Nightmares of training camps past
This article is written for the basketball fan who would like some insight on training camps, but most importantly I think it will make current NBA players recognize how good they have it compared to camps years ago.
Every year I attend one, I am amazed at how something I despised as a player has now become so comfortable. You have a conversation with anybody that played until the mid 90’s and they will tell you some horror stories about those 28 days.
“No pain no gain” has always been a favorite quote of a majority of committed athletes. Well, the pain part in reference to an NBA training camp in that era was a combination of mental and physical pain that no one looked forward to. Some guys would purposely delay signing a contract to avoid it.
Today, NBA teams will only go on average through three days of two-a-day practices and one of them is deemed “No contact.” Back then, we virtually went two-a –days for 28 straight days and if you had an old-school coach like Cotton Fitzsimmons, you might get a three-a-day practice.
I know you are thinking, what about exhibition game days? Didn’t matter. Our shootaround practices were taped and lasted two hours.
Today’s NBA players are housed in five-star hotels during camp.
We usually were isolated in dorm rooms with a roommate. Or we stayed at three-star hotels with not so good room service. If you were a rookie, it was extremely tough because you had to wash all the uniforms between practices and provide newspapers and donuts on a consistent basis.
I really do envy today’s players and I applaud them for getting these rules established during collective bargaining. To me, training camp brings memories of the horror movie “28 Days Later”.
I was asked in an interview the other day if I thought the Suns would be tired because of their travel schedule during training camp. I responded, “Are you serious?”
OK, let’s look at it!
The Suns are staying at a five-star resort in San Diego. They will have only three two-a-day practices. They fly charter. And you are asking me that question? What is so tiring about that?
I immediately started re-hashing old experiences in my mind and sweating. It was like going through those nightmarish camps with Cotton Fitzsimmons all over again. Two instances came to mind!
My rookie year in Kansas City was a book in itself. I had-old school veterans like Sam Lacy, Phil Ford, Ernie Grunfeld, Joe C. Meriweather, Leon Douglas and Reggie King. We were into our first week of training camp and already had gone through 13 practices. My legs were like rubber, my quads and hamstrings felt like they were holding on by a string. We traveled to Memphis to play the Utah Jazz on back-to-back games. The shootaround before the games was basically practices and back then we would scrimmage against the team we were playing. The scrimmages were actually more competitive than the games because we were not bonded by rules. Fights were normal and trash talking was out of control. Those game-day scrimmages would last two hours and after five hours of sleep, we were at it again later that night. We happened to play extremely poorly that night and the next. This leads to the most tortuous day of basketball I have ever experienced in my life.
After the second game, for some reason, a few of our veterans decided to break curfew. And boy, did we pay a price none of us will ever forget. Cotton was so livid we had three taped practices the next day.
The first practice lasted two hours. The middle practice was actually another scrimmage against Utah and not surprisingly they kicked our behinds again. The last practice consisted of a mile run for time and about 30 suicides. Players were falling like flies. After it was over, you could not help but laugh at how teammates were actually falling to the floor with cramps or just exhausted. Never again did any of us think about breaking a Cotton Fitzsimmons curfew.
Exhibition games meant nothing. Practices were more valuable and players understood that to be the case as well. But my next story gives you more insight into the insane competitive nature of Michael Jordan.
Entering the 1988-89 season, I was a Phoenix Sun with the same coach – Cotton Fitzsimmons. We had a young and up-and-coming team led by Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers. We happened to be on another two-city tour with the Chicago Bulls. We had gone through a grueling training camp and again my body felt like someone just beat me with a bat for five hours. The first night we embarrassed the Bulls and blew them out. We see Michael and his teammates out at a local club after the game and the obvious trash talking occurs. Both teams have to catch a 6 am commercial flight the next day headed to Louisville for a rematch, but unbeknownst to me Michael had other plans. When both teams checked into the hotel and were having breakfast, Michael suggested we come and play a popular card game amongst athletes called “tonk”.
