Gary Brown: Remembering Willis Reed's big game

I remember that I was sitting on a bunk bed in a crowded dorm room of my northwest Ohio university almost five decades ago when the late Willis Reed hobbled onto the court to lead his New York Knicks to victory in the seventh game of the National Basketball League championship finals.

That game took place on May 8, 1970 – I looked it up – and was likely the defining game in the career of the 19-year career of the then-injured Reed, who died last week at age 80.

It also, for some inexplicable reason, is one of the strongest memories of my time in college.

I was finishing up my freshman year at the time, still welcoming new experiences and relationships, so I have a multitude of other lingering recollections from that time, of course. Touch football games on the lawn beside my dormitory and pickup basketball games at the nearby gymnasium with guys in my dorm wing.

My first date as a college student, I remember, was with a girl I took to a John Denver concert offered for free for incoming freshmen on our first weekend at school. My last classes that year were four days before, on the morning of the May 4 shootings at Kent State University.

I remember gathering outside on my school's campus for speeches and memorial services in the days that followed the shootings at a campus two hours away from mine. Classes temporarily were canceled at my university after the shootings, as they were at schools across the country. Eventually students were sent home.

We had plenty of time in the interim for gathering to watch a relatively insignificant sporting event, a game that wasn't supposed to end up as a fond memory.

Rooting for the underdogs

In the manner of a record-setting attempt at stuffing bodies into a phone booth, there were 17 guys in a small dorm room – I counted – the day of that final game of the championship series between the Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Others dropped by for brief periods during the game or stuck heads into the room to ascertain the score of the contest.

Few of us were Knicks fans and most rooted for the Lakers. Having grown up in western New York, I was one of three guys who favored the Knicks, and was subjected to confident claims that the East Coast team stood little chance against the West Coasters led by the great Wilt Chamberlain.

Reed was the leader of a strong squad that included Walt Frazier, Dick Barnett, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Cazzie Russell, Dave Stallworth and other such secondary stars as Mike Riordan, Don May, Bill Hosket and John Warren. But, Reed had been injured in the series and didn't even play in the sixth game. His presence in the deciding contest was questionable. And when he walked onto the court – late after receiving treatment – to test his hobbled leg in practice before the game, he limped noticeably.

"I think we see Willis coming out," one of the announcers said, as his partner in the broadcasting booth introduced him to viewers as "6-foot-10 from Grambling."

I remember fans screaming. "Willis is going to play," as those who were there record them shouting.

Remembering a victory

The "captain" of the Knicks made his first two shots – scored the first four of the Knicks' points – to further cheers of the crowd. As I recall, he played only half of the game after that and scored no more points. Still, his effort on one leg was enough to propel New York to a 113-99 victory over Los Angeles.

And it created a lasting memory for Knicks fans.

I'm not sure what about the moment was memorable for me. It had to be more than a mere memory of my team's title.

I'd like to say that Reed's effort helped teach me to work hard toward a goal. But, in reality, I could have learned more about a work ethic from my father, who toiled long hours as a carpenter, six days a week, seldom taking vacations.

In the end, I don't think any of us area aware at the time what moments in our lives we will remember so much later.

I've often wondered if Willis Reed ever knew that he created one.

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Gary Brown: Remembering Willis Reed's big game from 1970