White Heat: The 1987 Phoenix Suns Cocaine Scandal

[@StupidBeyondBelief]

**Apologies for misprouncing Macleod, it's been brought to my attention it's MC-CLOUD. Additionally, the source I used on the Vanos plane crash was incorrect about the departure / arrival location. The flight actually crashed while taking off in Detroit, and is a miraculous story in its own. Thank you kindly to all of those who watched and enjoyed! For more stories like this, check out the "Mike Danton Story" on my page.

[@charleshaywood6495]

❤❤😢😅😅

[@garyneilson5457]

Your video is trash, please find a new line of work

[@condemnedto4093]

If interested, you should think about covering the St. Bonaventure University basketball scandal of 2003. It deals with cheating by the coach, and the president of the school (although pretty insignificant cheating compared to what the bigger schools have done, still cheating tho), covering up, boneheaded decisions by the players, and it ends tragically when a board member of the school, sadly takes his own life in disgrace…

[@infinityweay]

I think you should research the FBI probe and the 80 New Orleans Sants. It set up the sale of the Saints. I think its a 30 for 30

[@jdmo]

You may want to read "Money Players" -- there's a whole chapter on the Suns overblown "scandal" ... and I think they get into the Phil Ford - Walter Davis relationship in the early '80s. Hard to believe the Suns actually got Maurice Lucas in the trade w/ New Jersey. Anyway, the book has quite a few details that you'd probably find interesting and instructive.

[@metomhub]

"career high" has a different meaning for some players.

[@kerry-j4m]

OUCH. That comment was very-FUNNY !!! LOL.

[@RandyDavis-p3m]

😂😂😂

[@lil_james1584]

Damn 😂😂😂😂😂

[@DaPinanic02]

💀💀💀😂😂

[@EetsBack]

Hahaha

[@davanmani556]

Norm Van Lier: “When I came into the league in 1969, everybody was an alcoholic. In the mid-70’s, everybody was a pothead. When I left in ‘78, you either were on the joint or powder.”

[@Readyrockred-qq6xo]

Bird smoke Newport drunk beer😮

[@Readyrockred-qq6xo]

Yes he was NBA 2k

[@eadred9164]

Stfu nerd. They were exaggerating.

[@xelefonte]

This is such a very well done documentary. The music, the script, the editing…finding photos of NBA players from the 80s and cutting them out. What a superb job.

[@acornsucks2111]

It goes on and on.

[@ncnative_2524]

Mitchell Wiggins and Lewis Lloyd were reinstated back into the nba, I think it’s important to include that in the video

[@animula6908]

It’s important you at least told us here! Thank you.

[@stevek6518]

Wiggins is Andrew Wiggins father

[@jlobiafra]

Yeah but they were terrible when they came back, they never were the same players

[@cmattjohnson1692]

Do more sports scandals throughout history in each sport. This was interesting as hell ill watch em all. You got a reporter voice as well u sound like you've done broadcast before. Well done!

[@StupidBeyondBelief]

Thank you kindly! I am really glad you enjoyed it. You may enjoy the "Mike Danton" doc on my page for another niche sports scandal. All the best

[@ChevonneReynolds]

I agree

[@alwayskul]

James Edwards got rewarded by being traded to Detroit and winning 2 chips with the Bad Boys

[@mangrove]

Bedford got a ring with them, too. He was suspended for the '89 season, but returned for 1990.

[@purplecoffee3620]

Edwards was a nice player too, one of my favourites

[@alwayskul]

@@purplecoffee3620 I agree. He was too nice of a player to be the journeyman that he was.

[@newelldavis1858]

He went where the Coke was

[@Amick44]

​@@alwayskulfine shooter, scorer in the lane and even to the wing areas. But didn't rebound and mediocre on D.

[@Kingdizzleltdinc615]

The Michael Jordan clip in the beginning is legendary

[@anthonyriche552]

What's ironic is that MJ was true to form. Apparently, when he first got to the Bulls he wouldn't hang out with the guys instead choosing to stay in his hotel room because some of them were doing drugs. By his third year most of those players were gone.

