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{{Short description|American basketball player}}
{{Short description|American basketball player (1943–2014)}}
{{For|his son, Lonnie Rashid Lynn the musician|Common (rapper)}}
{{For|his son, Lonnie Lynn the musician|Common (rapper)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
{{Infobox basketball biography
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| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|09|12|1943|05|24}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|09|12|1943|05|24}}
| death_place = [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]], U.S.
| nationality = American
| high_school = [[DuSable High School|DuSable]] (Chicago, Illinois)
| high_school = [[DuSable High School|DuSable]] (Chicago, Illinois)
| college =
| college =
*[[Upper Iowa Peacocks men's basketball|Upper Iowa]] (1962)
*[[Upper Iowa Peacocks men's basketball|Upper Iowa]] (1962)
*[[Wilberforce Bulldogs men's basketball|Wilberforce]] (1964–1966)
*[[Wilberforce Bulldogs men's basketball|Wilberforce]] (1963–1966)
| draft_year = 1966
| draft_year = 1966
| draft_round = 12
| draft_round = 12
| draft_pick = 99
| draft_pick = 99
| draft_team = [[St. Louis Hawks]]
| draft_team = [[St. Louis Hawks]]
| career_start =
| career_start = 1966
| career_end =
| career_end = 1970
| career_position = [[Small forward]]
| career_position = [[Small forward]]
| career_number = 19
| career_number = 19
| years1 = 1969
| years1 = 1966–1967
| team1 = [[Denver Rockets]]
| team1 = Battle Creek Braves
| years2 = 1970
| years2 = 1967–1968
| team2 = [[Pittsburgh Pipers]]
| team2 = Trenton Colonials
| years3 = 1968
| team3 = [[Binghamton Flyers|Tri-Cities Flyers]]
| years4 = 1968
| team4 = [[Scranton Miners]]
| years5 = 1968
| team5 = Springfield Hall of Famers
| years6 = 1968–1969
| team6 = New Haven Elms
| years7 = 1969
| team7 = [[Denver Rockets]]
| years8 = 1970
| team8 = [[Pittsburgh Pipers]]
| highlights =
| highlights =
* [[Eastern Professional Basketball League|EPBL]] All-Star (1968)
| bbr = lynnlo01
}}
}}
'''Lonnie Lynn Jr.'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Common At The White House: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AChGszRGwI&t=16m17s |website=YouTube}}</ref> (May 24, 1943 – September 12, 2014), nicknamed "Pops", was an American [[basketball]] player.
'''Lonnie Lynn Jr.'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Common At The White House: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AChGszRGwI&t=16m17s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/2AChGszRGwI |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (May 24, 1943 – September 12, 2014), nicknamed "'''Pops'''", was an American professional [[basketball]] player and spoken word poet. He played [[college basketball]] for the [[Upper Iowa Peacocks men's basketball|Upper Iowa Peacocks]] and [[Wilberforce Bulldogs men's basketball|Wilberforce Bulldogs]]. Lynn played professionally in the [[North American Basketball League (1964–1968)|North American Basketball League]] (NABL), [[Eastern Professional Basketball League]] (EPBL) and [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) for four seasons.


Lynn performed as a spoken word poet on albums produced by his son, rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]].
==Life and career==
Lynn was born on May 24, 1943 in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], the son of Mabel and Lonnie Lynn, a construction worker.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-lonnie-lynn-obituary-met-20140924-story.html |title=Lonnie Lynn Sr. performed on son Common's albums |first=Bob |last=Goldsborough |date=September 24, 2014 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/the-education-of-lonnie-lynn-5057740 |title=The Education of Lonnie Lynn |first=Steve |last=Jackson |date=August 21, 1997 |website=Westword}}</ref>