Tom Chambers, Tyrone Corbin and I entered Jordan’s room around 10:30 am. Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Jack Haley are waiting to play cards. At about 3:30 pm I am ready to go get a quick nap, but Jordan refuses to quit. I decide to call Cotton and make up an excuse about why I can’t play that night and he says no problem. At 5:30 pm, we have no choice but to quit because the bus leaves for the game at 6:15 pm. When I stood up after seven hours of playing cards, I could barely walk. Tom Chambers immediately called Cotton and said he couldn’t play. He said OK, but by then Cotton was getting suspicious.
Before we left the room, Jordan looked at us and said, “I am going to give your boy Dan Majerle 40 tonight.” Now understand he was sitting for seven hours just like us and yet he was determined to give Majerle 40 points in an exhibition game. We asked why he was so determined to attack Majerle. He said Dan guarded him when he was playing with a select team against the 1988 Olympic squad and everyone bragged about how Dan shut him down. I was like, “No way you get 25.” That was based on how my legs were feeling at the moment.
Meanwhile, Cotton was extremely suspicious about why all of sudden all three of us were asking for the game off. Well, Jordan gave Majerle 40 that night and I watched in amazement how he was flying around the court and we three were on the bench stiff and fatigued.
On one of his last plays of the night, Jordan caught the ball by our bench with Majerle guarding him. He looked at Cotton and said, “I took your boys’ money today at cards and I am getting ready to take him baseline and dunk on him.”
He did exactly that, Cotton called timeout and asked Dan why he was so mad at him. Majerle was flustered and said, “I didn’t do anything.”
True story!
Also Cotton realized why we three could not play that night and we paid a serious price the next day at practice. A scheduled single practice immediately was changed to a double session and our teammates were not too happy about it.
Training Camp brings back those kinds of memories for me. It is a necessary evil. In order to deal with the 82-game seasons, you have to experience it. I just wish I could experience the training camps of today.
So a message to current players: Don’t complain about how long and tough the current training camps are because players you idolized are saying, “Only if you knew!”
NiceJumper Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 7:11 am
Nice article Eddie, took me down memory lane of my high school and college “training camps” don’t miss um one bit!
Wouter Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 7:50 am
Hah, great story about Jordan there. With all the new media it’s great to see these kind of stories surface, gives us a better insight into the minds of these ultra competitive athletes.
Mike G Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 8:00 am
Back in MY day, we had to travel to three-a-days by foot, uphill! And it snowed 360 days out of the year! They made us sleep in pup tents as we warmed ourselves around the team candle. Coach wouldn’t let us leave until we hit 300 free throws in a row - blindfolded. Sprints were all-day affairs and they waterboarded anyone who fell behind. We shot on an EIGHTEEN foot basket and had to use 15lb medicine balls instead of basketballs.
You whipper-snappers had it way too easy.
marcos Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 8:05 am
haha vintage michael…
Michael Bennett Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 8:18 am
More NBA/Michael Jordan stories…
I could read those all day long. Thanks, Eddie.
What do you think ultimately makes the player’s body more prepared for the regular season though?
Taking it easy over summer and camp? Or pushing the body so hard during training camp that regular season games seem easier?
Rested vs. conditioned?
Ricky Pierce Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 8:21 am
Dear Eddie,
I was better a better player than you.
Your Friend,
Ricky Pierce
First Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 8:21 am
First!!!!!!!!!!!
PS: dang u old Ed!
P Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 8:21 am
Great story. Being that i’m from Chicago & have a relative that plays in the league I really appreciate stories like this.It gives me a better perspective on how things were in comparison to how they are now & I value the articles that you write.Take care Eddie.
Ed Jones Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 9:05 am
Great blog post Eddie. I came here just looking for salary info, but if there’s going to be stories like that here I’ll be back for sure!
Benjamin Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Nice article Eddie, I couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy my coffee this morning.
Sorry to hear that Majerele got lit up like that, he’s one of my all time favorite players. Did anyone tell him why Jordan went after him in the exhibition game?
Also, if Wolfley decides to leave the morning show, you better be the one replacing him.