[@calvs420]

Yeah they used that to push Reagan's mandatory minimum sentencing.... yay for mass incarceration

[@NotTrump2323]

What’s even more legendary is Nancy Reagan’s comercial and DARE while they used the CIA to bring it in to fund the fight for the Contras 😢😊

[@illeatyourbabies]

​@@NotTrump2323You mean "Nancy 'The Throat GOAT' Reagan"

[@Heyu7her3]

​@@NotTrump2323 guns but she herself wouldn't have been privvy to all that since it was CIA operation

[@hattorihanzo2275]

Cocaine was king in the 80's. Wall Street, Main Street, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, Hollywood. It snowed everywhere.

[@marvinhagler4721]

True

[@zenkai8247]

The mustache and no lineup combo made them all look like they were in their 40s

[@moeseck7792]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mjwbulich]

Just wait. Fashion and hair styles are constantly changing. In 35 years people will look back at now and think everyone looks dated and old.

[@GameOnRadio1]

@@mjwbulichmaaaaaaay be but my 40 looks 15 years younger than my grand fathers 40 hell even my fathers 40 and my dad had m at 18

[@GraciousFundamentalist]

😂😂.... I swear...40yr old in their 3rd year....😂

[@gaiusjulius_caesar2059]

Hahahahaha... and whatta you know it, on drugs... Unfortunately

[@BigAl4Chron]

I didn’t know Andrew Wiggins dad got kicked out of the league for doing blow

[@KennethChristian-f1k]

Same with Barry Bonds dad and alcoholism which is why he hated the media

[@BigAl4Chron]

@@KennethChristian-f1k fr?? I learn something new everyday haha

[@BruteStrength99]

​@@KennethChristian-f1kBobby didn't do himself any favors

[@holstorrsceadus1990]

He was Wiggin out. Boom sisk.

[@BigAl4Chron]

@@holstorrsceadus1990 😂😂

[@usahenry]

That plot twist (not really but it was unexpected) at 21:26 really shocked me. Incredible video, you have earned a sub

[@oldmanballer5088]

FYI…John Macleod’s name is pronounce John Mccloud. I was a freshman in college that year and remember this happening. James Edwards played for the Pistons for 4yrs 1987-1991. Averaged about 20 minutes a game and won three chips. Had a pretty decent career after all this. Walter Davis was nominated for Hall of Fame ballot this year, for the first time

[@HighpointerGeocacher]

The narrator says "Maricopa County Police" but it is the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Police forces are the law enforcement agencies of cities and towns.

[@3243_]

Good video. I remember hearing about this in the news in 1987, and in retrospect it always seemed to me that shortly thereafter this scandal quickly got swept under the rug.

[@levi-homer]

U have a gift for these type videos fr keep em coming

[@Tony525_]

NBA has the greatest PR team. So many stories go untold

[@-CONSIGNED_TO_OBLIVION-]

Karl Malone got a 13 yr old pregnant. Patrick Ewing and Atlanta strip clubs... various sexual assaults, referee gambling scandals lol it's crazy the NBA is where it's at today

[@jjdillon1207]

You mean Nike does

[@Area-pv3ht]

Don't do drugs. Stop it

[@theMizDMA]

how does my drug use affect you?

[@Area-pv3ht]

@themizdma671 sorry mr Mdma you're right

[@shirobedabo]

Get some help

[@theMizDMA]

@@shirobedabo i am a full time student and hold a full time job with samsung. what i do behind closed doors does not effect any of you. society is so obsessed with people living their lives without bothering people

[@sfrank8687]

​@@theMizDMAit's no one's business

[@IRuiz805]

This video reminds me of the Pittsburgh Pirates 1985 cocaine scandal, the crazy part is that the mascot for team is the one who was selling cocaine to Pirates players and he also sold cocaine to players from the opposing team when they were in Pittsburgh to play

[@Thebrothaisback]

Damn.

