Here is a great highlight video of Billy Ray Bates from a 1980 playoff game against the Sonics. Billy Ray was as dumb as a box of rocks but he had skills. [video=youtube;-xeGS6C-H1M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xeGS6C-H1M[/video]
When I was a kid the NBA used to have a big charity golf tournament during the summer. One year it was held in Portland and I got to caddy it. (actually I just showed up, walked up to security and told them I was there to caddy. They let me in. I was the only kid/caddy there) I spent 3 days caddying for Dennis Johnson in the morning and Johnny Moore in the afternoon. Tons of great players were there. Really fun time. The last day of the tourney I brought a brand new basketball with me and a pen to get autographs. I got Magic's, World B Free's, Dantley's, Gervin, Walter Davis, anyway Billy Ray Bates shows up (wasn't playing golf, just showed up). I run up to him and ask him to sign my basketball. He takes the ball and pen and starts printing BILLY RAY "DUNK" BATES #12 in huge letters that looked like a 1st grader wrote it. It took him 5 minutes to print that on the ball. It was painful to watch. Swear to god it took up two entire panels. The rest of the day I'm asking players for autographs and when they would see what Bates wrote they would start laughing and show it to other players. I once saw a trading card with his autograph on it at a card shop, same large print. Covered 3/4 of the card. Nice guy, just not real bright.
I twas fun watching him. He sure had some hops. There is a video somewhere I am sure about his last second shot against Philly in a game. It was incredible. He came around the baseline and curled around and out, caught the ball and in one motion hit the shot to beat Philly at the buzzer. It was awesome to see in person. Unfortunately, as many good highlights that you see with Billy Ray, there is just as many bad ones. He was not consistant, and later turned the ball over a lot. But he sure knew what to do with the ball and push the pace. He could dish some assists out as well.
I had lunch with Billy Ray Bates. One of my aunts knew him for some reason. Maybe a yay dealer? nice guy though.....he was really big in Manila.
Great find! The video quality is incredible for such old footage. Billy Ray Bates... one of the great names in sports history.
Wow, yeah me too. I've seen tapes of those early 80's teams, but that seems to be a forgotten era in Blazer basketball. I was impressed by his athleticism, and he was pretty built for a guy back then. Tough to hear how his story eventually went.. Thanks for the vid Sly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Ray_Bates wow. He averaged 46.2 ppg in the Phillipines. His career low was 28 points! haha
here is the the buzzer beater I was thinking of ... love Billy Ray Bates and his leaping ability [video=youtube;yPiZW21GzUA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPiZW21GzUA[/video]
