Thank you!

I'd like to thank all the well-wishers who reached out to wish me a happy birthday. It is different from those days when they went by with impunity. But in any event it's nice to know you guys care.
I've yet to figure out what beach to go to but we've found the Dragon Inn film I would like to see again. UCLA is going to screen it for me so watch my blog and I'll invite as many of you as I can to the screening. And last but not least, I've got a lead on the Continental Divide Trail ride I'd like to undertake thanks to all your help. Best wishes to Kim and Jameson in Playa.
Your K.

Comments

[Clint Eastwood]

Kareem, go ahead and make it you day. Happy Birthday....

[Steve Schwartz]

Happy Birthday from one old Bruin (class of '72 and a huge UCLA basketball fan) to a slightly older one! Many, many more!

[pfunk36]

Happy Birthday Kareem

Will you ever coach in the NBA? You can't be any worse than Phil Jackson.........and he has 9 titles!

[Bill S.]

Happy Birthday Kareem. I hope I'm in as good shape as you are when I turn 61. Dragon Inn, I don't think I've seen that one but you never know what life will bring you. You inspire my girls with all your successes, Thanks for being a hero (the world needs heroes that motivate all of us to achieve higher values). Kick back, relax and enjoy!!!

[Rocky]

Happy Birthday Kareem!

[Daniel Gonzalez Jr.]

Happy Birthday to the best ! And to the all-time "King of the Sky Hook" Long live Kareem, my god be with you and your family and thank you for all you've done for the sport and humanity, Thank you and Happy Birthday !!!

"33"

[Bilgehan]

Happy Birthday Kareem!!
Best of luck for your documentary.

[Beverly Kamber]

Happy Birthday, Kareem and ThANK YOU, thank you, thank you for writing "On the Shoulders of Giants" which I just finished. I learned sooo much and loved it sooo that I hated for it to end. I wanted it to go on and on. I'll be looking for the film, I think you said was being worked on presently.

As a UCLA basketball season ticket holder, never missing a home game at Pauley the past 20 years, please know the affection I/we have for you and John Wooden as well. When you are in Pauley...like for the dedication of the Nell and John Wooden Court and other recent special events, the love you have for John Wooden and vice versa...is absolutely palpable throughout Pauley and so emotional for all of us who feel the same. Thank you for allowing us to share in that love...for both of you.

I'm reading "Kareem" now and enjoying it immensely. I'm so glad you have found writing and history to be so fulfilling 'cause its a wonderful gift to your adoring , respectful fans. Keep on!

Again Happy Birthday....and a great big THANK YOU!

Most Fondly,

Beverly Kamber

[Steve Herzberg]

Many years ago, when I was young, and you were younger, I was a yell leader at UCLA. In my senior year, I was on the floor when your freshman team play the varsity. I knew you were destined for stardom.

What I didn't know was that your real stardom would come from the way you have lived your life both on and off the floor.

I think I am most proud of your Bruin heritage when your intelligence, commitment and sincerity are displayed to the world.

You are a constant inspiration -- a role model for the student athlete -- a beacon that there is more to going to school than playing ball.

I love the UCLA commercial -- it says a lot about you, a lot about us and a lot about UCLA.

Happy Birthday.

sjh

[Steve Herzberg]

Many years ago, when I was young, and you were younger, I was a yell leader at UCLA. In my senior year, I was on the floor when your freshman team play the varsity. I knew you were destined for stardom.

What I didn't know was that your real stardom would come from the way you have lived your life both on and off the floor.

I think I am most proud of your Bruin heritage when your intelligence, commitment and sincerity are displayed to the world.

You are a constant inspiration -- a role model for the student athlete -- a beacon that there is more to going to school than playing ball.

I love the UCLA commercial -- it says a lot about you, a lot about us and a lot about UCLA.

Happy Birthday.

sjh

[Hector Martinez]

Happy birthday to the greatest basketball player on the planet and the master and creater of the "Skyhook"!!!

