55 Years Before Abdul Jabbar Created The Previous Page

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On January 31, 1965

there was 

a moment of silence

at St. Luke's Church

in Whitestone, New York.

 

The Priest was a graduate

of Power Memorial High School.

 

His Alma Mater's 71-game

winning streak ended

the night before.

 

The Power Memorial basketball team

featured the greatest prep school athlete

in America: LEW ALCINDOR.

I had already mourned

the loss by boycotting

the homemade waffles

my Mother had cooked

that morning but 

I surreptitiously ate 

an O Henry candy bar

in my Father's car

on the way to church.

 

However, I did NOT boycott

the free wafer served during

Holy Communion

despite having chocolate-stained teeth.      

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