Len was a good kid who made some bad choices. I hope his story will continue to turn others away from drugs. Lenny's untimely death, and the senseless murder of UNC student body president Eve Carson, are the two most tragic stories in my lifetime of young lives cut short. I only hope our society can learn something from these losses. The sadness is overwhelming.
Leonard is what Lefty use to call him, but he wss Frosty to everyone in landover. I remember when we use to have Junior Olympic practices at Hines Junior High School near Captiol Hill. Jay was on our squad (LENS BROTHER), and Lenny use to practice with us three days a week. I remember when he dunk one and the basketball shook for about 2min. Those were the good old days.
Len Bias was the most exciting college basketball player that I have ever watched. I thought he was better then Jordon in college. I thought that David Thompson was the best I had seen until Len came along. Bias was just an awesome ball player. He had the incredible leaping ability with the soft touch. He could score inside or outside. He could have his back to the hoop or could face the basket and score. He could rebound, block shots, play excellent defense, had good ball handling skills for a man his size, was willing to pass the ball, he played intelligent, and was outstanding in the clutch. He could carry a team as he did Maryland against Carolina in 86 at the Dean Dome. I wonder how many college students in the 80's can say they never made a bad decision or used poor judgement. Aren't we all thankful that we did not have to pay for our mistake with our lives. Len sadly paid a horrible price. It does seem very unfair. I hope everyone will remember that Bias was a great kid, son, friend, and ball player. Thats what I remember most about him.
I was 16 years old at the time. I thought I was invincible, as most young people do. I was not a Maryland fan. In fact, I was a diehard Tar Heel fan. But as a Tar Heel fan, I had to appreciate Len Bias' talent. His talent on the court was incredible, but so was his understanding of the game. His smile was so bright, and even if you hated him, you kind of had to love him. And so came the first wakeup call of my generation. Why was it the death of a basketball player that became such a huge moment in our lives? No offense, but this was our generation's JKF or Martin Luther King Jr. death moment. While the others were ambassadors through politics, Len was a basketball ambassador. I have no doubts he would have been as good, if not better, than Michael Jordan. This is the first time I shed a sympathetic cry for someone I did not personally know in my 16 years of life at that point. There's not a week goes by that I don't think about his death. Not a week. Imagine that.
Leonard K Bias...a legacy and legend for those who continue to abuse their bodies with drugs. If the lord can take away such a perfect human specimen and show us all how vulnerable and weak we are in the face of illegal drugs, what more of a wake up call do we need...Many kids today don't know or remember this man. He was a tremendous talent...But he would have become at the pro level, none of us can predict...would drug use have ravaged him with all the money he would have earned?!! Would he have been better than Mike? I just miss him...RIP The Late Great All American Forward.
I think of Lenny Bias all the time ...back in the mid 80's i played colleg basketball as well at a D1 school.I nevered played against Lenny.. but was getting recruited by a few ACC schools but decided to go to the SEC, later transfering to Sun belt conference.My point is that i remember guys that played in the NBA and that was 1st rounders in numerous drafts that used all the time. I remember the night when Lenny was the 2ND pick of the NBA draft we had a player drafted as well in 1986.I also remember all the partying we was doing in his room... after hearing about Len Bias that morning. I remember asking myself "we didn't have no one die why did Len Bias have to die?" We were just kids having fun.. but as i got older i realized life is about decisions. I currently teach in the school system and coach High school basketball as well, i have a son that plays basketball and getting recruited by serveral D-1 schools i tell him as well as the kids i coach about Len Bias all the time... and about how great of a basketball player he was..but most important i try to make them realize that life is about decisions. Len Bias was just one of many college and NBA players that made that decision that young people think of having fun, but Len Bias paid with his life .. my heart still hurts when thinking of how much life he had in front of him...for what it's worth Len Bias help turn my life around and i will continue to tell kids about a young man name Len Bias that had the wourld in his hands but made the wrong decision in life.God Bless you Len Bias and your family.
