Friday, February 18, 2011
Posted: 11:05 p.m.
By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com
LOS ANGELESIt is part of All-Star weekend tradition for the basketball Hall of Fame to announce the current years 12 finalists. When the names were announced Friday afternoon, two had strong Philadelphia ties: Maurice Cheeks and Herb Magee.
Magee is a legend, having coached at Philadelphia University since 1966. His 921 wins are the most all-time in NCAA basketball history on any level at the same institution. There is one more process before he becomes a Hall of Famer as he needs 18 of the 24 votes from the Honors Committee and those names will be announced on April 4.
If Magee hears his name on that day it will be the ultimate achievement.
That will be the culmination. I went there (to the Hall of Fame) to speak one weekend, Magee said after learning of his nomination by watching TV. They had to wheel a basket in for me to shoot on. That was at the old Hall of Fame. Then, when you make it to the Elite Eight (in Division II), part of the weekend is going there to see the memorabilia. I remember saying it would be such an honor to join these guys, the highest honor.
Hall of Fame Coach Dr. Jack Ramsey, also a Philadelphia native, was on hand in Los Angeles when the nominations were made. A Hall of Fame coach knows one when he sees one and he has seen that in Magee for some time.
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Herb Magee is very deserving and I just hope he is elected, Ramsey said. He has done an incredible coaching job over the years. Outside of the Philadelphia area he has not gotten the recognition he deserves. He gets the maximum from his players and he is a very sound coach. He would be a very worthy addition to the Hall of Fame.
Like many of the Philadelphia basketball circles, there is always a connection, always a story. The stories stay alive through the telling of them over and over again and the beauty is depending on who the storyteller is the details can change ever so slightly. Ramsey recounted an encounter with Magee over 50 years ago as if it had happened last weekend.
I had the chance of getting Herb and Jim Lynam at St. Joes, Ramsey recounted. I went to see Herb and Jim play at West Catholic and in those days there were no numbers, no names and no PA systems. I got there late and I am watching and I am impressed by this one guy that I assume is Jim Lynam, not having seen either of them before.
After the game I made an arrangement to meet Jim Lynam, but it is not the guy I saw in the game that I was impressed with, he continued with a chuckle. They were both 58 at the time and I said I cant get two little guys, but I should have. They would have been a great combination at the college level and it would have been a fun team to coach.
He has won more games than anyone who has ever coached, Lynam said. And he has enjoyed every step. Hes a special coach. I mean he won a National Championship when he was 28 years old.
The Lynam and Magee backcourt tandem never came to fruition at the collegiate level, but a friendship lasting more than 50 years was hardly a consolation prize. The connection to Ramsey has lasted equally as long, which is why Magee has plans for that Ramsey recruiting story in the future.
If I do get elected I will go up there and the first thing I will say is Dr. Jack you should have recruited me, Magee said laughing.
As for Cheeks, he is nominated as a player. Cheeks won an NBA Championship playing on the 1983 Sixers team. He was a four-time all-star and a four-time selection to the NBA All-Defensive team. Cheeks is currently an assistant coach with Oklahoma City where he has a profound impact on current all-star Russell Westbrook.
He is a great guy and he knows a lot about the game, said Westbrook, who had not heard the news and immediately sent Cheeks a congratulatory text message upon learning. He was probably one of the best guards to play the game and I am really thankful to have him as my coach because he helps me each and every day.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com