Remembering Gus Williams

It is remembering and in doing so, regarding the superb player, Gus Williams from nearby Mount Vernon, New York, who died days back, too young at 71—it is a Sunday afternoon game 3 (last pre Larry and Earvin “Magic” and one without either for 11 years hence, NBA final and Gus and the Seattle SuperSonics and Washington Bullets are tied (1-1),– I sense a “Sea” runaway and on my play by play, forever to be I write these 45 years later, in front of a television– not there, “Monami Gus” fires from 17, me as almost always on the play—goood!!

Seattle, now the Oklahoma Thunder eased in that #3, struggled but won an 11:30 Eastern time, but at least live #4 (even Earvin “Magic’s” in ’80 and Larry’s a year later were telecast on delayed tape) and on June 1st, avenged the previous season’s 7 game final round loss to the Washington Bullets, now the Wizards.

Rather than pontificate regarding the typical foolishness that changes a team nickname while guns proliferate with powers behind such thinking, I recall Gus Williams as “The Wizard.”

Those Sea/Wash ’78 and ’79 final rounds with such players as Gus (Monami Gus was a thoroughbred horse), Dennis Johnson, Bob Dandridge and Elvin Hayes were fine, not the eventual Larry/Earvin and others, that really helped the NBA, but entertaining, albeit sans good TV ratings and deemed (-), as that is how it gets “wagged.”

Gus held out for the entire ’80-’81 season and he and his female companion walked by me, as I was sitting at the then 7 Stars Diner, one fairly late night during that time.

I think we said hello. I know I can still see him walking by. A metaphor, if ever —

Regrets include not seeing him as the great high school player, on one of many great Mount Vernon basketball teams, that he was.

What teams, his Mount Vernon and Sonics! His brother Ray also gone too soon. Another David was with him at the end.

While “Horse” is still in a Montana barn, this confluence of events day go find D.J. (the great Denis Johnson) as G-d, far too early has reunited another great backcourt duo.

Gus Williams, pictured above is considered great. His achievements would have been considered even greater, save the fact his rookie season/defending champion Golden State Warriors lost a 1976/’ #7/semis “dark match” (a pro wrestling term for an entity we did not see on that “box”) to Phoenix.

With Gus and a developing Phil Smith, Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes’ Warriors were even better than the title winning team of ’75, however failed to “title.”

Oh could Gus play!!