It's symbolic that Austin "Red" Robbins lives within the shadows of New Orleans, only a stone's throw from the city of Metairie, La.
After all, they call New Orleans the "Big Easy." And there is no better way to describe Robbins.
A fierce force on the basketball court, the 6-foot-8-inch former Tennessee All-American was a garbage man underneath the boards, using his long arms and pointed elbows to gain position on every shot and snare his rebounds.
But Robbins also was a realist, both on and off the court. He always wanted to live a simple life. The youngest of eight children, growing up with six brothers and two sisters in the small town of Groveland, Fla., he came to value love, health and lasting friendships.
In fact, Robbins doesn't look at the Utah Stars' 1971 American Basketball Association championship as the greatest thing that happened in his life.
"Don't get me wrong," Robbins said. "I'll always cherish that championship. It was the greatest season and accomplishment I ever achieved in my pro career. That seventh game against Kentucky was the greatest game that I ever participated in in my life."
Still, it wasn't the greatest day in his life. His greatest day came on Oct. 16, 1970, the day after the Stars won their first league game in the Salt Palace against Pittsburgh.
That's the day he flew back to New Orleans and whisked Janie Maher to the altar to become his bride.
"The Lord must have been watching over me when Janie came into my life," Robbins said. "That was 30 years ago. Life couldn't have been better since then. She's not only my wife, but she's been my best friend in life, too."
That statement fits in with his basic philosophy of life.
Robbins played only two years with the Stars, but he was one of the team's most popular players.
"Letting Robbins go in the expansion draft to San Diego (1972) was one of the worst gambles and mistakes I ever made as a general manager," former Stars' president/general manager Vince Boryla said. "Red was the ultimate team player. I didn't know how much he meant to the team's chemistry, either.
"I always respected his ability as a player. But I respected him even more as a man. He never complained about anything. He was great for the city.
"What you saw with Red was always real. He and his wife, Janie, have always remained great friends to me. That's saying an awful lot about him and his wife, too."
The five-time ABA All Star originally was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1966 NBA draft. But the 76ers had Wilt Chamberlain, Lucious Jackson and Chet Walker on their frontline, with Billy Cunningham coming off the bench.
In 1967, the newly formed ABA offered him a shot with the New Orleans Bucs. "I took their offer, and I've never regretted it," Robbins said.
The Bucs' offer led to his eight-year ABA career, with teams like the Bucs, Stars, San Diego and Kentucky. But most of all, it gave him a chance, not only to play pro basketball, but to meet his lifelong companion.
Since retiring from basketball in 1976, Robbins owned and operated three athletic shoe stores for eight years. He also worked as a sales rep for Champion Sports. Now he works for LA Sports Logo, a division of Reebok, which deals with NFL teams.
"And," quipped Robbins, "I like where my office is — at home!"
E-mail: torch@uswest.net