John Brisker - The Mysterious Disappearance of an NBA Star
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- A look back at the career and disappearance of former Seattle SuperSonic John Brisker. Brisker starred in the ABA before bolting for NBA's Seattle Sonics and a million dollar contract. But troubled followed the volatile star and he was cut from the league only to disappear during an alleged trip to Africa.
I worked out with John and his brother Ralph on a regular basis on an outside court in Hamtramck back in the mid 60's. John was the type of guy that played with a lot of fire and always went all out. So when he got a break and did well in the ABA and NBA I was not surprised. I never saw a violent side to him, but I was not around him off the basketball court. I just knew him as a very good athlete. I hope that the possibility of him still being alive is true and wherever he is he's doing good.
Great story. What do you remember the most about the 60’s and 70’s? What city were you in?
@@TempeSoldier123 After I graduated from HS in the mid 60's I played pick-up games with John his Brother Ralph, and Rudy Tomjanovich who all went to Hamtramck HS. The PSL and the Suburban League was loaded with a number of talented players. I got a athletic scholarship to a small University in Texas, and upon graduation 1970 moved back to Detroit. John was playing with Pittsburgh in the ABA then, and the next season with Seattle in the NBA. Spencer Haywood was also on that team Coached by Bill Russell.
@@robertfrazier1377 cool. Had no idea Rudy was from Seattle. What was Seattle like in the 70’s?
@@TempeSoldier123 John his Brother Ralph, Rudy T, and Spencer Haywood, are all natives of Detroit as I am. I personally have no idea about Seattle in the 70's, I only know both John and Spencer were teammates on the Sonics NBA team back in the early 70's.
@@robertfrazier1377 sorry, I meant Detroit.
At least four other ABA legends you might want to consider doing videos on are Wendell Ladner, Warren (Armstrong) Jabali, Marvin "Bad News" Barnes, and Johnny Neumann. Great video you did on Brisker.
My buddy actually knew Marvin "Bad News " Barnes.....he owned a CBA team in the early 1980's.....from the stories I heard ..absolutely....a few with Bill Walton as well
@victorwiley3739 Jabali was so tough and fearsome, he was one of the very few players whom even Brisker thought twice about starting something with.
Very good synopsis. John Brisker was a mean man. He fought everyone, and would not listen to Bill Russell. Brisker decided he was so tough, he would go to parts of Africa where the State Department had issued warnings. Very, very tough, fearless, and not so bright.
Some Black People have DNA of warriors.
Nonle Life "some" ?
He probably didn't last long with that personality being around Amin.
@@noblelife344we all do lol
He makes Artest like a choir boy
Ditto
Saw him play many times. He was a powerful offensive force. Built like a halfback, he was hard to stop when he’d drive to the hoop. And the man could definitely shoot. I always wondered he didn’t become an NBA star. This video gave me new insight into what was going on behind the scenes. Thanks.
Where did you see him play?
“Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear “
I came across him on Wikipedia 2 years ago randomly going down a basketball wormhole
I'm 2 minutes in to the very first video I've ever seen from you and I just subscribed. Man you are a damn good content creator
Hey thanks, Prophet_2059
If he went to Africa and was over there with idi Amin they probably did take him out. Some countries want people to bow down to the leaders and if he had an attitude like he had and did not submit then they probably did terminated him like it was nothing but if he had not been seen in this length of time most likely he is deceased
Same thing I thought
This was a strange dude. On the other hand, he sounds like he was suffering from CTE as a result of his football days.
Lol every time a athlete does something bad you morons will use the CTE routine.
That seems like a reckless conclusion...the narrative would suggest he had some ptsd from racially driven encounters
@@SPShawny - Let me get this straight, despite overcoming many odds John was able to become a talented and successful player. It sounds like he was also making a pretty decent salary in the process, yet he triggered random assaults at fellow teammates, coaches, and execs. Those acts of violence were directed at all races and while moving to Africa he still encountered unstable situations.
