PORTSMOUTH — Reunions are a special time. It’s where people gather to reminisce about a place and around people who helped make them who they are today.
On Friday, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament offered that opportunity when it paid tribute to the Virginia Squires, who gave Hampton Roads its only taste of major professional sports.
Many of the greats returned to Hampton Roads for a special day that included a sold-out evening event.
“The nice thing is there’s been very little communication with these guys throughout the years, but yet when you come back, it feels like you’ve never been away,” said David Twardzik, the former Old Dominion great who played four seasons with the Squires and was the starting guard on the Portland Trail Blazers team that won the 1977 NBA Finals. “You pick up right where you left off. And the other nice thing is everybody who’s in attendance here, they’re very nice guys.”
Jim Eakins, who finished his career as the Squires’ all-time leading scorer and rebounder, was all smiles as the greeted former teammates.
“It just brings so many memories back,” he said. “We look at each other and see how much we’ve changed over the years. But we still have the memories and the laughs, and everything we shared together. It’s just a fantastic time.”
Eakins and Twardzik joined many others on Friday, including Hall of Famers Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Charlie Scott and George Gervin. The players enjoyed one another, but also spoke fondly about those who have passed, including, owner Earl Foreman, coach Al Bianchi, star player Roland “Fatty” Taylor and longtime trainer Robert “Chopper” Travaglini.
And whenever there is a reunion, you can expect many interesting stories.
I heard some good ones when I asked players about Gervin.
Nicknamed “The Iceman” for his cool demeanor on the court, Gervin was playing for the Pontiac Chaparrals of the Continental Basketball Association when his play caught the eye of Johnny Kerr, then the vice president of basketball operations for the Virginia Squires. Kerr then made a phone call to Foreman.
Foreman was so intrigued that he flew Gervin and his high school coach, Willie Merriweather, to Norfolk to see him in person.
“He was out there just shooting around, when Bianchi said, ‘Can George really shoot like they say?’ ” said Merriweather, who attended the reunion as Gervin’s guest. “I said, ‘He can outshoot Dr. J.’ They said, ‘I don’t believe it.’ I said, ‘Watch.’ I put him out there on the court and George shot like five or six 3-pointers, and hit them all. (Bianchi) said, ‘We’re signing him, we’re signing him.’ ”
Gervin chuckles as he recalls the story.
“They signed me on the spot,” he said. “I’m probably the only person in ABA and NBA history that shot for his contract.”
I asked Gervin if he felt any pressure about the impromptu tryout.
“Not at all. I knew I could shoot the basketball with the best of them. It proved me right because it got me a check,” Gervin said, bursting into laughter.
His former teammates vouch for how good he was.
“George is one of the most creative guys I have ever seen offensively,” Twardzik said. “He was incredible. Uncanny scoring ability. And an awesome guy.”
Eakins said everyone on the team knew Erving and Scott would be stars. But some, including himself, questioned Gervin’s greatness early on.
“I did not see. I saw glimpses of it,” he said. “But then after practice one day, Doc said, ‘That guy is going to be a star.’ I thought, ‘Really?’ So I started watching his game then, and then I said, ‘Yeah, he’s going to be a star.’ ”
Gervin credited Merriweather for preparing him at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High in Detroit. He was just 5-foot-9 as a freshman, but sprouted to 6-6 the following year. As a senior, he averaged 31 points and 20 rebounds to lead his school to the state quarterfinals.
“He trained me in high school and showed me the fundamentals of basketball,” Gervin said. “And the fundamentals he showed me gave me a foundation to grow. I credit him with that aspect of my game to give me an opportunity to be the player that I became. Everybody needs somebody, and he was my somebody back then. On the floor and off.”
Merriweather was a legend in his own right. He was a teammate of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson at Crispus Attucks High in Indianapolis that won the 1955 state title. He later starred at Purdue University, where he was named an All-American and was inducted into the Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame. He also was an alternate on 1960 U.S. Olympic team.
But back then, there weren’t many opportunities for Blacks to play pro basketball. He ended up coaching and spending decades as an educator.
He saw something special in Gervin.
“Basketball was his life. He was very coachable,” Merriweather said. “When he came here and started in the pro league, that was another step up. When he could handle that, he was on his way.”
Gervin, 71, said he worked on his game tirelessly.
“I just didn’t love the game of basketball. I was in love with it,” he said. “When you’re in love with something, you do all you can to be the best that you can at it.”
Gervin is also appreciative of everything that’s come his way through basketball, including how Foreman gave him a chance. Which is why when he saw Foreman’s son, Scott, at the reunion, he gave him a hug.
“I told him, ‘Thank you for your dad.’ And I told him how much his dad meant to me and for giving me an opportunity to be able to showcase my skills,” he said. “Without Earl and having a franchise, I don’t know where I would have been.”
Gervin has never forgotten where he’s come from. Because of what others have done for him, he gives back.
He started several charter schools in San Antonio called the George Gervin Academy. He also started the George Gervin Preparatory School in Phoenix.
“I started a charter school 30 something years ago because it’s necessary,” said Gervin, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996 and was selected one of the top 50 players in NBA history. “A lot of kids want to play ball like me, but only a half a percent make it. So I tell kids how important education is. I got kids who graduated from my school who went to college and graduated, came back to work at my schools, and now their kids go to my school.”
Giving back is all he knows because he knows others gave to him.
“It’s up to us as grown folks to teach young folks a better way,” he said. “My responsibility as an older man is to teach a younger man to be a better man. That’s my responsibility, whether I want to accept it or not.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
