Bo Hamburger
Years ago

Riding with Rik Smits - plus new TV show idea

Whatever happened to Rik Smits?

Thanks to Deadspin, we now know he's riding dirt bikes, that's what.

It's not a regular sport for a 7-4 man. Smits has racing boots specially made to accommodate his size 20 feet. His celebrity status has attracted a clothing sponsor, Metro Racing, which keeps him properly outfitted, but he has to modify his motorcycles.


Other notables in the article:

- Smits still hoops, in a rec league twice a week.
He mostly hangs around the perimeter and shoots jumpers, "unless we really need a basket," in which case he heads to the low post.


- His son's name is Derrik. I prefer to think of this as two words, not one. As in: Der, Rik!

I'm going to pitch this as an idea right now for a ESPN-type show - I'll call it "Kickin' On". (Long title: "Kickin' On: how NBA players go from earning squillions and being revered around the globe to ordinary blokes struggling like the rest of us").

It's going to be a half-hour show featuring three 10-minute spots on former NBAers and what they do now.

Week One's show:

1) Rik Smits riding dirt bikes
2) Michael Jordan in a corner of a dirty Las Vegas casino betting on something, anything
3) Some second-tier player who thought he was a lot better player than he was now flipping burgers or driving school buses, and saying one or more of the following quotes:

"They told me I'd never make it to the NBA, but I proved them wrong"

"These young kids in the NBA today, all they care about is making as much money as they can, getting' wid da women, playing basketball..."
(Pause)
"...but they gotta understand that there's life after basketball, and that if they don't prepare themselves, then BAM!, they wind up worse off then when they started."

"I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else."

Which other ex-NBAers would be worthy of appearing in this show?

Topic #8376 | Report this topic


lockstock  
Years ago

Shawn Kemp.

Reply #93514 | Report this post


Phizzer  
Years ago

I want to know what Frank Brickowski is doing. When I first got into buy basketball cards, I got so many bloody repeats of that guy in his Bucks uniform I had has stats memorised.

What about Mike Shremk (sic)? Even NBA players used to make fun of him.

Reply #93517 | Report this post


boost  
Years ago

Dikembe Mutombo should have a camera on him 24 / 7..

I'd like to know what Isiah Thomas is up to.. I reckon he'd make an awesome coach and maybe even a gm - man that guy was good..

I'd like to know what Shawn Bradley does with his life now, whether he rides his bike and walks the streets like the other mormon..

Charles Thomas - ex Seattle Supersonics - The sixers should look at him, great replacement for Willie..

Manute - what are you doing with yourself besides playing bball?

Mugsy Bogues??

Reply #93523 | Report this post


M Dizzle  
Years ago

Couldnt have Shawn Kemp on there, I think the timeslot would restrict frequent drug use and references.

Reply #93528 | Report this post


lockstock  
Years ago

Hit the nail right on the head with Isiah boost

Reply #93529 | Report this post


thedoctor  
Years ago

Harold Miner?????

Reply #93534 | Report this post


lockstock  
Years ago

Haha nice M Dizzle.

My second preference: Mark Bradtke. A 10 minute spot on his recovery from a freak toaster accident

Reply #93564 | Report this post


Manute Bol  
Years ago

In the off season I work for a company called "Coconuts R Us" and run Bol Basketball which is a program dedicated to finding the next Luol Deng or Manute Bol. We target all of the schools in the country (currently 10) and run high intensity clinics. We sometime use coconuts in our passing drills to vary our trainings.

There is an article in the latest woman's weekly called "Cute Manute" that talks about my life after the NBA.

Reply #93565 | Report this post


DB5  
Years ago

What about JR Rider vs Judge Judy...Smackdowns...
Entertainment plus....

Reply #93854 | Report this post




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