Iconic Athlete #10: Walt 'Clyde' Frazier

Distinguished by the level of maturity often achieved by the oldest child of a large family, Walt Frazier navigated his eight younger siblings through life in the racially charged, segregated South of the 1950s. Those well-honed leadership skills, coupled with natural athletic ability and sharp, mental acuity translated well to the sports he gravitated to as a youth. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Frazier played catcher on the baseball team and quarterbacked for the football team throughout his high school years. He also played a little basketball. This is how he became one of the National Basketball Association's true legends.

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An Early Choice Marked By Racism

Frazier's career choice was partially motivated by the racism he was all too familiar with in his early life. He declined the multiple football scholarships offered him, opting for a basketball scholarship to Southern Illinois University instead. He had his heart set on playing pro ball, and at that time there were no black quarterbacks in the pros. Frazier thought it would be easier for him to make it as a black man in basketball rather than in football. With Frazier on the team, SIU became the first small school to win the National Invitation Tournament. The highly visible player earned All-American honors and was the New York Knicks' first-round pick in the 1967 NBA Draft.

A Lousy Rookie Becomes A Basketball Legend

Frazier admits that his playing was weak that first season, but a new coach, William "Red" Holzman, gave him the confidence he needed through an emphasis on aggressive defense, which played to Frazier's strength and skill. As Frazier's playing time increased, so did his talent. Known for an uncanny peripheral vision and lightning fast hands, Frazier's sudden steals and on-court presence quickly made him a New York fan favorite. Those steals, along with his slick, personalized style and ability to sweet talk just about anybody, earned him a new nickname, as well as the love of the fans. Knicks trainer, Nate Bowman, bestowed the name "Clyde" on the star, after the infamous, charismatic thief portrayed in the movie, "Bonnie and Clyde."

Frazier played for the Knicks for 10 years, from 1967 to 1977, and left with team records for games played, points scored and assists. During that time, he brought the sport of basketball to a new level in New York, where it had not yet achieved the type of popularity associated with other sports, like baseball or football. He was also a stylishly dressed denizen of New York City nightlife, and "Clyde-sightings" became as much of a sport as watching the game itself.

Towards the end of his career and much to his astonishment, Frazier was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He would retire from the sport in 1979. The Hall of Famer scored 15,581 points throughout the course of his career.

Still Going Strong

After a stint at TBS in Atlanta, his home town, Frazier started working for the MSG Network as a Knicks analyst, and has earned several New York Emmy Award nominations for his work. Still a fan favorite, Frazier's verbal, on-air acuity rivals his former moves on the court. He is a constant visitor to Madison Square Garden, where he can often be found signing autographs. He also works on behalf of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit working for kids who face obstacles in their lives.

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Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.