NBRPA TO LAUNCH TV-STYLE LEGENDS TALK SHOW ON HUFF POST
March 27, 2012
For Immediate Release
CHICAGO, ILL. – The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), the only Association comprised of NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters alumni, has announced the launch of a new TV-style talk show that will air regularly on one of the most-visited news web sites in the world – the Huffington Post. Holding Court – presented by the NBRPA’s Legends of Basketball will debut in April, 2012 at HuffingtonPost.com – a web site and community that boast more than 50 million users each month.
“The NBRPA and Legends of Basketball brand is all about our members – former NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters players that literally built the game of basketball into the worldwide industry it is today,” said Arnie D. Fielkow, CEO for the National Basketball Retired Players Association. “Holding Court will help us deliver our Legends of Basketball to the Huffington Post’s captive worldwide audience.”
Holding Court will be hosted and co-produced by Huffington Post sports writer Dave Hollander, who will work in tandem with Paul Corliss of the NBRPA to put each program together. Hollander is the author of 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! (The Lyons Press) – his collection of personal stories and stunningly candid interviews with fifty-two famous sports figures including Lawrence Taylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rickey Henderson, George Plimpton, Mariano Rivera, Steve Nash and John Wooden. Hollander was the Executive Producer, Creator and writer for Gate D, a hip, fast-paced variety show for young fans of the New Jersey Nets, which aired on Fox Sports New York in the late 1990s. Hollander was also Co-Creator of Album Covers on MTV2, featuring Dashboard Confessional, Michael Stipe, Guster and The Violent Femmes, 2004.
“I’m like a kid in a candy store,” Hollander said. “Colorful stories you just don’t hear anymore, super-honest and relevant commentary – there’s a huge audience of smart sports fans who want to hear from these guys.”
Holding Court will feature NBRPA Legends of Basketball in candid and lively sit-down interviews on camera with Hollander. The show will debut with Hollander’s interview of Otis Birdsong, a four-time NBA All-Star and the first guard in NBA history to be paid $1 million per season.
Holding Court will air regularly on the Huffington Post and archived episodes will be available at the NBRPA’s official web site – LegendsofBasketball.com. According to eBizMBA.com, the Huffington Post is the sixth-most visited news web site in the world, with 54 million monthly users. Great Britain’s Observer – the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world – recently ranked the Huffington Post as the most powerful blog in the world.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association
The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Arnie D. Fielkow is the CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes President & Chairman of the Board Robert A. (Bob) Elliott, Vice President Otis Birdsong, Treasurer Marvin Roberts, Secretary Steve Hayes, Past President Dr. George W. Tinsley Sr., Thurl Bailey, Harvey Catchings, James Donaldson, Johnny Newman, LaRue Martin and Danny Schayes. For more information, please visit www.LegendsofBasketball.com.
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Well, let me tell you what happened: On the court, a close competitive game was played, decided by four points in last ten seconds. I watched the preternaturally talented Brook Lopez hustle, dive (in the second quarter), defend and score the last 9 points of the game — like a star does — to lead all scorers. I watched David Lee, like he does, quietly, appropriately and selflessly accumulate another double-double. I watched Stephan Curry and Monta Ellis dart, slash and score with a repertoire of offensive moves where not one move looked at all like the others. I watched Sasha Vujacic for four quarters personify the charming basketball adage shoot-to-get-hot-shoot-to-stay-hot. I observed Anthony Morrow take and make big shots all night because, you may not have known, he played for Golden State before he went to the Nets and this was his first time “hosting” his old mates. No wonder he scored a season-high 22. Nice little storyline for anyone who knew the story. End to end, for 48 minutes I saw quality professional performances and serious competition. And, “amazingly” there might’ve been only about three dunks the whole night.
The following is an excerpt from a March 2011 interview with Dave Hollander by Jerry Barca for the 
