The "Iceman" Cometh

[tekdragon]

The 'Iceman' cometh
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
By Dan Nilsen
[email protected] • 810.766.6184

It was the night before a game, and the Flint Pros were holding a strategy session after practice.

The opponent would be the Pontiac Capps, who had signed George Gervin after the Eastern Michigan University player was suspended for the 1972-73 season. Gervin had decided to turn pro rather than wait for his last two years of college, but he hadn't yet gained the fame he would earn as the "Iceman" of the San Antonio Spurs.

One of the Pros, however, knew of him already.

"He's unstoppable," said Earle Higgins.

"What do you mean?" asked Justus Thigpen, the former Flint Junior College and Weber State star. "How big is this guy?"

"Six-foot-7, 160 pounds."

"Wait a minute," Thigpen laughed, picturing a gangly beanpole.

"He's unstoppable," Higgins repeated.

The following snowy night, the game started without Gervin, who was stuck in traffic on I-75. When he did enter the Hamady High gym - flanked by friends on either side, a gangster-style hat ed jauntily to one side - the Pontiac coach, Rev. Roy White, immediately called timeout.

Gervin stripped down at the bench, his uniform already on underneath his street clothes, stepped on the court and, with no warmup, hit a shot from half-court on his first attempt.

"There's George Gervin," Higgins told Thigpen. "You're going to see him all night."

- Dan Nilsen

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Ice the gangsta.

Nice find.