Long before Planet Hollywood was a rock 'n' roll restaurant or Planet Reebok an advertising campaign, there existed - if only in the mind of its founder, supreme ruler and sole inhabitant - Planet Lovetron.
And, somewhere within the galaxy that is Darryl Dawkins' imagination, the place still exists.
``In my mind,'' Dawkins said, ``Lovetron will never die.''
He winked three times, grinned, pointed to his 38-year-old noggin and headed off for a Tuesday afternoon basketball practice . . . with the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce. Dawkins' address is now the Continental Basketball Association, and he will play his sixth game with the Skyforce tonight against the Florida Beachdogs in West Palm Beach Auditorium.
``I've been around a while,'' he said.
In fact, it has been a few months more than 20 years since Dawkins zipped from Orlando-Evans High School directly to the NBA when he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the fifth pick of the first round in the 1975 draft. He was a 6-foot-11, 270-pound mass of muscle who christened himself ``Chocolate Thunder'' and named his prodigious dunks, well, lots of things. Here goes:
``I had about 18 of 'em,'' Dawkins said. ``I'll give a few - Heart-Stopper, Rim-Wrecker, Glass-Breaker, Yo' Mama, Cover Your Head, Florida Go-for-Broke and The Turbo Sexophonic Delight.''
Then, lounging on a couch in the Jewish Community Center, Dawkins took a deep breath and blew out his personal favorite.
``The Backboard-Swayin', Game-Delayin', If-You-Ain't-Groovin', You-Best-Get-Movin' Jam,'' he said. ``You got all that?''
After three repeats, yes.
3 comments:
Wow, a whole new tangent with these Chocolate Thunder posts. Like I said. Lex Nihil Novi is just like Forrest's box of chocolates... never know what you're going to get. Kind of like the Celtics -never know what team will show up :)
Did you get my link on the Mountain Man story?
And Darryl Dawkins was absolutely one of a kind. In a good sort of way.
Thanks, FCF. Love your blog, too. Literally the only other one I read!
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