Oscar Robertson Research Paper

1140 Words5 Pages

Struggle; segregation; hard work; a few of many words that reverberate throughout your head when you think of, Oscar Palmer Robertson. Perhaps the most significant, valuable, and crucial word that comes to mind though, basketball.The “ How good is Oscar Robertson?” Red Auerbach - a highly respected NBA coach for many years- once said, “He is so good he scares me.” His sheer talent and dedication got him to the National Basketball Association (NBA), but his, hard work and will to win kept him there. He was a marvelous player, and an even more spectacular person. He journeyed through life before, after, and during his NBA career, with a smile and determined look. Oscar, is truly an inspiration. Oscar Robertson - The Big O as many called …show more content…

In Charlotte Tennessee, November 24, 1938, Bailey (father) and Mazell (mother) Robertson were about to become new parents, to a boy, named Oscar. For “The Big O”, all he knew when it came to basketball is utter domination. He had started playing when he was six, dominated then, played in middle school, dominated then. Then everything changed when he got to high school and moved. Oscar had moved to Indianapolis his freshman year of high school. Crispus Attucks High School (the only all-black high school in indianapolis) is where he learned, and dominated the game of basketball. In 1955 and 1956, Oscar led his teammates to state championships, but even then it wasn't the same. Due to the fact an all-black school won state they had to celebrate differently than a white school would have. This horrendous event changed Oscar, it motivated him to make the next level of play. The University of Cincinnati is the school Oscar decided to attend, of course with the influence of his younger brothers Henry, and Bailey Jr. Even there he dominated, he was named an all american three of his four years at the University. All of these wonderful things had already happened to Oscar and he was on his way to professional basketball, but it wasn't until 1960 until he found love. He married Yvonne Crittenden the same year they met, and even went on to have two daughters (Shana and Tia). His success away from the NBA and his ability to be a, student, athlete, and husband at the same time is a mammoth reason why he is such a great person, athlete, and