um.im only 14.but i never heard of this guy.who is he?this "Len Bias"?i didnt know who he was ,but i'll never forget when i found out.It was my uncle Tonys birthday.(my uncle Tony is my dads bestfriend) My dad couldnt figure out a present to get him.i remember him scrambling and thinking of gifts. we where driving past this gass station and on the way we saw these people selling jerseys.RARE.JERSEYS.and my dad didnt think anything of it until he saw that man.LEN BIAS.on the jersey he was dunking over sum player.and he was wearing a celtics jersey.his number was HUGE! and it said "MARYLAND" on the back. i think it was the coolest jersey i'd ever seen.my dad said :"i'll take that one".we drive to D.C. where my uncle lives. and my dad gives him the box containing the jersey.he opens it up and tears well up in his eyes.i've never seen him cry before.i was prolly 8.but i never can seem to forget this.my uncle toney says thanks we stay for an hour or 2 then leave. i get in the car and say "why did he cry?" "shay,he loves len bias" "what happened to Len bias?" "im jus going to start out telling you that he was the greatest player to me in college basketball history.in my opinion he could have been better than jordan." "what do u mean 'could have'" "he's dead." "howd he die?" "well he had gotten traded to the celtics.the celtics just happend to be his favorite team.hes always wanted to play for them.i guess the sucess had gotten so overwhelming.he snorted sum cocain.it went straight to his heart shay.he died.he was 23 years old.i remember that night.i was sitting in my dorm watching tv.until a newscaster interrupted it.he said'len bias is dead'.Tony loved Len bias." this man was something else." this was crazy.this story was crazy.i still can remeber it tho. i still can remember it
In 1984, I was 14 years old and in Jr. High School. Up to that time, I'd played baseball and football. No basketball. In my gym class, we were now playing basketball. I had no game. Until basketball was forced into my life, I was one of the "cool kids". But because I couldn't hoop, I was turning into a clown. When girls started laughing at me, I knew I had to learn to play. When the weekend came, I found some basketball on T.V. I figured this was the way to learn about that stupid game. I caught a DePaul game. I watched and tried to pick up on what was going on, but by the end of the game, I still wasn't into it. I flicked through the channels in search of more games. Then I found one. A University of Maryland game. I'm from Baltimore, this was the home team, I'll check them out. It was the first time that I saw Len Bias. He turned me into a fan of basketball. I watched every Maryland game that I could just to see him play. That made me want to play. I started going to the park to play ball. And I got better. My love for the game made me start watching pro ball as well. Guess what team became my favorite. Yeah the Celtics. When Len Bias got drafted by the Celtics, it was a dream come true. My favorite player was going to my favorite pro team. The best of both worlds. And just like that, it was all over. The person that made me love the sport of basketball was gone. I was 16 years old. I'm 38 now and my knees hurt from all the years of running, jumping, balling. I don't play anymore, but my love for the game is just as strong as the first time I saw #34. My daughter saw me watching these highlights of Len Bias, and wanted to know about him. She's 16, the age I was when we lost Len. Her birthday is November 18th, same as Len's. Go figure. R.I.P. Len Bias. You've still got a ton of fan who miss you.
It breaks my heart everytime I see a Len Bias highlight, I would of loved to see a Boston Celtics team with him leading. What a damn shame. Rest in peace young man, and god forbid this from happening again to another young man.
I think this 1st comment here really says it all. I just think no one is putting ANY responsabilty on Lens shoulders. He made the choice, he had it all in his hands and decided he did not want it,
I was a freshman in the pepband during Len's senior year. I remember being in awe of his talent on the court. He seemed to fly over everybody on that court. What I also remember about him was that he was a really nice guy. If you ran into him on campus he wasn't too much of a star to say hello. It's so sad to me even after all these years when I think about his death. One bad decision ended his life. This is the story young people have to hear. He was an amazing person with an amazing talent, but he made a poor choice when it came to partying, and it cost him everything. As a side note, I'd really like to hear about the corruption in college althetics at the time. The basketball players at that time were rolling around on campus with wads of cash and lacking for nothing. I wonder if things have really changed. Rest in peace Lenny, You are greatly missed.
19 comments:
Len was a good kid who made some bad choices. I hope his story will continue to turn others away from drugs. Lenny's untimely death, and the senseless murder of UNC student body president Eve Carson, are the two most tragic stories in my lifetime of young lives cut short.
