How an infamous moment in houston sports changed basketball forever. Because the punch dislodged tomjanovichs skull and nearly destroyed both mens careers, the scuffle never settled as a dusty bit of nba trivia. How one punch changed professional sports abc news. In a rocket at heart, rudy tomjanovich tells the story of how the son of hardworking croatian parents from hamtramck, michigan, helped the city of houston change its image from choke city to clutch city. Every person on the court and almost every person in the forum that night. Rudy tomjanovich career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the nba and ncaa. Rudy tomjanovich, who coached the houston rockets to nba titles in 1994 and 1995, was inducted into the houston hall of fame. Tomjanovich had been previously linked to a dark part of the lakers history. The punch fractured rudy s face and he hit the court, unconscious.
Maybe theyll realize that they could be haunted for the rest of their lives by one punch, as washington and tomjanovich have been. Washington best known for knocking out houstons rudy tomjanovich with a devastating punch in a 1977 game told donors that the funds were going toward charitable work in africa for starving. Old school rudy t awesome man, big man, real man last of the big league. Published on apr 4, 2008 narrated by forest whitaker watch the true story of kermit washingtons life, from childhood to the punch rudy tomjonavich and ending up. One night, two lives, and the fight that changed basketball. Moses malone scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the second half to lead the houston rockets to a 116105 national basketball association victory friday night in a game marred by a one punch fight in which rockets forward rudy tomjanovich suffered a broken nose. One night, two lives, and the fight that changed basketball forever. It landed just below tomjanovich s nose, shattering his face, dislodging his skull and sending spinal fluid leaking from. It was houston rockets forward rudy tomjanovich, coming to restrain him.
Tomjanovich and washington both still feel the pain from that terrible moment. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in more. Severely injured by a rival players punch, rudy tomjanovich enjoys an amazing comeback this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Kermit washington, exnba player, gets 6 years in federal. The punch knocked tomjanovich straight backward, and he landed on the back of his head, out cold within a second. Washington is best remembered for punching opposing player rudy tomjanovich during an oncourt fight in 1977. Kermit alan washington born september 17, 1951 is an american former professional basketball player. Washingtons punch fractured tomjanovich s skull, jaw and other facial bones, putting him in the hospital for 15 days. His punch nearly killed tomjanovich, and resulted in severe medical problems. That morning, during shootaround, rudy tomjanovich caught. This book combines a detailed study of the game of basketball, this particular contest and biographical information on the. Feinstein, who intuitively understands the bonds of teammates and whose basketball and football books are better than his golf stories, skillfully draws the repercussions of the punch. Lakers forward kermit washington knocked him out with one punch. Feinstein describes one night, two lives, and the fight that.
Rudy tomjanovich was a twotime title winner as rockets head coach, and the book chronicling the moment that altered his playing career remains. Rudy tomjanovich isnt taking the most devastating punch in sports history personally anymore, telling tmz sports he actually feels sorry for kermit washington. Rudy t, washington move beyond the punch houston chronicle. Lakers forward kermit washington turned and blindly threw a punch when. Narrated by forest whitaker watch the true story of kermit washingtons life, from childhood to the punch rudy tomjonavich and ending up at his philanthropy work in kenya. He was a high school teammate of aba player john brisker. Rudy tomjanovich no longer with the lakers inside the lakers.
The incident and its aftermath are recounted in the john feinstein book the punch. Tomjanovich and lakers reach agreement on suit the new. One night, two lives and the fight that changed basketball forever by john feinstein. When the 2020 basketball hall of fame class was officially unveiled on april 4, different names dominated the attention in different corners. Former nba player kermit washington, best known for a devastating oncourt punch to fellow player rudy tomjanovich, was sentenced monday to six years in federal prison for committing fraud through.
The book s subject a harrowing haymaker thrown by kermit washington that nearly killed rudy tomjanovich in a 1977 nba. Lakers power forward kermit washington did not know tomjanovich was trying to break up the fight and thought he was going to be a very interesting, eventful, detailed book based on a true story in december of 1977. The kermit washington story redemption 4 of 7 youtube. The punch revisited with notes on recreational injuries.
The punch and millions of other books are available for instant access. Washington, 66, of las vegas, played for several nba teams in the 1970s and 1980s and is best known for throwing a punch that fractured houston rockets player rudy tomjanovich s face and left him unconscious during a 1977 game. Rudy tomjanovich hall of fame induction brings memories of the. The recommendation was a solid one, and i appreciated learning about i cant say more because i never knew about the punch until i read the book the punch and how tomjanovich and washington dealt with not only the physical aftermath of the incident, but also the emotional and mental aftermath. Years later, abduljabbar would call the sound of the punch similar to a mellon being dropped on concrete. Tomjanovich was born in hamtramck, michigan, the son of catherine modich and rudy tomjanovich. The recommendation was a solid one, and i appreciated learning about i cant say more because i never knew about the punch until i read the book the punch and how tomjanovich and washington dealt with not only the physical aftermath of the. Rockets forward rudy tomjanovich ran toward the fight to try and break it up and protect his teammates. Rudy tomjanovich, 29, from blue collar detroit, was an allstar forward for the houston rockets.
Kermit washington, a laker power forward, saw a blaze of rocket red running toward him at full speed and threw a punch. Rudy tomjanovich and moving on from the punch jonathan feigen, houston chronicle oct. Generally regarded as the strongest man in the league, it was his job to protect lakers. John feinstein, best selling author of the last amateurs, a civil war, the majors and many other books brings to light the punch in an accurate presentation of the biggest sucker punch in sports history. How rudy tomjanovic and robert horry radically changed nba offenses paul pierce and paul millsap have both become part of the nbas. The punch kermit washington rudy tomjanovich around the game nba al microscopio. Rudy tomjanovich wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
In this excerpt from jonathan feigens new book, former rockets star and coach rudy tomjanovich and kermit washington discuss moving on from the punch that changed their lives forever. Here he is pictured with his family on the red carpet. Rudy tomjanovich feels sorry for kermit washington, even. The faceshattering punch that changed the nba forever. He attended high school in hamtramck and later the university of michigan 19671970. Rodman, barkley and zo all try charles oakley and get what way more of what they bargained for duration.
However, tomjanovich made a full recovery and ultimately made the allstar team two years later. Of a player who had rewritten the record books at michigan his senior year. He is best known for throwing a punch that fractured houston rockets player rudy tomjanovich s face and left him unconscious during a 1977 game. His punch nearly killed tomjanovich, and resulted in severe medical. Last year he preached togetherness and the houston rockets responded with an nba title. Seeing tomjanovich approach in a blur, the 68 washington threw his punch. As rudy tomjanovich was being helped off the court, he realized his nose was broken.
In 1977, rudy tomjanovich and kermit washington became entwined in a single punch that would change not only their lives, but how professional basketball is played today. Rajon rondo and rafer alston fight 20072008 celtics snap houstons 22 game winning streak duration. Former nba player, from infamous punch of rudy tomjanovich. Share motivational quotes by rudy tomjanovich and quotations about basketball and heart. Rockets power forward rudy tomjanovich ran into the fight in an attempt to break it up. Three decades later, washington still feels effects of his. I began to think, washington said, my actual name was kermit washington, who in december of 1977 threw the punch that almost killed rudy tomjanovich. Yet he has written a frustratingly lazy book about an event that deserves better. But this season rudy tomjanovich faces a greater challenge.
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