Kareem, you will always be my hero and I am truly greatful to have finally met you. You are one in ten million and I thank you for your generosity. Please let me know when you will be coming to the Olympic Tower so that I may have on hand a copy of the "Dragon Inn" on DVD for you. Question: are you looking for the 60's version or the early 90's remake? Please let me know as I have both of them.

I wish you health, peace, prosperity and longevity!

With great respect and admiration,

Hector Martinez (Mario Argote's friend and security at the Olympic Tower)

[Hector Martinez]

Happy birthday to the greatest basketball player on the planet and the master and creater of the "Skyhook"!!!

Kareem, you will always be my hero and I am truly greatful to have finally met you. You are one in ten million and I thank you for your generosity. Please let me know when you will be coming to the Olympic Tower so that I may have on hand a copy of the "Dragon Inn" on DVD for you. Question: are you looking for the 60's version or the early 90's remake? Please let me know as I have both of them.

I wish you health, peace, prosperity and longevity!

With great respect and admiration,

Hector Martinez (Mario Argote's friend and security at the Olympic Tower)

[Ariunbold]

Happy Birthday, Kareem!

[Tarik BOUKHATEM]

Hi,

I'm from paris and i love the nba basketball
i want to wish a happy birthday to one of greatest player of nba history Mr Abdul Jabbar!!!
The Skyhook man!

Happy 61 Kareem and hope to see you more for long time!
bye

Tarikson

[christian A.K.A StYlEZ]

HAPPY B-DAY MR.NBA

Hope all ya dreams come true

[Jaabir]

Assalamualaikum, Kareem.

Have a nice day. Hope you and the lakers make it far in the playoffs.

[Syin]

Happy birthday to you, Kareem, my childhood idol!!

Growing up in the 70's and 80's, I would always watch whatever Lakers game I could catch on TV and see the Master of the Skyhook dominate the Lakers' opponents. I also had a few opportunities to see you in person during your frequent vacations in Hawaii - my most vivid memory was when you personally autographed my poster of you doing the skyhook at the Ala Moana Robins shoe store shortly after you retired from basketball. I still have the poster to this day and cherish it as much as the day that it was signed by you.

I wish you great health, prosperity, and much success in all of your endeavors. Hopefully, we will see more of you in the future in Hawaii (Hanalei!!!) and maybe at the Lakers training camp.

Best regards
Syin

[skyhook_bruin]

Happy Birthday Cap!

[Lucia]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREEM!

61 years?.............. What is your secret?.........

Kisses

Lucia (Spain)-Europe

[mary LB]

Yes, happy birthday~that is what I stopped by to say after noticing it in the Pocono Record early today.

Birthdays tend to make me look back over life~the days of black and white small screen TV's when stations stopped airing at midnight~the turbulent 1960s and all that followed.

Quite amazing to be able to instantly send a greeting to a much admired man.

[Eduardo Hugo Gil]

Happy birthday, Kareem! You, Bill Brady, and Dean Smith will always give me hope for the idea of the scholar/athlete.

[Bygbaby]

Happy birthday!!! I m digging the vibe on your blog.

Bygbaby

[punzki]

Happy birthday Kareem!

I'm not old enough to have been able to watch you play in the NBA, but I do know my NBA history and I know you are truly one of the greatest players of all time. Not just for your contributions on the court, but also off it.

Love the blog, keep up the good work!

[MsJumper]

Assalamualaikum Kareem - and Happy Birthday.... You're truly an inspiration and most deserving of all the Happy Birthdays you'll ever have..... the secret is simple....keep waking up. Thanks for al lthe memories that you both share and evoke our minds to resurrect.

Peace be Unto You...

[Laura]

Happy Birthday kid ! I'm a bit ahead of you on the baby-boomer time line, but we were at UCLA at the same time, back in the day. Hope your birthday celebration is a good one.

[Younas Mallick]

Asalam o'alaikum!
Happy birthday my brother. God bless you and your family!
Peace..
//
Younas, Sweden.

[Jon K.]

Happy Birthday, Kareem!