==Early life==
At 6'7" and 215&nbsp;lb, he was a [[forward (basketball)|forward]] and played basketball at [[DuSable High School]] on Chicago's south side before moving on to [[Wilberforce University]] and [[Upper Iowa University]].<ref name=bball/>
Lynn was born on May 24, 1943, in [[Chicago]], the son of Mabel and Lonnie Lynn.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-lonnie-lynn-obituary-met-20140924-story.html |title=Lonnie Lynn Sr. performed on son Common's albums |first=Bob |last=Goldsborough |date=September 24, 2014 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref name=jackson>{{Cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/the-education-of-lonnie-lynn-5057740 |title=The Education of Lonnie Lynn |first=Steve |last=Jackson |date=August 21, 1997 |website=Westword}}</ref> He was named "Lonnie" after his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.<ref name=archibald/> Lynn's father was a construction worker,<ref name=jackson/> while his mother worked in domestic service.<ref name=ct>{{cite news |title=11 Star Seniors Give Views and Reveal Desires |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-11-star-seniors-give-vie/158387680/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 14, 1962 |page=44 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His parents split when he was eighteen months old and he was then raised by his mother as he rarely saw his father.<ref name=jackson/>


When he was five years old, Lynn fell from a fence rail and fractured his skull.<ref name=jackson/> He was taken to a neighborhood hospital and "given a room to die in" until his mother and a neighbor intervened to save his life.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn was sent to live with his mother's grandparents on their farm in [[Covington, Tennessee]], at the age of seven.<ref name=jackson/> He discovered basketball there when he attended a game at a local high school.<ref name=jackson/>
Lynn was drafted by the [[St. Louis Hawks]] in the 12th round of the [[1966 NBA draft]] and later played one season for the [[Pittsburgh Pipers]] of the [[American Basketball Association]] in 1969–70, averaging 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.<ref name=bball>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lynnlo01.html |title=Lonnie Lynn Statistics |work=Basketball-Reference.com |accessdate=2008-08-07}}</ref>


Lynn returned to his mother's home in Chicago when he was aged 10.<ref name=jackson/> He would play basketball "in the street from early morning until night" while growing up;<ref name=archibald/> his neighborhood used peach baskets nailed to lampposts as goals.<ref name=jackson/>
Once known to Chicagoans for his play at DuSable High School, Lonnie Lynn gathered a following in the rap world. Father of rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]], Lynn performed on several of his son's albums.<ref name="pops">{{cite web|last=Siegel|first=Robert|date=June 17, 2005|title='Pops' Contributes to Rapper Common's Cause|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4708311|website=[[NPR]]|accessdate=2008-08-07}}</ref>


Lynn played as a [[Center (basketball)|center]] on the basketball team at [[DuSable High School]] alongside his younger brother, Russell.<ref name=ct/> He was a midyear graduate and finished his high school career in January 1962.<ref>{{cite news |title=DuSable Rated 1st, Moline Third, Rocks Climb to 14th |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-dusable-rated-1st-moline-t/158387744/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=The Dispatch |date=January 23, 1962 |page=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Lynn received 25 athletic scholarships to play [[college basketball]] and had desired to attend [[Michigan State University]].<ref name=ct/> However, he had academic problems that would have complicated his reception of the [[Big Ten Conference]] aid program.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frisk |first1=Bob |title=Kickin' It Around |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-kickin-it-around-216/158388123/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=The Daily Herald |date=February 1, 1962 |page=119 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
On his son's records, Lynn shared opinions, experiences and wisdom to a younger hip hop audience in [[spoken word poetry]] format. Many of these appearances, in particular "Pops Rap" on ''[[Resurrection (Common album)|Resurrection]]'', feature Lynn discussing the [[hippie]] ideals that have found their way into [[hip hop culture]]. In an article for [[National Public Radio]], journalist [[Robert Siegel]] wrote of Lonnie "Pops" Lynn:


==College basketball career==
{{quote|Lonnie "Pops" Lynn is the father of the rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]], and a regular contributor to his son's albums. Lynn's spoken poetry graces the last song on each CD. Lynn says tells Robert Siegel Common's influence set Lynn himself on the right path.<ref name=pops/>|Robert Siegel}}
On January 29, 1962, Lynn registered for the second semester at [[Upper Iowa University]].<ref name=dmt>{{cite news |title=Recent Prep Is Upper Iowa Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-recent-prep-is-upper/158388083/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Des Moines Tribute |date=February 7, 1962 |page=32 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He had been encouraged to enrol at what was a smaller school by his high school coach who believed it would give Lynn more individual attention.<ref name=dmt/> On February 3, he recorded 24 points in his collegiate debut against [[Buena Vista University|Buena Vista College]].<ref name=dmt/>


