Billy Ray reaches out

Billy Ray Bates, arguably the most sensational PBA import ever, is eager to return to Manila and wants to conduct clinics for kids.

Bates, 52, played for Portland, Washington and the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-year NBA career that ended in 1983. The 6-4 “Black Superman” from Kentucky State averaged 26.7 points in six playoff games for Portland in 1980 and 1981.

In the PBA, Bates hit at a 46.2 clip and played on three championship teams with Crispa and Ginebra San Miguel from 1983 to 1988. He revolutionized the way the game was played here and took it way above the rim. Bates was to the PBA as Julius Erving was to the NBA. The acrobatic dunk artists were both flamboyant, prolific and charismatic.

Off the court, Bates loved the adulation from the fans. A local shoe manufacturer produced his signature “Black Superman” model and Bates lived the role to the fullest, even donning a Superman cape when once reporting for work in the arena. But the good life eventually took its toll on Bates who showed up overweight and badly out of shape in finishing his PBA career with Ginebra in 1988.

It was later reported that Bates became addicted to cocaine and alcohol. In January 1998, he was arrested for holding up a gasoline station at knifepoint and slashing attendant Philip Kittel’s ear in New Jersey. Bates was sentenced to seven years in prison and confined at the 164-bed Hope Hall, a halfway house for adult male offenders in Camden.

Now that he’s out of jail, Bates has teamed up with 1984 Philadelphia 76ers fourth round draft pick Earl Harrison in organizing basketball skills clinics.

In an email to The STAR, Bates said he’s been desperately trying to contact his friends at Grosby (the shoe manufacturer) and Allendale (his uniform maker) but to no avail. From what we know, Grosby and Allendale are no longer in business.

“I want to do clinics for kids when I come there and if anyone needs me for public relations events, I’m ready,” said Bates. “I have been clean and sober for almost a year. I am the NEW Billy Ray.”

Bates said he will update The STAR on his activities in a longer email this weekend. He located The STAR through PBA broadcaster Mico Halili’s sports blog.

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San Miguel skills coach Alton Lister left Arizona State a year short of finishing his business management studies to turn pro in the NBA in 1981. The 7-foot center played for five teams in 16 NBA seasons but before hanging up his sneakers, he proudly said he had a degree.

It took Lister 13 years after leaving Arizona State to earn his degree in franchising.

“Once you leave school and start earning, it’s difficult to go back,” he said. “But I made a promise to my mom who’s now 80. I told her I would take care of my degree. I never went back to campus, though. I finished the requirements through internet correspondence. It’s something I’m proud of and I want to leave it as a lesson to my kids.”

Lister, 50, has four children, J. Ross, 19, Alton Jr., 12, Alexa, 11, and Amari, 3. His oldest son is 6-5 and playing for Daytona Beach junior college in Florida. Alton Jr. is 5-10, lean, competitive and tipped to shoot up to over seven feet. Alexa is already 5-11 and still growing.

At the moment, Lister is unattached.

Landing a job in the PBA was a blessing, said Lister.

“Timing is everything,” he said. “Billy Knight brought me to Atlanta when he was general manager and I was with the Hawks when they made it to the playoffs for the first time in nine years and took Boston to seven games before the Celtics won the title last season. When Billy left, I did, too. No hard feelings. It was a great experience for me, working with big guys like Al Horford and getting to know guys like Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Mike Bibby. Then, coach Paul (Howard) invited me to try out the PBA.”

Lister played on the Arizona State varsity with Byron Scott (now New Orleans coach), Fat Lever (now with the Denver Nuggets front office), Sam Williams and Kurt Nimphius. He stays in contact with his college teammates, particularly Scott who probably will someday invite him to join the Hornets staff.

Throughout his NBA career, Lister said he made it a point to learn as much as he could from his coaches – Don Nelson at Milwaukee and Golden State, Bernie Bickerstaff at Seattle, M. L. Carr at Boston and Mike Dunleavy at Milwaukee and Portland.

During a break in his NBA career, Lister played briefly for Milan in the Italian league.

A highlight of his pro career was playing for Nelson at Golden State with Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, the so-called Run TMC threesome. Lister said he didn’t do much scoring and was content to play backup, sweeping the boards, blocking shots and doing the dirty work.

Lister said he’s hoping to get a job in the NBA again but that’s not a consuming thought. He’s happy to be working basketball in the PBA because the game is his lifeblood.