Robert Parrish

If you followed the epic battles between the Lakers and the Celtics in the 1980's, didn't you always wonder if Robert Parish (the "Chief") ever talked to Laker fan Jack Nicholson about the "Chief" in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? They did! Parish said Nicholson once came up to him in the layup line before a game and they had a chat. Unselfish and underappreciated, Parish considered retirement from the dysfunctional Golden State Warriors before Red Auerbach engineered the blockbuster trade for him in 1980, which also included drafting Kevin McHale. Robert loved the Celtic style - rebounding, blocking shots, passing, and constantly running to get in shape. Parish said he enjoyed looking across the court in Game 5 of the Finals in 1984 and seeing Kareem Abdul Jabbar, in the 100-degree heat in Boston Garden, with no air-conditioning, sucking on an oxygen mask. All his memories are polished gems.