Lynn attended Michigan State University for a brief time but withdrew after he experienced academic and personal problems.<ref name=dowd68j>{{cite news |last1=Dowd |first1=Bill |title=Press Box |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-press-box-lonnie/158387785/ |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=January 18, 1968 |page=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He transferred to [[Wilberforce University]] for the 1963–64 season; Lynn appeared in five games before he was ruled ineligible in December 1963 by the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) because Wilberforce did not disclose he was a transfer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Two Ineligible Players Said At Wilberforce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-two-ineligible-play/158433439/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Springfield News-Sun |date=December 12, 1963 |page=39 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He returned to Wilberforce for the 1964–65 season and was selected to the NAIA All-District second-team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Three Marauders On NAIA Squad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chillicothe-gazette-three-marauders-on-n/158434740/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Chillicothe Gazette |date=February 23, 1965 |page=10 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Lynn averaged 22.2 points and 23 rebounds per game during the 1965–66 season.<ref name=bce>{{cite news |title=BC Braves Sign Lonnie Lynn Of Wilberforce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-bc-braves-sign-lon/158388677/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |date=November 3, 1966 |page=23 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
==Personal life and death==
Lynn had six other children aside from Common.


Lynn majored in [[sociology]] at Wilberforce University.<ref name=archibald/>
Although he was reared in Chicago, Lynn was greatly affected by visits to the South during his youth and the brutal murder of [[Emmett Till]], a fellow Chicagoan.


==Professional basketball career==
On May 13, 1966, Lynn was selected by the [[St. Louis Hawks]] in the [[1966 NBA draft]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Lynn Drafted By St. Louis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/gazette-news-current-lynn-drafted-by-st/158388591/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Gazette News-Current |date=May 14, 1966 |page=7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was also selected in the fourth round of the 1966 [[North American Basketball League (1964–1968)|North American Basketball League]] (NABL) draft by the Battle Creek Braves.<ref>{{cite news |title=Local Pro Cagers Draft 19 Players |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-local-pro-cagers-d/158386509/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |date=May 26, 1966 |page=29 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He attended rookie camp with the Hawks in June 1966.<ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Don |title=Guerin Eyes Tri-State's Merriweather, Kron |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-guerin-eyes/158388712/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Evansville Courier and Press |date=June 12, 1966 |page=46 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On November 3, he signed with the Braves,<ref name=bce/> and played for them during the 1966–67 season.<ref name=archibald>{{cite news |last1=Archibald |first1=John J. |title=Hawk Rookie Lynn Doubles As Chicago Social Worker |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-hawk-rookie-lynn/158386827/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=June 18, 1967 |page=46 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Lynn also worked as a counsellor for the [[Job Corps]] while he was playing for the Braves.<ref name=archibald/>

In June 1967, Lynn attended the Hawks' rookie camp,<ref name=archibald/> where he was the top scorer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hawks' Hudson in Army |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-hawks-hudson-in/158435720/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=August 26, 1967 |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was invited to their training camp in September,<ref name=archibald/> and was the final player cut before the start of the [[1967–68 NBA season]].<ref name=dowd68j/> Lynn unsuccessfully worked out with the [[Chicago Bulls]] and attempted to join the [[Dallas Chaparrals]] of the [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) but was prevented by the Hawks who owned his rights.<ref name=dowd68j/> He instead started the 1967–68 season with the Trenton Colonials of the [[Continental Basketball Association|Eastern Professional Basketball League]] (EPBL).<ref>{{cite news |title=Basketball Miners Home With Colonials Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/scrantonian-tribune-basketball-miners-ho/158387836/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Scrantonian Tribune |date=December 3, 1967 |page=63 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Lynn was bought by the [[Binghamton Flyers|Tri-Cities Flyers]] in January 1968.<ref name=dowd68j/> On February 5, he was selected to play in the EPBL all-star game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flyers' Cry: We Want Rudy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-flyers-cry-we-w/158451247/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=February 5, 1968 |page=20 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On February 8, Lynn was traded to the [[Scranton Miners]].<ref name=dowd68f>{{cite news |last1=Dowd |first1=Bill |title=Satterwhite's On Flyers' Side |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-satterwhites-on/158451209/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=February 9, 1968 |page=16 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He had averaged 20 points and 25 rebounds per game in three home appearances with the Flyers but disenchanted his head coach, [[Gene Guarilia]], who had tried to encourage Lynn to work on his defensive rebounding to return to the NBA.<ref name=dowd68f/>