-Ben
bk Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 9:46 am
knicks trade: chris duhon, eddy curry, jared jeffries, larry hughes, cuttino mobley, nate robinson
knicks receive: carlos boozer, tracey mcgrady, monta ellis, rafer alston, sean williams, speedy claxton
why: only ellis’ contract goes beyond ‘10, but is tradeable asset nonetheless. can push for playoffs now and lure FA’s better (playoffs are a must, ‘10 draft pick traded for marbury)
———————————————————————————–
nets trade: rafer alston, sean williams
nets receive: carl landry, future 2nd rd pick (nyk)
why: too many players on roster, alston wants out because of PG glut, williams fell out of favor (personality issues), and landry is an excellent role player.
————————————————————————————
rockets trade: tracey mcgrady, carl landry
rockets receive: cuttino mobley (80% insured, expiring contract), acie law, jared jeffries
why: save money, t-mac “half man, half season” experiment is over, law has decent potential, jeffries is a team player/defender with only 2 years left.
———————————————————————————–
warriors trade: monta ellis, acie law, speedy claxton
warriors receive: chris duhon, eddy curry
why: monta is cancer (lied about injury, overpaid, selfish, poor influence on steph curry), eddy has shorter contract and gives them 1st decent post presence in years, duhon is nellies dream (he raves about him, solid team guy, lit up G.S. for 22 assists in a game last year)
———————————————————————————
jazz trade: carlos boozer
jazz receive: nate robinson, larry hughes
why: trade of expiring deals. jazz invested so much in millsap, need wing D (harpring gone), nate super bench guy
BK ROn Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Eddie…..Very nice rite-up you are soo rite that old school training camp was soo hard that at the end of training camp you were ready to play an NBA season…now a days training camp is more of a lite workout at like in the local gym with high profile payers…im old school and I feel that kids now a day are SOFT as baby phu..they all can jump out the gym i give them credit for that …but dont understand the consept of basketball..I would like to say more but have to run to take my kids to school….BK RON
Omar comin Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 9:59 am
if this was kobe u writin about he would of put 50-60 on that dude. majerle like the old version of brian cardinal.
i aint interested in any jordan ish he dead and gone. if u got stories on lebron or kobe im listening
KevinM Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 10:32 am
First time I have come across you column EJ! This is really good stuff.
Great insight to how yesterday’s players dealt with camp versus those today. A total 180 if you ask me.
Not saying that today’s player has it easy by any means. But those kinds of stories about Cotton and how driven he was…..I understand how so many former players didn’t look forward to him being their coach….def ol’ school approach.
I am sure it still goes on today, like Riley was when he was coaching.
That approach is definitely the exception more than the norm today.
Joey C Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 10:49 am
Awesome EJ, thanks for the insight. Kids these days man…. they don’t know what hard work is.
NO PAIN, NO GAIN!
justin Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 10:54 am
That’s a great story. More articles like this please. Less opinion.
David Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 11:16 am
Eddie, you are on the money about the differences between your era and now. I remember a few years ago, when Kobe was going thru his “turmoil” in Colorado. He was scheduled for a hearing in Denver one afternoon and was playing against the Spurs in SA that evening.
Everyone (the media) made a big deal about how Kobe had to fly in, rush to the AT&T Center, and lit up the Spurs with 40+ points that night.
It’s not like he was travelling coach. He didn’t have to go thru security, wait in line, carry his bag, sit on the runway…
I’m sure he was on a charter, had a great meal, massage….
Not trying to take away from his ability — I just never saw the hardship.
Cody Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 11:18 am
Dear sweet jeebus, Eddie, please write a book! This is the kind of stuff hoops junkies like myself love! We need a new “Breaks of the Game”, and since no journalist is ever going to get that close to a team again, it’s got to be by an ex-player, and i nominate you!
Peter Mutayoba Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 11:30 am
Hahahahaha…..Wow!!!
Thanks for taking us back in those days.I appreciate that.
Hahahahaha….That was a great one Eddie thanks again.I can only imagine.It’s like a movie…..I loved it!!!Keep them coming.
