Bet You Didn't Know Pete Maravich

The college decision was not easy for Pete, as he was being heavily recruited by some big time schools that all wanted his Showtime ability and skill to be displayed on a nightly basis in front of thousands of fans. The decision for college got a lot easier when Pete’s father Press got offered the job at the then sub-par college of LSU. Press was given the job for 1 reason and 1 reason only: bring Pete Maravich with you. Of course Pete knew why his dad had got a job at LSU, and he was going to have a little bit of fun with him and see what his dad would give him in order to play ball for him. So when the time came and Press asked Pete if he would come with him to LSU Pete replied with, “If you buy me a car.” After a lot of consideration Press finally gave in and bought Pete that car which he would use to get around the LSU campus. Pete was happy, but his future teammates at LSU were not so pleased after hearing about Pete’s bad habits when playing basketball, which can simply be put by Robert Lipsyte’s words describing Pete: “Pete Maravich was Showtime before there was Showtime. The only problem with Pete Maravich was the four other guys; he just didn't relate to the rest of the team. A team was Pete Maravich and anybody who was inbounding to him.” This was going to be a hard transition for the rest of the team to make and a lot of them disapproved of this move, but his father held the final say and he said “Shoot.”

I bet you didn’t know Pete’s number is retired by both the New Orleans Hornets and the Utah Jazz.

Pete’s dream had always been to play in the NBA, but even more than that Pete wanted to be the first millionaire basketball player. So one day at a Lefty Driesell summer basketball camp, Lefty decided enough was enough and told Pete, “Oscar Robertson succeeded without flamboyant passes.” Pete, feeling offended and in terms defending his dream of being the first millionaire basketball player, quickly replied with, “And they don't pay you a million dollars for two-hand chest passes.” This was Pete, always showing who he was and what he wanted to be. Even before stepping foot onto LSU’s campus he already had a reputation. This is not what Pete wanted but it is what he got: in between all his critics and hate for Pete there was some hope. Pete was hope; Pete Maravich was the white hope that everyone wanted to be even though none of them really said it. People from around the LSU area started talking and saying maybe he is going to be the one to bring our program to glory. Everyone knew this was a possibility and something that should be taken in full stride; even his teammates who already were not fond of Pete were silently speaking that he may be the one to get us where we have always wanted to go. Pete was the great white hope.

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