Therefore, I would not pass on the conclusion there were underlining reasons for his bizarre behavior. These outbursts were very similar to other former football players. What we have now learned are by-products of brain injury.
His problems had nothing to do with football or CTE. If you had been listening, he was working jobs at the age of 11!! He even said he had no childhood. Then couple that with the USUAL racism he went through, particularly at Toledo, THAT changed him! Was not no CTE, please!!!!
@@92463mike - How do you explain him disrespecting BILL RUSSELL?
Was a fan of John when he was at the University of Toledo ! If he was hot , he would score a lot very fast .
What’s good man we need more videos!
At least no one else lost any perfectly good teeth, went deaf or lived in fear anymore.
Please keep these up! These and your boxing docs are two of my favorite channels. Can't get enough.
Will do, Jason. Thanks very much.
What’s the boxing channel
@@YTC1234 Rich the Fight Historian . Tremendous videos and stories made exactly like these.
Appreciate you for highlighting a player I never heard about.👍🏀
I think Brisker must have had traumatic experiences once he moved out of his hometown to Toledo.
The prejudices/hate/betrayal/racism Brisker faced may have made him lose full trust in others and set on full paranoia.
Brisker may have also believed that by going back to Africa where his ancestors were from would be where he would find peace and tranquility.
His mysterious disappearance and numerous rumors may prove John did not find the contentment he yearned for.
Overall a sad yet fascinating story
Man, Brisker was feared like no other. Terry Pluto does a good job of describing this in his book on the ABA, "Loose Balls."
Many things could have happened to Brisker. But it is reasonable to believe he died soon after going to Africa. The simplest explanation is that he got on the wrong side of someone powerful. I doubt Amin killed him since Amin was a huge basketball fan. But Amin had enemies, and those people could have become Brisker's enemies as a result.
I first heard about John Brisker reading Loose Balls. He was a talented but feared player in the ABA but there were a few guys who werent intimidated by him, one was Wendell Ladner, an ABA legend. Brisker and Ladner stayed fighting and Wendell used to mock him and challenge him. Sometime they would have confrontations during the game.
@@elwin38 Wendell Ladner was one of the toughest people ever to play pro basketball. He was crazy, but strong as hell. Made sense he and Brisker would often tangle...
Also, there was Warren Jabali, who was so physical and feared that he was one of the very few players whom even Brisker thought twice about messing with.
He's probably gone with that temper out of control there's no telling what happened to him.
Yeah too bad he never learned his lesson. Crossed the wrong person. It only takes one time.
Wow, they put up with a lot of shit back then. Seems like he’d be tossed outta the league for that now
I remember him as a kid growing up in Detroit, (which surrounds the enclave of Hamtramck) I only knew him as an outstanding basketball player who was fierce on the court, never knew about the guns etc a truly tragic story
My late father (may he RIP) who was a big Sonics fan back then, from time to time he would tell me stories how difficult Jobn Brisker was as a player and the time Bill Russell got rid of him.
One minute and 20 seconds into this very insightful video, I had a full understanding of the foundation of this man's anger and propensity for violence. Not everyone who encounters trials and tribulations early in life is able to fully reconcile the hurt and pain; however, someone has to break the cycle!!!
Amazing,characters like him are more resilient than we know but not to those who know them,there is a good side,perhaps he was better than any one knew and he's somewhere living his best life,nice cameo by the late great Bill Russell rip in peace sir
You're telling me my guy was 6'5" 200lbs at WR in 1968? ...wow. wow
Right, if Brisker would have played in NFL he would have been a beast
Megatron before Megatron.
He was some kind of Player
Oh JB. I remember seeing uh film clip of John in the ABA. Early '72 with the CONDORS. Guy could ball!!
His young relative is playing for the Chicago Bears, Jaquan Brisker.
