RIP-Bulls Tom Boerwinkle

[capecod]

For those who remember, big Tom Boerwinkle set many a pick to free up Chet 'the Jet' Walker during Chet's days as a Bull.

The whole Bulls offense per Coach Dick Motta involved Boerwinkle setting picks for forwards Bob Love and Chet to 'run around'-usually leaving a defending forward the 'worse for wear' if he actually attempted to run through the brick wall named Boerwinkle.

If Boerwinkle wasn't setting picks, he was handling the ball at the high post looking to pass inside to Love or Walker near the basket.

Below is a link to Boerwinkle remembering a game in 1970 where it was below zero for 10 straight days in Chicago & the heat wasn't working in the old Chicago Stadium. Boerwinkle had an amazing 37 rebounds in that game!

RIP Tom

http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/boerwinkle_700108.html

[Da Coach]

I remember Tom well. He was a good rebounder early in his career, but then as the Bulls got better, his game changed into more of a pick-setter and taking short jumpers when he was left open. His rebounding and scoring averages dropped a lot as players like Love, Sloan, Walker and Van Lier became the stars.
Here are Tom Boerwinkle's stats

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boerwto01.html

[tornado]

Tom Boerwinkle was hailed as one of the truly good guys in the sport - loved by everyone

the disease that claimed him was "myelodysplasia" - a failure of the bone marrow, thus unable to make blood, fight infections, clot the blood...
Carl Sagan also died from this disease..
TV personality Robin Roberts currently is battling this same condition - http://abcnews.go.com/Health/robin-r...3#.UVR3nxykqzk

Because this disease happens mostly in older people & those treated for other illnesses - the increasing life expectancies, plus the use of more medicines, chemotherapies, and presence of other toxins in the environment are all reasons why myelodysplasia is increasing