1. Tom Loren Burleson was born on February 24,1952 and is an American former professional basketball player.
17 Facts About Tommy Burleson
1. 2.
Tommy Burleson was an All-American at Newland High School and Avery County High School, as well as North Carolina State University.
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Tommy Burleson was the MVP of the 1973 and 1974 ACC Tournaments and was All-Final Four in 1974.
4.
Tommy Burleson was a member of the 1973 World University Games Gold Medal basketball team.
5.
Tommy Burleson wanted to be listed at his actual height but the coaching staff said he would officially be the tallest player in American basketball and it would bring a lot of good exposure to him and the school.
6.
The ploy worked and Tommy Burleson was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1974.
7.
Tommy Burleson was held at gunpoint against a wall by one of the terrorists, and told not to move or look at the hostages as they came through the parking lot.
8.
Tommy Burleson is the last athlete who had any contact with the Israeli Olympians 45 minutes before they died.
9.
Tommy Burleson was a member of the 1972 US Olympic Basketball Team that lost a controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union.
10.
Tommy Burleson did not play vs the USSR, suspended by coach Hank Iba for bringing his fiance' to the Olympic village, a violation of team rules.
11.
Tommy Burleson was known throughout his amateur and pro career as a good shot blocker.
12.
Tommy Burleson played seven seasons in the NBA with Seattle, the Kansas City Kings and the Atlanta Hawks.
13.
Tommy Burleson operates Tommy Burleson and Sons Christmas Trees farm.
14.
Tommy Burleson is credited with having rescued a woman from an apartment fire in Newland in 1985 and suffered smoke inhalation injury.
15.
Tommy Burleson is an avid supporter of North Carolina State University.
16.
Tommy Burleson has served for several years as a Special Ambassador to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
17.
In 2002, Tommy Burleson was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team honoring the fifty greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference history.