Check out my book They Called Me Cochise and read about my encounters with Dr. J when he was at UMass and I played for the Rhody Rams!facebook/pages/John-Leslie-Fultz/313004068809971?ref=hl ...Heres an excerpt: Umass vs. Rhody Erving’s UMass Redmen and my Rhody Rams were battling it out for the lead in the Yankee Conference. Head coach Tom Carmody had together with assistant coaches Lou Campanelli and Mike Fratello a defensive strategy in which I would play Erving straight man to man and Claude English would be practically in a zone, floating in a help position from his man. Fratello told me, “Johnny don’t leave him, try to deny him but when he does receive the ball make sure that you stay low and wide so that he can’t get around you and go to the hoop. Make sure that you focus on his belly button, and when he does jump over you to shoot raise your hand up into his face to disturb him.” “Yeah, for real John don’t take his fakes and focus on his midsection or he’ll hypnotize you! Snowflake, (Claude English), will be zoning off the middle and come to help when he jumps over you to shoot,” added Coach Campenelli. “ Don’t worry Fultzie, I’ll be there to help! He ain’t gonna dominate against us!” the great leaper and defensive whiz, Claude assured me. They took it for granted that he would jump over me and shoot since he was averaging about 27 points a game along with 20 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. This strategy might work because of English’s great jumping and defensive ability. “OK guys, I can see the fire in your eyes, you all know that this game is the key to our post-season hopes! Let’s go Rhody!” urged Coach Carmody. “Let’s go Rhody” we all chimed in together. The dimly lit UMass gym, called the cage, was buzzing with enthusiasm and everyone was there to see the sophomore sensation, Julius Erving, take on the Rhody Rams! If this was the “Cage” we were there to tame a young and ferocious Lion named Julius! It was undeniably impressive watching this sophomore sensation in the pregame warm-ups when he started the festivities with a ball in each huge hand, grasping them as if they were softballs, flying high to first slam dunk with his left hand and then seeming to be hovering above the basket and whirl it around and slam the second ball in with his right! The UMass fans were in a frenzy! It was difficult not to be awestruck by this feat but since I was use to Claude English’s flying abilities I wasn’t petrified , just rightly impressed! When I closed my eyes to pray as we were getting ready to take court I had a vision of my father Jack, who in his own right was a great player, and heard his encouragement, “Go and play your game son, he can’t stop you,” I seemed to hear him encourage me. We joined hands in our huddle and roared together, “Let’s go Rhody , all for one and one for all, let’s go Rhody!” Erving was to contest the opening tip-off with English. He looked over at me with a determined look in his eyes as if to say” Hey big guy you ain’t getting yours tonight”. Miraculously “Snowflake” got the opening tip and on our first possession I got a pass with my back to the basket, after a lateral pick by Nate Adjer, from Dwight Tolliver our quick playmaker turned and shot with Julius jumping to contest it. Swish, nothing but net! I got the ball often and early and after hitting my third shot contested by Erving, I turned and tauntingly yelled, “In your face rookie, you can’t stop me!” It was a see-saw battle from the start but when Julius jumped over me and English came over to block his shot and he threw it into the stands I knew that our coach’s strategy would be effective. Sophmores Bud Hazzard, Jim O’Sullivan and little Eddie Malloy came off the bench to give English, Tolliver and I occasional short breaks and did a great job! These occasional breaks helped us remain fresh for what would be a gruesomely long and tough battle! Time was running out when UMass guard Ray Ellerbrook drove the ball into the middle pulled up and instead of shooting made a lob pass over my head and into Julius’s huge hands a couple yards from the basket and at least two feet over the rim and the young superstar caught it the ball in his extended arms and seeming to hover like a helicopter, shot down at the basket slamming it home for a game tying shot at the buzzer. After all our efforts all might be lost. But despite this dramatic game tying shot we stuck together and because of the never ending energy of English and Adger continued to apply our defensive strategy . We made a fine team effort in overtime and came up with a 77 to 73 victory! My mind was sure wandering, jumping from one scene to another in my recent hoop past, in that dreamlike state that the flight and big change combined was causing. I had dreamed of my rookie games with the Lakers to camp with Calvin to the playground games in Harlem and finally about what were for me, my historical encounters with Julius Erving. Dr. J at Harlems famed Rucker Park youtube Footage of Julius Erving at Harlems famed Rucker Park from NBA TVs The Doctor. All rights belong to NBA TV Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Co... With Pervin Elgin and 50 others. Photo
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 12:41:13 +0000
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