[@jlobiafra]

Lol that would make a great movie

[@DaPinanic02]

😂😂😂

[@johnathanrush4666]

THE PIRATE PARROT SLANGIN

[@bresams2917]

The Mascot!??😂😮😭

[@akbarlebowitz8151]

Johnny High, man lived up to his last name.

[@Kurzov]

He really did

[@lil_james1584]

Damn 🤦🏾‍♂️😂😂😂😂😂

[@hunchodavinci8498]

Just ran into my new favorite hoops account. Man this was so detailed. Well done keep climbing

[@theleap2946]

Being a Suns fan, this low point obviously led to one of the best eras in the team’s history and led to the team acquiring all around good guy Tom Chambers. Too bad they couldn’t win a title. 😞

[@timmyt1232]

I remember Sweet 'D' would jump super high with his jump shots. It was also fun watching KJ and Charles Barkley play together with Dan Majerle shooting the 3.

[@natureboy1313]

Tom Chambers and that amazing dunk over Mark Jackson.

[@protroll697]

Do you think sir Charles era was better than Nash era?

[@mangrove]

Fast turnaround, adding KJ, Chambers. Thunder Dan, etc.

[@Cooe.]

The Suns will never win a title. 🤷 The perfect example of a permanently cursed franchise.

[@lyricsfromsweden]

This was very fascinating and you did a fantastic job with structure and pace in this video.

[@calvinhodge7785]

Very informative video! Lots of tidbits and cool info. Graphics are great as well. Could definitely see this taking off with a banger thumbnail

[@StupidBeyondBelief]

Thank you kindly for watching and appreciate the feedback!

[@timothywright2952]

I really enjoyed this video..very good information & content..especially your facts on the PHX scandal

[@marshallarnold-ep7nn]

The funniest story about those Phoenix teams? A team rookie, going to an assistant coaches room, and asking "Hey coach, got any left?"

[@chillyc7024]

Thats why the CBA was born. I used to be a ball boy for a CBA team in the early 80's and all them cats played there cuz they had issues with a substance. Still the coolest experience and people I met .

[@seanslawns]

I worked for the magic from 2004-2014, saw a lot of crazy stuff you’d never think went on. Nothing like rampant drug use but now it’s because they got so much money.

[@sebastianliwinski222]

What was your job?

[@SauceGawd-w1b]

Probably dey dope man 😂😂😂😂​@@sebastianliwinski222

[@AJfrmStony62]

​@@sebastianliwinski222he lying

[@puddlespuddles5208]

Exccellent video. I am a huge bball fan and this was well done. You gained yourself a sub. Looking forward to more! Keep it up!

[@jayvillane]

I've been curious about this for a while and FINALLY someone does a video on it. Thank you!

[@1990758]

That’s the difference between the internet and tv.I remember watching some of this on tv when it happened.

[@MarquisdeSuave]

The scandal has basically killed the chances of Walter Davis ever making it in the Hall of Fame.

[@jdmo]

This could be his year -- he made the Final Ballot posthumously. And Colangelo is the chairman of the HOF committee, go figure. Davis wasn't even on the eligible ballot at first.

[@eugenestewart4251]

It's alot of drug users that made the hall of fame in all sports

[@chillmill]

The Greyhound was a PROBLEM! He could hoop

[@jamesbowen8960]

He was a great player and talent. He was plagued with drug problems.

[@kellkoolguy]

He made it this year!

[@Riles3152]

One small correction about the plane crash involving Suns Center Nick Vanos. There was ONE lone survivor. A little girl who as far as I know is still alive today.

[@mangrove]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHXGpH6Zh7WSqNk She invited the firefighter who found her to her wedding.

