Dr. J: The Autobiograhy With Karl Taro Greenfeld, Harper, 431 pages
Julius Erving got his 鈥淒r. J鈥� nickname while playing in Harlem鈥檚 Rucker Park after he left college. Many greats, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate Archibald, and Earl Monroe, have competed there in a summer tournament, which finds fans climbing trees and perching on rooftops to get a view.
Tournament PA announcer Plucky Morris made up an assortment of nicknames for Erving 鈥� 鈥淏lack Moses,鈥� 鈥淗oudini,鈥� etc. 鈥� but Erving finally told him, 鈥淵o, man, just call me the Doctor.鈥� Morris immediately picked up the suggestion and bellowed, 鈥淭he Doctor is in. He鈥檚 gonna be operatin鈥�. He鈥檚 gonna be dissecting brothas.鈥�
