Embry was elected to Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 as a contributor

All quotes come from Wayne Embry’s autobiography THE INSIDE GAME: RACE POWER AND POLITICS IN THE NBA Please don’t sue me.

Bob Lanier was an imposing man: 6’11” and 260 lbs that bullied other grown men around all the time. But right now he was staring at the ground like a scolded child as the full frame of Wayne Embry towered over him. Embry was a former center in the league and the first African American general manager in the league. He had just lectured Lanier to ensure that Lanier would cause no problems once the Bucks acquired him.

Mr. Fitzgerald is the owner, we don’t need you to be the owner. Nellie is the coach, and he’s a pretty good one. We don’t need you to coach. I am the vice president and I help in personnel decisions. We don’t need you to do that, either. We need you to come and play basketball to the best of your ability and bring veteran leadership to a talented team of quality people.

***

After the 1967 Milwaukee riots, original Bucks owner Wesley Pavalon took to wearing dashikis and flashing the black power sign. He was friends with Roots author Alex Haley and Arthur Ashe. Before the start of the Bucks lone championship season, he went to a tennis tournament outside of Boston to watch his friend Ashe. His trip doubled as a recruiting mission. He was looking to hire Boston’s current Director of Recreation Wayne Embry as the Bucks’ Assistant to the President.

Embry had a soft spot for Pavalon. Until Pavalon talked to him, Embry refused to go to Milwaukee after the Bucks took him in the expansion draft. And he couldn’t say no to Pavalon now.

Embryhe had been the Bucks calm, veteran leadership for the team’s inaugural season and his last as a player. In addition, Embry had negotiated his own contract when his agent proved to be unreliable. This all clearly impressed Pavalon along with Embry’s administrative work in Boston. But Pavalon had more motives to hire Embry.

***

Oscar Robertson’s contract gave him the power to veto any trade. Robertson and the Bucks were haggling over fifteen thousand dollars and Robertson was threatening to veto any trade without the money.

Embry and Oscar Robertson had been roommates during Embry’s eight seasons on the Cincinnati Royals. Embry’s first task was to go talk to Robertson.

Embry answered all of Robertson’s questions about the organization’s structure and finances. He told Robertson he had a great amount of respect for the people there. He told Robertson to accept a trade to the Bucks and he told Robertson that he was accepting a front-office job with the Bucks. He also said:

You’re the greatest player ever to play the game, but there’s one thing you haven’t achieved. You deserve a championship ring.

Then Embry convinced the Bucks to pay the fifteen thousand. They traded Charlie Paulk and Flynn Robinson and never looked back.

***

March 6, 1972, Bucks President Ray Patterson stepped into Embry’s office and told Embry that he was leaving to become the Houston Rockets General Manager. Patterson then told Embry to go meet Pavalon.

After several anxious hours, I went to see Wes, and I was surprised to see several of the board members of the Bucks sitting with him. I knew something was up, but I did not know it concerned me.

Wes got right to the point. “We are naming you general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks this afternoon,” he said with a smile. “Congratulations.”

Embry was speechless.

“Wes took note of my state and asked gently, “Do you have any questions?”

I could not tell him my number one question was, “What in the hell just happened here?” I could not articulate the other questions running around in my brain: “Am I ready? Can I do this? Will I be accepted?”

Embry recounts that the Milwaukee Journal story that day made no mention of race. It seems impossible that there would be no mention of race in the story about professional sports first African American general manager. But alas, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel archives seem to not have the actual story. But there is this quote from a reaction piece.

Terry Bledsoe, Milwaukee Journal:

Embry’s ability, not his color, earned him this job, and Embry’s ability will determine his success in it.

Embry’s own thoughts on the appointment:

I could not fail, because it would be a setback for blacks. Forget the fact that hundreds of white general managers had been fired and no one thought twice about hiring another one. What I tried to get across was that we as blacks should be given the same opportunity to fail as whites.

Within three years, Robertson would retire, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar would force his way to Los Angeles and the franchise would go to hell.  These things were well out of his control. What was in his control was getting Brian Winters and Junior Bridgeman in the Kareem trade. He also drafted Sidney Moncrief and Marques Johnson. He also drafted Julius Erving and Alex English. Too bad Erving chose the ABA instead and English was traded away (not by Embry). He was the chief architect of the extremely successful 80s Bucks.

***

Embry’s old roommates had a habit of joining the Bucks. When he was a member of the Celtics, Don Nelson was his roommate. After Nelson retired, he made an attempt to be a referee. He was awful.

The biggest disappointment in the summer league was Nellie’s performance as a ref. He struggled mightily, and he admitted to me over a couple of beers that he was failing in his bid to become the first ex-player to referee. After several hours of chitchat and laughs, and a few more beers, he asked me again about playing and again I told him no. “Big Man, I’m scared,’’ he said. “What am I going to do? The only thing I know is basketball. Can’t you help ol’ Nells?’’ he asked, slurring his words.

