RIP Pearl Washington

[Steak Snabler]

Brain tumor:

http://cuse.com/news/2016/4/20/Pearl42016.aspx

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Whoa. RIP.
That was the first college team I really loved. Him and seikely and young Derrick Coleman. So much talent.

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

Always jarring to see thread titles like this. Was this known? I hadn't heard anything about it.

 

[cranberry]

Wow. I covered the Big East (UConn) during his heyday. Loved watching Pearl.

 

[Stoney]

Whoa. RIP.
That was the first college team I really loved. Him and seikely and young Derrick Coleman. So much talent.

He never played with Derrick Coleman.

 

[Songbird]

Grew up in L.A. but loved and came of age with the Big East -- and Pearl was probably my first favorite Big East player (even though I hated Syracuse).

 

[MisterCreosote]

RIP.

Wasn't he one of the first, or most prominent, of the so-called "playground legends?"

 

[Earthman]

He never played with Derrick Coleman.

Yeah Sherman Douglas was the PG in Coleman's time and then took Pearl's place
on The Heat.

 

[Earthman]

RIP.

Wasn't he one of the first, or most prominent, of the so-called "playground legends?"

Came along later. The original legends were Connie Hawkins and Roger Brown. Then came Herman The Helecopter, Earl Manigault and Fly Williams and a guy named Dr J

 

[Steak Snabler]

RIP.

Wasn't he one of the first, or most prominent, of the so-called "playground legends?"

Yes. Played at Boys & Girls High School in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

Always jarring to see thread titles like this. Was this known? I hadn't heard anything about it.

Diagnosed last summer. The Syracuse players apparently wore "Pearl" on their warmups during their Final Four run.

Pearl Washington 'quite emotional' watching Syracuse basketball reach Final Four

 

[Webster]

I saw him play against my HS when I was in junior high. Utterly dominant.

I don't think that he had the physical tools or drive to make it at the highest level, but what a ball player.

 

[Riptide]

Brain tumor:

http://cuse.com/news/2016/4/20/Pearl42016.aspx

He was 52.

Maybe the school could work it into the obit when it gets a chance.

 

[The Big Ragu]

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.

 

[Stoney]

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.

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.

 

[cranberry]

RIP.

Wasn't he one of the first, or most prominent, of the so-called "playground legends?"

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

 

[Baron Scicluna]

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

 

[MisterCreosote]

Came along later. The original legends were Connie Hawkins and Roger Brown. Then came Herman The Helecopter, Earl Manigault and Fly Williams and a guy named Dr J

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

 

[Songbird]

Pearl Jam ... Pearl Washington ... what's the third Pearl?

 

[CD Boogie]

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.

 

[CD Boogie]

Pearl Jam ... Pearl Washington ... what's the third Pearl?

Earl the Pearl Monroe