Peter
Bhavik Patel Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 11:45 am
I kind of get what your saying david, but their is a mental hardship there, and sitting on a plane even for 2 or 3 hours is kind of annoying compared to being rested and taking a 20 minute bus to the stadium. I can kind of see what your saying though, because he probably had a bed that he could rest in the plane, lol. I wouldnt be surprised if their was a basketball court on his charter plane(Joking), where he warmed up hahaah.
themadkiwi Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 11:51 am
Awesome anecdote, you had me laughing and nodding my head. Thanks for sharing that with us!
Larry Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
Eddie,
I enjoyed it even though I had heard it from Cotton. Perhaps you had more details since you were there. As you know playing for Cotton you have so many training camp and regular season on and off the court stories. He ran things probably like no one else and his motivational skills to motivate his players were unparaleled. It’s too bad Cotton is gone to tell more of those kind of stories himself. He had them from as far back as the early ’70s. Keep it up with those stories as I know you have a lot of them from 17 years in the league and playing for several teams. The league probably doesn’t want you to tell the real story of the 1993 W. Conference finals game 7 (64 free throws for the Suns) Nice job by Dick Bavetta, Mike Mathis, and Ed Rush, I would say.
frank b Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
Great story. I just wonder if you might have left a couple details out about the “card game”.
Eddie, we would love to hear more stories about your playing days. For example, it was fascinating how you said Larry Bird told you that he was going to kick your ass before a game in a one of your blogs.
Maybe you could write a blog about the greatest trash talkers you played against…or the highest flyers…or the fastest, etc. Just a thought.
eddie Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
Omar comin Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 9:59 am
if this was kobe u writin about he would of put 50-60 on that dude. majerle like the old version of brian cardinal.
i aint interested in any jordan ish he dead and gone. if u got stories on lebron or kobe im listening
—————————————————————————-
for you new guys that come. this is what i have to put up with every now and then.
lol
eddie Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
frank b Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
Great story. I just wonder if you might have left a couple details out about the “card game”.
Eddie, we would love to hear more stories about your playing days. For example, it was fascinating how you said Larry Bird told you that he was going to kick your ass before a game in a one of your blogs.
Maybe you could write a blog about the greatest trash talkers you played against…or the highest flyers…or the fastest, etc. Just a thought.
——————————————————————————–
Frank
you are so dead on. I do plan on writing a book about these types of stories in the next year.
Todd Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
Kobe is still better than Lebron…jk, usually Eddie’s articles graduate to this discussion.
Nice piece Eddie, I can totally picture how everything went down and it just makes Mike’s HOF speech even clearer…As a (former) colleague of Mike’s, what was/is the general impression of him in your circles - b/c as time goes by he seems to be more and more of an a$$….
ab_40 Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
nice article I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with training camps because they give you so many good memories afterward. but after the third practice after running on the beach for a full hour you don’t give a madn about memories haha.
Dion Hutt Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Hey ricky pierce do u remember Joseph Hutt
Lupe Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
LOL
eli Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
i dont get it… You couldnt play the night game because u were SITTING for 7 hours? man up edddie
Charles Shackleford Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 12:23 am
I wish the Sixers could borrow your old coach to give that stiff of a team a practice they would never forget.
Nick Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 1:25 am
Eddie,
Bravo. Your story-telling ability is second only to your jumpshot. And don’t listen to those kids who tell you Kobe and LeBron … blah, blah, blah. Great players indeed - but ain’t no one ever like MJ.
adam(new zealand) Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 3:33 am
thanks so much for the insight eddie. these kind of stories from guys who have been there, smelled it, lived it and done it are hands down the most fascinating and interesting. keep that good stuff coming mate.
p.s i’ll definitely be buying your book if it reaches our shores.
