HOUSTON — Function over fashion can best be used to describe Rockets' broadcaster Calvin Murphy -- who's proven over the years he can wear just about anything.
Let's rewind.
In February 1980, the Rockets are at home, playing a game against the Washington Bullets. During the first quarter, Murphy is struck in the head by the elbow of a guy named Greg Ballard.
It was a blow so serious that Murphy was taken to a Houston hospital. He’s later diagnosed with a concussion.
The Rockets second-leading scorer then misses four games. When he returns to action, he's outfitted with a modified hockey helmet.
Why a hockey helmet? Here’s what Murphy said.
"You know, unfortunately, during my stint in the NBA, they didn't have a protocol for concussions. They just simply gave you something to say next. And with me, they gave me a blue hockey helmet, and they thought they were getting jazzy by taking the top of the hockey helmet off, but it was blue. We wore red," he said.
And how does he now feel when he sees those photographs?
“Well, my grandsons think it's a joke. They think it would, you know that it was photo shopped, you know, I gotta tell them the story of it all, but it brings back a lot of memories. And, you know, of course, going on the road, it was bad enough being the smallest guy in the league and taking crap; and now I'm taking crap as the smallest in the league with a hockey helmet," Murphy said.
Before being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Calvin Murphy wore a hockey helmet.