Having a heart to heart with fans...

Comments

[Andrew Schroeder]

Kareem,

Thank you for the time and insight you provide in doing this blog.

The NBA has announced the Suns and Nuggets will be playing an outdoor basketball game. Do you have any memories about playing outdoors in Puerto Rico for the Milwaukee Bucks?

[Luke]

I'm interested in your thoughts of the greatest big men of all-time? If you had to select five, who would you pick, yourself included?

[Paul Bartlett]

I noticed that Bass Reeves is a hero of yours. Are you in any way associated with Morgan Freeman and the movie that he is working on about Mr. Reeves....

also thanks for the great basketball memories....

Paul

[Peter]

Kareem,

I was wondering what you see as the ceiling for Andrew Bynum. Does he remind you of any players from the past?

Thanks!
Peter

[jodial]

Kareem -

As always, a pleasure to read you and hear from you.

As longtime Laker fans may remember, this month marks the 21-year anniversary of your 3 pointer at Phoenix (nothing but net from the corner, as I recall!)

I was wondering if you could share any memories about that shot, and if, as a center who made his living operating close to the basket, you ever longed to fire away from long distance like a shooting guard?

Keep up the great work!

[Suzie]

Nice!!!! Looking forward to communicating /w you. Bloggin' is great, you meet a lot of interesting people. Thank Tony Pierce for sending me here :)

He invited me to ask you a question: and then you challenged me.....so I suppose I'd better;

What is your number one reason for beginning this blog aside from the obvious networking capabilities of the internet?? any personal reason for the soul???

CHEERS!

S

[Chuck]

Kareem,

With all the movement in the NBA during the last week, who do you see as being a threat during the playoffs this year? Are there any teams that might get knocked out of the playoffs with these trades? Last question, which team do you persoanlly enjoy watching and for what reasons?

Your blog is great reading, very insightful!

[Bob Downing]

I also landed here as a result of Tony Pierce's blog...

Kareem -
What happened to my beloved Bulls this year? Some say the Kobe trade talk distracted the team early on etc etc but this team is clearly out of synch.
How can a team go from being a 50-win type of team to a 30-win team in one season?

[Don]

You're a New Yorker at heart.
Comment on the Knicks situation.

[J. Belmont]

I am a sub teacher. I often work in the south central area. Over the years I've witnessed the displacement of the population by Mexicans. There is lot's of animosity on both sides. My question is, where are black people going? I feel so sad when I see these hanger-oners in the school cafeterias and administrators who are now like fish out of water.

[Kevin Wong]

Just as black players once had a difficult time getting into pro basketball leagues , do you think white players today are also judged less by their results on the court than they should be? White players seem to be stereotyped immediately by scouts, the media and players (They're the little guys who can hit open threes but don't rebound or play defense).

[Jeff Marmelzat]

Kareem:
I was a fellow student at UCLA in the years 1969-1973. We had a couple of classes together and even had coffee once. I am dying of ALS and want to thank you, and all of UCLA basketball, for giving me some of my greatest memories...........even to this day. I pasticularly remember coming to the Freshmen vs. Varsity game your first year, where we were National Champions.....and you were spectacular!
Thanks

[Marvin Wadlow Jr]

In the interest of myself, and to educate my sons, I want to bring them to hear you speak on African-American history on the 15th.

I know this seems like a silly question, but in today's world of "play station and x box" do you think this will hold their interest. I've got to do something, I need to lean more as well although I do educate myself as much as possible about my own culture, been to Africa (Mozambique, or Mocambique as the Portugese spell it),and I am very interested in what you have to say.

Te Amo

Marvin

[Greg Nathan]

Kareem, thank you so much for your years of responsibility to the public. I grew up in New Jersey and my two heroes throughout my youth were you and Mohammed Ali. Like most boys, sports played a huge role in teaching me about life, discipline, work ethic and learning how to move forward with conviction after a "loss" not just in sports, but in life. I watched one of your high school championship games broadcast on WOR in New York and I became a UCLA fan because of you.
The most poignant lesson I grew up with in those times was questioning why, if I loved a man of color such as you or Ali, or Willis Reed, would that same man be denied equal rights, fair pay, admission to the school of his choice, respect and everything about equality that our constitution (“All men are created equal”) promises.
You helped me to not just understand and question racism and discrimination, but you helped me take it to a personal level because of the very personal connection a young sports fan feels toward their hero. This motivated me in ways that Martin Luther King or John F. Kennedy could not. I remember watching an interview of you during your days at UCLA and someone in the room remarked “he sounds very articulate for a black man”. I was 11 or 12 and I stood up and naively, but succinctly asked “Are black men less articulate than white men?” And that set everyone off into arguments. And I felt proud that my hero’s could have any color.
When was the first time you understood your responsibility to the public? When did you understand that this responsibility could be used for even greater good, such as tackling the void of awareness of black history? What advice would you give to the young generation of sports heroes to carry the flame that you so elegantly held high?

[David Brown]

Does it bother you that so many of the big men in the NBA today are so clearly on steroids HGH or other illegal muscle buiding supplements? Do you think it chips at the integrity of the game?

[Roger Hall]

Hi Kareem,

I teach American history at a community college and dislike the separation of "Black history" (or "women's history" for that matter) from "History." I think the contributions of African Americans and all notable individuals should be fully integrated into the general curriculum and not treated as special categories. Your thoughts?

[Danny Santacruz]

Kareem,
First of all, thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. I plan on attending your interview at the California African-American Museum in March and maybe I'll bring my friend Tootie Heath along.
My question is in regards to popular music. Your knowledge is pretty astounding and I wonder if there are any artists of this generation, jazz or otherwise, that interest you on an intellectual and soulful level. Right now, I dig Frank Fontaine whose album is titled "Wisdom Rising." I also like what Stevie Wonder is doing with KJLH 102.3FM.

