Joe Hammond N.Y.C. Streetball Legend Pt.2

[0gumbasia]

NBGay

[socrates4999]

It don't make sense? Joe you listened to the wrong people. I was there. And yes Joe came at half time. And yes, Peter Vescey was not stupid. I loved DOC. But Joe got the better of you. That's why Vescey took you off Joe. Trust me when I tell you nobody. Nobody could guard JOE, PERIOD! end of story!

[tuzwol]

Some of these guys were making $10,000 a week, some of these youtube idiots know nothing about the drug scene in NY back in the day, back in the 70's. These youtube experts sit in their suburban neighborhoods and homes and act like they know it all when they dont. NBA contracts back then were like $15,000 per year, these guys could make that in a week or two.

[23jamesdixon]

Where's a video of this guy actually playing. Having a lights out jumpshot doesn't make you the greatest player of all time..

[tuzwol]

neil6000,youre probably from a small town, but in NY drug dealers back in those days had lots of money,some people from small towns or the country dont comprehend what was happening in Harlem back in the days. The NBA offered him 50,000,but these guys got hundreds of thousands of dollars,and they got stay in Harlem and play ball. Playing in the Rucker was more fun than playing in the NBA, some of those guys will tell you,that the NBA was boring to them,and the Rucker was where it was at

[tuzwol]

neil6000: yes he made a bad decision,even he admits that. I never said I thought much of them,just stating a fact. Its not my reasoning you genius, its the reason he gave,I was repeating what he said. No one is rambling but you, just stating truth. I'm right,I'm always right. Damn geniuses

[GunGemini]

THE DESTROYER

Scored 50 in one rucker park game against Dr. J and Charlie Scott.

[alldayjay167]

i think i seen him at rucker park on saturday for the WBF

[tuzwol]

Some drug dealers are rich,t hey live off of their drug money until they get locked up or killed, they do make tons of money, I'm talking drug dealers in the big cities,not drug dealers out in the country. I never said it was a right move for Joe to make, so dont act like an asshole Neil6000. I was stating his reasoning, not mine you genius.People like yourself who come from the suburbs wont understand peoples decisions that live in the ghetto.Chump

[JUANO510]

know your history everybody

[illouie]

Yeah and now look at cha

[GOTFRESH13]

If You ever see Joe Hammond walking the streets. Ask him whats in his pockets, he'll pull out a stack of hundreds on you. Dont think he a fool cuz he took, still take drugs but he's got money out the ass no homo. Real Harlem niggas know

[ESSJ333]

i would have taken that money cus eventually they would have given joe more for his performances

[TheUzurpa]

Props!!!

[tuzwol]

Just continue to be an asshole

[socrates4999]

There was a guy before Joe, Pee Wee, or Earl that was incredible. He went by the name of "Eggie"

[heavykid155]

The Best Street Baller Ever Is Non Negotiable Other Then Ed "The Booger" Smith

[socrates4999]

Everything you heard ab out Joe is true. I used to swim for the team that Joe, Pee Wee Kirkland, Frank Streety use to play for in Harlem. Joe was the best....PERIOD

[pearlfection08]

question: what happened to him? Did he end up on drugs?

[Blackjesus3]

idk about drugs but hes dead ye idk how :S

[AttentionDeficitDiss]

Are you saying he died??? I just saw him recently!!!

[Blackjesus3]

wth :S

[Blackjesus3]

ughh nm its another person

[OnlyGodisgreat]

@AttentionDeficitDiss nah joe aint dead my dad saw him like 2 weeks ago in harlem i think it was on 145th

[pearlfection08]

I dont think he's dead

[Blackjesus3]

naw hes not i made a mistake

[OnlyGodisgreat]

@Blackjesus3 joe is not dead my dad seen him about 2 weeks ago in harlem

[tuzwol]

You genius, I wasnt comparing every drug dealer to those two,I was simply saying that people do make lots of money selling drugs,that was my point.Say what ya'll want,ya'll dont know about the streets

[bigdog0800]

