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

[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 :)