RIP Chocolate Thunder
- Thread starter Lions8286
- Start date
A great character, and a pleasure to watch. Not only, did he like nicknames for himself, he had nicknames for his dunks.
http://phillysportshistory.com/2011/09/02/mr-nickname-darryl-dawkins/
http://phillysportshistory.com/2011/09/02/mr-nickname-darryl-dawkins/
- “Your Mama” When the “Master of Disaster” first broke into the league and was practicing with guys like Dr. J., Jellybean Bryant, World B. Free and Doug Collins, he wanted to show everyone he was a player. After his first powerful dunk, he turned to the guy who attempted to play defense and said “Your Mama.” When the rest of the players asked him what the hell he was talking about, he said “That’s my ‘Your Mama’ dunk.”
- “The Heart-Stopper” At 6’11” and 250 lbs., “King Kong” was an imposing presence to say the least. So when he froze defenders in the lane with powerful drives to the hoop, he would call those dunks “Heart-Stoppers” because it looked like they made the defender’s heart stop.
- “The Greyhound Bus” Greyhound Bus described when he would go coast to coast and finish with a dunk.
- “Left-Handed, Spine-Chiller Supreme” Although “Charming Chocolate” was right-handed, he often dunked lefty.
- “Turbo Sexophonic Delight” Makes sense when you consider he was an alien from the planet Lovetron who spent the offseason practicing interplanetary funkmanship.
-
“Chocolate Thunder Flyin’, Glass Flyin’, Robizine Cryin’, Parents Cryin’, Babies Cryin’, Glass Still Flyin’, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Thank You Wham Ma’am I Am’ Jam” His first backboard shattering slam. (right)
- “The Chocolate Thunder Ain’t Playin’, Get Out The Wayin’, Backboard Swayin’, Game Delayin’, Super Spike” And his second backboard shattering slam, after which the NBA forever changed to collapsible rims.
Just love reading those. Between 1976 - 78 I went to a lot of Sixer's games. I loved Darryl. I'll never forget his rookie year and seeing him for the first time and realizing that he wasn't much older than me and my classmates. Unreal. I remember how graceful his baseline jumper was. Always was sure to get there early for warm-ups with that crew. Daryll, Doc, Bobby Jones, Joe "Jelly Bean" Bryant, etc... Apparently, he was well liked in the Lehigh Valley and gave a lot of time to youth in the area. A kind and gentle giant.A great character, and a pleasure to watch. Not only, did he like nicknames for himself, he had nicknames for his dunks.
http://phillysportshistory.com/2011/09/02/mr-nickname-darryl-dawkins/
- “Your Mama” When the “Master of Disaster” first broke into the league and was practicing with guys like Dr. J., Jellybean Bryant, World B. Free and Doug Collins, he wanted to show everyone he was a player. After his first powerful dunk, he turned to the guy who attempted to play defense and said “Your Mama.” When the rest of the players asked him what the hell he was talking about, he said “That’s my ‘Your Mama’ dunk.”
- “The Heart-Stopper” At 6’11” and 250 lbs., “King Kong” was an imposing presence to say the least. So when he froze defenders in the lane with powerful drives to the hoop, he would call those dunks “Heart-Stoppers” because it looked like they made the defender’s heart stop.
- “The Greyhound Bus” Greyhound Bus described when he would go coast to coast and finish with a dunk.
- “Left-Handed, Spine-Chiller Supreme” Although “Charming Chocolate” was right-handed, he often dunked lefty.
- “Turbo Sexophonic Delight” Makes sense when you consider he was an alien from the planet Lovetron who spent the offseason practicing interplanetary funkmanship.
- “The Chocolate Thunder Ain’t Playin’, Get Out The Wayin’, Backboard Swayin’, Game Delayin’, Super Spike” And his second backboard shattering slam, after which the NBA forever changed to collapsible rims.
I am personally saddened by this.
I met Dawkins soon after he graduated high school. He lived in an apartment in Voorhees, NJ, right across from where I lived. I was ten years old, and I just thought he was something else. He had a 1975 crystal blue Ford Thunderbird that he used to drive around - it had the requisite white wall tires and spoke chrome wheels....he had someone paint, in white, his name on the car...
When we needed money for the arcade (remember them?) we would go and wash his car and he would pay us a few dollars.
He had a younger brother or cousin that he lived with, who was probably 16, and 6'8" himself. They used to fight with swords and sabres. So, one day, my 10 year old self and friends knocked on Darryl's door to try to get money for the arcade by washing his car. There I was, red bucket in hand, sponges, soap, towels, etc. We knocked on his door, and he opened it up with his brother (cousin) right behind him....these two huge menchild, both holding pointy silver sabres, smiling and laughing uncontrollably....we got so freaked out, I dropped my red bucket and ran like hell.
