OT - good news for the Trailblazers

[Mark Padgett]

Portland Trailblazer assistant coach Maurice Lucas is returning to the team this season after missing most of last season with bladder cancer. He has recovered enough to take back his job as coach of the team's "big men". Although he gained a reputation as an "enforcer" when he played, he really was an excellent power forward and was a star on Portland's only NBA championship team in 1977.

Maurice's two sons, Maurice Jr. (called Reece) and David played in our local kids rec league and I reffed them numerous times. Reece and my son went to HS together. David, who is about two years younger, was an all Pac 10 player at Oregon State and now plays on Portland's IBL semi-pro team and teaches camps at a local facility in Beaverton. I ref there and see him all the time. Occasionally, I ref one of the teams from his camp and he coaches. He is great with the kids and behaves exactly the way refs wish all coaches would behave.

Anyway, congrats Maurice and welcome back.