After 40 Years, Spencer Haywood Finally Gets His Thanks

Filed under: Knicks, Lakers, Magic, SuperSonics, NBA Transactions

Spencer Haywood will walk into a Dallas hotel ballroom filled with the 24 NBA All-Stars next weekend, and not a head will turn. Hardly anyone will know the face. Several may know his name -- if they get close enough to read the name tag he is wearing.



And that's a shame. They should be giving him a standing ovation, or parade him around the room on their shoulders like a conquering hero. For most of them, Haywood is the one who made this all possible.



It was Haywood 40 years ago who forced his way into the league by boldly challenging the NBA establishment, taking his demand all the way to the United States Supreme Court. He changed the rule prohibiting teams from using a player whose college class had not yet graduated.



His case sent a shockwave through every city in the league, forever changing the face of the NBA. And depending upon your view, he was either a trail blazing pioneer or the devil who was trying to wreck both college basketball and professional sports.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/02/02/after-40-years-spencer-haywood-finally-gets-his-thanks/