Ulysses Junior Bridgeman passed away today, March 11th at an event at the Galt house in Louisville. I'm old, He was a senior on that Louisville team that went to the final four in '75 and lost to UCLA in overtime 75-74 and was special to me as a youngster of 11. That's when I started really watching basketball in terms of understanding it and who the players were. Also on that team was a great guard /forward from Birmingham Parker High, Allen Murphy. I never got to meet Junior, but I got to meet Allen and Denny back in 2002 up in Birmingham. Allen had the biggest hands I've ever seen in my life. Anyway when I was a kid down in Enterprise, I had a basketball goal and I'd always be Junior Bridgeman hitting the key shot as time ran out. My dad was a University Louisville dental school graduate so that's who we followed.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Bridgeman
Despite never making more than $350,000 a season during his NBA career, Bridgeman had a net worth of over $600 million, making him one of the wealthiest former athletes in the world.
When Junior was working his Wendy's restaurants, because he was a Hands-On owner, I knew people that would go through a Wendy's in Louisville and look up and there be junior bridgeman handing them their fries and burger. That was a big deal in Louisville. He was great guy and an example for many of our young athletes whether they be here at Auburn or elsewhere, to emulate.
@Jay G. Tate
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Bridgeman
Despite never making more than $350,000 a season during his NBA career, Bridgeman had a net worth of over $600 million, making him one of the wealthiest former athletes in the world.
When Junior was working his Wendy's restaurants, because he was a Hands-On owner, I knew people that would go through a Wendy's in Louisville and look up and there be junior bridgeman handing them their fries and burger. That was a big deal in Louisville. He was great guy and an example for many of our young athletes whether they be here at Auburn or elsewhere, to emulate.
@Jay G. Tate