•EDITOR’S NOTE: Please be advised that this is a special Overtime presentation dedicated to the life and times of Leroy Freeman. Scholar, husband, father, legend, friend!
:10—A clear recall growing up with “Leroy”…we’ll, call him “Leroy” right now. When I would visit my Aunt Jessie, God rest her soul, and my cousins “Bubble” and “Yi Yi”, yep, I said it, anyway, the walk up Charles Street to the park at age 7-8-9 was always headed by Leroy, and yes, he was the fastest, quickest, best jumper, best shooter, and best swimmer, even then.
:09—I wasn’t at Westinghouse High School when he played (I was at a real high school…Penn Hills! Let it go people. Keep it movin’. Save the hate for someone who cares. (C’mon, just jokin!) In any event, I will tell you what others told me. He was determined, aggressive and relentless, especially on the boards. So much so that “Freeman” made such a name for himself that the University of Pittsburgh gave him a full scholarship to play basketball.
:08—To be sure, at that time, a Pitt scholarship meant you were sitting on top of the world, but the view from where “Freeman” sat was not the one he envisioned. He was good enough and talented enough to be the premier player on the visiting scout team, but not enough to be a star on the Pitt team. Go figure.
:07—“Leroy Freeman” decided to take his show on the road to the University of Oklahoma Arts and Sciences with his future master, his basketball talent, and his amazing artistic skills. (He was so gifted, if you gave him a photo, he would return a painting exactly like the photo.) Some time later, he would become the winner of the Dapper Dan Artist Award of Pittsburgh.
:06—While at UOAS, Freeman achieved NAIA All-American status and national recognition that allowed him to enjoy several years with the New Orleans Jazz of the NBA.
:05—Now, perched back on top of the world, “Free” returned to establish his now legend asphalt status on the outdoor courts, and no, not just the Connie Hawkins Summer Basketball League, but everywhere. The Due Brown League, the Kinard League, the Crossan Tournament, Brookville Tournament, and he dominated everywhere he played.
:04—That domination was cemented when he defeated the great and legendary “Bobby Byrd,” he of Cosmic Echoes fame, and the Centre Avenue YMCA in an Ali-Frazier like one-on-one competition that drew so many people, it literally shut down Centre Avenue traffic for hours.
:03—The legend grew even greater when he and others from the CHL were cast in the cult classic “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh.” (Yes, if you re-watch the movie, you’ll see “Free.” And an added treat, you’ll see me in the movie for “5 seconds.” I know, you don’t care, but I told you anyway. Now shut up and keep reading.) For “Free” the movie wasn’t quite enough. One day, on a slow set, the elite guys were playing rise and fly. Long story short, “Free” sent the following names flying in this order: Eric Money – Boston Celtics, Norm Nixon – L.A. Lakers, Derek Shelton – Boston Celtics, and “Super Lou” Hudson – Atlanta Hawks. Yep, they’re all in the movie. You’ll see ‘em! End of the story though, Dr. J. got in the game and set “Free”…free! When I asked Free if he were playing for a bigger part in the movie, he said, “No. I’m playing to get back in the NBA. I need these guys to go back and tell their GM’s to come get me.”
:02—He figuratively and literally helped me build The Connie Hawkins League. He was a force of basketball. Poetry in motion…effortless, but intense. He could shoot it, handle it, “D” you up like you stole something and dunk on you in “Kobe” like fashion.
:01—Yes, he was a gifted artist, an educator, a proud member of Omega Psi Phi, coach, mentor, philosopher, husband, father, brother…all that, but basketball…man, that’s who “Free” was. He was that unstoppable force on the court that most others wanted to be like and none wanted to be in the way of!!!
:00—As I said when Jacquet Bazemore died, many of you didn’t show up that could have and should have, but you know who you are. You only want respect when it’s about you!!!
:00:00—DOUBLE OVERTIME
You will note in the photo featuring the greatest players in Pittsburgh history, Durrett, Coleman, Lucas, etc., there is an open space between Mel Bennett and Slaganski while everyone else is shoulder to shoulder. If Free had been in town for the game, he surely would have had his rightful place there…that’s powerful stuff man!
~ GAME OVER ~
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