Bring it Back, Turiaf: Asking Ronnie and Crew to Break Out the 'Fros

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172879872109344848.post-74640021336866640242008-05-07T22:28:00.027-04:002008-05-07T23:27:56.136-04:002008-05-07T23:27:56.136-04:00Bring it Back, Turiaf: Asking Ronnie and Crew to Break Out the 'Fros<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_uv9rbmjljHI/SCJmjJ66D9I/AAAAAAAAA44/qA92yDyjKTI/s1600-h/drjfro.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 336px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_uv9rbmjljHI/SCJmjJ66D9I/AAAAAAAAA44/qA92yDyjKTI/s320/drjfro.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197829674083422162" border="0" /></a>The Frofather <div style="text-align: left;">It's hard to explain. I equate it to watching an NFL football game in the snow. It just ups the entertainment value and makes a regular sporting event all of the sudden fantastic. The mere presence of the white stuff has some strange majestic power to draw you in. You can't take your eyes of the screen and there is no logical reason to explain such a phenonemon. The product on the field is no different than usual, and it's likely more uncomfortable, troublesome and restrictive to the players. The appearance of a great afro on an NBA court has the same effect as the fluffy white stuff on the gridiron (at least for me). Back in the 70's, the ABA helped make afros and high-socks the <a href="http://www.remembertheaba.com/OnlyintheABAMaterial/BigHairMaterial/Hillman/Hillman.html">hoops fashion trend of the decade</a>. In 1997, at a League reunion, former ABA star Darrell Hilman was recognized for his tremendous 'do with the coveted "Biggest ABA Afro Award." Of course, Dr. J also rocked a tremendous helmet of hair in his early days in that same league. <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/?action=view&current=darnellhillman.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 207px; height: 254px;" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/darnellhillman.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/?action=view&current=drj.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/drj.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a> </div> But, in today's game, the afro has largely disappeared. Sure it seems unruly, annoying and requiring countless hours of maintenance, not to mention potentially hampering one's ability to perform on-court. But c'mon, it looks awesome. For instance, we'd become so accustomed to the cornrows of Lakers reserve Ronnie Turiaf that the tremendous 'fro he rocked at Gonzaga escaped our memory. It needs to make a comeback, and so does the afro on a broader level. In that spirit, we decided to take a quick tour around the League and identify some of the keepers of the 'fro flame. Hit us up with some of the current players we're missing. Ronnie Turiaf, L.A Lakers While we love his hustle and <a href="http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-31-64/This-is-Not-a-Cheerleader.html">his story</a>, we'd prefer Ronnie bring back the Zags-days 'do. He would definitely appear even more the wildman hitting the boards with this tremendous accumulation. <a href="http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/?action=view&current=turiafhair.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/turiafhair.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a> Josh Childress, Atlanta Hawks Here's another guy whose game we like. Childress was a big part of the game six win that pushed Hotlanta's opening round series to a game 7 in Boston. He chipped in 15 points and six boards along with a well-sculpted afro that gets points for overall roundness and maintenance. <a href="http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/?action=view&current=joshchildress.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/joshchildress.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a> Ben Wallace, Cleveland Cavaliers He may not be able to consistently hit a free throw, but Big Ben can pick out that 'fro to heights that few in the NBA can match. Sorry Ben, totally not making fun of you on the whole charity strip thing. Please don't hurt me... <a href="http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/?action=view&current=wallacefro.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 250px; height: 331px;" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/wallacefro.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a> Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls The new kid on the block, Noah's afro is perhaps the most unwieldy of the lot. It's also more Cypress Hill than Dr. J in its style. On a complete side note, there is still something about the combination of his bountiful hair and his mock grin on draft day that tends to make me question his overall mental health. <a href="http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/?action=view&current=joakimnoah.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 265px; height: 292px;" src="http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/EditorGuante/joakimnoah.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a> After these guys, the pickings get slim. <a href="http://sportshair.blogspot.com/2005/03/afro-phenom.html">Shaun Livingston</a>, <a href="http://www.clutchfans.net/images/wallpaper/2000rockets26b.jpg">Moochie Norris</a> and <a href="http://www.espn.go.com/media/nba/2006/0126/photo/g_ricky_268.jpg">Ricky Davis</a> are a few of the folks who've at least occasionally traded in rows for 'fros in recent years? But who else? And is there anyway we can get this formerly smokin' hot trend to start making a comeback? I know at least one man who has the marketing power to jumpstart a movement. Think about it. You probably know <a href="http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/trumpetavenue/1024/contents/iverson_hair/afro.jpg">the answer, too.</a> </div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=thelegend&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" src="http://s9.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" border="0" height="16" width="125" /></a></div>Cecilio's Scribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186178391019313466noreply@blogger.com3