NBA great Abdul-Jabbar has rare form of leukemia
AkbarClone
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in Sports Talk
I collect Vintage Cards, Commemorative Sets, and way too many vintage and modern player collections in Baseball (180 players), Football (175 players), and Basketball (87 players). Also have a Dallas Cowboy team collection.
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He was one of the all time great players, no doubt. However, he was a person who grew up in the 40's, 50's and 60's in New York during times when race relations were openly bad. He was so good that he was sought after by many trying to latch onto his star. He became aloof, standoffish and did not become friendly with very many people. He built a wall around him and kept people at bay, whether because he did not like people in general, or whether he did not like non blacks, who knows. He was and is similar in this regard to Bill Russell.
As a result, not many people in basketball liked Kareem on a personal level. When he finished his career as a player, he spent time out of the game and later tried to get back into the game on some level. It was not easy for him, as many people did not welcome him with open arms.
He never got into management or coaching (beyond limited coaching stints at low levels).
However, Kareem underestimated the love that people of all walks of life had and have for him. This love for him is due to his greatness as a player. I remember in the 1980's Kareem's home in So. Cal. was destroyed in a fire. He had either no insurance or inadequate insurance. He had a huge collection of jazz, soul and R&B music that was destroyed in the fire. The outpouring of sympathy and aid to Kareem from people he did not even know surprised him greatly. He did not appreciate how much people cared for him.
I assume that as he has gotten older, he has warmed up to people and is more willing to let them into his life. It is a bummer that he is ill. I hope that he is able to sucessfully deal with his illness and that he is with us for many, many years.