On November 21, 1968, Lynn was traded to the Springfield Hall of Famers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Famers Make Deal With Miners |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-eagle-famers-make-deal-wit/158451285/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |date=November 21, 1968 |page=25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He joined the New Haven Elms in December 1968.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zabitka |first1=Matt |title=Bellamy 62 sets Bomber record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-bellamy-62-sets-bomber/158452102/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=The Morning News |date=December 30, 1968 |page=22 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

On September 17, 1969, Lynn signed with the [[Denver Rockets]] of the ABA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Flyer Lynn 'Rockets' to Denver |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-former-flyer-lynn/158451343/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=September 18, 1969 |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He became good friends with his teammate, [[Spencer Haywood]].<ref name=jackson/> Lynn was released by the Rockets on December 11 at the decision of newly appointed head coach [[Joe Belmont]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Belmont to Get First Test as Rocket Mentor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/colorado-springs-gazette-telegraph-belmo/158451367/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph |date=December 11, 1969 |page=29 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On January 23, 1970, Lynn signed with the [[Pittsburgh Pipers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Signs Contract |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/republican-and-herald-signs-contract/158453876/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Republican and Herald |date=January 23, 1970 |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He re-signed with the renamed Pittsburgh Condors for the 1970–71 ABA season on July 25, 1970,<ref>{{cite news |title=Condors Sign Four Vets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-condors-sign-fou/158454211/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=July 25, 1970 |page=9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> but was waived before the season started on August 22.<ref>{{cite news |title=Condors Put Two On Waivers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-condors-put-two-on/158389188/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=Florence Morning News |date=August 22, 1970 |page=7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Lynn claimed that he, Haywood and [[Paul Silas]] "practically invented offensive rebounds."<ref name=jackson/>

==Personal life==
Lynn met his first wife, Mahalia Ann Brown, while he attended Wilberforce University.<ref name=jackson/> In 1970, he returned to Chicago where Brown worked in teaching.<ref name=jackson/> He unsuccessfully applied for jobs but was rejected because of his basketball background.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn also developed a drug and alcohol addiction because of a sudden withdrawal of the pills he received from his basketball trainers.<ref name=jackson/> After the birth of his first son, Lonnie Rashid (later rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]]), Lynn left his family because he felt that his bad habits of drug and alcohol use meant "it would be better for everyone" if he was not around.<ref name=jackson/> He initially received free drugs from dealers who wanted to use his status; he eventually lost his apartment, car and jewelry while trying to support his habit.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn moved back in with his mother and borrowed money from her to buy drugs.<ref name=jackson/> Brown prevented Lynn from seeing Rashid until he beat his habit with the support of his mother.<ref name=jackson/>

In 1974, Lynn received a call from Haywood who was now playing for the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] in the NBA.<ref name=jackson/> The team were looking for a rebounding forward so Haywood recommended Lynn and encouraged him to introduce himself when the SuperSonics were in Chicago.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn met the team's head coach, [[Bill Russell]], and an assistant invited him to tryout for the team in Seattle but warned Lynn about his drug problem.<ref name=jackson/> Haywood suggested that Lynn bring his family to the tryout to prove that he had settled down.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn packed his belongings into his car and collected Brown and Rashid but did not share where he was going; he instead claimed that he had a house he wanted them to see.<ref name=jackson/> Brown became suspicious once they approached the [[Interstate 90]] and Lynn finally explained where they were going.<ref name=jackson/> They stopped at a motel in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], where Brown escaped while Lynn was sleeping and informed police that she had been abducted.<ref name=jackson/><ref name=tct>{{cite news |title=Basketball Player Jailed Here for Abducting Wife |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-basketball-player-jail/158483087/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=The Capital Times |date=June 25, 1974 |page=6}}</ref> Lynn was arrested and charged with false imprisonment and possession of heroin.<ref name=tct/> Publicity over the arrest resulted in the cancellation of his SuperSonics tryout and he returned to Chicago.<ref name=jackson/>

