling Gus showing the Gold Star he had drilled into a front-tooth.  Upon retirement, Gus returned to Akron, where he was well-employed, but eventually becoming afflicted with inoperable brain-cancer, dying on April 29, 1987 at only "48."  Rod Thorn, Gus' friend and former team-mate on the Bullets, was the NBA's "Director of Basketball Operations" from 1986 to 2000, and one of Rod's task was meeting-out discipline, and recollected (fiery like so many Akron-People) ...We were playing the Pistons, and Gus punched their Coach, and then ran-up into the stands and punched their General Manager...If Gus were around-today, I think he'd be in here quite a bit...