Dear Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, I just transitioned to a paid subscriber. I'm around your age, and have been a huge swooning fan since your graceful skyhook days on the Lakers. (Your retirement from basketball marked that moment when I first thought, "gosh, I'm not young any more!") But since then, I've dipped into your tour-de-force second career as a writer. I have found your written works to be even more elegant, intelligent, graceful, and powerfully incisive than your work on the court.
An early autobiography that I believe you may have written with a co-author was out in publication back in the middle 1980s when I was in graduate school in Developmental Psychology. My recollection is that it recounted your ancestry and upbringing as well, how it impacted your identity, and how that related to your Blackness. I read it in tandem with "All God's Dangers," the biography of the son of an enslaved African, actually an oral autobiography narrated to a White journalist. These two works formed the beginning of this White woman's journey toward understanding racism and working to be anti-racist.
Can you please help me to remember the name of your book, which now seems to be out of print? My old paperback copy has been lost. Now that I'm in this season of life, it's important to me to recall what's made me who I am.
Kareem. You seem to be such a kind soul. In Milwaukee the big man Giannis seems to following you in both humility and revolutionizing the game. What does kindness mean to you?
How do you suggest we deal with the fact that as a result of voter suppression the far right Republicans will regain control of the House and Senate? As a related question what do you think the probability is that Trump will be elected President in 2024?
I know I'm way late but I think you should offer yourself to Musk to be on the Twitter board. Someone with a rational thought process is hard to find now a days, you would add significant value.
In 1967 the NCAA banned dunking in college basketball, and high schools soon followed suit. This rule change, which was reversed in 1976, was because of you. (The best measure of how great an athlete is/was is how a rule was changed in an attempt to level the playing field). I am speculating that in reviewing the important moments in your life, this event is no longer in your top 10 for significance, but I do wonder what effect mentally, psychologically and even spiritually this had on you at the time. When we see young athletes today needing mental health time-outs, what hell were YOU as a young man going through when the NCAA changed a rule to negate your abilities?
Kareem, I'm a 63 year old, huge NBA fan since 1969. How do you feel about today's pro athletes celebrating or taunting each other (or the crowd) after every play ? It drives me crazy that things that would have gotten me kicked off the team in the 70's are now not only accepted but glorified ! And no one comment about it. Charles, Shaq, Kenny all played hard without any histrionics in their careers but they remain silent. Why is it so accepted and why do people feel like it's part of entertainment ?
Since I missed the deadline, and in deference to your arthritic fingers, I’l just say thank you for your thoughtful commentary. It’s a pleasure to read your pieces.
Hey everyone. I want to thank you for all your questions today. The last time I did this I got about 30 questions. Today I got 200. I answered questions for over 4 hours but my stiff fingers are telling me it's time to quit. I'm sorry if I didn't answer our question. It had nothing to do with the question itself but rather with how much time I could spend. Please ask me again the next time I do this.
It's a bold rejection of all the conservative worries about critical race theory, which doesn't exist in any meaningful way in public schools. We do a disservice to our children and our futures by not teaching them the truth in history.
Hello! (I’m remembering when you came to my family’s bookshop in Milwaukee for a book signing in the late 80s....) I am wondering how, as an eclectic reader of catholic tastes, you choose what book to pick up next? Thank you!
Dear Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, I just transitioned to a paid subscriber. I'm around your age, and have been a huge swooning fan since your graceful skyhook days on the Lakers. (Your retirement from basketball marked that moment when I first thought, "gosh, I'm not young any more!") But since then, I've dipped into your tour-de-force second career as a writer. I have found your written works to be even more elegant, intelligent, graceful, and powerfully incisive than your work on the court.
An early autobiography that I believe you may have written with a co-author was out in publication back in the middle 1980s when I was in graduate school in Developmental Psychology. My recollection is that it recounted your ancestry and upbringing as well, how it impacted your identity, and how that related to your Blackness. I read it in tandem with "All God's Dangers," the biography of the son of an enslaved African, actually an oral autobiography narrated to a White journalist. These two works formed the beginning of this White woman's journey toward understanding racism and working to be anti-racist.
Can you please help me to remember the name of your book, which now seems to be out of print? My old paperback copy has been lost. Now that I'm in this season of life, it's important to me to recall what's made me who I am.
Kareem. You seem to be such a kind soul. In Milwaukee the big man Giannis seems to following you in both humility and revolutionizing the game. What does kindness mean to you?
Are you going to write another Mycroft and Sherlock book? They are brilliant! Thanks!
How do you suggest we deal with the fact that as a result of voter suppression the far right Republicans will regain control of the House and Senate? As a related question what do you think the probability is that Trump will be elected President in 2024?
Hi there! I'm not sure if this has been asked, so I will. What are your favorite fiction and nonfiction books of the last 5 years? Thank you!
I know I'm way late but I think you should offer yourself to Musk to be on the Twitter board. Someone with a rational thought process is hard to find now a days, you would add significant value.
In 1967 the NCAA banned dunking in college basketball, and high schools soon followed suit. This rule change, which was reversed in 1976, was because of you. (The best measure of how great an athlete is/was is how a rule was changed in an attempt to level the playing field). I am speculating that in reviewing the important moments in your life, this event is no longer in your top 10 for significance, but I do wonder what effect mentally, psychologically and even spiritually this had on you at the time. When we see young athletes today needing mental health time-outs, what hell were YOU as a young man going through when the NCAA changed a rule to negate your abilities?
How do you feel the Ukranian issue will play out?
Kareem, I'm a 63 year old, huge NBA fan since 1969. How do you feel about today's pro athletes celebrating or taunting each other (or the crowd) after every play ? It drives me crazy that things that would have gotten me kicked off the team in the 70's are now not only accepted but glorified ! And no one comment about it. Charles, Shaq, Kenny all played hard without any histrionics in their careers but they remain silent. Why is it so accepted and why do people feel like it's part of entertainment ?
Do you wish you could have played against Bill Russell?
Looking forward to it!
Since I missed the deadline, and in deference to your arthritic fingers, I’l just say thank you for your thoughtful commentary. It’s a pleasure to read your pieces.
Hey everyone. I want to thank you for all your questions today. The last time I did this I got about 30 questions. Today I got 200. I answered questions for over 4 hours but my stiff fingers are telling me it's time to quit. I'm sorry if I didn't answer our question. It had nothing to do with the question itself but rather with how much time I could spend. Please ask me again the next time I do this.
Thank You, Kareem! It's all good. Peace and Be Well.
Please delete if not allowed, but I have a limited edition photogravure of JD Salinger if you are or know anyone interested in owning! Thx
Any comments on National teacher of the year Kurt Russell?
It's a bold rejection of all the conservative worries about critical race theory, which doesn't exist in any meaningful way in public schools. We do a disservice to our children and our futures by not teaching them the truth in history.
Hi Kareem. First off I’m a big fan. I loved the Lakers in the 80’s when you and Magic Johnson made it look so easy.
My question is: Do you eat Halal or secular foods?
Both. I try to keep the spirit of my cultural heritage but I'm not a stickler for it.
That’s awesome. Thanks so much for your answer.
Hello! (I’m remembering when you came to my family’s bookshop in Milwaukee for a book signing in the late 80s....) I am wondering how, as an eclectic reader of catholic tastes, you choose what book to pick up next? Thank you!
I read several newspapers every day which helps me keep up with new books. I just pick whatever appeals to me at that time.