I'd go to a small, nameless beach about a mile and a half north of County Line. Isolated. You can bring your dog. A great place to get away.

[Glenn]

Try Belize, Central America, Cap. It's a unique experience, and very special for conscious people, particularly Afro-Americans.

[TheFaze]

Happy Birthday!

If Bynum can't make it, do you think you can bring the skyhook out of retirement??

Hahahaha...j/k! I wish you all the best, and I enjoy your relevent and thoughtful entries in your blog. Keep up the GREAT work!

Peace. :)

[Palomino]

Hey Kareem,
On your birthday in 2001, I took my first steps north on the Pacific Crest Trail at the Mexican border near Campo. I chose that day to leave on my quest to hike 2,650 miles to Canada to honor you as a champion and to inspire me to get the most out of myself. My career as a high school teacher allows me to hike the trail 4-5 weeks every summer. This year, if all goes well, I will complete the journey in Manning Park, British Columbia. When I get to the border, I'm going to throw a ceremonial sky hook up to the Sun and shout, "Yeah, Cap!" just for old times sakes. Thanks for being a great example for all of us over the years and most recently, thanks for letting us get to know you a little better through your writing. All the best, Palomino

[Marsha Keating]

Happy Belated Birthday, Kareem,

You are such a special person and have been so very kind to my daughter, Kim, and my grandson, Jameson. I don't think you know how much of a fan my daughter has been of yours. She had your jersey number when she played basketball in high school. Thank you for being such a good friend to her. BTW--I'm a big fan, too!!

Thanks again,

Respectfully Yours,

Marsha Keating

[fred warrick]

you can't be 61

I just watched you score on a baseline skyhook over Hank Finkel to win a double OT playoff game...

[Ralph Morgan]

Kareem,
Happy (belated) birthday. In honor of my 60th year, I am writing some stories of my life history. I thought I would pass along one that included you.
At 6’7” with only average skills, I managed to become third string center for Stanford in 1967. We were heading south to play UCLA, the most dominant team with the most dominant player in college basketball – Lou Alcindor. (Later, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he set a record for career points in the NBA.) We had just beaten USC to remain undefeated in league when we faced the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion.
It is hard to describe how good those UCLA teams were or how amazing Lou Alcindor was. I couldn’t help but stare down to the Bruin end of the court to watch him as we warmed-up. The rumor was that he could pick quarters off the top of the backboard. I wanted to see him do it.
During practice the previous week, coach had asked me to play the role of Alcindor in the UCLA offense. I set up in the low post on the left side and they threw the ball in to me. I took one dribble to my left, turned, and jumped, swinging my right arm and the ball in a wide arc to do my best imitation of Alcindor’s famous “sky hook”. It swished right through the net. Coach stopped practice and just looked at me with his mouth open. “Where did that come from?” he finally said. I lived for those kind of moments in practice.
UCLA absolutely killed us. The final score was 116-78, but the game wasn’t even that close! I don’t think our defensive practice made much difference. Alcindor scored 37 points on 16 for 19 shooting. With about seven minutes left in the game, the score was 101-54. Coach sent me in for the first time (as a gesture of surrender I guess). I swear I have no memory of this (because the whole situation was so overwhelming), but my Dad claimed that I fouled Alcindor before coach John Wooden could take him out of the game. I would later joke that Coach Wooden took Alcindor out because he was afraid I might hurt him. ( ! )

Thanks for the memories.
Ralph (Stanford '69)

[Jason Rankin]

Hey big fella,

Great to see you're aging gracefully, sorry but happy belated birthday!

[Jesse Henderson]

Hey Kareem,

I am actually your greatest fan. 42 y.o. now and I used to
have all your pics in my little bedroom in Alabama (about 5 miles from where Barkly grew up) ... I actually cut (this is funny) a bald spot in the middle of my head when I was
about 12 years old to try to emulate you when you were about 36-37 years old. My friends would actually remind me when my hair was growing back so I could cut it again... Man... The influence athletes have on kids

Cap... You are the greatest (You and Ali :)