Norm van Lier.
Norm van Lier, the great Chicago Bull of the 70s and broadcaster during the Michael Jordan era, died yesterday at the age of 61. Too young.
Back when van Lier was doing commentary on Bulls TV broadcasts I would see him a couple of times walking down Michigan Avenue near Lake Street. Several times I would walk past him and I would catch his eye and we would nod to each other. It was cool.
He was cool.
Today’s Sun-Times reprinted a story van Lier told in 1973 when the Bulls lost game 7 in the semifinals against the Lakers.
I was devastated. But, even in this terrible defeat, something happened to take the edge off. And the reason why was Wilt.
The greatest center the game has ever known walked into the visiting locker room at the Forum to speak to me. To me! He walked right in and came over and said, ”Man, you deserved to win this game. It’s a shame for the team to lose this game with the way you played during these playoffs.”
What he said to me in our brief conversation — validating my game, counting me as his peer — was the greatest honor I’ve ever received. It was no coincidence that in three of the next four seasons, I was an All-Star.