A lightbulb went off in my head. I was feeling sorry for him and really wanted to help my old roomie.

“We’re looking for an assistant coach,’’ I told him. “Would you be interested in that?’’

Great Bucks coach? Or Greatest Bucks Coach?

Nelson served under Larry Costello. He became head coach once Costello left and also took the title Director of Team Personnel once Embry resigned as general manager. Embry resigned in 1977 because new owner Jim Fitzgerald stripped Embry of his power. However, Fitzgerald did convince Embry to come back as a consultant/vice president.

Embry guided the inexperienced Nelson through a few seasons. Nelson eventually got the hang of the job and the two got into several disagreements, most notably the Quinn Buckner/Dave Cowens trade. It was that trade that would be the undoing of Embry in the Bucks organization. It is rumored that once Herb Kohl bought the Bucks, Nelson was able to get rid of Embry by claiming Embry lied on an expense report related to the Cowens trade.

Nellie could tell it was not going to be a friendly meeting when I approached him with my slightly raised right hand balled up in a fist. Given the size of my hands, my fist looked like the head of a sledge-hammer. “What’s wrong, Big Man?’’ the startled Nellie said.

I am not sure how I controlled my temper, but I managed to spit out, “Why did you tell people the reason you did not want me around was because I cheated on my expenses?’’ He was shocked and vehemently denied it.

“Nellie, you’re lying,’’ I yelled. “I have this from reliable sources. My reputation is my most valuable asset. I’ve worked hard to build it. And I will not let you take it from me.’’

He recovered enough to claim that when we were at our camps in New Hampshire, I had rented a car and charged the Bucks. “You should not have done that,’’ he said.

I asked if he was referring to the time I had driven up to interview Cowens and reminded him that was official business. “How did you expect me to get there?’’ I asked.

“You could have borrowed a car,’’ he said, weakly.

“Why do you have to destroy my credibility?’’ I roared.

Nellie clammed up. “I’ve got to go,’’ he said and left.

“You are the bottom of the barrel, the scum of the earth,’’ I shouted as he hurried through the tables and out of the coffee shop.

It should be noted that this was taken from Embry’s autobiography.  We do not have Nelson’s or anyone else’s word on this matter. Or at least I haven’t found it. But since Nelson famously flamed out with Mark Cuban in Dallas and Chris Mullin in Golden State, I think Embry’s claims hold up decently.

***

Embry would go on to serve in the front offices of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors. He would be named Executive of the Year in 1992 and 1998.

Ian is a Bucksketball Contributor and all-around cool dude. Follow Ian Segovia on Twitter. Fan us up on Facebook.

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That’s why I have never understood the Bob Lanier thing.

Honoring past players is one of the most important things about sports.  We never want to forget the highest highs in the histories of our respective teams.  Fans want to remember when and why they first fell in love with a team.  The “old days” often create a bridge between generations of fans and are an opportunity for younger fans to learn why their parents got them into the game in the first place.  So, I understand the value in retiring numbers.  Seeing the numbers in the rafters is a constant talking point and goes a long way in remembering how the Bucks got to where they are.  But, I’m concerned that the Bucks have indirectly removed a touch of the value of a retired number over the years.

When I think of retired numbers there are certain aspects of importance I’m looking for in a player to deem his jersey worthy of never being worn again.  A player has to play a vital role in franchise lore, he must in some way shape or form alter the course of a franchise’s history or at the absolute least have his jersey retired in honor of his longevity.  A case study in my first set of requirements: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Kareem could only stand six seasons of his basketball life being spent in Milwaukee, but we all know the Milwaukee Bucks never would have lasted without the greatest Buck of all time getting them started.  Milwaukee is currently seen as a struggling to compete, small market franchise, but even when Milwaukee was a reasonably large market in the late sixties, not many thought the city could support a basketball team, as they had already failed once with the Hawks in the fifties.

But Kareem changed everything.  The Bucks drew nearly three thousand more people on average per game in Kareem’s rookie year.  He helped establish them as a winning franchise, brought the Bucks their only championship and even when he decided he could no longer spend his winters in Milwaukee, brought back talent that helped keep the Bucks competitive for years to come.  This is the kind of guy who deserves a retired jersey.

A case study in my second set of requirements: Jon McGlocklin.  Jonny Mac has been with the Bucks from day one.  He’s seen the Bucks from every imaginable angle.  A co-founder of the MACC Fund, McGlocklin has long been one of the most philanthropic members of the Milwaukee sports community.  Mac has been with the organization for over forty years and to many is the voice of the Bucks.  Is Mac going into the hall of fame?  Not any time soon.  He only made one all-star team and as a Buck only averaged a little over twelve points a game.  But he’s so much more than that to Bucks fans that he deserves a spot up in the rafters.  He’s a valuable talking point in Bucks lore.  Retiring his number as soon as they did (1976) probably was a little silly, but in the end all is well that ends well.

