Mind Games: 76ers Championship Memories

The ability to conjure up flowery visions in winter might provide eternal romantics and horticultural enthusiasts with a measure of comfort for their doldrums, but not passionate sports fans. Avid game watchers would change the quote to read, ‘God gave us memory so that we might have championships in the off-season!’

Basketball fans in Philadelphia with a memory bank that stretches back to 1982-83 will mark with great affection this 20th anniversary of the 76ers championship season. It was a magical NBA campaign that began with the dramatic signing of an All-Star free agent as the missing piece to a winning puzzle and ended with a parade that drew an estimated two million of the team’s closest friends who gathered to revel and salute their hardwood heroes.

“There are no guarantees in the world of professional sports,” said former 76ers Business Manager John Nash, “however by signing Moses Malone we believed the team would be poised for greatness and could deliver a basketball championship to Philadelphia.”

Team owner Harold Katz was determined to bring Malone to the City of Brotherly Love, but it would not be easy or inexpensive.

“We met with Moses’ representatives,” recalled Nash, “at a hotel in New York and worked around the clock to iron out a deal because Moses was leaving for an extended European tour with Nike the next day. We finally came to an agreement at around 3 o’clock in the morning, a six-year deal for a then staggering $13.2 million. The only thing left to do was toss the ball up and play the games.”

Our memories on events a couple of decades old seem to travel on two different paths. Some moments rush to our consciousness with such clarity it would appear impossible for them to have occurred so long ago, while other mental gems slowly appear from the buried treasure of our mind.

“I recall we had a 3-0 lead against the Lakers heading into Game 4,” said Orlando Magic General Manager John Gabriel who served as the Sixers’ video coordinator during the championship season, “but there was never any sense of a letdown or coasting to the finish line. I just remember the players and coaches being so focused on completing the task we set out to do from the first day of training camp.”

Indeed from day one, head coach Billy Cunningham, along with his assistant coaches Matt Guokas and the late Jack McMahon, Sr., masterfully defined each player’s role and blended this group of talented athletes into a juggernaut that compiled a regular season record, 65-17, that is tied for the 11th best mark in NBA history.

If you close your eyes and allow yourself to be taken back to the era that helped create today’s retro jersey phenomenon, you can see this team for the ages devouring their opponents on the Spectrum floor. Back to a time when players’ shorts were short and their socks were long. To 1982-83, when we were given a glimpse of the future with the introduction of camcorders and CD’s, and a long look at a dominating brand of basketball that would stand the test of time.

Eyes closed, you are lost in thought and your pictures now have sound. You can hear legendary public address announcer Dave Zinkoff crank up his vocal cords and proclaim to all of South Philadelphia, “here are your 76ers!”

Julius Erving is first because he was born to lead. A better person than he was a player, and in his day on the court, Dr. J. was without equal. His highlight reel has many moments to choose from, but the windmill dunk coming out of the left corner of your screen over a cowering Michael Cooper is a good place to start.

Moses Malone flashes onto your mental screen, relentlessly rebounding every missed shot. You hear the horn sound and onto the court steps Clemon Johnson. The opposition quickly realizes Malone’s understudy is no bit player as he floats in a soft jumper and bottles up the middle of the Sixers’ defense. A quick mental edit and there is Earl Cureton hounding Kareem Abdul Jabbar in Game #2 of the Finals. And out of sight but not out of mind is Mark McNamara, watching and learning in his role as a rookie apprentice.

The starting backcourt comes into focus and you see a deadly fire and ice combination of Andrew Toney and Maurice Cheeks. “The Boston Strangler” is slicing up defenders and stabbing jackknife jumpers from everywhere south of half court. That siren-like wailing you hear is Billy C. screaming Andrew’s name from the sideline. Every successful high-powered team needs a cool, steady driver and Maurice is behind the wheel for the Sixers, running their offense at one end of the floor and disrupting the opponents game plan at the other end. Don’t adjust your volume, Mo let’s his game do his talking.

Changing highlight reels brings a changing of the guards; Clint Richardson and Franklin Edwards are now in view. Clint is tough to distinguish because he looks surgically attached to the player he is guarding. This soft-spoken man has locked up more shooters than a big city judge. Cut to Franklin’s slashing style and Cheshire cat smile. His last second winning basket in Game #3 against the Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs could not have happened to a nicer person.

Zink just informed the crowd, “Sixers call time!” as only he can, and team mascot, Big Shot leads the frenzied faithful in his rendition of “Shout!” Get up and dance if the spirit moves you, but pace yourself because you will be needed later to provide vocal support in chanting “Dee-fense!” and “Beat L.A.!”

Fast forward your mental tape and fast forward Bobby Jones appears. Can you fine-tune the image of his steal, midair pirouette and assist on a critical basket in overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game #1 of the Eastern Conference Finals? There is no need to check the mute button during this modest gentle man’s highlights - he is a silent classic.

The other half of the mid-season Johnson acquisitions, Reggie Johnson, provided another offensive weapon off the bench during the regular season run to the playoffs. And last, but certainly not least, is Marc Iavaroni, the ultimate role player. A basketball warrior who adapted his game for the blue-collar tasks required and now walks forever as the starting power forward on one of the NBA’s all-time great team’s.

The broom’s are out in force for the 76ers clean sweep of the Lakers, the parade floats are rolling and the sounds of “Celebration!” by Kool and the Gang fill the bright afternoon skies. Wonderful memories to cherish for every person capable of accessing the sports euphoria in Philadelphia during the 1982-83 basketball season. We savor these moments because time and experience have taught us championships are not the easy pickings of low hanging fruit. The price for the sweet taste of athletic success is high.

“With room at the top for only winner, sports can be a very painful occupation or hobby,” said Pat Williams, former General Manager and championship architect of the 76ers for 12 seasons. “Every person who makes an emotional investment in a team will spend most of their sports life in pain. But when those rare moments of joy, exultation and ultimate fulfillment do come, we must be certain to treasure them forever.”

So give thanks for the gift of a good memory and, if so inclined, to have roses in December. But for those whose feet and seat are planted firmly in the world of sports, I wish you championship memories every off-season!