Highlights
Pat Riley is considered one of the greatest coaches in National Basketball Association history. Born Patrick James Riley on March 20, 1945 in Rome, New York, he was raised in upstate New York. He is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Leon Riley of the Philadelphia Phillies and the brother of Lee Riley, who later would go on to play professional football as a defensive back for three National Football League teams, as well as for the New York Titans of the American Football League.
Although best known for coaching four NBA champions, including the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and the Miami Heat in 2006, Riley also was a respected player both under legendary coach Adol...
Although best known for coaching four NBA champions, including the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and the Miami Heat in 2006, Riley also was a respected player both under legendary coach Adol...
Pat Riley is considered one of the greatest coaches in National Basketball Association history. Born Patrick James Riley on March 20, 1945 in Rome, New York, he was raised in upstate New York. He is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Leon Riley of the Philadelphia Phillies and the brother of Lee Riley, who later would go on to play professional football as a defensive back for three National Football League teams, as well as for the New York Titans of the American Football League.
Although best known for coaching four NBA champions, including the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and the Miami Heat in 2006, Riley also was a respected player both under legendary coach Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky and then in the NBA with the San Diego Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, as a scrappy swingman.
In addition, Riley was selected in the 11th round of the 1987 National Football League draft as a wide receiver by the Dallas Cowboys but did not pursue a career in the NFL.
Outside of basketball, Riley is known for his motivational speaking, as well as several books he has authored, including "The Winner Within," a leadership guide that equates his success in sports to similar possibilities in the business world.
Riley also has been connected to several Hollywood motion pictures. He was an advisor on the movie "Glory Road", the story of the first all-black starting five to win an NCAA college basketball Division I championship. The Texas Southern team that won, beat Riley's Kentucky Wildcats in the 1966 title game. Riley's success on the basketball court positioned him for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in September 2007. That success also led Riley to trademark the phrase "three-peat" based on his bid to win three consecutive NBA championships. The effort ended in an NBA Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons in 1989, after winning the 1987 Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics and the 1988 NBA Finals with the Lakers against the Pistons. Riley later went on to coach the New York Knickerbockers from 1991 to 1995, advancing to the 1994 NBA Finals before losing to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. Later, during the 1995 offseason, Riley faxed in his resignation to Madison Square Garden and shortly thereafter agreed to work with Carnival Corp. chairman Micky Arison as coach and team president of the Miami Heat. Riley's arrival helped trigger the political impetus for the Heat's move from Miami Arena to AmericanAirlines Arena. During the process, the Heat was offered the opportunity to play in the Sunrise, Florida, arena that later would become home of the National Hockey League Florida Panthers. Riley stated he did not move to South Florida to coach in Broward County. Among the notable players Riley has coached during his two-plus decades on the sidelines have been Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Bob McAdoo, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Dan Majerle, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.
Although best known for coaching four NBA champions, including the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and the Miami Heat in 2006, Riley also was a respected player both under legendary coach Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky and then in the NBA with the San Diego Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, as a scrappy swingman.
In addition, Riley was selected in the 11th round of the 1987 National Football League draft as a wide receiver by the Dallas Cowboys but did not pursue a career in the NFL.
Outside of basketball, Riley is known for his motivational speaking, as well as several books he has authored, including "The Winner Within," a leadership guide that equates his success in sports to similar possibilities in the business world.
Riley also has been connected to several Hollywood motion pictures. He was an advisor on the movie "Glory Road", the story of the first all-black starting five to win an NCAA college basketball Division I championship. The Texas Southern team that won, beat Riley's Kentucky Wildcats in the 1966 title game. Riley's success on the basketball court positioned him for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in September 2007. That success also led Riley to trademark the phrase "three-peat" based on his bid to win three consecutive NBA championships. The effort ended in an NBA Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons in 1989, after winning the 1987 Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics and the 1988 NBA Finals with the Lakers against the Pistons. Riley later went on to coach the New York Knickerbockers from 1991 to 1995, advancing to the 1994 NBA Finals before losing to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. Later, during the 1995 offseason, Riley faxed in his resignation to Madison Square Garden and shortly thereafter agreed to work with Carnival Corp. chairman Micky Arison as coach and team president of the Miami Heat. Riley's arrival helped trigger the political impetus for the Heat's move from Miami Arena to AmericanAirlines Arena. During the process, the Heat was offered the opportunity to play in the Sunrise, Florida, arena that later would become home of the National Hockey League Florida Panthers. Riley stated he did not move to South Florida to coach in Broward County. Among the notable players Riley has coached during his two-plus decades on the sidelines have been Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Bob McAdoo, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Dan Majerle, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.
