Bobby Slick Leonard - Boom, Baby!: My Basketball Life in Indiana

I dedicate this book to Nancy, my wife and love of my lifea beautiful, smart, loving, funny gal, tough and a little feisty, who always thinks of others before she thinks of herself.

At the time of this writing, we have just celebrated our 59 th year of marriage after starting our journey as freshmen at Indiana University.

Nancys been an inspiration to me and our five childrenTerry (our only girl), Bobby, Billy, Tommy, and Timmy. Okay, Bob, Bill, Tom, and Tim! Through all the ups and downs of everyday living, theres no doubt shes always had our backs.

Nancy is the first to admit shes a little demanding. Her philosophyeverything you say or do affects somebody elseeither good or bad. No gossiping, no lies, dont cheat, be respectful, give it everything youve got, love everyone, and always go to church on Sunday.

Now, to our kids. Thanks for enriching our lives with four great daughters-in-law: Tami, Susie, Kristin, and Kristy. And Larry, one super son-in-law. And the best grandkids, in order: Katie (Patrick), Elly (BJ), Bo, Nick, Tyler, Briana, Allison, Maizie, Hannah, Timmy II, Wyatt, Stella Mae, and our first great-grandchild, Aubrey Lynn.

Love you all!

Bob Leonard

Contents

Foreword by Larry Bird

I first met Bob Leonard when I was attending Indiana State in Terre Haute and playing basketball there. Bob was the coach of the Indiana Pacers at the time, and he wanted to meet with me to talk about possibly playing for the Pacers. I was eligible to be drafted because of the rules at the time, but I still had one more year to play for Indiana State and I wasnt thinking about the pros yet.

We met at a Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis. He knew a lot of people that I knew because he grew up in Terre Haute. I knew a lot about him from those people. I knew his background. We had similar backgrounds growing up in Indiana and had a lot in common.

I never played for Bob, but we became friends. I went to him for a lot of advice. He is an Indiana basketball historian. He can name all of the great high school players. Hell go down in history as one of the great Hoosier basketball minds. I went to him for a lot of things, and we both liked to drink beer and golf together. Ive had a lot of fun with Bob.

Ill see him and golf with him and visit with him in the summer.

One thing that was unbelievable to me about his athletic ability beyond basketball is how Slick won a high school tennis championship. He didnt even own a racket at first, and he practiced just by hitting the ball off the wall.

Sometimes after games people will stop and talk to him. They recognize him and just want to talk about the Pacers. Slick is a friendly guy. He never forgets your name when he sees you, and everybody knows him. Theres no question that he is the face of the Indiana Pacers. They wouldnt be here without Slickand without the help of his wife, Nancy. They ran a telethon to help save the Pacers when the team was having hard times. Everybody knows that.

And Boom, Baby! Hes got that tradition going. If you say Slick Leonard, youre saying Indiana Pacers.

Larry Bird grew up in French Lick, Indiana, was one of the best Indiana high school basketball players in history, and was an All-American at Indiana State in Terre Haute, Bob Leonards home town. Later, Bird was a many-time NBA All-Star for the Boston Celtics and is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. After retiring as a player, Bird coached the Indiana Pacers, at one time was named Coach of the Year. He now serves as the Pacers president of basketball operations and won the NBAs Executive of the Year award. Leonard was a Pacers broadcaster during Birds tenure as coach and team executive.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments of the Journey

F irst, Ray and Hattie Leonard. Mom and Dad gave life a battle when times were really tough.

Donna (Max) and Darlene (Don)two great sisters.

The Marines in the predominately Catholic neighborhood who came back from many beachheads in the South Pacific. Their return to Gerstmeyer Tech to finish high school. The basketball goal they built down the alley. Its where I really started the journey.

Howard Sharpe, the great fundamental basketball coach at Gerstsmeyer. All the teachers and my high school teammates.

Branch McCrackenthe Big Bearwho coached us at Indiana Uni- versity to two Big Ten Championships and the 1953 National Champ-ionship. Lou Watson our freshman coach, Ernie Andres our varsity assistant coach, and my outstanding IU teammates.

Reverend Merrill B. McFall of Bloomingtons United Methodist Church, who baptized me at the age of 19.

The Reserve Officers Training Corp of Indiana. As Cadet Colonel, I was given the opportunity to advance my leadership skills.

All my army buddies at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Nancys parents, Roy and Roberta Root, and sister Joyce (Joe), my home away from home.

Teammates and coaches during my playing years with the Minneapolis and then Los Angeles Lakers.

The owners who invested their time and money to bring Indiana a professional basketball team. The stat crew, all the fans, TV and radio personnel, unbelievable community supportall contributed to the early glory days of the Indiana Pacers.

The exceptionally talented Pacers players who brought us three American Basketball Associations championships. It has been a privilege and honor to be their coach and friend.

My pals at Plum Creek Golf Course in Carmel, Indiana.

And last, all the fun years doing radio with my broadcasting partner and Hall of Famer, Mark Boyle: Boom, Baby! The Wicked Witch is dead!

Bob Leonard

Introduction

B ob Leonard is a basketball lifer, one of the few lucky enough to spend virtually his entire life involved with the sport he loves and a huge percentage of his time within the state of Indiana, where he grew up, attended college, and experienced his greatest professional success.

The genial and popular Hoosier icon nicknamed Slick was born in the state that loves basketball the most, and he has contributed mightily to the lives of those who consider hoops to be the most important element in their lives aside from inhaling and exhaling.

Basketball led Leonard out of a life of childhood poverty and provided him with opportunities that relieved hard times and carried him to state and nationwide respect and fame.

A graduate of Terre Haute Gerstmeyer where he was a high school star, the 6'3" Leonard became one of the cornerstones of Branch McCrackens Hurryin Hoosiers teams that won the 1953 NCAA basketball title for Indiana University. Those Hoosiers finished 233, defeating Kansas for the crown in Kansas City. Leonard scored 1,098 points for the Hoosiers from 195154 during an era when freshmen were not eligible for the varsity and there were no three-point shots.

Leonard was chosen for All-American teams in 1953 and 1954, and his picture adorns walls at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, where the team plays its home games. Leonard was a first-team Big Ten selection in 1953 and 1954.

Slick was drafted to play in the NBA during that leagues growing pains of the 1950s and split his time between the Minneapolis Lakers 195660, the Los Angeles Lakers 196061 in their first year on the West Coast after the franchise shifted from the Midwest, the expansion Chicago Packers in 196162, and the Chicago Zephyrs for the 196263 season after they changed nicknames. In 1962, Leonard became a player-coach for Chicago in time for the club to move to Baltimore for the 196364 season when they became the Bullets. Over the course of seven NBA seasons, Leonard averaged just about 10 points per game.