[@jimmymetal713]

One small correction- the plane

[@andysorensen1737]

The flight was also from Detroit to Phoenix.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

It was Northwest 255 which is a rabbit hole all of its own that ties into not one, but two pro sports. It's been stated a lot of the NASCAR media had to switch into journalist and reporter mode to cover the crash of Northwest 255 since the Winston Cup circus was at Brooklyn, MI for the race there that weekend, then the plane crash happenedyou spo

[@Riles3152]

@@jimmymetal713I accept that correction and the pettiness 😂

[@dameianjones6641]

I don’t know if this gentleman that put this together was a journalist or in college to be a future journalist but this was well put together. I knew about John Lucas issues but not Dennis Johnson. I was 12 in 1987but had never heard about this. Great video! I’m going to pass this along with my friends. I know my mother & uncles use to joke when telling me that the NBA could only vouch for Kareem, Magic, Bird, Dr. J, Isiah and Jordan as being drug free doing that time. That joke might’ve been really true.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

To clarify on the plane crash since I put it in a reply initially. The flight was from Detroit, not going to it, it crashed just after lifting off the runway however. Quoting the NTSB report: "The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to use the taxi checklist to ensure that the flaps and slats were extended for takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the absence of electrical power to the airplane takeoff warning system, which thus did not warn the flightcrew that the airplane was not configured properly for takeoff. The reason for the absence of electrical power could not be determined." It was stated during the investigation that there was a culture of pilots pulling the power to that system since it was too sensitive and would trigger if the plane thought it was taking of, even when it wasn't. There were cases of the takeoff warning horn (which was loud) going off when taxiing so pilots would allegedly pull the power to the system to silence the horn, it was stated that there were fingerprints and smudge marks, and it was easy to do without turning around, much like reaching down to change the radio station while driving. Other than that correction, this is a great video and something that doesn't get talked about a lot, IMO overshadowed by the death of Len Bias the year before

[@LadyJay114]

Thanks for this. A lot of the younger viewers are too young to remember how many plane crashes we used to have in this country, and mainly for pilot and/or ground crew error. Even with all the problems at Boeing these days, this era of air travel is so much safer.

[@broncobilly4029]

interesting video. Well researched. You ought to make a part 2, because the way the Suns recovered from this is nothing short of spectacular. They went from almost losing their team to two straight WCF, and then the NBA Finals in a few short years. They did it by trading Larry Nance for Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle. Then they signed Tom Chambers as the NBAs first unrestricted FA. They draftedm Cedric Ceballos in the second round. Then they parlayed Hornaceck Andrew Lang, and Tim Perry for Charles Barkley. Jerry Colangelo, their GM, really earned his money.

[@gijoey5912]

Imagine if Miami had a team that year.

[@bresams2917]

😂😂😭

[@spontaneouz1000-sr6ls]

Only in the NFL, just not in the NBA yet

[@KansasColoradoFarmer]

​@@spontaneouz1000-sr6lsthat's why he said imagine 🤣 😂 you beta

[@jklight2957]

elite quality video, how does this not have at least 100k views😭

[@badnewsbrown2396]

This is why they called Oakland "Cokeland" back in the day

[@Trogani]

Good video bro, great detail and very entertaining

[@mattwonders5566]

Sb nation written all over this, great video bro

[@JoeRogansForehead]

Cool channel and topic. Good voice for this stuff . A+ and subscribed.

[@CleanMusicLover229]

Mitchell Wiggins is Andrew Wiggins' father.

[@olufemiazeez320]

The crack era hit everybody

[@daviddorsey8754]

Crackwars very real

[@SHOW_ME]

It was that two-punch combo that started the downward spiral for us: 1) '70s Welfare system implementation (fatherless households) 2) '80s-90s Crack Era (community destruction) These guys were just part of a long list of victims of "the game"

[@michaelrumfelt3106]

excellent comment

[@christopherpellerito5883]

The newspaper clip at the 10:33 mark jumped out at me - "Kareem's new shot" was the first, last and only three-pointer he made in his career. Abdul-Jabbar was 1-for-18 lifetime from beyond the arc.

[@leeinoregon1326]

The idea of Paul Mokeski influeincing an NBA game is insane. He averaged 2 points a game that year.

[@b.t.2796]

Haha! A good video would be "Big White Guys Who Just Stood Around" Mokeski, Tom Boerwinkle ,Billy Paultz...

