Ramón Ramos

Ramon Ramos Manso (born November 1, 1967) is a retired Puerto Rican basketball player, both on the National Superior Basketball and National Basketball Association level. He studied in Puerto Rico on Colegio San Jose and in the United States on Seton Hall where is his a basketball legend. In school they called him Black Chocolate.

Biography

Career in Puerto Rico

Ramos began to play in 1985 for the "Indios de Canovanas" franchise, as a bench player. Eventually, he became an important key on the success of the "Indios" of the late 1980s. In 1987, Ramos played in Puerto Rico's national youth (under 21) team that won the gold medal at the "Centrobasket Under 21" competition, by beating the team from Cuba, 94-78 in Caguas.

Ramos helped the "Indios" to the finals in 1988, where they lost to the "Vaqueros de Bayamon", 4 games to 3. In 1989, the "Indios" reached the quarter-finals.

Career in College and NBA

Ramos helped his next team of Seton Hall in the U.S. get to the final four's championship game during his last season there, that of 1989. But they lost to the University of Michigan by one point, 80-79.

Ramos was then signed by the Portland Trail Blazers, who predicted a great future for the Puerto Rican player. In his six games in that organization, Ramos did not leave the bench because his coaches wanted him to observe the NBA's game style and learn before letting him play.

Accident

One night in the middle of December 1989, however, all that changed drastically. After the Trail Blazers' return flight to Portland, back from a game against Golden State, Ramos' car skidded off the free-way as he was driving home. Ramos was injured badly, and he was in a coma for more than one year. In Puerto Rico, because of the time difference between Puerto Rico and Oregon, people did not learn about the accident until the morning after. The news was covered by all newspapers, and television channels kept updates about Ramos' condition. Some television entertainers asked the public to pray for Ramos. A minute of silence and prayer was held at many activities throughout the island that day.

While he never played a minute in a regular season game, he cast an impression on teammates and Portland fans that lasted long after that life-threatening automobile accident. The 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward from Seton Hall came to fall camp with a work ethic, affable personality, infectious smile and against-all-odds drive to make it in the NBA made him a fan favorite. Because of tendonitis, he started the 1989-90 season on the injured list. He had just been activated but had not played in a game yet before the career-ending accident. While he waged a battle for survival, his NBA Finals-bound Blazers teammates dedicated their season to him. His locker remained in place, complete with his game uniform, that season and for several seasons to follow.

Recovery and later years

Ramos was flown to Puerto Rico by an air-ambulance, alongside his close relatives. About one year later, he began to make progress, drifting in and out of his coma, but still being in a semi-vegetative state. He regained his speech, but, because of his condition, sometimes he would start to say profanities to news reporters that informed the public about him.

During the summer of 1991, more than 20,000 fans turned out to help the Trail Blazers raise $130,000 at Slam ‘N Jam, an outdoor basketball and music event in what is now PGE Park in Portland, Oregon for a trust fund to assist Ramon’s recovery. Players from throughout the NBA came to play in the benefit game. Ramos and his parents were special guests and drew a long, long standing applause when they were introduced.

Ramos has difficulty walking and doing every day things, and he requires constant supervision by his parents. His story has been shown several times in Puerto Rican and American television.

In February 2006, Ramos returned to New Jersey for the first time since his days at Seton Hall, as he was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame [ [http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060210/SPORTS02/602100373/1012/SPORTS10 Bridgewater Courier-News Article on HOF Induction] ] .

ee also

*List of Puerto Ricans

References