Reilly was solid but he cant hang wth any real street baller from NYC back then one on one. He was embarrassed by utep in the ncaa finals back in the day too. Athletic he was not. Better coach than player

[tuzwol]

You asshole can continue to give me thumbs down,I'm still right assholes

[Voiceiam]

theres alot of money in drugs, trust, but the longterm is neva what u thought it was ganno be, it doesnt last 4eva

[tw69hands2]

Too bad no one seems to have any good film of Joe Hammond, Herman Knowlings, Earl Manigault, and some of the other greats from the Rucker when they were in their primes. That's what makes them legends, their deeds live in folklore from eyewitnesses rather from documented evidence.

[tuzwol]

Their's footage, its on old vhs tapes

[tw69hands2]

@tuzwol :

Man, those would be great to see! I hope that the owners of those tapes eventually post them to YouTube. Those are true jewels.

[garyt80]

well said neil, look at how athletes there are who just cant stay out of trouble, it definitly helps if youre smart.

[Neil6000]

Joe Hammond was a damn fool. He was offered a 1 year contract in the NBA and turned it down like a complete fucking idiot. He could have proved himself in the NBA and been a free agent after 1 year to sign with any team for BIG money. Why couldn't he understand that???

Look at him now - he looks like a whacked out drug addict. He was given a real chance to be one of the greats and threw it away because of his overinflated ego. Athletic talent isn't enough - you need a brain to go alone with it.

[tuzwol]

You have to understand he had like $200,000 on him and he was making more money than what the NBA was offering him. He had cars,jewelry, women,why would he take that,that was his pocket money. Drug Dealers made hundreds of thousands per year. He was playing street ball and getting more money than NBA players. He was playing against NBA players and ABA players,he was already playing against professionals. At the time it was an understandable decision. Joe was making 6 times that NBA contract

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"he had like $200,000 on him and he was making more money than what the NBA was offering him"

1) The money was obtained by being an illegal DRUG DEALER (how is this even defensible as a good choice?) and he was arrested and lost everything

2) We only have his word that he made that he was making that much money - which is questionable

"He had cars,jewelry, women"

Is this crap what you judge success by? He was given a chance to make a REAL living by the NBA and he turned it down.

[tuzwol]

I never said this is how I judge success. You dont understand. Do you know how much money these guys were making,isnt wasnt only Joe Hammond,Pee Wee Kirkland was drafted by the Bulls but said he made more money on the street. I even spoke to Pee Wee Kirkland and he told me some interesting things. Those guys were making serious money. If he turned down a $50,000 contract in the 1970's,he had to be making serious money

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"If he turned down a $50,000 contract in the 1970's,he had to be making serious money"

NO, it doesn't mean that at all. What it does mean is that Hammond had an over-inflated ego as far as what his worth was. He never played high school or college ball and it was reasonable for the Lakers to offer him a year to prove himself first at what was a decent salary for the times.

Hammond simply did not have the intelligence to appreciate the chance that was being offered to him at that time.

[tuzwol]

It does mean that he was making serious money because he wasnt the only guy to turn down an NBA contract. He did drop 50 points against Dr.J. And he was so great that Wilt CHamberlain recommended him to the LAkers. It had nothing to do with intelligence or an ego,it had to do with money. Money talks

[tuzwol]

Say what you want, but at the time it wasnt a stupid decision. He was making a living,he was making hundreds of thousands why would he take a $50,000 contract for 1 year. He was making more money than that,he was richer than the guys in the NBA,it wasnt just him,lots of guys had more money than the NBA players back then. You're thinking the NBA players back then were making millions,and they werent,they were making between $15,000 and $50,000. Thats pocket change for drug dealers

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"he was richer than the guys in the NBA"

This just isn't true at all as the top stars in the NBA at that time were very rich for the times and were making much more than him. I was in high school in 1971 and remember looking at the magazine pictures of player's homes and car collections - they had it all - maybe not on the same level as today but still wealthy enough to live anyway they wanted to - certainly better than some drug dealer in the street.