Steve Watkins Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 8:30 am
It is interesting someone mentioned the 1993 Western Conference Finals. I remember watching that game and telling people afterwards that I thought the game was rigged. Also, I could not care less about Seattle - I am from Oklahoma but that game was called more one-sided than any game I can remember. It really turned me off.
johnstarksseverednut Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 10:08 am
please give us more stories like this. that was awesome. thanks eddie
eddie Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 10:18 am
eli Said,
October 1, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
i dont get it… You couldnt play the night game because u were SITTING for 7 hours? man up edddie
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Manned up for 18 years and missed only 30 or so games. lol plus it didnt count and deserved a night off to spend the money i won from Jordan (-:
johnstarksseverednut Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
could you give us a lot more stories about drinking, gambling with guys in the day? these really are the stories we who still absolutely love the nba are pining for. please eddie. and i second the comment about a book on this stuff. i would buy it in a second. paul shirley and theguywhoadmittedhewasgayafterhehadahorriblecareerandpretentedhewascourageous wrote really a lot of crap
Uncontested Shots: The Latest on LeBron’s Movie, Tim Duncan Retiring, the Kings Moving, and More | Sir Charles In Charge | An NBA Blog Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
[...] Eddie Johnson talks about what training camp was like in the 80s and 90s compared to the star treatment today’s NBA players get. (HoopsHype). [...]
Brad Scott Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
I was under the impression that the rules on training camp was changed due to the outrage from the player’s union. So the player’s are responsible for these changes not the coaches.
ISRW Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
MJ’s urge to win was such that he wouldn’t quit while he was behind, and you wound up collecting his money and getting to take the night off? While he hit the afterburners to run up 40 points in a meaningless preseason tilt? Seems to me you won that exchange, Cotton notwithstanding.
(Cotton Fitzsimmons as an old school disciplinarian makes me wonder what Jerry Sloan could have been like, back then. Were Stockton and Malone singing chain gang ditties?)
eddie Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 11:14 pm
Brad Scott Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
I was under the impression that the rules on training camp was changed due to the outrage from the player’s union. So the player’s are responsible for these changes not the coaches
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did you read the article? i already said the players bargained for it.
Omar comin Said,
October 3, 2009 @ 7:17 am
people only read your ish when u talkin on playas that are relivant but u from the 1960s or whateva so u cant speak on that
Brian Boitono Said,
October 3, 2009 @ 7:39 am
Eddie nice article, love to read your book, now block BK from ever proposing insane trades that give the knicks 3 allstars and allow them to shed contracts like, hughes,Jeffries, and eddie Curry. The worst part is I think that he really believes he has proposed a fair trade.
eddie Said,
October 3, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
Omar comin Said,
October 3, 2009 @ 7:17 am
people only read your ish when u talkin on playas that are relivant but u from the 1960s or whateva so u cant speak on that
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Not that old Bro. retired 10 years ago. lol
DTINS Said,
October 3, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
Omar u musta never played basketball or u wasnt ish at it, u never dissrespect MIKE J who are u to even say that abt MJ you sound crazy as he11 man u better go check the basketball history books he rewrote em n is still killin dummies like you that think he done, if mike wanted to he could come back to the nba now n avg 20-25 is u retarded!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You might not know so go buy any mike basketball tapes then come back say some foolish stuff like that again
Steve Watkins Said,
October 4, 2009 @ 8:04 am
What is an ish? That word has been used twice now and I can’t make sense of it:
1. people only read your ish when u talkin ……
2. Omar u musta never played basketball or u wasnt ish at it ….
Steve Watkins Said,
October 4, 2009 @ 8:20 am
The best I can tell is that “ish” is the same as “shit”. I am a little slow. I just told my wife the dog needs to go out and take an ish and she got it right away.
DTINS Said,
October 4, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Thats what it mean Steve
wow Said,
October 7, 2009 @ 10:36 am
THATS WHY ITS A JOKE AND A DISGRACE TO COMPARE ANYONE TO MIKE.
Trevin James Said,
October 7, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
Eddie I loved the stories. As much as I didn’t like Jordan (LAKERS & Magic here) the dude was good and you have to respect that. Was that the real Ricky Pierce that made the comment about being better than you? I really liked Ricky and you also were one of my favorite players. I just disagree with your thoughts about my Lakers on so many fronts.