[@jdmo]

"Foul on Mokeski" "Mokeski again with the foul" "Foul on Mokeski" He didn't play much for the Bucks, but fans loved Big Mo.

[@bruff76]

@@jdmoUnderrated comment 😂

[@mets137781]

yeah he is probably the least likely guy you would think of….

[@stephenfarrelly1602]

Really like your style of videos

[@azcardguy7825]

Wow… I’m a giant suns fan and had zero clue this happened. Great video man.

[@hull9181]

I have to be young lol cuz I’m old lol

[@florianbourel622]

Man, Grant Gondrezick is a true legend in my french hometown of Caen, where he spend a year between his release from the Suns and his time by the Clippers. Avg 23,6 pts, 6 ast & 6 reb in 87-88, he is probably the best US player we had back then in the french first tier. The club paid him tribute when he sadly passed

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

Sadly, Grant's brother Glen passed away early, too. On top of that, Grant's daughter Kalabrya, also lost her husband, football player Dwayne Haskins, as he tried to walk across a freeway in Ohio. I was born and raised in Seattle, USA in 1973.

[@arizonawrestlinginterviews1040]

Great video! I'll be keeping this in mind when I go to the Footprint Center next week for AEW

[@davidgabriel9809]

Great video!!

[@StupidBeyondBelief]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching

[@jay_9985]

Very well done 👍🏿👍🏿! Appreciate the research you did for this. More views 👀are coming.

[@garretsalomon]

Nick Vanos died when Northwest Flight 255 crashed shortly after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) in Romulus, MI (about 21 miles from downtown Detroit).

[@timehrhardt6199]

Yup, I was going to add the same thing.

[@ImTheCrew]

Great video for such a small channel - I a new subscriber

[@dean-olivergordon193]

Great coverage! Thanks for this production. I do believe the Northwest Airlines 255 crash that claimed Nick Vanos (22:03) a little girl survived the crash with serious injuries.

[@tyler8363]

good commentary good visuals good video

[@beeemm2578]

15:54 the team photographer (Photo not available) 🤣🤣🤣

[@unf4th0mable]

Cool video man! really interesting

[@BELIKEJUATER]

Drugs ruined so many hall of fame careers. Bernard King and Sugar Ray could’ve ran the league if not for their habits

[@newelldavis1858]

Nah it was mostly injuries for Bernard ..he never got over the racism he experienced in college which led to drinking and drugs I guess

[@BELIKEJUATER]

@@newelldavis1858 Drugs still definitely played a role

[@jonnykilroy9762]

Bernard one of the few that recovered from his problems and became a superstar. He was right behind that Magic/Bird tier of star before he blew out his knee. Testament to his will power that he returned and became an all star again. Basically unheard of back then

[@yankees29]

@@newelldavis1858that is the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard in my life.😂

[@Keith_McDaniel]

I believe Michael Ray Richardson is another one...

[@randomguest299]

I’m from phx and have never heard of any of this. Great vid

[@aleister666xx]

If Bill and Wilt competed against "plumbers", Jordan competed with mostly drug addicts, alcoholics and past-their-prime players 😂😂😂

[@yukondeighton8075]

and lebron played against flopping softies who arent allowed to play defence. NO ERAS COUNT!!!!! IT ALL SUCKS. Except for the 1891 game, that was real ball.

[@Johnbones23]

This was talking ab the 70s the decade before MJ who was drafted in 84 and still in the league in 2000

[@Madvillainy48]

​@yukondeighton8075 say what you want about this Era being soft, but players on average take the game way more seriously than they did in the 70s and 80s.

[@streetsweeper8831]

I say this in debates and I'm called crazy

[@edski4040]

The 1892 game when corncob broke the peach basket was a classic. You are correct the game just is not what it use to be.​@@yukondeighton8075

[@bigzizzo]

The reason Walter Davis isn’t in the Hall right now. 🕊️🕊️

[@jdmo]

Colangelo got him in this year. Davis wasn't even on the ballot, but then he died in December. He was only 67. Colangelo is chairman of the HOF selection process, so changes were made and Davis ended up on the final ballot and was voted in. It's guilt on Colangelo's part, for all of this, for having to cooperate with this snake of a D.A.

