RIP Willis Reed

We lost another great one, loved watching him battle Bill Russell, then later Cowens….great match ups. Bumped into him a few times in the city back in the day, always a class act.

He was one of few players that answered me back when I spoke to them.

I remember it to this day.

Back in the day when they used to have double headers at Boston Garden, Knicks were playing Detroit. I was standing like an anxious and excited groupie where the players come out and onto the floor.
I said to Willis, “yall gonna win tonight”? He answered back “Yeaah we’re gonna win this game just for you baby”. Never forgot that. Back then players didn’t say very much like they do now.

Being a Celtics fan in Jersey in the late 60's and early 70's wasn't easy. I hated those knicks teams, but always respected them. Willis Reed was always a class act and a gentleman, as well as a great player. RIP legend.

Celtics17 wrote:Being a Celtics fan in Jersey in the late 60's and early 70's wasn't easy. I hated those knicks teams, but always respected them. Willis Reed was always a class act and a gentleman, as well as a great player. RIP legend.  

What part of Jersey you from? My same exact situation, grew up in Jersey surrounded by Knick fans….

cowens/oldschool wrote:

Celtics17 wrote:Being a Celtics fan in Jersey in the late 60's and early 70's wasn't easy. I hated those knicks teams, but always respected them. Willis Reed was always a class act and a gentleman, as well as a great player. RIP legend.  

What part of Jersey you from? My same exact situation, grew up in Jersey surrounded by Knick fans….

Cowens

I'm from Long Branch.

I still maintain that if Havlicek didn't hurt his shoulder in Game 3 of the Eastern Finals we would have beaten the Knicks that year LOL.

Celtics17 wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:

Celtics17 wrote:Being a Celtics fan in Jersey in the late 60's and early 70's wasn't easy. I hated those knicks teams, but always respected them. Willis Reed was always a class act and a gentleman, as well as a great player. RIP legend.  

What part of Jersey you from? My same exact situation, grew up in Jersey surrounded by Knick fans….

Cowens

I'm from Long Branch.

I still maintain that if Havlicek didn't hurt his shoulder in Game 3 of the Eastern Finals we would have beaten the Knicks that year LOL.

I used to go to Max’s all the time for hot dogs, love the Jersey shore!!

Agreed on 73, that was the best of the Cowens teams; if not for that injury and Len Bias, we’d easily have 20-21 championships

[quote="cowens/oldschool"

What part of Jersey you from? My same exact situation, grew up in Jersey surrounded by Knick fans….[/quote]

Same here!  Union, New Jersey

Max’s is still there, although on the third generation. They still serve the same classic hot dogs, and they are still great.

Yes, 72-73 may have been Cowens best year, but he was such a great player that every year he played he was fantastic. I also still think the Celtics teams from 72-76 are underrated. They easily could have won 4 championships. History is more favorable to those Knicks teams that won 2 championships from 69-73.

That Knicks team played great basketball and Willis was a special gladiator.

I can still see him coming back into the game even though he was hurting. It is quite amazing that certain memories leave an indelible mark on us.

birnam wrote:[quote="cowens/oldschool"

What part of Jersey you from? My same exact situation, grew up in Jersey surrounded by Knick fans….

Same here!  Union, New Jersey[/quote]

Cool, sure you went to games at Meadowlands vs Nets and there was a ton of green in the stands !!

Celtics17 wrote:Max’s is still there, although on the third generation. They still serve the same classic hot dogs, and they are still great.

Yes, 72-73 may have been Cowens best year, but he was such a great player that every year he played he was fantastic. I also still think the Celtics teams from 72-76 are underrated. They easily could have won 4 championships. History is more favorable to those Knicks teams that won 2 championships from 69-73.

Yes they moved, when I first went to Max’s it was along the beach, smaller place; then I moved into city and went back to Long Branch years later and it had moved, wasn’t next to beach anymore. Glad the hot dogs are still great, heard Frank Sinatra himself would come in on his way to Atlantic City all the time for the doggies.

Yes, exactly, they used to be on the boardwalk, and a lot of famous people, including Sinatra, enjoyed their dogs.