Robert parish, theft above the cuckoo’s nest

In his age, he could play in veterans on Sunday morning. But he decides otherwise. The last news of the celebrity Ere Keltera, a member of the most famous trio in the NBA with Larry Bird and Kevin Mchale, Robert parish Decides to go for Charlotte. We are 1994. years.

At 41, he was the oldest player in the NBA. In the North Carolina Bob starts on the 19th season. The secret of her longevity? Several dracon rules.

We start a red meat ban. “Too many toxins.” » Few famous vices. And a very marked inclination of loneliness. “I’ve never been to social, He admits a gender from Shreveport (Louisiana). Life in society tends to tire me. »» Another rule: Never look back. “It’s useless. What’s done is done.” »

Loyal to Celtic

Born 30. August 1953. years, forties in his forty, can still master turn that his children could be. Its long career is obviously composed of unforgettable moments (three NBA titles 1981, 84 and 86), but also painful episodes. As Tragic disappearance Reggie LewisThe victim’s hustle victim during the training in July 1993, only 27 years.

“It was terrible. Now, every time I get in the field, I mean Reggie. Even with him, the season would be hard. So without him …”

8. Election of draft 1976. It could have left the Celterer for the name that plays the name at the time. He demonstrated a certain loyalty to the club who gave him everything. “Celtici have always been good and correct with me. I didn’t want to leave leaving them in shit.” »

In this flight in 1994, the parish was becoming shrewd. “The boss,” as Cedric Maxwell nickname on the main chief choke Bromden, a giant Indian movie “Fleet above the cuckoo’s nest”, never laughs. His face remains closed. A stoic seems to be in all circumstances. The parish is just rarely speaking, but it always works wisely. Some, in Shreveport, remember the shy young men, embarrassed him with his centimeters. A small parishion never finds pants in its size. His mother does additional jobs to be able to cut the tailor on traffic. However, even with this size, we had to force him to play basketball.

“My biggest problem was awkward. So fast I grew up to get used to my size. If I picked up the lamp. I rolled a lot of things. I have been a disaster …”

Junior Union High School Trainer, Coleman Kidd, recognizes the benefits of basketball in case of parishness. “He was closed on him. The basketball helped him solve the size complex. Even if he never smiled at that time, he was very concentrated and diligent.” »»

Despite his 2.16 m, the future turn of the Celtici is not accessed by major universities. There is a doberman that can be scared of recruiters … “Very good dog”He slides with special humor.

Made up by warriors

The parish is therefore staying at home. He goes to a hundred years of college (Louisiana). It allows him to take care of his two sisters because his mother acts huge. NCAA, he is amazed to see great hope in such a small faculty, conducts an investigation. We find out that the examination on entry is fake. The organization offers the parish to choose another university. He refuses. The centenary is prohibited from official competition for six years. Four years later, 1976. year, Robert was made up of golden state warriors (therefore, 8th). The expression of his face and his behavior suggest that he is not interested in everything. It becomes a favorite target of the media and the general public.

“I was responsible for mistakes that weren’t mine. I’ve become more introverted. The situation has worsened. My transfer to Boston saved me.” »

1980. The warriors exchanged the parish and the first round of the draft (which will be Kevin Mchale) Against Joe Barri Carroll and Ricky Brown. Everyone knows the rest: bird, Mchale and parish win three NBA titles. This exchange remains one of the worst in league history. KC Jones, who trains Carriers for two of those titles, explains that the pastor was the element that was most stuck in their philosophy.

“He’s teams of teams. She was a spine of Boston. He sacrificed his individual performances for the club’s property. Without him we would not be champions.” »

Therefore, a few more years later, the one who carried a double zero among the Celtic. In his last season, 11.7 points (49.1%), 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 against 27 minutes was published in Massachusetts. There is no reason to stop in Charlotte, because Robert comes out of other weapons to last and reflexes “-, swimming, a squeezing in it can hit the ball low as much as you want, there is no imaginative net) and joggiral”. No alcohol. “It took me 15 years to realize that alcohol dehydrates the body.” »

Without alcohol, but ginseng every day, meditation and jazz “, promote relaxation”. The image would be idyllic without discoveries, during the winter of 1992-93, marijuana in the letter intended for him … Kareem Abdul-Jabbar put an end in his career at 42 years. Robert parish will beat him softly. “As long as I can do my job on Earth, I continue, Then explains. Age means nothing to me. When I’m 50, yes, it will count. It will mean I will live half a century … “

The parish ignores at the time that only three years remained in the league. ShadowyAlonzo griefThe average falls to 4.8 points (4 times starter, 16 minutes leading time). The beginning of “Zo” for Miami in 1995. It does not change anything. He has 34 times, but his playing time still falls and his production. In 1996. year, “the boss” joined Chicago. Its contribution is completely anecdotal, but he conquers the fourth champion of the champion on a personal basis.

Four rings and place in the hall of fame

In 43, the parish slaughter. The third is an older player who played the NBA match after Nat Hickey (46, very exactly 45 years and 363 days 1948. years …) and Kevin Willis (44) who still dragged his carcass for American prosecution for several seasons. His record of 1,611 matches played – widespread of 21 seasons – not beaten.

In 1996, Paris’ Trio birds, he considered the best front all the time, joined the famous Club of 50 biggest players in history. Boston pulled his jersey 00. January 1998. On halftime of Celtic Pacchar’s match, which allowed Larry Bird, and then to Indiana coach, to participate in the ceremony. Five years later, “The boss” became a miracle hall.

The parish tried training in 2001. year in a small league team (Les Mariland Mustangs in the USBL). Twenty-five years after the end of his career, he left a double picture. It from shady and inefficient man. And that the player is nine times all stars (more than 14,000 jumps and more than 2,300 countercerts in career), pole of the legendary team and atypical turn: slim, a counterattack and decent halfway.

Like Abdul-Jabbbar with Skihook, the parish invented its special, very curved shot of suspension. Bill Walton, who was his teammate from 1985. to 87. years, said a day “Best man arrester” based on the address of the person concerned (53.7% in his free Beds and 72.1% in free throws).

How to read statistics? MJ = game is; Min = minutes; Snapshots = successful shots / tempted recordings; 3PTS = 3 points / 3 points attempt; LF = successfully free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive leap; Def = Defensive Jump; Tot = total jumps; PD = helps; FTE: Personal errors; Int = interception; Bp = lost bullets; CT: against; PTS = points.