Autographed basketball

[aquart]

I am sitting here with an autographed Last Bilt basketball, which I do not believe to be an official basketball, although it does say National Basketball Association on it.

There are a bunch of names, but the names are not from the same team: Dick Van Arsdale, Tom Van Arsdale, John Havlicek and some I can't quite read: Dick or Dirk Snyder, Norm Van Lien (?), Wes Unseld (?), John Block or Black or Blok, and two others I can't read at all.

I DO NOT KNOW BASKETBALL UNLESS A SCANDAL MAKES THE REGULAR NEWS OR SOMETHING.

These signatures were acquired when the players were gathered to shoot a commercial for the Air Force. My shameless uncle passed the basketball around and they signed. He claims to have one with Knicks signatures but we haven't found it.

Is this basketball a good thing, a family heirloom, or a piece of junk?

[lazarus]

1. That is cool

Norm Van Lier is the name you're looking for. Retired from the Bulls in '79. Will be in the Hall of Fame soon.

The van Arsdale brothers were quite good. Dick Van Arsdale was the first pick ever by the Phoenix Suns franchise. Tom's his twin brother, played for the Hawks. Both should be in the Hall of Fame.

Dick Snyder was on the '79 Seattle SuperSonics championship team.

John Havlicek was one of the greats for the Boston Celtics. Hall of Fame.

Wes Unseld was probably the best player ever to play for the Washington Bullets. He's now the GM. Hall of Fame.

John Block played 10 seasons with 9 teams, making one All Star appearance.

It's probably worth a bit of money, but I'd keep it as an heirloom. Then again, I'm a basketball nut.