Blow Out the Candles June 25

New York Knicks Hall of Famer Willis Reed is celebrating his 70th birthday today.

Career highlights and awards:
2× NBA Champion (1970, 1973)
NBA Most Valuable Player (1970)
2× NBA Finals MVP (1970, 1973)
7× NBA All-Star (1965–1971)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (1970)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1965)
All-NBA First Team (1970)
4× All-NBA Second Team (1967–1969, 1971)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (1970)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1965)
NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
#19 Retired by the New York Knicks

  

Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour is celebrating his 49th birthday today.

 

 

 

Singer/songwriter Carly Simon is celebrating her 67th birthday today.

I have all of Carly's albums from the 1970's.  If you're a fan you'll recognize these:

Some music:

Interviews:

1969-70 Topps Basketball

I've accumulated some basketball cards over the years in box lots but I haven't bought an actual pack since the Nixon administration.  I'm assuming I bought two packs in 1969 since I have a total of 18 cards from the 1969-70 set.  In honor of the opening of the NBA season here are a few of the best.

The quality control on these was terrible, as you can see.  The cards were only ten cents a pack but back then you could get a steak dinner for a buck and a half so that's no excuse.