So let's settle in for the story of Craig Hodges, seeing as how it's #BlackHistoryMonth and everything.
I knew of Craig Hodges from the early 90s Chicago Bulls, but didn't really know his story until a couple of years ago...
I knew of Craig Hodges from the early 90s Chicago Bulls, but didn't really know his story until a couple of years ago...
Craig Hodges was a shooting guard for the Chicago bulls from 1988-1992, so pretty much when the Bulls started to get good.
He wasn't a star as such, but was certainly no slouch.
He wasn't a star as such, but was certainly no slouch.
Hodges lead the league in in 3-point shooting 3 times and won the 3-point shootout at the NBA All-Star weekend three times in a row.
It's fair to say he was a pretty good shooter, and he won 2 NBA Championships playing alongside the GOAT, Michael Jordan.
It's fair to say he was a pretty good shooter, and he won 2 NBA Championships playing alongside the GOAT, Michael Jordan.
Anyways, Game 1 of the 1991 NBA Finals (Chicago's first of 6 title runs in the 90s) took place a few months after Rodney King was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police officers.
This is pretty much the first really big news story about racial injustice that I remember. I was about 12 years old.
About a year later, in 1992, the four officers were acquitted, which (unsurprisingly) led to the 1992 LA Riots.
About a year later, in 1992, the four officers were acquitted, which (unsurprisingly) led to the 1992 LA Riots.
So, back to Craig Hodges. Hodges wanted to protest Game 1 of the 1991 Finals between the Bulls and the Lakers. Apparently he approached Jordan and Magic Johnson with the idea.
The were not keen.
The were not keen.
The Bulls went on to win the series (pretty easily in the end) and their first NBA Championship.
Now, the winning team always gets invited to the White House to meet the president and, I dunno, have tea or something. It's a tradition.
Now, the winning team always gets invited to the White House to meet the president and, I dunno, have tea or something. It's a tradition.
While most of the players dressed (boringly) for the occasion, Craig Hodges shows up in a fucking Dashiki, because fuck it, why not!?
Here's a video about the whole thing...
Not only did Craig Hodges dress like a badass, he handed the Pres a hand written letter about the racism faced by Black Americans under the Bush administration.
So what happened next?
The Bulls won their second Championship in 1992 after which he was waived by the team.
The 2 time NBA Champion, who led the league in 3pt scoring 3 times and won 3 consecutive 3pt shootouts, didn't receive a single offer from an NBA team.
The Bulls won their second Championship in 1992 after which he was waived by the team.
The 2 time NBA Champion, who led the league in 3pt scoring 3 times and won 3 consecutive 3pt shootouts, didn't receive a single offer from an NBA team.
He was 32.
To put that in context, Steph Curry is 33.
Hodges files a lawsuit, claiming that he had been effectively blackballed by the league (he had), and ended up finishing his playing career with spells in Turkey, the CBA, and Sweden.
To put that in context, Steph Curry is 33.
Hodges files a lawsuit, claiming that he had been effectively blackballed by the league (he had), and ended up finishing his playing career with spells in Turkey, the CBA, and Sweden.
A career derailed because he had the courage of his convictions, the willingness to speak out on things that mattered, when others remained silent.
Craig Hodges. Giant.
#BlackHistoryMonth
Craig Hodges. Giant.
#BlackHistoryMonth
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