Cool gesture and something a little weird

[Mark Padgett]

Once there was a big fight during a game between the Lakers and the Nats (Syracuse). Except no one would fight Mikan. He was the only player on the floor by himself. It wasn't that he didn't like to mix it up. In fact, he has said he gathered 166 stitches in his pro career. He was just so big, no one would mess with him.

Here's a quote from "Easy Ed" Macauley: "George knocked the filling out of my tooth one night in St. Louis. He came around with that elbow, and I was going up to block the shot with my right hand when he hit me on the right side of my face where my teeth are and really rattled me. I spit the filing out and went down the court and tried to score on him. His elbows should be in the Hall of Fame."

That would be cool - having your elbows inducted into the Hall of Fame.

BTW - Mikan wore another number with the Lakers after he wore number 99. Know what it was? I do.