[@bronsonbamnallen1633]

this is wild. I had honestly never really heard about this. I know all those players too, but the only one I knew had a coke problem were Davis and Bedford. Mitchell Wiggins lifetime ban!? I had no idea. Glad his son turned out better. But his fathers past never gets brought up. Awesome story.

[@anthonyjones634]

Ironically he's the reason his son missed a lot of games last year because of health issues.

[@DaPinanic02]

​@@anthonyjones634 Who has health issues?! Him or Andrew?!

[@anthonyjones634]

@@DaPinanic02 Him

[@deadarmd]

Great video. Someday were going to look at todays nba and performance enhancers the same way.

[@williewinston1498]

FACTS. And LeBron gonna be at the center of it all smh🤷🏾‍♂️

[@aquadonkey.]

Sad about washburn, the story goes his tendinitis in his knees lead him to being prescribed pain meds which lead to a kidney infection which lead different pain meds and it just kinda rolled downhill from there with addiction, when really it all started as the dude was legitimately hurting

[@jcchambers7896]

Ayo gil was not bullshitting 😂😂😂😂😂 funny how they sweep this under the rug

[@OrionOodama]

There's something about the Phoenix Suns that can be considered a "curse". Thanks, SBB, for featuring this newfound story (personally) about the Suns' dark period. They were the Playoff (if not Title) favorites after losing to the Bulls in 1993. And for couple of years (1994 and 1995), they had the chance to win it all, but failed to get past the Rockets despite a win away to close out (Rockets were eventual champs in both years). By 2004-08, the "seven seconds or less" era commenced but fell short again, lost to the Spurs 3 of 4 times (Spurs clinched Larry twice). Fans and bandwagons tell 2007 was rigged, citing "unfair" suspensions but dismissed the Suns were less than 5 minutes away (led as much as 10) in grabbing a 3-2 series lead despite shorthanded. And afaik, the Suns have the most NBA Finals appearances that ended as bridesmaids (0-3; 1976, 1993, 2021).

[@plainsimple244]

That Michael Jordan Cocaine commercial was the funniest thing I've ever seen, even at the time I was laughing.... He was the guy flying through the air with his tongue out getting mad because he didn't get his way while losing his hair -- you telling me he wasn't on all that coffee?

[@plainsimple244]

@@jmancali Well people realized this guy could get you arrested and that was dangerous; but Jordan didn't stop the cocaine usage in the NBA because it was everywhere in the 80's in every industry, it was like having pencils and pens around...it's just it was allowed but if you got caught then chances are you wanted to get caught....This guy Jordan really believed he was playing basketball for a living...remember that anti-drug policy was also noted by 'Say No To Drugs' with Nancy Reagan having that as her cause; so people would go into schools and have public service announcements like this using influential people to sway people not to take drugs and the dangers of drug usage and abuse ... because people saw what happened after Vietnam and guys growing up in the 80's that coffee was everywhere...but Jordan was funny but he didn't clean anything up, he was just a guy they had to look out for because could get a lot of guys arrested -- which means manipulation because he would have information on guys who were either using or moving the stuff or compromised -- good to have it out of the way but the word went out about Mike.... So you could use your connections with government to really manipulate who is on your team and the power you could have to make moves.

[@J.Strantz]

Nah, MJ is just a psychopath, he drank, smoked, ate McDonald's before games, I think he lost his hair to steroids while trying to figure out the pistons.