[tuzwol]

LOL. The guys in the NBA werent rich. Some of those guys had summer jobs in order to pay the bills. They werent doing better than these drug dealers,you have no idea, like I said you dont know about the business,because drug dealers make money. There was so much money in Harlem it was ridiculous. You had guys who were millionaires and the guys who werent millionaires werent far behind either. Guys in the NBA were making less than a hundred thousand

[tuzwol]

Frank Lucas made hundreds of millions selling drugs,so did Nicky Barnes,they had more money than everybody in the NBA and they were drug dealers. You know nothing about drug dealers,and you're supposedly from the hood.lol

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

I can reply to all you're posts by saying this:

Hammond made an incredibly stupid decision, threw away a great opportunity, and he even admits that. I don't know what the point to all your ramblings are about how rich drug dealers are; if you think so much of them then maybe you should become one.

Looking at Hammond today, it's easy to see that he used the same faulty reasoning that you have. Obviously if you end up dead, in prison or broke, then there is ZERO money in dealing drugs.

[tuzwol]

@Neil6000 I never said I think so much of them, I was stating a fact that they make alot of money, asshole. I was describing his reasoning. Its easy to talk when you know nothing about people's situations. Drug dealers made lots of money back then especially in NY. You are wrong,guys make lots of money but get locked up, but they still made money. In your fantasy world there is zero money in dealing drugs.

[tuzwol]

@whoever, I'm right, I'm always right

[OnlyGodisgreat]

@tuzwol these people dont understand people like pee wee kirkland were street dudes who made more money on the streets than playing ball pee wee could make more in less than a week than what the teams were offering of course it ends with mistakes and regrets but unfortunately they didnt get the bigger picture as we can see joe hammond became an addict and pee wee got locked up but as far as pee wee goes he is doing alot for his community now and saving kids from making the mistakes he did

[MoeSkids]

most drug dealers are nothing like frank lucas and nicky barnes and even those 2 ended up going to jail and loseing everything they had..for every 1 drug lord there are a number of people under them that work for them barely getting by... aha i was gonna say more but i read the rest of your comments but my point is that you cant compare every day drug dealers to those 2 cuz they were at the very top and lost everything

[tuzwol]

They barely get by,you dont know about drug dealers,they do get by,I'm not talking about the big guys,I'm talking the little guys make good money

[MoeSkids]

you missed the point of my comment but you can keep living in your hollywood fantasy world its cool

[tuzwol]

Id dint miss the point,I'm not living in a fantasy world,I'm telling it like it is. Half of my friends sold drugs,my friends brothers sold drugs,I know about the business,so theres nothing you can tell me. I know it isnt a wise decision to sell drugs,but to say that these guys dont make any money is a joke.These gys make thousands per week.You have no idea. Keep watching Hollywood movies for your facts

[MoeSkids]

actually what i said was the complete opposit of what they perceive drugs of being in hollywood movies so that was just really stupid to say...and everyone knows a lot of people that sell drugs your not special...and i didnt say they dont make any money i said that some barely get by there is a difference...the point of my comment was that selling drugs is a bad idea cuz almost every long term dealer will get caught and lose everything so there is really nothing more to be said

[tuzwol]

WHat was stupid to say was that I'm living in a hollywood fantasy world. I never said I was special.Stop acting like an asshole.Knowing drug dealers doesnt make one special,it makes one smart enough not to make that same decision. Knowing them means you know how much they make,by saying they barely get by shows that you dont know what you're talking about.I'm not talking about people selling weed,I'm talking crack,cocaine,heroine the money making drugs

[MoeSkids]

no i said that your comment saying that im living in hollywood fantasy world was really stupid to say like seriously just learn how to read for now im done talkin to you

[tuzwol]

I know how to read very well,maybe you should take your own advice.