Lynn's parents died nine months apart in 1977 and he used $500 that was left by them to move to [[Denver]].<ref name=jackson/> He lived with a cousin and worked as a common laborer.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn began a concerted effort to be involved in Rashid's life again and called him weekly.<ref name=jackson/> A few months after he arrived in Denver, he was hired as a youth conselor at the Lookout Mountain Youth Center.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn used Rashid as inspiration and treated the boys there as how he would want his son treated.<ref name=jackson/> He set up a basketball league and "gang group" as an informal meeting of gang members to settle differences.<ref name=jackson/>

After Lynn and Brown divorced, Rashid regularly visited Lynn in Colorado and they attended the [[NBA All-Star Game]] each year.<ref name=jackson/> He met his second wife, special education teacher Val Nogay, at Lookout in 1987.<ref name=jackson/> They had a son, Malone, born in 1988.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn was fired from Lookout in 1992; he had requested time off due to health difficulties that were caused by work-related stress but it caused a clash with the Lookout director.<ref name=jackson/> Lynn was subsequently contacted by [[Jim Brown]], a friend of Haywood, to run the Colorado branch of his Amer-I-Can program.<ref name=jackson/> Nogay died of cancer in 1996.<ref name=jackson/>

==Spoken word poetry==
Lynn performed on several albums by his son, [[Common (rapper)|Common]].<ref name="pops">{{cite web|last=Siegel|first=Robert|date=June 17, 2005|title='Pops' Contributes to Rapper Common's Cause|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4708311|website=[[NPR]]|accessdate=2008-08-07}}</ref>

On his son's records, Lynn shared opinions, experiences and wisdom to a younger hip hop audience in [[spoken word poetry]] format. Many of these appearances, in particular "Pops Rap" on ''[[Resurrection (Common album)|Resurrection]]'', feature Lynn discussing the [[hippie]] ideals that have found their way into [[hip hop culture]]. In an article for [[National Public Radio]], journalist [[Robert Siegel]] wrote of Lonnie "Pops" Lynn:

{{blockquote|Lonnie "Pops" Lynn is the father of the rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]], and a regular contributor to his son's albums. Lynn's spoken poetry graces the last song on each CD. Lynn says tells Robert Siegel Common's influence set Lynn himself on the right path.<ref name=pops/>|Robert Siegel}}

==Death==
Lynn died of [[prostate cancer]] on September 12, 2014, at the age of 71.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/rapper-common-father-lonnie-lynn-dies-71-article-1.1941205 |title=Rapper Common's father, Lonnie Lynn, dies at 71 |date=September 16, 2014 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>
Lynn died of [[prostate cancer]] on September 12, 2014, at the age of 71.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/rapper-common-father-lonnie-lynn-dies-71-article-1.1941205 |title=Rapper Common's father, Lonnie Lynn, dies at 71 |date=September 16, 2014 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>


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[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:African-American basketball players]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Chicago]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Chicago]]
[[Category:Denver Rockets players]]
[[Category:Denver Rockets players]]
[[Category:New Haven Elms players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pipers players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pipers players]]
[[Category:Small forwards]]
[[Category:Small forwards]]
[[Category:St. Louis Hawks draft picks]]
[[Category:St. Louis Hawks draft picks]]
[[Category:Trenton Colonials players]]
[[Category:Upper Iowa Peacocks men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Upper Iowa Peacocks men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Wilberforce Bulldogs men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Wilberforce Bulldogs men's basketball players]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]


{{1940s-US-basketball-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:21, 20 November 2024

