ray_glenn
June 17th, 2006, 10:02 AM
Some sad news today. Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay will retire as ESPN Radio's basketball analyst after this year's Finals. The melanoma (skin cancer) that he had excised earlier this year has spread to his lungs. More on the story here (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2003067187_kell17.html).
"I'm 81 years old," Ramsay said before Thursday's Game 4. "How many people 81 have been able to do what I've been allowed to do. If this is the end of my life, I have no regrets."
Ramsay led the 1977 Portland TrailBlazers to their first and only NBA championship, and in 1978, he coached the Western Conference All-Stars. Prior to joining Portland in the 1976-1977 season, he led the Philadelphia 76ers to three playoff appearances and did the same thing for the Buffalo Braves. He led the Blazers to the playoffs for 9 out of the 10 seasons that he served as their coach and remained a competitor before retiring as coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1987.
His book Pressure Basketball, first published in 1963, is considered by many coaches as an instructional classic. After retirement, he continued to hold basketball clinics across North America until finally settling in a job as ESPN Radio's lead basketball analyst.
"I'm 81 years old," Ramsay said before Thursday's Game 4. "How many people 81 have been able to do what I've been allowed to do. If this is the end of my life, I have no regrets."
Ramsay led the 1977 Portland TrailBlazers to their first and only NBA championship, and in 1978, he coached the Western Conference All-Stars. Prior to joining Portland in the 1976-1977 season, he led the Philadelphia 76ers to three playoff appearances and did the same thing for the Buffalo Braves. He led the Blazers to the playoffs for 9 out of the 10 seasons that he served as their coach and remained a competitor before retiring as coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1987.
His book Pressure Basketball, first published in 1963, is considered by many coaches as an instructional classic. After retirement, he continued to hold basketball clinics across North America until finally settling in a job as ESPN Radio's lead basketball analyst.