[@plainsimple244]

@@J.Strantz Yeah, anyone that treats you like an enemy because you win a game, that person is a nut...as far as him losing his hair and the steroids thing, that is hilarious....He couldn't beat the Pistons no matter what, the Pistons had to help him out by not shooting the ball in the 1991 ECF; Thomas took only 9 shots in game 1 and 9 in game 2; Laimbeer took only 7 shots in game 1 and 2 shots in game 2 while Dumars took just 10 shots in game 1 and 10 in game 3 and Chuck Daly played John Salley only 9 minutes in game 2 while playing Edwards 11 minutes in game 2 and just 9 minutes in game 3....So the Pistons had to help out Jordan by the coach not putting in their front-line guys major minutes and their scorers not shooting to make sure Chicago won; plus the Bulls had a 117-76 foul shot advantage from games 1-3, even if both teams shot 100%, no way the Pistons would have won any of those games...then Detroit had to break up their team by waiving Vinnie Johnson and trading James Edwards in the summer of 1991 in order to enable Jordan to keep winning in the 1991-92 season.

[@sebastianliwinski222]

​@@J.Strantz Jordan on steroids are you feeling well?

[@J.Strantz]

@@sebastianliwinski222 I'm allowed to wonder why MJ went bald at 25. 😂 What I said doesn't make it fact or mean I know he was on the juice. I'm just speculating. I love MJ. Y'all chill out. 😅

[@neneshubby]

I’ll never forget when John Lucas was with the Warriors and was struggling with coke. He was their best player but he’d missed some games due to his drug issues but he seemed to be back on track when before a home game, in 80 I think I was listening on the radio when before the game the after introducing the Warriors the PA announcer said “John Lucas is not here at this time” and the crowd started booing because they knew it was drug related. That would NEVER happen today but I’ll never forget it.

[@Mr4one6]

Good video, well done

[@brachio1000]

I remembered the drug scandal, but I didn't recall (or perhaps even realize) how deep it went.

[@cousinwil5808]

This is the year I moved to Phoenix and became a Suns fan as a kid 😂

[@seanmcnally4818]

The title sums it up perfectly

[@JamesAlexanderinternet]

great reporting and synthesis -

[@jefferyferrera3873]

Football players were high too in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s

[@BostonsF1nest]

Lol forget athletes altogether dude, most ppl were high in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Almost everyone was snorting coke or smoking crack in the 1980’s. It didn’t matter who you were or what you did. At that point coke was viewed as a good thing. It made ppl more social and helped stay at home moms get chores done. There were ads in magazines and newspapers for cocaine utensils back then. Cocaine is also a huge reason why America went thru such a financial and building boom during the 80’s.

[@renegalvez7920]

Really? Cocaine as well or pain pills?

[@louethegreat]

This was amazing

[@mrpotato4441]

Love this!

[@brianreyes3422]

Extremely informative video 10/10

[@bernadette85]

I’m not a sports girlie, but I enjoyed your Baylor video and here I am 😂

[@bballerforever]

Very informative history, very depressing too.

[@r3dyskunkteam904]

Love the background music

[@johnsimmons3956]

Great video but what's the song at the end? I need that on the playlist

[@myfavoritelezbo767]

Don’t let Camron see this 😂😂😂

[@bryanklein6428]

1986 new York Mets did coke, greenies (speed), liquor and weed. They managed to win the World series

[@kerry-j4m]

I'm pretty sure they did with all those chemicals in their bodies. LOL.

[@therealjaystone2344]

All was all scripted lol

[@MizTheDonGargon]

that's cuz when you're playing in nyc you get the most high quality shit. how you think Daryl strawberry hit all them homeruns?

[@alfonsogreen2722]

Hell yeah. Those were the BAD BOYS b4 the Pistons

[@chuckvaughn3592]

Good content 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@williewinston1498]

Man ......that picture of John lucas at 6:57 look ILL LMAO 🤣 🤣🤣🤣 higher than the Goodyear blimp🥴

[@mehal5529]

New follower 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@MrBmic]

The Greyhound was my favorite basketball player, when i started watching the sport.

[@beeemm2578]

Johnny High, Clyde Coke, Bill Bump, Ronnie Rail, Pete Pointshave, Al Koholic, They got everyone!!!