Lonnie Lynn
Personal information
Born(1943-05-24)May 24, 1943
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedSeptember 12, 2014(2014-09-12) (aged 71)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolDuSable (Chicago, Illinois)
College
NBA draft1966: 12th round, 99th overall pick
Selected by the St. Louis Hawks
Playing career1966–1970
PositionSmall forward
Number19
Career history
1966–1967Battle Creek Braves
1967–1968Trenton Colonials
1968Tri-Cities Flyers
1968Scranton Miners
1968Springfield Hall of Famers
1968–1969New Haven Elms
1969Denver Rockets
1970Pittsburgh Pipers
Career highlights and awards
  • EPBL All-Star (1968)
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Lonnie Lynn Jr.[1] (May 24, 1943 – September 12, 2014), nicknamed "Pops", was an American professional basketball player and spoken word poet. He played college basketball for the Upper Iowa Peacocks and Wilberforce Bulldogs. Lynn played professionally in the North American Basketball League (NABL), Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) and American Basketball Association (ABA) for four seasons.

Lynn performed as a spoken word poet on albums produced by his son, rapper Common.

Early life

[edit]

Lynn was born on May 24, 1943, in Chicago, the son of Mabel and Lonnie Lynn.[2][3] He was named "Lonnie" after his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.[4] Lynn's father was a construction worker,[3] while his mother worked in domestic service.[5] His parents split when he was eighteen months old and he was then raised by his mother as he rarely saw his father.[3]

When he was five years old, Lynn fell from a fence rail and fractured his skull.[3] He was taken to a neighborhood hospital and "given a room to die in" until his mother and a neighbor intervened to save his life.[3] Lynn was sent to live with his mother's grandparents on their farm in Covington, Tennessee, at the age of seven.[3] He discovered basketball there when he attended a game at a local high school.[3]

Lynn returned to his mother's home in Chicago when he was aged 10.[3] He would play basketball "in the street from early morning until night" while growing up;[4] his neighborhood used peach baskets nailed to lampposts as goals.[3]

Lynn played as a center on the basketball team at DuSable High School alongside his younger brother, Russell.[5] He was a midyear graduate and finished his high school career in January 1962.[6] Lynn received 25 athletic scholarships to play college basketball and had desired to attend Michigan State University.[5] However, he had academic problems that would have complicated his reception of the Big Ten Conference aid program.[7]

College basketball career

[edit]

On January 29, 1962, Lynn registered for the second semester at Upper Iowa University.[8] He had been encouraged to enrol at what was a smaller school by his high school coach who believed it would give Lynn more individual attention.[8] On February 3, he recorded 24 points in his collegiate debut against Buena Vista College.[8]

Lynn attended Michigan State University for a brief time but withdrew after he experienced academic and personal problems.[9] He transferred to Wilberforce University for the 1963–64 season; Lynn appeared in five games before he was ruled ineligible in December 1963 by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) because Wilberforce did not disclose he was a transfer.[10] He returned to Wilberforce for the 1964–65 season and was selected to the NAIA All-District second-team.[11] Lynn averaged 22.2 points and 23 rebounds per game during the 1965–66 season.[12]

Lynn majored in sociology at Wilberforce University.[4]

Professional basketball career

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On May 13, 1966, Lynn was selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1966 NBA draft.[13] He was also selected in the fourth round of the 1966 North American Basketball League (NABL) draft by the Battle Creek Braves.[14] He attended rookie camp with the Hawks in June 1966.[15] On November 3, he signed with the Braves,[12] and played for them during the 1966–67 season.[4] Lynn also worked as a counsellor for the Job Corps while he was playing for the Braves.[4]

In June 1967, Lynn attended the Hawks' rookie camp,[4] where he was the top scorer.[16] He was invited to their training camp in September,[4] and was the final player cut before the start of the 1967–68 NBA season.[9] Lynn unsuccessfully worked out with the Chicago Bulls and attempted to join the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association (ABA) but was prevented by the Hawks who owned his rights.[9] He instead started the 1967–68 season with the Trenton Colonials of the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL).[17] Lynn was bought by the Tri-Cities Flyers in January 1968.[9] On February 5, he was selected to play in the EPBL all-star game.[18] On February 8, Lynn was traded to the Scranton Miners.[19] He had averaged 20 points and 25 rebounds per game in three home appearances with the Flyers but disenchanted his head coach, Gene Guarilia, who had tried to encourage Lynn to work on his defensive rebounding to return to the NBA.[19]