Things start to get a little bit silly as you go down the line of jerseys though.  The silliness first stands out at Brian Winters.  Winters was one of the cornerstone pieces of the Kareem deal.  He played eight years for the Bucks and finished near the top of many leader boards in Bucks history, including the top of the assists board.  Winters was the kind of player who maximized his talents, earning two all-star births and had a great basketball IQ.  Most importantly, the Bucks made the playoffs six times during his time with them.  He had the feel of a winner and the respect and admiration of the organization.  He probably was a slightly above average player, but time spent and a good relationship with the organization put him over the top.  Oh, and this (from an interview with Michael Jordan in Cigar Aficionado):

MRS: Who in your mind is the best shooter you’ve ever seen?
JORDAN: Best shooter. Oh, boy. That’s a great question. Pure shooter?  Pure shooter, I would say Brian Winters, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks. He had the most beautiful stroke of all the people whom I can think of.

But Bob Lanier?

Hey, Lanier had a terrific career.  Seven all-star teams.  Eight consecutive years with over twenty points per game scored.  A walking double double in his Detroit days.  But as a Buck?  A pretty ordinary player.  Thirteen and a half points and a hair under six rebounds a game.  Andrew Bogut is on pace to average considerably better numbers than that as a Buck and most people would pass out if anyone were to even suggest retiring Bogut’s number some day.  That’s the problem with retiring Lanier’s number, we’re setting the bar awfully low.  Maybe Lanier was a hall of fame locker room guy in Milwaukee, but does that mean we should reconsider Sam Casell’s case?  Casell was the last piece that seemed to push Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson’s Bucks teams over the top into the Eastern conference finals in 2001.  Lanier did a lot more winning than those guys did, but he played on much better teams.

Retiring a player’s number is a special event that is supposed to be reserved for special players in a team’s history.  If a ten-year-old kid looks up at the Bucks rafters this season he’s going to see Bob Lanier’s name and number up there with Oscar Robertson and Kareem.  He’s going to think Lanier played as important a role for the Bucks as The Big O and Kareem.  He’s going to be wrong.  There are tons of other ways to honor athletes these days; bobble heads, magnets, coffee mugs, pens, coloring books, throwback jerseys, whatever you can think of they can put a player on it and market it.  If we want to honor the Bob Lanier’s of the world.

Retiring the numbers of the “pretty good” and not solely the great is a bad precedent to establish.  If Lanier was honored, why not Marques Johnson?  Johnson spent seven years as a Buck, made four all-star teams, an all-NBA first team and then went on to steal scenes in “White Men Can’t Jump”.  If Lanier was honored, then why not Glenn Robinson?  Robinson spent eight years with the Bucks, averaged over twenty points in all but one year and is the Bucks second all-time leading scorer.

I don’t want to harp on Bob Lanier though.  What’s done is done and there’s no going back on retired numbers.  Pulling them down would be even more ridiculous than putting them up was in the first place.  I just encourage the Bucks and other franchises to think about what I’ve laid out here today when looking into retiring numbers in the future.  Sure, it may seem like a great idea now to retire Bruce Bowen’s number in San Antonio, but in twenty years will it really be necessary to remember him in the same light as David Robinson and Tim Duncan?  Bowen was important to the Spurs run of championships, his defense and corner threes were crucial.  But was he irreplaceable?  Did he alter the course of franchise history the way Robinson and later Duncan did?  Probably not.  I know “anyone could have done what he did” isn’t always a great defense.  After all, he actually did it.  But it’s a worthy rationalization when thinking about the broad scope of things.

I’m sure in twenty years a Bruce Bowen commemorative “Remember Him?” bobble head will be just fine and go a long way towards keeping him in the hearts and minds of Spurs fans.  But to put him in the rafters is to do a disservice to the fine work of true legends.

The TrueHoop Network is going around the horn discussing what not so good players each team could retire because of their place in the teams lore.  I’d love to hear some comments on the Bucks and their seven retired jerseys and see what other people think about that.  But make sure you check out some of the other sites to see which players hold a special place in the hearts of each franchise.

Some TrueHoop Network Posts:

Atlanta: Mookie Blaylock, Lenny Wilkens, Tree Rollins or Kevin Willis?

New Jersey: Kerry Kittles. (Oddly enough I hope Joe Alexander turns into him.)

New Orleans: Mugsy Bouges love.

Detroit: Billlups, Ben and Rodman.

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