TWO OF WEEQUAHIC'S BEST Newark Athletic Hall of Fame Newark Honors Philip Roth Honors Alvin Attles by Robert Wiener, NJJN Staff Writer Al Attles (WHS 1955) “Today, Newark is my Stockholm, and that has witnessed it all plaque is my prize. I couldn’t be any more during his lengthy NBA thrilled by any recognition accorded to me legacy with the Warriors anywhere on earth” (now Golden State) as a player, coach and The city of Newark executive - the exciting paid homage on wins, the disappointing October 23 to home- losses and the magical town literary hero 1974-75 World Philip Roth (WHS Championship season. 1950), whose upbring- ing in its largely He has personal, first- hand accounts of Wilt Jewish Weequahic Chamberlain’s intimidating presence, Nate section in the 1930s Thurmond’s defensive prowess, Rick Barry’s and 1940s has been offensive explosions, the exciting days of central to his novels "Run-TMC" and the high-flying antics of for nearly six decades. two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion Jason Richardson. Attles is one of only 5 players in Honored by an entourage led by Newark Mayor Warriors history to have his jersey retired (#16) Sharpe James and Elizabeth Del Tufo, a Newark - joining Barry (#24), Chamberlain (#13), Thur- resident who chairs the city’s Preservation and mond (#42) and Tom Meschery (#14) - and Landmarks Committee, Roth joined the mayor remains one of the most publicly recognizable in removing the plastic cover from a plaque at sports figures in the San Francisco Bay Area. his boyhood home on Summit Avenue. Beginning his 45th year with the Warriors Then, moments later, he and James crossed the organization in 2004-05, Attles’ current stint with street to unveil a white-on-green street sign the same team represents the second- longest proclaiming the corner of Summit and Keer active streak in the NBA, trailing only Boston’s avenues “Philip Roth Plaza.” James presented Red Auerbach, who has been a member of the the writer with a duplicate copy, and he joked, Celtics’ organization since 1950. “It’s wonderful. I’ll take it wherever I go.” The 68-year-old Attles joined the Warriors in “How does it feel to be back here? Terrific,” 1960 (a fifth-round draft choice) and has since Roth told NJ Jewish News as he emerged from been affiliated with the club in one capacity or a motorcade in front of the house on a quiet another, building a unique relationship based on suburban-like neighborhood. commitment, loyalty and dedication. Continued on page 3 Continued on page 2 Scholarship Fund Raising Dinner IN HONOR OF ALVIN ATTLES at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark ate FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 save this d TWO OF WEEQUAHIC'S BEST Newark Honors Philip Roth Newark Athletic Hall of Fame by Robert Wiener, NJJN Staff Writer Honors Alvin Attles “Today, Newark is my Stockholm, and Al Attles (WHS 1955) that plaque is my prize. I couldn’t be any has witnessed it all more thrilled by any recognition accorded during his lengthy NBA to me anywhere on earth” legacy with the Warriors (now Golden State) as The city of Newark a player, coach and paid homage on executive - the exciting October 23 to home- wins, the disappointing town literary hero losses and the magical Philip Roth (WHS 1974-75 World 1950), whose upbring- Championship season. ing in its largely Jewish Weequahic He has personal, first- hand accounts of Wilt section in the 1930s Chamberlain’s intimidating presence, Nate and 1940s has been Thurmond’s defensive prowess, Rick Barry’s central to his novels offensive explosions, the exciting days of for nearly six decades. "Run-TMC" and the high-flying antics of two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion Jason Honored by an entourage led by Newark Mayor Richardson. Attles is one of only 5 players in Sharpe James and Elizabeth Del Tufo, a Warriors history to have his jersey retired (#16) Newark resident who chairs the city’s - joining Barry (#24), Chamberlain (#13), Thur- Preservation and Landmarks Committee, Roth mond (#42) and Tom Meschery (#14) - and joined the mayor in removing the plastic cover remains one of the most publicly recognizable from a plaque at his boyhood home on Summit sports figures in the San Francisco Bay Area. Avenue. Beginning his 45th year with the Warriors Then, moments later, he and James crossed the organization in 2004-05, Attles’ current stint with street to unveil a white-on-green street sign the same team represents the second- longest proclaiming the corner of Summit and Keer active streak in the NBA, trailing only Boston’s avenues “Philip Roth Plaza.” James presented Red Auerbach, who has been a member of the the writer with a duplicate copy, and he joked, Celtics’ organization since 1950. “It’s wonderful. I’ll take it wherever I go.” The 68-year-old Attles joined the Warriors in “How does it feel to be back here? Terrific,” 1960 (a fifth-round draft choice) and has since Roth told NJ Jewish News as he emerged from been affiliated with the club in one capacity or a motorcade in front of the house on a quiet another, building a unique relationship based on suburban-like neighborhood. commitment, loyalty and dedication. