YouTube Gold: Maurice Cheeks Coaches The National Anthem Singer
Just a nice moment in a distinguished career.
When he played in the NBA, Maurice Cheeks was a quietly brilliant point guard.
He kind of had to be.
When he was with Philadelphia, the 76ers featured Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, Doug Collins, Darryl Dawkins and later, Charles Barkley. No one was going to do well on that team if they didn't share the ball and just as importantly, the glory.
It was a role that Cheeks was really suited to. He handled the ball, moved it to the hot hand and played his heart out on defense. He earned immense respect for his ability to stir the drink, as it were. His instinct to support his teammates was really strong and it took him to the Hall of Fame.
After his playing career Cheeks became a solid coach and in 2003, when he was coaching the Portland Trail Blazers, his supportive instincts kicked in again, this time for a young singer.
There had been a contest to sing the national anthem and the winner was a 13-year-old singer named Natalie Gilbert and not long after she started to sing, she forgot the words.
That’s when Cheeks stepped in. He put his arm on her shoulder and coached her through the rest of the song, staying with her until she brought it home.
He didn’t have to do that.
But he did, and it just underscores his basic nature, which is to say he’s a good and decent man.