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Heat Q&A with Ira Winderman
Sun-Sentinel.comAsk Ira! Sun-Sentinel Heat writer Ira Winderman answers YOUR questions about the team! You can read his latest comments below. To submit your question, e-mail here. Please include your name, city and state with each question. --------------------...Tags: Contracts, Basketball, Moving and Storage, James Jones, Andre Miller
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Dolphins Q&A with Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel.comAsk Harvey! Sun-Sentinel Dolphins writer Harvey Fialkov answers YOUR questions about the team! You can read his latest comments below. To submit your question, e-mail here. Please include your name, city and state with each question. ----------------...Tags: Contracts, Basketball, Moving and Storage, James Jones, Andre Miller
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Stephon Marbury a toxic mix for Heat?
South Florida Sun-SentinelWhen it comes to chemistry, Stephon Marbury apparently might prove too toxic for the Miami Heat. While Heat President Pat Riley declined to comment on the New York Knicks point guard, who is pushing for a buyout, he believes that his team has its best...Tags: Miami Heat, Basketball, National Basketball Association, Government, National Government
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Winderman on NBA: James only part of Knicks' plan; Bosh also on radar
A weekly look at five talking points that have the league buzzing: 1. The waiting game. So LeBron James goes to New York, feels the love, helps pummel the Knicks, and then tells everyone he'll be back for good in 2010. OK, it didn't go quite that way...Tags: Mehmet Okur, Basketball, Antonio McDyess, LeBron James, Antoine Walker
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O'Neal claims no hard feelings
South Florida Sun-SentinelRevisionist history has Shaquille O'Neal convinced there are no bad feelings when it comes to his departure last season from the Heat. Addressing the South Florida media in advance of Friday's game against the Heat, the Suns center said only...Tags: Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O'Neal
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Shaq to Heat: "It ended the way I wanted it to end"
South Florida Sun-SentinelFriday night, Shaquille O'Neal insists, will be "just another game," even though it's also the first time the Phoenix Suns center will face the Miami Heat since last February's trade. As for Phoenix's March 4 visit to AmericanAirlines Arena? "I'll...Tags: Miami Heat, Basketball, Dwyane Wade, Terry Porter, Florida International University
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Shaq casts himself as victim from Heat trade
SunSentinel.comRevisionist history has Shaquille O'Neal convinced there is no bad history when it comes to his departure last season from the Miami Heat. Addressing the South Florida media following this morning's shootaround at U.S. Airways Center, the Phoenix Suns...Tags: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Basketball, Dwyane Wade, Renovation
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Fishing report: Top catches reported last week
SunSentinel.comFish Tales caught and released 15 sailfish to beat out Qualifier on time and win the K-Rock Classic tournament Saturday and Sunday out of Coconut Grove. Qualifier was second with 15 releases, followed by Sandman with 14, Wound Up with 13 and Weez In The...Tags: Coconut Grove, Port Everglades, Cooper City, Lake Okeechobee, Fishing
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Check if Shaq's lips move
A weekly look at five talking points that have the league buzzing: 1. Let the Shaq circus begin. Let's see, the last time Shaquille O'Neal took time to discuss the Heat, he disparaged Pat Riley, blamed the Heat medical staff for his injuries, and...Tags: Stephen Jackson, Basketball, James Jones, Antonio McDyess, Steve Kerr
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Pete Newell was the Big Man
Basketball has known all sorts of great coaches: from the magnificent purists such as Dean Smith, Larry Brown and Mike Krzyzewski, to the warrior-kings Bob Knight and Pat Riley, to the philosopher-king Phil Jackson.
There were three, however, unlike...Tags: Basketball, John Wooden, National Basketball Association, New Jersey Nets, Sam Perkins
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Heat's Riley looking at McDyess, mum on Marbury
South Florida Sun-SentinelOn the road with the team for the first time this season, Miami Heat President Pat Riley said at Sunday's 107-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors that he has looked into free-agent forward Antonio McDyess, but declined to address the possibility of adding...Tags: Miami Heat, Basketball, Dwyane Wade, Antonio McDyess, Mario
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Yarborough should have been at Homestead
After it was over, after Jimmie Johnson had pocketed his third straight NASCAR points championship and put another few bucks in Pat Riley's pocket with this exceedingly rare "three-peat," one question hung there in the early evening haze. Where was Cale?...Tags: NASCAR, Bobby Allison, Daytona 500, Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson
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