[MoeSkids]

lolz now your just trying to be annoying bye

[tuzwol]

You're the annoying one,you're telling me I should learn how to read,you are very immature and cant disagree without throwing verbal jabs.I'm glad this conversation is over

[MoeSkids]

well you demonstrated pretty clearly that you read the comment wrong so it wasnt a "verbal jab" at all...so basically your the only one that has "thrown verbal jabs" in this conversation so just take your own advice and stop replying to me

[tuzwol]

And everyone doesnt know alot of people that sell drugs,everybody dont know drug dealers.And I am special because I'm a child of the Lord

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"they were making between $15,000 and $50,000"

NOT TRUE. The 1971 LA Lakers, who made the offer to Hammond at that time, were paying Wilt Chamberlain more that $200K per year, which based on inflation, would have been well over a million per year today. That was enough for Wilt to build an incredible mansion in California then.

If Hammond was all he was hyped to be, he would have made a similar salary after one year.

Get your facts straight and quit posting things that aren't true.

[tuzwol]

Wilt Chamberlain is 1 man. Everybody in the NBA wasnt making $200,000 per year. Wilt also did commercials,wrote books, was a head coach briefly, starred in Conan with Arnold. Theres no guarantee Joe would've made that. WIlt was in the league for many years and was argubaly the best baller,dont forget we're talking about the man who scored 100 points in a game and forced the NBA to make rule changes in order to stop him,so of course Wilt has to get paid the big dollars. Your posts arent true

[tuzwol]

You have a hard time comprehending, I already said that it was illegal and wrong. That was only a 1 year contract,and the Lakers could've cut him if they wanted too,so it wasnt guaranteed,so if he signed with them he would be taking a chance

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"That was only a 1 year contract,and the Lakers could've cut him if they wanted too"

If Hammond was that great he wouldn't have been cut and would have been a free agent to sign for big money with any NBA team after one year - all he had to do was just go play with them and it was the PERFECT DEAL for him.

"if he signed with them he would be taking a chance "

I can't believe you even said this because isn't it obvious that BEING A DRUG DEALER IS TAKING AN EVEN BIGGER CHANCE?!?

[tuzwol]

Big money was what he was making on the streets. You arent comprehending, if you look at it from his perspective, taking the nba contract didnt make sense at the time. Guys like Joe Hammond dont have the adult figure to guide them they dont have Mommy or Daddy or Grandma,the streets raise these guys and the streets are their family. i never said it was smart or the right thing to do, I said I understand why Joe made the decision he made

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

Two quotes below from Joe Hammond himself that he made when he was 40 years old:

"I was stupid for not signing"

"I look back now, and I realize that I was just another knucklehead."

Even Joe Hammond admits that he was stupid - I don't know why you can't see that.

[tuzwol]

Genius,I'm not saying what he did was right. I said I understand why he made that decision. of course looking back that was a stupid decision,he got locked up. He was only looking at the short term instead of the long term,which alot of young people do. Unfortunately he had no one to help guide him. That is what is lacking in the inner city, guidance for the youth. If he had a good support system like other people have he would've made the decision to sign.

[tuzwol]

I'm not for or against his decision. All I said was that I understand why he made it. That doesnt mean I dont think he made a mistake. of course he made a mistake,he had a chance to display his skills on a national stage and make legal money and not blood money. Remember Joe didn have a support system like many other people. When you grow up on the streets,the drug dealers and street guys are your support system,had he grown up in another environment he might have very well ended up in the NBA

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"At the time it was an understandable decision. Joe was making 6 times that NBA contract "

No he wasn't, something is wrong with your math. He said his life savings was $200K (and I doubt that he even had that). He would have had to making $300K PER YEAR to be 6 times $50K and that's not what Joe said.

What was "understandable" about being a drug dealer?!? It was not even a reliable living at all as the law caught up to him and took everything away. Joe Hammond made a STUPID decision.

