Len Bias-20 Years Today

[El Mudo]

<img src='http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/homepage/hp6-18-06pp.jpg' border=0>

Today is the 20th Anniversary of Len Bias' death....One of the darker moments in the history of my beloved University of Maryland, and college sports in general

Unfortunately, I never got to saw Bias play, but it's still pretty hard to describe my feelings when it comes to that whole situation

Its just something that makes you shake your head and walk away slowly

I walk by that dorm sometimes when I'm on campus, and it just makes me so angry to think that someone had all that talent and all that ability to bring joy to other people, and just threw it all away on one dumb act

What a damn shame

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 6-19-06 @ 11:28 AM</span>

[Furtherman]

I remember that, but not all of the details.&nbsp; He was signed to the NBA and that night he went out and did blow for the first time and it killed him?

[AKA]

<strong>Furtherman</strong> wrote:<br />I remember that, but not all of the details.&nbsp; He was signed to the NBA and that night he went out and did blow for the first time and it killed him? <p>Less than 48 hours after being selected by the Boston Celtics as the second player over all in the NBA draft, Len (who was only 22) suffered&nbsp;from fatal&nbsp;heart attack&nbsp;from a cocaine overdose. He's maybe one of the greatest &quot;what ifs&quot; in basketball, if not sports.</p><p>Mike Krzyzewski (Duke): &nbsp;&quot;There have been two opposing players who have really stood out: Michael Jordan and Len Bias.&quot;</p>

[A.J.]

<p>This was one of my choices for <a href="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/viewmessages.cfm/Forum/82/Topic/50788/page/Most_Crushing_Sports_Moments" target="_self">Most Crushing Sports Moments</a>.</p><p>My Celtics just won title #16 and Red Auerbach scored a Number 2 pick in the draft with which the Celtics choce Bias, probably the most exciting ACC player since Jordan.&nbsp; Had he lived the Celtics dynasty may have lasted longer since his playing time could have meant more rest time for the aging Bird and McHale.&nbsp; I remember watching that story break on ESPN.&nbsp; It seemed so soon to go from the elation of getting him in the draft, and the depression of watching a superb talent thrown away.</p>

[PapaBear]

<p>That was a sad time. Even worse... in 1990, his little brother was gunned down at mall around here.</p><p>The #1 sick joke that was&nbsp;going around&nbsp;at the time that Len died was, &quot;What did Len Bias and Rock Hudson have in common? They both got ahold of some bad crack.&quot;</p>

[DESERTEAGLE.50]

<font size="4"><strong>I have a full-size, signed poster of Len Bias from his freshman year.&nbsp; Maybe now is the time to pull it out.&nbsp; Ew.<br />
</strong></font>

[Bama]

That story made me feel young. He died about a year before I discovered basketball.