If you grew up watching basketball in the 80's, there were certain things about the era that memorably stand out. From the short shorts to the jheri curls, the 80's definitely had their own style. Now, if you were a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 80's, then your own team had its own style. "Showtime" is what they called it, and with Magic Johnson leading the fast-paced orchestra in the City of Angels, they were a sight to behold.
You know what else was a sight to behold? Those dudes wearing those goggles on the court.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Kurt Rambis were more than three major players on the Lakers frontcourt; they were also visually impaired big men who did all of the things Magic couldn't do. From Kareem skyhooking his way to the all-time scoring record, to Worthy earning the moniker "Big Game James" with one of the quickest first steps in the game, and Rambis doing all the dirty work and providing the proper protection for the stars on the roster, there's a reason why the Lakers were the team of the 80's.
To commemorate the legend of the bespectacled three, the good folks over at Million Dollar Ballers put together their latest t-shirt release that pays homage for everyone to see.
"In the 80's, goggles were a part of the fabric of the game, like high socks and short shorts," explains owner Greg Beers. "These legends defined the goggles era – you can't picture them without their specs."
While digging through the Youtube archives, I uncovered this gem. Here's the video of the 1988 NBA Finals and three things quickly stand out:
1. I couldn't imagine any player kissing each other on the cheek at halfcourt in 2013 in the way that Magic and Isiah Thomas did. Twitter would explode at least 38 times.
2. The music they used to soundtrack the NBA championship videos was fantastic.
3. The Isiah Thomas sprained ankle game in game 6, including 25 points in the third quarter, will always remain memorable. The fact that the Pistons were unable to win that game, thus winning a title and maybe winning three in a row, skews the legacy of the Bad Boys from being 2-time champions to being a transcendent legacy.
MIllion Dollar Ballers is the home of legends. Every design is printed on the finest material and made in the USA. You can find Million Dollar Ballers at mdballers.com, on Twitter @mdballers or at facebook.com/milliondollarballers. For more information, email [email protected].
Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”