I actually coached 2 of his grandsons in Wilkinsburg. They were hella athletes
That's cool! Yeah Jaquan has all Bears fans excited, He's a beast!
Hamtrmk home of Rudy Tomjanovich
I've been watching basketball since the ABA days but I don't recall his name in either league.
🧢
@victorwiley3739 that's just silly because someone don't know him. One has nothing to do with the other. smh
@victorwiley3739 You sound crazy. Just because you know who he is means nothing.
Awesome! Thank you
It's official - I just found my new favorite UA-cam channel...
I remember Brisker and reading his stats in the Box Score. He had plenty of big scoring games. Didn’t know he was so violent though.
With the SONICS, John had some great teammates. Spence, SLICK , Jimmy Fox & of course, DOWNTOWN Freddy.
Bill.russell hate him
Destroyed his carrer nobody want him 1975 in nba
Excellent mini documentary. I'm subscribing to your channel.
This sounds like some Eddie and The Cruisers shit.
This is some great content, this channels deserves a lot more subscribers. Subbed
Thanks, Lucy.
Brisker was also the tuba player for the Toledo school marching band which was funny because he never had to march because he was on both the basketball and football team.
The joke went that it didn't matter to Brisker so long as the band leader told him he was "first chair".
He gone!
He was a sacrifice for a I guess one of them basketball teams. Whoever he had problems with, they got rid of him.
This is real good history. We thought Rasheed Wallace was bad but he only led the league in Technical fouls not in punching his teammates or brandishing a gun and a knife. Wow. Latrell Sprewell choked his coach but that was one incident and there was onlly a red mark on his neck. Players said that they thought that one day someone was going to do something like this to their coach because of his style of coaching. john Brisker you win the mental health I wished we could have helped more.
I hate sprewell
You would not sit the late Bill Russell and John Brisker together at the same table.
I'm not sure you'd sit Brisker at a table with anyone.
He did well in the a b a but struggled in the nba
Russell kept looking for players like the Celtics had while he played. But Havlicek and Sam and KC Jones and satch and others were not on the Seattle. Russell was not a players coach at this point in his career. Jim McDaniels never played many minutes either - brisker had to be Steamed at his PT
@@stever1791 true...I remember jim McDaniels came to play with my Buffalo braves but he was only there briefly looked slow and sluggish not like his college and a b a reputation at all
Soothing background music
He won't be missed
Slick Watts look like 2000s NBA player
He was a journeymen guard ...but very popular with sonics fans
Slick Watts actually led the NBA in Steals & Assists one year.
Honestly, I have never hear of this Man.
John resembled Jim Brown in this picture. I remembered him. He was a true behind spanker from the old days.
Brisker was suppose to fight Howard Porter ( An ABA Condor Draft pick and he signed a contract while at Villanova with them ). Pittsburg offered Brisker $$$$ to injure Porter whom ended up signing with the Chicago Bulls for what was the highest paid contract for a rookie in 1971. But Brisker never got to Porter as Porter had something like 25 points and 15 rebounds. Porter was 6'8'' and strong - Brisker might have not wanted to pursue Porter ( But Who Knows ?????? )
Interesting.
@@hoopshistoire It is . The Condors were pissed that Porters agent ( Richie Phillips the umpire union leader from years ago ) wanted out of the Condors deal. After Porter dominated the NCAA tourney in 1971 and ate up the UCLA front line of Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe . Porters value went way up. So his agent got out of the Pittsburg deal and signed up with the Bulls
Porter was murdered afew years ago I believe in the Milwaukee area
@@manny4552 Yes , such a shame. It was in St Paul, Minnesota . He was a parole officer and had turned his life around for the better. He was a Great College Basketball Player.
@@manny4552 #54 in BULLS red. Remember how well. Dick Motta didn't know how to coach to Howard's strengths! He was easily uh 23+pts Uh night & 10 rebound guy. Early version of LEN BIAS!!!