I only hope our society can learn something from these losses. The sadness is overwhelming.
We miss you Lenny!
The greatest college hoopster ever.
It still brings a tear to my eye.
Leonard is what Lefty use to call him, but he wss Frosty to everyone in landover. I remember when we use to have Junior Olympic practices at Hines Junior High School near Captiol Hill. Jay was on our squad (LENS BROTHER), and Lenny use to practice with us three days a week. I remember when he dunk one and the basketball shook for about 2min. Those were the good old days.
Len Bias was the most exciting college basketball player that I have ever watched. I thought he was better then Jordon in college. I thought that David Thompson was the best I had seen until Len came along. Bias was just an awesome ball player. He had the incredible leaping ability with the soft touch. He could score inside or outside. He could have his back to the hoop or could face the basket and score. He could rebound, block shots, play excellent defense, had good ball handling skills for a man his size, was willing to pass the ball, he played intelligent, and was outstanding in the clutch. He could carry a team as he did Maryland against Carolina in 86 at the Dean Dome. I wonder how many college students in the 80's can say they never made a bad decision or used poor judgement. Aren't we all thankful that we did not have to pay for our mistake with our lives. Len sadly paid a horrible price. It does seem very unfair. I hope everyone will remember that Bias was a great kid, son, friend, and ball player. Thats what I remember most about him.
I was 16 years old at the time. I thought I was invincible, as most young people do. I was not a Maryland fan. In fact, I was a diehard Tar Heel fan. But as a Tar Heel fan, I had to appreciate Len Bias' talent. His talent on the court was incredible, but so was his understanding of the game. His smile was so bright, and even if you hated him, you kind of had to love him. And so came the first wakeup call of my generation. Why was it the death of a basketball player that became such a huge moment in our lives? No offense, but this was our generation's JKF or Martin Luther King Jr. death moment. While the others were ambassadors through politics, Len was a basketball ambassador. I have no doubts he would have been as good, if not better, than Michael Jordan. This is the first time I shed a sympathetic cry for someone I did not personally know in my 16 years of life at that point. There's not a week goes by that I don't think about his death. Not a week. Imagine that.
Leonard K Bias...a legacy and legend for those who continue to abuse their bodies with drugs. If the lord can take away such a perfect human specimen and show us all how vulnerable and weak we are in the face of illegal drugs, what more of a wake up call do we need...Many kids today don't know or remember this man. He was a tremendous talent...But he would have become at the pro level, none of us can predict...would drug use have ravaged him with all the money he would have earned?!! Would he have been better than Mike? I just miss him...RIP
The Late Great All American Forward.
I think of Lenny Bias all the time ...back in the mid 80's i played colleg basketball as well at a D1 school.I nevered played against Lenny.. but was getting recruited by a few ACC schools but decided to go to the SEC, later transfering to Sun belt conference.My point is that i remember guys that played in the NBA and that was 1st rounders in numerous drafts that used all the time. I remember the night when Lenny was the 2ND pick of the NBA draft we had a player drafted as well in 1986.I also remember all the partying we was doing in his room... after hearing about Len Bias that morning. I remember asking myself "we didn't have no one die why did Len Bias have to die?" We were just kids having fun.. but as i got older i realized life is about decisions. I currently teach in the school system and coach High school basketball as well, i have a son that plays basketball and getting recruited by serveral D-1 schools i tell him as well as the kids i coach about Len Bias all the time... and about how great of a basketball player he was..but most important i try to make them realize that life is about decisions. Len Bias was just one of many college and NBA players that made that decision that young people think of having fun, but Len Bias paid with his life .. my heart still hurts when thinking of how much life he had in front of him...for what it's worth Len Bias help turn my life around and i will continue to tell kids about a young man name Len Bias that had the wourld in his hands but made the wrong decision in life.God Bless you Len Bias and your family.
um.im only 14.but i never heard of this guy.who is he?this "Len Bias"?i didnt know who he was ,but i'll never forget when i found out.It was my uncle Tonys birthday.(my uncle Tony is my dads bestfriend)
My dad couldnt figure out a present to get him.i remember him scrambling and thinking of gifts.
we where driving past this gass station and on the way we saw these people selling jerseys.RARE.JERSEYS.and my dad didnt think anything of it until he saw that man.LEN BIAS.on the jersey he was dunking over sum player.and he was wearing a celtics jersey.his number was HUGE!
and it said "MARYLAND" on the back.
i think it was the coolest jersey i'd ever seen.my dad said :"i'll take that one".we drive to D.C. where my uncle lives. and my dad gives him the box containing the jersey.he opens it up and tears well up in his eyes.i've never seen him cry before.i was prolly 8.but i never can seem to forget this.my uncle toney says thanks we stay for an hour or 2 then leave.
i get in the car and say "why did he cry?"
