The Time Marcus Timmons Saved My Life

Last week was my birthday. I got a lot of Happy Birthday wishes on my Facebook timeline, text messages, phone calls, etc. One of those came from half way around the world, from Marcus Timmons, who lives in Australia now. It sure did put a smile on my face.

When I was a kid growing up at Scott County Central, our varsity boys basketball team won the state championship in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991. Seven years in a row. That was first to seventh grade for me. I don't remember 1985, but I was at the 1986 game (triple overtime) because my cousins were on the team. I was there in 1987 because my cousin Terry was a senior on that team.

The next one in 1988 was the arrival of Marcus Timmons, a 6'4 freshman phenom. He started on that team, and they went 34-0 on their way to a state title. The next three years they went 31-2, 32-1, and his senior year they went 33-0. So over his four year high school career, they went 130-3. He is still the only player ever to start on four state championship teams in Missouri. His senior year (see the photo above) Marcus was named "Mr. Show-Me Basketball," and award given to the best boys basketball player in the state of Missouri.

Marcus Timmons was a BIG DEAL!

So now for the time he saved my life... I was in like sixth grade. Marcus was a junior at the peak of his ability and popularity in high school. I had a friend, Blaine, who was two years younger then me. He was getting picked on by another guy who sometimes hung around us. When you're young boys, and there are no parents are around, sometimes these things happen. They tend to sort themselves out, but this situation kept going on and on and on... So one day I took up for Blaine, ended up punching this other guy, and it led to a fight.

I guess I got the better of him, because the next day as we were walking from my house to Blaine's house (about two blocks), and there was a group of about 5-6 guys that grabbed me. Some of these guys were 3-4-5 years older than me. They held me back so that the bully could punch me and get even. Well the whole time this was happening, I'm squirming and fighting back, and Blaine just ran! He left me there!

I was thinking "well, I'm about to get punched" and "I can't believe Blaine left me after I took up for him" at the same time. Right about then (remember, I said it was only two blocks), I saw them coming. Blaine had an older brother who played on the basketball team. He was running toward me, and he had a couple other basketball players running with him. I can't remember who all of them were that day, but I remember one the guys holding me back saying...

"OH (EXPLETIVE), IT'S MARCUS!"

That's right, big 6'7 Marcus Timmons was sprinting toward me, full speed, like he was running a line drill for Coach Cookson. So maybe he didn't save my life? But he did save the day. The guys holding me back all ran for their lives. They never bothered me again.

So while we're on the subject of Marcus Timmons, let me just take a minute to recap how GREAT this guy was as a basketball player.

Like I said, he started on four state championship teams. He was a three time all state player. He was Mr. Show-Me Basketball his senior year.

After he graduated from Scott County Central, he went and played at Southern Illinois University. Marcus had a scholarship offer from Mizzou, but at the time they were on probation.

At SIU he started in all 125 games he played in (he missed one game with an injury). When his career at SIU was over, he was Top 10 in points (1,434), Top 5 in rebounds (999), Top 10 in assists (343), Top 5 in blocks (123), and Top 5 in steals (211).

He could do it all. He was the MVC Defensive Player of the Year (1995), First-Team All-MVC (1995), and helped SIU to 3 NCAA Tournaments appearances. He is in the Saluki Hall of Fame.

After college he got invited to several NBA Training Camps (Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, etc), but this was right when the NBA Lockout happened in 1995. So Marcus went overseas where he played for a long time, won several championships, and made a lot of money.

Being all the way over there in Australia, I always thought that a lot of local people forgot about Marcus. I don't hear his name come up when you hear about the all time great players from Southeast Missouri, at least not like I think his should come up.

When you start throwing out names like Otto Porter Sr, Ricky Frazier, Ray Pugh, Frankie Robinson, Tyler Hansbrough, Otto Porter Jr, etc etc etc... you have to put Marcus Timmons somewhere on that list. This guy DOMINATED at every level he ever played at.

Going past all the numbers, he was just a freak athlete. At 6'8, he was so quick and could jump so high. He could handle the ball and was a phenomenal passer. In college he played power forward, and to make it in the NBA, back in those days, the power forwards were just a little bit bigger than he was. He would have needed to be a small forward, and for whatever reason, he just never caught on in the NBA.

I think in today's NBA, where it's "positionless" basketball, teams playing multiple "threes" and "fours" out there at once and playing smaller lineups, Marcus would have been a really, really good NBA player. His nephew, Otto Porter Jr, is almost the exact same size, and he's doing great in the NBA right now. Otto is a lot better shooter, but Marcus was a lot better athlete.

So what is the moral of the story here? Well, I looked up to Marcus when I was a kid. I'll never forget that he was always nice to me. He knew my name. He would come and watch us play. He took an interest in me. This guy was BIG TIME. He didn't have to do that. I was a nobody little kid.

Maybe we're not all the hero on the local basketball team, but at some point in all of our lives, we have somebody that is looking up to us. What do you do with that kind of spotlight and influence? Just remember, being nice is free. It doesn't cost anything. We can all be nice if we want to.

Marcus was nice to me. He's a great guy, and he kept me from getting punched in the face one time. So thanks a lot, Blaine, for having the presence of mind to run for help, and thanks a lot Marcus for saving the day.

I hope you enjoyed the story. The latest podcast is up. Also, the JWT Live Show is on tonight (JWT LIVE LINK) with Coach Brad Botsch and Coach Jeff Ross. Have an awesome week. #JWT