Sincerely,
Danny Santacruz

[David Fausto Jr.]

Hello Cap!

Congratulations to you in all your successes! I've always felt you're the greatest basketball player of all time. Not just of your God given physical abilities but also because of your intelligence and respect for the history of years past.
I would like to know, however, in your martial arts training with the legendary Bruce Lee. How much of Bruce's philosophy and teachings influences you in your life?

Keep up the great work!

[Bob Arbogast]

To save time and space , you should call the whole thing "Jabblog"........Please send my prize to the Eloy, Arizona, Home for the Emotionally Detached...Thank you.

[Richard Geith]

Kareem

In view of the work college athletes do (trying to complete their education and play a complete sports schedule), should they receive a salary (when playing) and/or be guaranteed full tuition after their college sport career is complete, so they could finish their degree?

Also, in your view is the college schedule for athletes harder now, then when you were in school?

Thanks

[Nabeel]

Kareem,
It is good to read your comments,
If time goes backward in your career what are the things you feel you should have done ?
Second,which coach do you think was the most influential in your professional career achievments?
Third ,which player you felt most cofortable playing with?

Thanks

[Mark]

Kareem, you are the greatest basket-ball player af all time, I became a Laker and UCLA fan because of you.

Mark From France

[gordon burnet]

Kareem,
It has been quite a while since I last saw and spoke to you. It was your last game in Seattle vs the Sonics. We met after the game and my son, Chris who is a grown man (34)himself still remembers that night. He is married and has one child, Lindsay and another on the way. My daughter, Karen, who is 32 has a 10 year old daughter, Mia. She is quite the athlete already. She plays on elite soccer and fast-pitch softball teams and has started rec basketball. It will be fun to watch her develop. She is also a good student and is president of her fourth grade class. I am sure you would like her immediately as she has that gift of a great smile. Anyway, I loved your ESPN vignette, it brought many memories from our days growing up in Inwood. That was a long time ago. The pictures and story were very good. Since I shared some of those days with you, It reminded me of St Judes School, the speedway, Inwood Park, the cloisters, Fort George Hill, Dykman Street, and more.
I will never forget meeting you in Portland at the airport and at Blazer Games. Chris still tells about how you invited us on the Laker Bus and just sat down and started telling him about his dad. That was a special night for him and myself. I followed your career at UCLA and then the NBA. You deserve all the recognition you have received. I know how hard you worked at developing your skills. I also say, I watched you as a not so well coordinated 15 year old trying to play sports in a mans body. I remember those games in the playground,,hack Lew. Well, you overcame all of that and are one of the great NBA and College players ever. I am proud to say that I knew you and we are friends. I think the BLOG is great. Communication is powerful. Good luck with it.

I would love to get together some day and just chat without distractions. Please call or email me if you have the time. Otherwise I wish you the best.
Regards,
Gordy Burnet

[Richie Starr]

hey kareem, you're the greatest!

what book would you suggest for me to read next?

[BluesCityRef]

Just to throw some useless info at you since I noticed it is on topic to one of the questions you answered.

As I was channel surfing I saw a bit of a special on the History Channel the other night about prostitution. Storyville was talked about in pretty good detail and even the local governments demolition of it. Even though it would seem negative it was very educational about New Orleans.

[Jon K.]

Kareem,

Really enjoy the format in which you answered questions.

You should give Tai-Chi and Ch'i-Gung a shot. They have the benefits of yoga, but with greater movement.

[Jon K.]

Kareem,

Question: What are your four greatest joys in life and why?

[David Eckels]

Mr. Abdul-Jabbar,

I have always appreciated the fact that you seek to tell the "unknown" stories in African-American history-stories that should be told, but are more often ignored.
Do you have any plans to explore the lives of African Americans living in slavery on Native American reservations that continued until well after the close of the Civil War?

[Miles]

Kareem:

I was thrilled to see your video reply to my question! I wanted to correct my statement. Bruce would have turned 68 in November. I always remember July because that was the month of his passing-this year will mark the 35th anniversary of that tragic event.

However, on the brighter side, I thank you for your recommendation of Yoga to maintain and prolong one's active life. I will definitely get started doing it soon.

I can only imagine what would have happened had you gotten Bruce started doing Yoga-he would immediately have had to have been the MOST flexible, the MOST fit...he would have relocated his battle with you from the Tower to the yoga mat!

Whom can outstretch whom? :)

Do you think he would have ended up opening his own yoga school, a la the Chinatown Jun Fan school, complete with the painted windows?

Best to you always, sir
Miles

[Alvin Smith]

I'm a 61 yr old retired high school Principal and coach from St. Louis
Being in your same age group and a "not good enough" baller to play at my dream school (UCLA, like my hero Jackie Robinson) I've always admired you since your early days at Power Memorial.
I am amazed at how so often my thinking parallels yours.
Some random thoughts:

You were denied your rightful post-career aspirations because you weren't always smiling like Magic (not to denigrate him, but this would only happen to a black man in our time)

Trivia question- in one minute, name the great trumpeters who played with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

Doesn't Sandy Amoros still have a special place in your heart?

I would love to have that famous photo of you, Jim Brown and Bill Russell showing support fo Ali at that famous press conference

Many possibly great contributors to the world are being overlooked because they are recovering addicts and though many strides have been made, society still has a long way to go.

[Seth Waddell]

hey kareem

My name is Seth you know my cousin Alyssa. She works in your office. My question is what had inspired you to work your hardest or push your self on the court?

[Edward Zamudio]

Kareem.
Like know who were most important people in your life time from your childhood to your present day? Thank You!
Edward Zamudio