"shay,he loves len bias"
"what happened to Len bias?"
"im jus going to start out telling you that he was the greatest player to me in college basketball history.in my opinion he could have been better than jordan."
"what do u mean 'could have'"
"he's dead."
"howd he die?"
"well he had gotten traded to the celtics.the celtics just happend to be his favorite team.hes always wanted to play for them.i guess the sucess had gotten so overwhelming.he snorted sum cocain.it went straight to his heart shay.he died.he was 23 years old.i remember that night.i was sitting in my dorm watching tv.until a newscaster interrupted it.he said'len bias is dead'.Tony loved Len bias."
this man was something else."
this was crazy.this story was crazy.i still can remeber it tho.
i still can remember it
In 1984, I was 14 years old and in Jr. High School. Up to that time, I'd played baseball and football. No basketball. In my gym class, we were now playing basketball. I had no game. Until basketball was forced into my life, I was one of the "cool kids". But because I couldn't hoop, I was turning into a clown. When girls started laughing at me, I knew I had to learn to play. When the weekend came, I found some basketball on T.V. I figured this was the way to learn about that stupid game. I caught a DePaul game. I watched and tried to pick up on what was going on, but by the end of the game, I still wasn't into it. I flicked through the channels in search of more games. Then I found one. A University of Maryland game. I'm from Baltimore, this was the home team, I'll check them out. It was the first time that I saw Len Bias. He turned me into a fan of basketball. I watched every Maryland game that I could just to see him play. That made me want to play. I started going to the park to play ball. And I got better. My love for the game made me start watching pro ball as well. Guess what team became my favorite. Yeah the Celtics. When Len Bias got drafted by the Celtics, it was a dream come true. My favorite player was going to my favorite pro team. The best of both worlds. And just like that, it was all over. The person that made me love the sport of basketball was gone. I was 16 years old. I'm 38 now and my knees hurt from all the years of running, jumping, balling. I don't play anymore, but my love for the game is just as strong as the first time I saw #34. My daughter saw me watching these highlights of Len Bias, and wanted to know about him. She's 16, the age I was when we lost Len. Her birthday is November 18th, same as Len's. Go figure. R.I.P. Len Bias. You've still got a ton of fan who miss you.
len bias was going to be better than micheal jordan. He was more advanced than jordan was in college.
rest in peace lenny
len bias was the best no one could stop him only a drug could
It breaks my heart everytime I see a Len Bias highlight, I would of loved to see a Boston Celtics team with him leading. What a damn shame. Rest in peace young man, and god forbid this from happening again to another young man.
I think this 1st comment here really says it all. I just think no one is putting ANY responsabilty
on Lens shoulders. He made the choice, he had it all in his hands
and decided he did not want it,
FROSTY, FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I was a freshman in the pepband during Len's senior year. I remember being in awe of his talent on the court. He seemed to fly over everybody on that court. What I also remember about him was that he was a really nice guy. If you ran into him on campus he wasn't too much of a star to say hello. It's so sad to me even after all these years when I think about his death. One bad decision ended his life. This is the story young people have to hear. He was an amazing person with an amazing talent, but he made a poor choice when it came to partying, and it cost him everything. As a side note, I'd really like to hear about the corruption in college althetics at the time. The basketball players at that time were rolling around on campus with wads of cash and lacking for nothing. I wonder if things have really changed. Rest in peace Lenny, You are greatly missed.
RIP LENNY!!!!!!!!!
Rest in peace frosty. I went to northwestern sr. high with Len. He was a great kid. Only thing I can say about him was, pure talent.
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