[@lowtonecapone]

Excellent work my guy! 🤩 These were definitely some grimey times in Phoenix…🏜️🏀 More NBA fans need to learn about these things. Gives people a chance to see what the franchises have gone through to still be here today. 😤

[@devinmorrison2993]

Wtf do you have pop music playing at 9:40 for?

[@moeseck7792]

Fascinating how I've never heard of this....

[@jasonbryant6357]

"Johnny High" you know that dude was FUCKED up!

[@mr.4leafclova866]

Dennis Johnson was INVOLVED 👀 DAM... Rip

[@75aces97]

He was implicated, but the source was questionable. There were a lot of players accused of cocaine use, and it hurt their standing in the sport, despite it being hearsay.

[@averydaymond1560]

@@75aces97 Everything you said is true I’ll give you that but while in Phoenix Dennis Johnson had a reputation as a sullen unreliable player. Then not long afterward in Boston the same Dennis Johnson had a reputation as a disciplined sound player. Maybe a complete coincidence but I highly doubt it.

[@75aces97]

@@averydaymond1560 I don't doubt the sullen part. He just wasn't a warm, cuddly fellow who smiles for the camera. Not sure how true the unreliable part could have been. He had his best individual seasons in Phoenix, first team defense in each of his seasons there, and All-NBA first team on arrival. The Suns were one of several teams at the time with a perceived cocaine problem, so I don't know whether Johnson was guilty by association, or if he had one down year by his own standards and the press filled in an easy blank. This was a sore spot for me, in that the NBA 50th anniversary list was ridiculously political, and DJ was snubbed in favor of some egregiously lesser players. Likewise he was frozen out of the Hall until after death. I liked his game a lot, and this is from a fan who hates the Celtics.

[@averydaymond1560]

@@75aces97 Oh I was a fan of the Celtics and absolutely admired his game. He did amazing considering he wasn’t great shooting from 20 feet out. Also not the fastest guard at the time. Larry Bird said Dennis Johnson was the best player he ever played with. DJ and Bird had an awesome Synergy. The famous steal by Bird is the best example of that, DJ knew exactly where to be and what to do. You are correct on the top 50 player list, there’s many on there that weren’t near the player he was. On the sad part human interest wise I recall they interviewed the lady that was with Johnson when he died, they were walking to their car or something of that nature. Anyway she said Dennis was in great spirits and joking around laughing then all the sudden bam he was dead. Ya never know when it’s your time to go and we don’t always have warnings.

[@josephD32]

@@averydaymond1560 could be one of those 'product of your environment' situations. The sullen, unreliable player could stem from the overall just bad team culture that there seemed to be at the time in Phoenix, where the move to Boston saw him playing in a far better team culture. RIP DJ.

[@therealBlackTomato]

obscure sports content 👉🏾👈🏾

[@infinityweay]

The same thing happened to the 79 or 80 New Orelans Saints. George Rogers had to go on the stand. New Orleans had to tear the team apart and later being brough out.

[@ScottyPeabody]

Great job, this wasn't a shocker at the time, as the NBA was in tatters. BTW, John McLeod, his last name is pronounced "McCloud". But that's a generation or two before your time.

[@1990758]

One things for sure when a player gets traded Do not assume the reason is because of what the media tells us

[@Gbr4life35]

I can't imagine Phoenix without the suns

[@Danilo-f3e]

Dont do drugs stop it, coming from a guy with gambling problems..

[@BELIKEJUATER]

Hey at least it wasn’t drugs 😂

[@toddstroger9505]

It's a problem if you chase winning .

[@631matthew]

seems like a lot of lives ruined for a bunch of non violent drug crimes

[@Trancymind]

Drug addictions leaves a long trail of destruction including Mexico and Colombia. If I was president of USA, I would put harsh jail sentences for illegal drugs usage/ selling and especially drug makers labs in homes and hidden places. Drugs addictions ruins peoples lives in so many different ways including birth defects.

[@JoshuaHopkins-j9o]

This team should be on the "all-time" list with the 96 Bulls or the 17 Warriors