They laughed at us the whole way we ran across the street. Later, Darryl returned the red bucket to our doorstep, and inside was $5 worth of quarters for the arcade.
What a hell of a nice man. Never took himself too seriously. Too bad he got traded just before the Sixers won their Championship in 1983, but they probably would not have been able to fit him and Malone on the same court.
RIP, Chocolate Thunder. I am gonna miss you.
Damn.
I met Dawkins soon after he graduated high school. He lived in an apartment in Voorhees, NJ, right across from where I lived. I was ten years old, and I just thought he was something else. He had a 1975 crystal blue Ford Thunderbird that he used to drive around - it had the requisite white wall tires and spoke chrome wheels....he had someone paint, in white, his name on the car...
When we needed money for the arcade (remember them?) we would go and wash his car and he would pay us a few dollars.
He had a younger brother or cousin that he lived with, who was probably 16, and 6'8" himself. They used to fight with swords and sabres. So, one day, my 10 year old self and friends knocked on Darryl's door to try to get money for the arcade by washing his car. There I was, red bucket in hand, sponges, soap, towels, etc. We knocked on his door, and he opened it up with his brother (cousin) right behind him....these two huge menchild, both holding pointy silver sabres, smiling and laughing uncontrollably....we got so freaked out, I dropped my red bucket and ran like hell.
They laughed at us the whole way we ran across the street. Later, Darryl returned the red bucket to our doorstep, and inside was $5 worth of quarters for the arcade.
What a hell of a nice man. Never took himself too seriously. Too bad he got traded just before the Sixers won their Championship in 1983, but they probably would not have been able to fit him and Malone on the same court.
RIP, Chocolate Thunder. I am gonna miss you.
Damn.
When a friend of mine coached basketball at Allentown Central Catholic, I would see Darryl at the games. Very friendly and large man.
Quite a surprise. Goodbye, Chocolate Thunder. There was a time my friends and I in high school thought that smashing a backboard with a dunk was simply the ultimate athletic accomplishment. I'm sure many more kids felt the same.
Went to see PSU play Temple at the Vet in October 76. PSU won a thriller 31-30. Stopped a 2 pt point play at the gun.Went to see Sixers across the street. Met Darryl. Got his autograph. But, more importantly. Cool as hell to a couple of 15 year olds. By the way, Dr. J wouldn't sign for us despite only being about 10 people around
Being a Lehigh Valley guy, I had the opportunity to meet him several times and I can confirm what others have said. He was a really nice guy. I used to bump into him at the Wegman's on Tillghman in Allentown during lunch time. He used to go to Happy Hour at Banana Joe's down town on occasion. He would always stop to say hello.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
RIP Darryl Dawkins. I'll never forget the "cake-shaking baby-maker" dunk.... Lived across the street from a good friend of mine in the lehigh valley. He has some great picnic pictures with Dr. Dunkenstein. Took pictures with everyone and truly a gentle giant. Gave everyone time for pictures and autographs and swap stories.
I had a professional interaction with him years ago, when he still played for the Sixers. He was, in more ways than one, larger than life.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
Just talked to my friend who lives next door to him. Said keep his family in your prayers he has a 12 year old daughter and a special needs child. My friend said he will miss his morning walks with their dogs together and their Darryl's family is crushed. He said Darryl was a wonderful father to his children. Sad day for many...
Those are great. The one I always remembered was the "Doctor Naismith, get-out-of-the-way-smith, there are peach basket splinters all over your face-smith."A great character, and a pleasure to watch. Not only, did he like nicknames for himself, he had nicknames for his dunks.
http://phillysportshistory.com/2011/09/02/mr-nickname-darryl-dawkins/
- “Your Mama” When the “Master of Disaster” first broke into the league and was practicing with guys like Dr. J., Jellybean Bryant, World B. Free and Doug Collins, he wanted to show everyone he was a player. After his first powerful dunk, he turned to the guy who attempted to play defense and said “Your Mama.” When the rest of the players asked him what the hell he was talking about, he said “That’s my ‘Your Mama’ dunk.”
- “The Heart-Stopper” At 6’11” and 250 lbs., “King Kong” was an imposing presence to say the least. So when he froze defenders in the lane with powerful drives to the hoop, he would call those dunks “Heart-Stoppers” because it looked like they made the defender’s heart stop.
- “The Greyhound Bus” Greyhound Bus described when he would go coast to coast and finish with a dunk.
- “Left-Handed, Spine-Chiller Supreme” Although “Charming Chocolate” was right-handed, he often dunked lefty.
- “Turbo Sexophonic Delight” Makes sense when you consider he was an alien from the planet Lovetron who spent the offseason practicing interplanetary funkmanship.
- “The Chocolate Thunder Ain’t Playin’, Get Out The Wayin’, Backboard Swayin’, Game Delayin’, Super Spike” And his second backboard shattering slam, after which the NBA forever changed to collapsible rims.
