Homecoming

I can't begin to tell you how pleased I was to read that the Philadelphia 76ers were negotiating to sign Doug Collins to be their next head coach.

Collins first joined the Sixers in Philadelphia after representing the United States in Munich where they had their gold medals stolen away by the IOC and the Russians and after a sterling career at Illinois State. And later alongside chocolate Thunder, the Doctor, World B. Free, George McGinnis, and Caldwell Jones, these guys blew my mind away.

For a very young kid they turned me into a hoops fan (up to that point I was only into football with the New York Cosmos and baseball with the New York Yankees).

Collins can turn things around no doubt. But can he get them to the Eastern Finals? That has always been his problem. And he wears his players out as well. He has to understand that it's a different time and after stops in Chicago, Detroit, and Washington, he knows what mistakes he made. But nevertheless, it's a thrill and brings back a tingle to the spine since I still have a soft spot for the Sixers.

One of the first jerseys I ever bought was a retro Collins jersey (got it at the Big Man's store in Jersey City). The first, in case you're new to Bleachers' Brew, was Chris Mullin's #17 Golden State Warriors.