Maurice Lucas: Schenley Spartan Makes Great, 1986

[Continuing with this week’s series on Maurice Lucas. Up next is a profile of Lucas that ran in the Pittsburgh Press Sunday Magazine on February 23, 1986. The date corresponds with Lucas nearing the end of his pro career while throwing around his weight for the defending world-champion Los Angeles Lakers. Here, Lucas also waxes nostalgic about his Pittsburgh roots, his highly regarded high school teammates greats who failed to attain college or pro stardom, and the power of creating his own opportunities for success. The byline belongs to Gene Collier, who has enjoyed an award-winning, five decade-career as a Pittsburgh newspaper columnist. Collier continues to tell-it-like-it-is on all things sports, politics, and social issues for the Post-Gazette.] **** The Southern California morning is almost annoyingly beautiful. The sun is flooding the streets around Inglewood, the ocean is posing for postcards, and people in immaculately clean cars are fleeing to the freeways. You take…