Yeah my old man knew Tommy Nichols & Jack McMahon very well....Brisker was no joke....I always heard he went as a Soldier of Fortune to Uganda & Idi Amin killed him. I heard this as a kid in the late 1970's....Steve Mix even mentioned this......the book, Loose Balls, by Terry Pluto (Akron Beacon Journal) describes how crazy John Brisker was....or at least perceived.
are you the same guy that do the boxing history thing??
That's me, Rojo.
Thanks! Now know about the same as we did before this video!
Wow things were said i think he dateiing a lady from Pittsburgh once said but he could ball mean guy
I couldn't get his name (Maurice Lucas).
I guess only God knows whatever happened to him. ???????
Why this guy look so much like mystikal the rapper lol
If you are the same person that posts videos from your youtube channels hoops historie and rich the fight historian youtube. I really liked watching them. Can you post videos of former nba players Gilbert arena, vitaly potapenko, bob sura, lamond Murray, chris mills, tyrone hill, Cedric Henderson, and of former nba coaches and create other youtube channels based on different sports like pro wrestling, mma, mlb , nfl and soccer and hockey that are similar to your other youtube channels
Idi Amin Dada would feed his enemies to crocodiles.
He slaughtered members of his own family.
He was a psychopath.
If this guy crossed paths with Amin over in Uganda , I dont think he knew who he was dealing with.
It wouldnt end well
Bless him wherever he is blessings to him his family and fans❤️🖤💚🙏🏽❤️🖤💚 he's still our chocolate brotha and l have nothing but love for him❤️🖤💚🙏🏽❤️🖤💚ps sometimes people are in combat and fighting mode because they have been under attack🤔 whatever the issue he's still our brotha and bless his body and soul ❤️🖤💚🙏🏽❤️🖤💚
I’ve never heard of him until today wtf.
This sounds like that boxer named Eddie Machin he was crazy as hell just like this guy he brandished guns.................
Or Carlos monzon
@@manny4552 Now I heard a little something one time about Carlos Monzon and a murder of some sort but I never heard any details fill me in if you can.
@@karlcooper7016 well he was a vicious boxer I don't think he ever lost and he was always angry beat up dozens of guys in bars or on the street for no real reason..then he threw his wife off a balcony killing her..he was out of prison to attend a funeral and was killed in a car accident
@@manny4552 Well he did lose twice I think but now its coming back to me he was quite the asshole out of the ring but the media did a good job covering it up I remember this coming out years later.
@@karlcooper7016 your right he lost three in one hundred fights
I bet this dude could still be alive somewhere
At 4:39 is that Gene Simmons of Kiss one of his coaches?
John is in his Dracula bag.
😆
Not funny you 🍕💩
That would have sucked.
Save our Sonics
He's in the gulag.....
Brisker was well known by friends and teammates for peeing everytime he made a poopoo
Wow
John Brisker vs Charles Oakley vs Rick Mahorn.
vs. Maurice Lucas
Betpow, I agree. On the court, Maurice was a baaaad man. A “Pittsburgh guy.” Off the court, you’d be lucky to have him as a neighbor or a friend.
Too bad brisker never tried to fight chamberlain
Brisker whoop all of them
@@michaeldavis7614 Not quite. Chamberlain, no, the rest, I agree with
He died in uganda he fight in war
Ice tea of basketball
Another Ron Artest/Meta World peace he even looked a little like him.
"All black people look alike" foh they look nothing alike.
In 1979, I stayed at the same hotel with Idi Amin.
Where?
@@TempeSoldier123 Saudi Arabia
Aliens
HE WAS LEGALLY DEAD ON MAY 1985
Dam why they kept him hid ,This is good history Where is the Dam Movie already.
Amin had him killed …
And you know this how?
I witnessed the execution
Pp
Bison Dele wants to know if John Brisker has a twin brother.
Not Funny
Lame af
@hoopshire wya