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RIP Pearl Washington

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Steak Snabler, Apr 20, 2016.

  1. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    He was a real disappointment as a pro, given the hype. But he always seemed to just have fun playing the game. I think the Nets got him to replace Michael Ray Richardson when the drug ban hit. I also believe they gave the Pearl pretty good money for a rookie contract in those days. Maybe the expectations were too much to live up to -- in some ways he was set up for failure as a pro. I could never tell if he didn't take it seriously enough and he was out of shape, or if he was just naturally pudgy and should have been able to play that way. Either way, RIP.
     
  2. Stoney

    Stoney Well-Known Member

    The weight definitely hurt him in the pros. He always had the pudgy sort of build, but in the NBA he started to look downright fat. It ain't easy defending NBA point guards where you're carrying extra flab.

    Heavier players have a tendency to both peak and fade at earlier ages. And Pearl's a most dramatic example, dude peaked at around age 19.
     
  3. cranberry

    cranberry Well-Known Member

    Plenty of legends before him, but he built his reputation in Bed Stuy at a famous playground court called "the hole."
     
  4. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Loved watching him play, and the Big East was so much fun to watch back then. RIP
     
  5. MisterCreosote

    MisterCreosote Well-Known Member

    Thanks. I don't know why, but I thought Washington came around earlier than he did.
     
  6. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

    Pearl Jam ... Pearl Washington ... what's the third Pearl?
     
    Donny in his element likes this.
  7. CD Boogie

    CD Boogie Well-Known Member

    The Syracuse-G-Town matchups back then in the Big East tournament were incredible. The shake and bake crossover from a pudgy dude just defied athletic norms. Didn't realize he had first been diagnosed with a brain tumor 21 years ago.
     
  8. CD Boogie

    CD Boogie Well-Known Member

    Earl the Pearl Monroe
     
  9. Big Circus

    Big Circus Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]
     
    HanSenSE, Songbird and CD Boogie like this.
  10. Steak Snabler

    Steak Snabler Well-Known Member

  11. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

  12. Earthman

    Earthman Well-Known Member

    Pearl was the College Basketball version of Tebow. Both great college
    players with skill sets that did not translate to the pro game.
     
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