JMK

May 11th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^

I remember when Traylor committed to Michigan and my MSU friend rationalized that this was actually a good thing for MSU because he would only stay at U of M for 2 years, then go pro.  I then had to explain to my MSU friend that 2>0, so it was not a good thing for MSU.  It's hard to understand the mental processes of MSU fans.

Joined: 10/08/2009

MGoPoints: 7118

Geaux_Blue

May 11th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^

 

Indiana coach Tom Crean, a former assistant at Michigan State, echoed those sentiments in a post on Twitter.

 

TomCrean Tom Crean 
Sad, sad news to hear about Robert Traylor. I had followed him since the 9th grade and recruited him while at Pittsburgh. At Michigan State We battled against him and he might have been the most time consuming and mind challenging matchup we ever faced and we as coaches werent Even playing. He had great feet and hands and a very soft touch. He also wasnt nicknamed Tractor for nothing. In Milwaukee we lived one Neighborhood apart and I would see him at the Bradley Center. I always saw him as a very gentle person with people who was very shy in Public. Because of that shyness and gentle nature he was probably misunderstood and not respected like he could have been. As in most cases With people we dont know well we usually dont get a chance to tell people what they mean to us. Although I didnt know him well, he made me A better coach because you really had to have a plan to stop him. Rest in peace Robert and I hope God was in your Heart when it was your Time to meet him. All in all with Robert, I wont remember the scrutny and clouds of controversy he dealt with as a player or the trade for Dirk. I won't remember how long he played or mistakes he made. I will remember the aura around him and how kids looked up to him even though he Was just slightly older than them . I will remember how his cousin Larry who played football in the Big Ten and NFL fealt about him and I Will remember a guy with just a big a heart as his size as a person. I hope as people write about him the next few days they focus on the Positives and all the people that followed him and then like me lost track of him remember him in that same positive light.
8 hours ago

Joined: 01/25/2009

MGoPoints: 24096

Evan

May 11th, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^

The memory that immediately comes to mind is the broken backboard.  It's fun to witness one of those in person, and watching it back on video where he walks through the glass like it is no big deal never gets old.

I also seem to recall a big dunk at the end of one of our wins over Duke.  Someone refresh my memory on that one.

And finally, sitting on the same airplane with him, you couldn't help but feel sorry for him as he was crammed into a coach seat with his legs sticking out in the aisle.  Coach seats were not made for Tractor Traylor.

Evan

Joined: 12/10/2008

MGoPoints: 3

Benoit Balls

May 11th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^

when he was playing in Cleveland. He was kind enough to sign autographs for my 2 neices and a few other kids who were nearby. He couldn't have been nicer or more patient with the kids. Sad news indeed.

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 5168

MgoblueAF

May 11th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^

My oldest bro walked into the Tractor on campus when they were still in school, and he signed autographs for my other bro and me (even though the oldest bro didn't even watch sports). It was my first and only autograph growing up, so I always looked up to him when it was hung up in my room.

Joined: 09/27/2010

MGoPoints: 1460

Wolverine 73

May 11th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^

what a good person he was.  Just read some old articles discussing how he cared for his brother, bought his grandmother who raised him a home, how he and his wife took in a kid who needed help, how his old coach (Paul Silas) talked about his leadership when he was with the Cavaliers.  He always seemed like a good guy, and it was not just an image.  Really a shame.

Joined: 08/03/2009

MGoPoints: 27282

Bigeazy313

May 11th, 2011 at 5:34 PM ^

At 6'3 320, I used to piss and moan about trying to squeeze into the little chair desks in Angell Hall..Until Robert came to class and tried to do the same. He and Ed Norvelle and the rest of the Pilots were dominant for a period in the early/mid 90's. Watching him set screens was a sight to behold. Rest in Peace big fella....

Joined: 02/25/2009

MGoPoints: 362

Lordfoul

May 11th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^

That dude put his hand on my shoulder in the fishbowl one time and quietly asked me to stop playing solitaire so he could use the computer.  That was a VERY big hand as I recall.

This is sad.  So sorry for him.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 1747

Ty Butterfield

May 12th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^

I remember how small the basketball looked when Tractor would shoot free throws. He was a really special player. My brother was at Michigan the same time and lived in the same dorm as Tractor. He told me that seeing him on TV did not even compare to seeing him in person. I remember that 1996 game against Duke. What a great victory. It is too bad things never clicked for him in the NBA. Prayers go out to his family.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: -81685