"Sugar"

[AtHomeInTheDahlbergDen]

Great highlight video i stumbled across while writing something up on Micheal Ray... [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=FgdyWZqTM3U[/youtube]
Good offseason stuff.

 

[grizonbob]

I got to see him play in Denver. i think he was with Golden State at the time, and he had a triple double, and just dominated the game. Would have been interesting to see what he could have accomplished had he not had his drug problems.

 

[LittletonGriz]

I remember watching MR in college. He had the quickest first step I have ever seen. He is the greatest talent to come out of UM and the Big Sky. If it wasn't for his demons he would have been a great in the NBA. I believe he still made 4 or 5 All-star teams. ears ago I talked to former player at Boise State who played against MR and he said the demons were there back in Missoula. I talked to this guy in 1982 or 83 before every thing went down hill for MR in the NBA. He said MR had his own house in Missoula and he would throw parties after the games. He invited all the BSU players to the party. This guy said there were more girls and more drugs there then he had ever seen before. He also said MR was the greatest player he ever played against. What a waste.

Jud Heathcoate made the Michigan media mad after the won the National Championship with Magic. He said that MR was every bit as good as Magic. He was just 3 or 4 inches shorter. MR wanted to go to Michigan State with Jud but Jud talked him out of it. Could you inmagine a backcourt with Magic and MR/

MR had the most ability of any UM basketball player. Larry K, had the most heart, brains and determination.

 

[Paytonlives]

Isiah Thomas is on record as saying that the only play that he was ever intimadated by was Michael Ray Richardson (yes thats the way he spelled his first name)

 

[Paytonlives]

BTW

All debate starts and ends with Sugar.

He was and still is the best player to ever play in the BSC. Drafted #4 in the NBA first round is enough proof for me.

 

[citygriz]

montana gave micheal ray one important legacy: his name. remember, we had two michael richardsons that year, forcing us to call one michael john richardson, and the other micheal ray richardson. if not for that, micheal ray might have been known only by the name he was recrited by, "mike richardson," hardly the stuff of poetry or legend.

 

[AtHomeInTheDahlbergDen]

Isiah Thomas is on record as saying that the only play that he was ever intimadated by was Michael Ray Richardson (yes thats the way he spelled his first name)

Everywhere else says it's Micheal...

ie... http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/richami01.html

 

[DuCharme]

commenting on the Knicks, he was nearly Yogi-esque in an interview...

REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team? RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking. REPORTER: How far can it sink? RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.

 

[Kabooom]

commenting on the Knicks, he was nearly Yogi-esque in an interview...

REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team? RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking. REPORTER: How far can it sink? RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.

Many Moons ago, Me and a couple buddies had the experience of watching Sugar live at the LA Forum...
In the post -game media interview after stealing one from the Lakers, and Magic Johnson, one of the interviewers asked him something to the following...We noticed Sugar, that your style of play is very similar to that of Magics.....Sugar replied something like...."Yeah we play a lot alike...The main differences between Magic, and I are ...that he's about 4 inches taller than me, and he makes Millions, and I make KOOLAID!... The guy sure had some notable one liners..

I had the opportunity on a few occaisions to play some pick-up ball with him at the Mens Gym...Something I'll never forget...It didn't matter who was in the gym.....he just made anyone who was on him look silly....

What I remember most about Michael, was how he would push the ball up the court, then take a half step to slow down the defense, then bingo...he was to the hoop ...then SLAM!

 

[mtgrizrule]

Reflecting back on MR or Sugar is great. I was very young and barely remember him as a GRIZ. I wonder if it is possible to get the University to make some sort of old highlights of him for online? I would love to see video of him as a GRIZ. Granted it would be old video, but with todays technology would it be possible to do?

 

[AtHomeInTheDahlbergDen]

What I remember most about Michael, was how he would push the ball up the court, then take a half step to slow down the defense, then bingo...he was to the hoop ...then SLAM!

Now try to think of any griz doing that this year. I hardly remember anyone consistently pushing it up the court, let alone all the way to the rim.

He'd fill that assistant spot quite nicely.

 

[grizonbob]

He was one of the big reasons that the Griz started selling out games in the 70s--maybe the big reason. He was just so damn exciting to watch. He could got the arena buzzing as though both baskets were hooked up to the Colstrip power plants.