Billy Owens Can’t Skate

Remember former Syracuse great and NBA player Billy Owens? If you’re a hoops fan, you probably do; and if you’re a Bay Area balla, then you definitely do. Anyway, according to a news story in the Dallas Morning News (scroll about halfway down), Owens’ coaching career with the Mavericks was put on hold due to a skateboarding mishap. From the Morning News:
There’s a reason nobody over the age of 19 rides a skateboard.
Billy Owens knows that now.
Owens is just starting his coaching career. He was in the Mavericks’ training camp as part of a trial run, and Johnson called at the end of camp and told Owens he would be added to the player-development staff.
One problem. Owens had been playing with his kids and made the mistake of trying to jump a ramp on his son’s skateboard.
A cracked pelvis, abdominal tear and groin injury later, Owens had to tell Johnson he wouldn’t be able to travel until after Thanksgiving.
“Thankfully, Avery told me just to get better and rejoin the team when I could,” Owens said.
Owens got back with the team to start his duties this week.
I leave it to you to take exception to the first sentence of that entry.
Otherwise, I’ve always felt that skateboarding is the most difficult sport in existence. I played high-school basketball and college soccer, yet nothing required as much coordination as skating. Nothing even came close, to be honest.
Now, I have more proof than ever. In the form of a former NBA player’s busted pelvis. Thanks for taking one for the team, Billy.


