Still so many unanswered questions

For Gen “X”-ers that grew up following college hoops, the death of Maryland superstar, Lenny Bias, represents one of those “where were you when…?” moments. He was to be our generation’s Connie Hawkins, its Spencer Haywood – that rare breed of power forward that could combine grace and quickness with strength and power. Its ironic that off-court troubles merely bedeviled both Hawkins and Haywood and it was off-court troubles, though, that claimed Bias’s life.

Twenty-three years ago, just 2 days after he had been drafted in the 1st round by the Boston Celtics, Lenny Bias died of a cocaine overdose.

Twenty-three years and the impact, unfortunately, not of his life but rather his death looms large. To many, the death of Bias represented Ground Zero for this nation’s War on Drugs being kicked into high gear as politicians were able to exploit the stature of Bias’s college legend and his proximity to the nation’s Capitol. To others, Celtic fans in particular, Bias’s death began a bizarre and macabre 20+ year wandering in the NBA wilderness. (Reggie Lewis, a young Celtic superstar-in-the-making and who was to lead the Celtics out of the post-Bias nightmare, himself, was struck down in his prime at the age of 27 due to sudden cardiac death.)

For us, there was nothing to compare. In that era there were but a few whom we championed because of their style of play: Magic, George Gervin, Bernard King, Lenny Bias and Bias, of course, represented the first and only to be cut down by drugs.

Deadspin has their take here regarding a Len Bias documentary (with film trailer) and which explores how Bias’s death would be covered differently today with our 24 hr. cable news coverage and whatnot… and of course, the Deadspin commenters who amazingly remain just above tastelessness considering the subject matter.