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Bing M, East winsPhiladelphia (AP)Five years ago Dave Bing, his eyes covered with patches following an operation for a detached retina, was lying in a hospital bed w’hen told he would never again be able to play basketball.Today, he is the Most Valuable Player in the 1976 National Basketball Association All-Star Game.The low-key Bing received the MVP award Tuesday night after scoring 16 points, all in the second half, and sparking the East All-Stars to a 123-109 victory over the West before a crowd of 17,511 at the Spectrum and a nationwide televisionaudience.Bing suffered the eye injury in 1971 when Happy Hairston of the Los Angeles Lakers accidentally poked him during an exhibition game in New York. He then had to undergo surgery to repair the retina and it was feared that his brilliant career, which included winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1967 and the league scoring championship in 1968, would be over.“It was real scary for a while” Bing recalled about the operation. “Three days after the operation, they took the patches and opened up the eyes. It really was an ex-hilerating feeling when I knew I would be able to see again.“It was the most serious time of my life. The doctors had said I would never play basketball again. But I didn’t want to give it up. It had been my whole life.”The eye operation has not been the only traumatic experience during Bing’s standout career, w'hich includes playing on seven All-Star teams and three playoff clubs.Earlier in his pro career, he suffered a serious bone chip in his left knee. Then, just prior to this season, after nine standout years with Detroit, he was traded to Washington, forcing a complete adjustment in his playing style. The transition was not easy and caused great consternation among Bullets' fans who felt the club had made a mistake in trading Kevin Porter to the Pistons for Bing.Criticism of Bing’s play was loud and widespread, especially when he got off to a slow start and the heavily-favored Bullets were struggling in the Central Division while the Pistons, with Porter igniting their offense, were in first place in the Midwest Division. And there seemed to be even more indignation when the fans voted Bing to the starting team for the All-Star Game.“This winning the MVP makes up for all the flack he's had to take this season,” added Elven Hayes.
Newspaper Details
Southern Illinoisan
Carbondale, Illinois, US
Wed, Feb 04, 1976
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Jordan T.
USA 02 Feb 2024
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