What the Hell Happened to...Bill Dinwiddie?
2 WTHHT Guys As HS Teammates! |
Bill was a star player at Muncie HS where he graduated from in 1962. However with all the accolades that his teammate Bonham received (and deserved), it seems Bill might have been overlooked. He attended New Mexico Highlands University. Until researching Bill's life, I most definitely never heard of this college. It's located in Las Vegas, NM. However after playing there Bill was not selected in the NBA Draft. But he also wasn't overly-eager to return to Muncie:
I left Muncie knowing that some black folk were doing something out there and Muncie wasn't teaching it.
Bill with Em Bryant playing for Buffalo |
Apparently this is where Bill got his break. He must have impressed the guy and wound up making the Royals, who he played for in the 1967-68 season as well as the 68-69 campaign. He'd miss the 1970 season with a knee injury. However that next season, Bob Cousy, the new Royals coach, would make his ill-fated comeback at the age of 41. Red Auerbach demanded compensation. The trade was officially Bob Cousy (who at the time had been retired for 6 seasons) for Bill Dinwiddie. Bob for one wasn't happy with having to give up Bill:
I've been out of pro ball for six years now. Red wasn't being realistic (in demanding compensation.) I couldn't justify giving up a frontline player.
Bill played one season with the Celtics, the 1971 campaign. He appeared in 61 games averaging 12
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Did Bill change his name because of this shirt? |
I've yet to figure that man out. I've watched him for a year and a half and I can't understand why he's never become a good player.
After one season in Milwaukee and 28 more games, Dinwiddie's NBA career was over.
Somewhere after leaving the pros, Dinwiddie made the decision to become a devout Muslim and legally changed his name to Rashid Shabazz. Folks who know of him speak highly and all indications are that he's very religious. Rashid is a member the Islamic Center of Muncie.
"It seems to me we should be able to pray together. There is only one God, and we share God," he said. "We're all in this together."
In 2010, Rashid was the Grand Marshall for the Muncie Homecoming Festival parade. Rashid's ex-wife is named Raushanah Shabazz, who was one of the founders of Motivate Our Minds, (MOM). Their mission statement is to provide premier individualized supplemental education programs for children. Rashid also is known to go by Rashid "Bill" Shabazz as evident of this obituary. It appears Rashid's son, Chad Spencer Phelps, sadly passed away in 2012 at the age of 44.
Raushanah
and Rasul Shabazz filed their suit Thursday in Delaware Circuit Court
1, demanding that a jury determine
damages in the case.
damages in the case.
They
allege that Wells — identified by his legal name of Gawen D. Wells —
became upset after a disagreement involving his son and Rasul Shabazz,
now 39, at the downtown YMCA, where Shabazz then worked, on May 7, 2011.
According to the suit, Wells:
- Went to the Shabazz home, in the 1400 block of East Hines Street, with “several other individuals,” that afternoon, with the group shouting for Rasul Shabazz to come outside, and announcing that they intended to kill him.
- “In fear of his life and imminent bodily harm, Rasul did not go outside and Bonzi kicked in the (home’s) front door,” the suit states.
- Cursed at Raushanah Shabazz — co-founder of the local Motivate Our Minds organization, and 74 at the time of the incident — when she walked onto her front porch, also saying, “I’ll kill you, too!”
- Returned to the Shabazz home with “his crew” five days later, and remained parked outside for several minutes.
- Attacked Rasul Shabazz in an athletic office on the Ball State University campus on May 17, 2011, punching him in the head; striking him up to three more times after he fell to the floor, and then spitting in Shabazz’s face.
In
a Muncie Police Department report, however, Raushanah Shabazz made no
mention of Wells having threatened her the afternoon he allegedly kicked
in her door. She also acknowledged that she never saw Wells on her
porch that day.
Scary stuff indeed, if it is in fact true. Bonzi always was considered a hothead during his playing days. What exactly went down for this to take place? Did Rasul provoke him or is Bonzi certifiably insane? Only time will tell. (9/13 Addendum: Bonzi explains his side of the story).![]() |
Rashid's Fish & Chips! |
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