Word: digregorio
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Dates: during 1973-1973
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Agile as a flea and not much larger, Ernie DiGregorio baffled the lumbering Russian basketball team last spring with his pinpoint passes and improbable jump shots. After DiGregorio led the American amateur team to one victory with eleven assists and 25 points, Soviet Coach Vladimir Kandrashin said in exasperation: "If we had him, we wouldn't lose any games...
...Buffalo Braves, who lost a lot of games last season (their 21-61 record tied them for the second worst showing in the N.B.A.), felt that DiGregorio could solve their problems too. They signed the playmaker from Providence for a fiveyear, $3,000,000 contract, which amounts to about $500,000 per ft. for the 6-ft. guard. Ernie D.-he was given the nickname by a Providence broadcaster who got tongue-tied describing DiGregorio's fast breaks-was clearly heading for the big time and the big money even before he humbled the Russians. As a college star...
Second Coming. On the court, DiGregorio was a whirling, twisting blur as he peppered teammates with lightning passes from behind his back and under his legs. Pro scouts predicted that Ernie D. could be the second coming of Bob Cousy, the small, flashy guard of the championship Boston Celtics a dozen years ago. Ernie D. himself had no doubts that he could be just that. "I can do it," he predicted brashly. "I'm not impressed by size or reputations. Those big guys are only human like...
...then there are those disastrous defensive displays. After humiliating DiGregorio by scoring 35 points against him while playing on an injured foot, Jerry West of the Lakers quipped, "I could have had a pretty big scoring night if I was in shape." Ernie quickly acquired a new nickname-"Ernie No D" (for no defense). Retorted Ernie: "The D is for dollars." More seriously, he says, "There are worse defensive players in the league, but I'm the guy with the big contract, so I'm supposed to be perfect." Nevertheless, the pressure is beginning to worry DiGregorio. "Every...
...While DiGregorio was upset at being bypassed for the game, in the past he has not kept it a secret that he dislikes the idea of participation in all-star games with players from other colleges. He has often been quoted as saying that he doesn't like playing for all-star squads because "I just don't enjoy myself. I don't like playing with a group of strangers...