Jack Ramsay, coach of the Indiana Pacers and a dedicated physical fitness buff, was talking about NBA players who would be good at triathlons–a grueling event that combines swimming, running and bicycling.
One observation should interest persons who, in the wake of Al Campanis`
controversial remarks on ABC-TV`s ”Nightline,” have lingering doubts over the ability of blacks to swim.
”Maurice Lucas is one of the finest swimmers I`ve ever seen,” Ramsay said of the black forward who played for him at Portland. ”Once in a while on the road, Luke would join me in the pool at hotels, and he was a powerful swimmer. He could`ve had a college scholarship in the sport.
”He and Kiki Vandeweghe would be excellent at triathlons. A lot of pro athletes probably wouldn`t be in good enough, all-around shape that it takes. Football players have to specialize too much. Some baseball players, I don`t know if they can get to second base without running out of breath.”
As far as anyone knows, Ramsay, at 62 years in age, is the only person in the NBA who regularly competes in triathlons. He will come to Chicago for Sunday`s Bud Light Triathlon, his second such event in a month.
The triathlon consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bicycle ride and 10-kilometer run. The coach completed the course in 3 hours 10 minutes 33 seconds June 28 in Baltimore, finishing third in his age group.
”My goal in Chicago is to finish in under 3 hours,” he said. ”I never got started on triathlons, or any real kind of fitness-related competition, until the Bud Light series started several years ago. I wish I`d started earlier. Thank goodness they have age groups.”
The coach has qualified for this year`s national finals in September in Hilton Head, S.C. ”I`ve qualified before but couldn`t go because of basketball. This year, I`ll be able to, because our camp opens later.
He approaches triathlons with the same astute, careful way he`s become the NBA`s second winningest coach in history with 826 victories.
”I`ve never done a Chicago triathlon. I`m going to come to Chicago a day or so early and test the (Lake Michigan) water, because that can have a big bearing on your performance.”
