Al Cervi: Old Pro from Syracuse, 1952

[When the NBA got underway in the early 1950s, Al Cervi, the veteran player-coach of the Syracuse Nats, was the league’s equivalent of a pro wrestling villain. He swaggered into opposing arenas wearing a uniform and a scowl, while fans booed and hissed his every move. Then, once play started, Cervi became “a towel-waving jumping jack,” threatening anyon…