Episode 69 - Len Elmore

The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are joined by ABA/NBA veteran Len Elmore, who is now a practicing attorney and professor for Columbia University. He discusses how his passion for both education and sports helped him flourish into the incredibly accomplished man he is both on and off the basketball court.

5:00 - How much of Len's upbringing during the Civil Rights Movement helped influence his pursuits later in life outside of basketball?

8:30 - It wasn't basketball, but baseball that Len wanted to pursue as a professional athlete. That was at least until his growth spurt changed everything.

9:30 - Len played basketball like Chief in One Flew Over The Cucko's Nest

13:00 - Len discusses his transition from growing up in New York, and attending college at Maryland. Basketball became the culture on that campus as they became one of the best teams in the country.

16:30 - As an accomplished broadcaster himself, of course the guys have to ask Len about calling the iconic Duke-Kentucky game that ended with Christian Laettner's game winner.

22:30 - Len recalls the impact that watching John Carlos and Tommie Smith in the 1968 Olympics had on him, combined with reading Malcom X's autobiography. He said it caused an awakening for him then, and he continues to hold those principles to this day.

37:30 - Len never felt like basketball was beneath him with all of his scholarly pursuits, but he just decided after 10 seasons he was just done.

42:30 - There were plenty of Len's former teammates who took to heart what advice he had for them, knowing everyone needed to find their life's work after basketball.

47:00 - Len and the rest of the Terps gave John Wooden, Bill Walton and UCLA their toughest test as they were in the greatest winning streak in college basketball history.

50:00 - The NCAA Tournament had to expand their field after Len and Maryland were left out after losing the ACC Tournament to NC State

52:00 - Even though they weren't close, the passing of Len Bias just absolutely rocked Len Elmore just like everyone at the time.

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