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 3 Scholarship Fund Raising Dinner IN HONOR OF ALVIN ATTLES at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark ate FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 save this d ALUMNI CALUMET ATTLES is a publication of the continued WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION He has spent the last 16 Editor, Layout & Design: years - since 1987 - as Phil Yourish assistant general manager Proofreading: Hal Braff, Dave with the Warriors, assisting Lieberfarb, Myrna Jelling the front office in a variety Weissman, Vasco Jardim of ways, ranging from player personnel input to Our thanks for articles from The Star-Ledger, NJ Jewish News numerous speaking L-R: Myrna Jelling Weissman, 1953,Sheldon Bross, 1955, Lois Attles engagements (he spent a Wyatt, Al Attles, 1955 and Arnold Keller, 1952 and our Weequahic alumni brief stint in 1997 as Printing: interim general manager prior to the hiring of record in 1975-76, the best mark in franchise Gary St. Jean). history and the top record in the NBA that Village Press of Orange, NJ season. “The Legend,” as he is known among members of the Warriors’ organization, Additionally, Golden State posted an all-time CONTACT US continues to visit numerous schools each year franchise record 11 consecutive wins during and is extremely active in the Northern the 1971-72 campaign, Attles second full Weequahic High School California community. His endless season at the helm. He also was named head Alumni Association coach of the Western Conference All-Star contributions locally as a player, executive P.O. Box 494 and civic leader resulted in his Team in both 1975 and 1976 and guided the Newark, NJ 07101 much-deserved induction into the Bay Area Warriors to eight consecutive winning Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. seasons during his first eight full seasons as (973) 923-3133 head coach. Attles completed his coaching In the latter stages of the 1969-70 NBA career in 1982-83 to become the Warriors [email protected] campaign, Attles was named head coach of GM, heading the team’s basketball operations www.weequahicalumni.org the Warriors, replacing George Lee after 52 for three years (1983-84 through 1985-86). games (spent the final two years of his playing career in 1969-70 and 1970-71 as a Attles originally joined the Warriors as a HELP WRITE player when the franchise was located in player/coach). His 30-game stint as head THE NEXT ISSUE coach to end that season proved to be the start Philadelphia, where he spent his rookie season with the team (1960-61) and one of the longest head coaching run in Warriors Send us letters, articles, additional campaign before the team moved franchise history, a 13-plus-year tenure which stories, memories, poems, to San Francisco in 1962. One of the most produced, among other highlights, the lone recipes, photos, cartoons, aggressive and hard-nosed players in the NBA Championship in the club’s West Coast trivia, obituaries, reunion league, Attles earned the unique nickname of history (1974-75). Under Attles' tutelage, information, etc. Golden State captured the Pacific Division “The Destroyer,” which appropriately title during the 1974-75 championship season described his mentality on the floor. During and defeated Seattle (4-2) and Chicago (4-3) his 11-year NBA career, he averaged 8.9 SEND US YOUR en route to the NBA Finals, where the points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 711 WEEQUAHIC / NEWARK Warriors swept the Washington Bullets (4-0). regular-season games and currently ranks MEMORABILIA fifth on the Warriors all-time games played During his 13-year coaching run, Attles list. We are creating an archive guided the Warriors to six playoff berths, two of all items relating to division titles and Furthermore, he was involved in one of the Weequahic and Newark for amassed an overall most memorable games in NBA history on exhibitions at our events. 557-518 record, May 2, 1962, when he and Wilt Chamberlain So if you have old photos; which ranks 18th combined for 117 points against the New newspaper articles; yearbooks; on the NBA’s York Knicks, the most ever by a pair of films, Calumets; Ergo maga- all-time coaches' players in league annals. In that game, Attles zines; books; schedules; winning list. One tallied 17 points (8-8 FG, 1-1 FT), while rosters; certificates; letters; season after Chamberlain netted an all-time NBA record hats; jackets, sweaters; WHS leading Golden 100 points.