[tuzwol]

He had $200,000 on him, and he was still making money,the money doesnt stop when you're involved in that life style you genius. The money keeps pouring in until you get locked up or killed. At the end of the year I'm pretty sure he had more than $300,000. WHich would make that 6 times the amount,dot he math. I know guys that sold drugs they make thousands per week,I'm talking at least $3000,thats a profitable business,even though it it illegal and wrong,it brings in lots of money

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"He had $200,000 on him"

NO, Hammond said he had $200K stashed in his apartment. If he even had the much, which I doubt because we only have him at his word which isn't worth much, then that $200K would have been all he had since I doubt that he had bank accounts, real estate, or stock market holdings.

"The money keeps pouring in until you get locked up or killed. "

Isn't that the whole point of what I said in my other posts?!? The money stops in the worst way and he KNEW that!!!

[tuzwol]

You make it sound as if he had $200,000 and that was it,I'm telling you he had more than that

[Neil6000]

tuzwol:

"At the end of the year I'm pretty sure he had more than $300,000"

How would you know if Hammond if had a quarter??? Were you his personal accountant?

Most of the shit you hear on the streets is exaggerated or simply not true at all. I KNOW because I grew up in the hood in Chicago. I would be hanging out with some guy who was reputed to be making $5K per day and yet I had to throw $2 worth of gas in his car so we could get home. Don't fall for the hype.

[tuzwol]

Thats your hood,I grew up in the streets of Brooklyn. I see the money that these guys have,not hear about it, but see it,I see the many hundred dollar bills,the cars,they pay bills, buy jewelry worth thousands of dollars and they dont have a job. There is no exaggeration.

[tuzwol]

I dont have to be his personal accountant, you genius.I know the business. If a guy turns down an NBA contract worth $50,000,that means he has a whole lot of money. Use your common sense. Do you have to be in a forest to know that if a tree falls that it will make a sound,or can you just use your common sense to know. I dont know what drug dealers you know,but the ones I know they dont need nobody to buy them gas. The guys I know there pocket change is $2000 or better. And I see it with my eye

[tuzwol]

Let me educate you,real drug dealers got the expensive sneakers,the expensive coat,the expensive chain, 1 and 2 cars, and they dont work a 9 to 5 or get money from their parents. If you're hanging with them,they'll say dont worry about "I got you", you dont even have to ask because they got it. Unfortunately the young ones see that and want to emulate it

[tuzwol]

You dont have to be his personal accountant. Joe Hammond was poor,no poor person would reject a $50,000 NBA contract if they didnt have more money. He isnt from the suburbs with a rich Mom and Dad. His drug dealing,gambling,hustling was his income, if he was making less than $50,000 he would've taken the contract. No one who is poor is going to reject a contract worth $50,000 when they dont have a quarter to their name. Do yourself a favor and grow a brain

[GOTFRESH13]

@Neil6000 If You ever see Joe Hammond walking the streets. Ask him whats in his pockets, he'll pull out a stack of hundreds on you. Dont think he a fool cuz he took, still take drugs but he's got money out the ass no homo. Real Harlem niggas know

[trose113]

@Neil6000 big money? there was no big money in those days youngsta, lol. 

[CaneFu]

@trose113

Then how did so many pros from that era retire rich and still live so today? Things cost a lot less back then and a $100,000 a year salary WAS big money. You also have to admit that just about anyone with a steady paycheck and a pension ended up better off than this bum did.

[tevin8]

were's the rest of the video

[tuzwol]

He was 6'1,he could shoot.Word is 80% and 90% from the field.I'm talking jumpshots.He dropped 50 points against Dr.J

[epics7]

No, he was 6'4".

[tuzwol]

I read he was 6'1

[jumpman3210]

Biggest let down everr..

[tmh1717]

he should of signed to be a world legend...not just a nyc legend.. ;(

[Senorromeo4u]

wow maybe he should of taken that contract and stay clean because he's just a wash up crack head now lol. But he still can shot "lights out"

[STmemba]

he had evverything but he aint got nothin right now , look at him he's probably drug addict .

[latinphil27]

Maybe so, but the brother still got game at age 58! I'll give "The Destroyer" his props as a street legend!

[DirkMcQuigly]

Chalk that up to "stupid decisions that if I had the chance to change...."