"48 Minutes of Intensity"- A tribute to Norm Van Lier"

The Chicago sports world lost a great man today. Former Bulls great and Comcast Sports Net Bulls commentator Norm Van Lier passed away at the age of 61. Norm's nickname was "Stormin" Norman and he lived up to it as a player. Norm was a feisty point guard who was always mixing it up and diving for loose balls on the court. He was a solid play maker and managed to maintain double-figure scoring seven of the ten years he played in the NBA. Norm's "intensity" on defense was the attribute that set him apart and made him a three-time All-Star as well.

I was fortunate to work with Norm Van Lier at Sports Channel (Comcast Sports Net) and the Chicago Bulls. I also considered Norm as a basketball mentor and friend. Norm lived his life with "intensity" and was not afraid to share his point of view on Chicago Bulls basketball. His wealth of basketball knowledge gave him the permission to speak his mind about whomever and however he chose. Norm wanted today's basketball player to understand that playing hard every practice and game is mandatory. He would point out the players that did not do it and hold them accountable to adjust it. He was "old school" and there are not enough people that share his philosophy. Norm also was one of my celebrity guests at the grand opening of our Schamburg Bulls basketball programs at the Schaumburg Sports Center and a host of other Chicago Bulls sponsored events throughout the years.

I had the pleasure of being coached by Norm in a pre-game scrimmage at the United Center a couple of years ago. Norm was intense as a coach and pushed our team to play hard even though it was a scrimmage. He gave me a compliment about the way I played defense. This was a surreal moment for me because I grew up emulating Norm! I truly appreciated it because the compliment came from Norm Van Lier. I grew up and am currently a die-hard Chicago Bulls fan and watched "Stormin" Norman when I was a little guy. My godfather, Flynn Robinson, was a Chicago Bull for about a year with Norm Van Lier. Flynn was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and there was no cable TV at that time to watch my godfather play. Even though he was my godfather, my dad's rule was that we pulled for home team anyway. My formal basketball years were then developed watching Norm and his backcourt mate, Jerry Sloan play for the Chicago Bulls. The were both as tough as nails and arguably one of the best backcourt tandems ever in the NBA. They played tenacious defense and made it hard on their opponents at all times. I grew trying to emulate Norm's style of play.

As youth, grade and high school coaches, it is important to demand your players to play hard every practice and game. They will appreciate you for it and will maximize their opportunities on the basketball court in the future. There is no substitute for players giving "48 minutes of intensity" or however many minutes of "intensity" you play at your game level. Players, give your best effort at ALL times. Don't ever let it be a question about your desire and will to play the game of basketball!

"Goodbye Norm! I am going to do my part in carrying on your basketball philosophy!!!"

Yours in Basketball,


Coach Stewart