On November 21, 1968, Lynn was traded to the Springfield Hall of Famers.[20] He joined the New Haven Elms in December 1968.[21]

On September 17, 1969, Lynn signed with the Denver Rockets of the ABA.[22] He became good friends with his teammate, Spencer Haywood.[3] Lynn was released by the Rockets on December 11 at the decision of newly appointed head coach Joe Belmont.[23] On January 23, 1970, Lynn signed with the Pittsburgh Pipers.[24] He re-signed with the renamed Pittsburgh Condors for the 1970–71 ABA season on July 25, 1970,[25] but was waived before the season started on August 22.[26]

Lynn claimed that he, Haywood and Paul Silas "practically invented offensive rebounds."[3]

Personal life

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Lynn met his first wife, Mahalia Ann Brown, while he attended Wilberforce University.[3] In 1970, he returned to Chicago where Brown worked in teaching.[3] He unsuccessfully applied for jobs but was rejected because of his basketball background.[3] Lynn also developed a drug and alcohol addiction because of a sudden withdrawal of the pills he received from his basketball trainers.[3] After the birth of his first son, Lonnie Rashid (later rapper Common), Lynn left his family because he felt that his bad habits of drug and alcohol use meant "it would be better for everyone" if he was not around.[3] He initially received free drugs from dealers who wanted to use his status; he eventually lost his apartment, car and jewelry while trying to support his habit.[3] Lynn moved back in with his mother and borrowed money from her to buy drugs.[3] Brown prevented Lynn from seeing Rashid until he beat his habit with the support of his mother.[3]

In 1974, Lynn received a call from Haywood who was now playing for the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA.[3] The team were looking for a rebounding forward so Haywood recommended Lynn and encouraged him to introduce himself when the SuperSonics were in Chicago.[3] Lynn met the team's head coach, Bill Russell, and an assistant invited him to tryout for the team in Seattle but warned Lynn about his drug problem.[3] Haywood suggested that Lynn bring his family to the tryout to prove that he had settled down.[3] Lynn packed his belongings into his car and collected Brown and Rashid but did not share where he was going; he instead claimed that he had a house he wanted them to see.[3] Brown became suspicious once they approached the Interstate 90 and Lynn finally explained where they were going.[3] They stopped at a motel in Madison, Wisconsin, where Brown escaped while Lynn was sleeping and informed police that she had been abducted.[3][27] Lynn was arrested and charged with false imprisonment and possession of heroin.[27] Publicity over the arrest resulted in the cancellation of his SuperSonics tryout and he returned to Chicago.[3]

Lynn's parents died nine months apart in 1977 and he used $500 that was left by them to move to Denver.[3] He lived with a cousin and worked as a common laborer.[3] Lynn began a concerted effort to be involved in Rashid's life again and called him weekly.[3] A few months after he arrived in Denver, he was hired as a youth conselor at the Lookout Mountain Youth Center.[3] Lynn used Rashid as inspiration and treated the boys there as how he would want his son treated.[3] He set up a basketball league and "gang group" as an informal meeting of gang members to settle differences.[3]

After Lynn and Brown divorced, Rashid regularly visited Lynn in Colorado and they attended the NBA All-Star Game each year.[3] He met his second wife, special education teacher Val Nogay, at Lookout in 1987.[3] They had a son, Malone, born in 1988.[3] Lynn was fired from Lookout in 1992; he had requested time off due to health difficulties that were caused by work-related stress but it caused a clash with the Lookout director.[3] Lynn was subsequently contacted by Jim Brown, a friend of Haywood, to run the Colorado branch of his Amer-I-Can program.[3] Nogay died of cancer in 1996.[3]

Spoken word poetry

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Lynn performed on several albums by his son, Common.[28]

On his son's records, Lynn shared opinions, experiences and wisdom to a younger hip hop audience in spoken word poetry format. Many of these appearances, in particular "Pops Rap" on Resurrection, feature Lynn discussing the hippie ideals that have found their way into hip hop culture. In an article for National Public Radio, journalist Robert Siegel wrote of Lonnie "Pops" Lynn:

Lonnie "Pops" Lynn is the father of the rapper Common, and a regular contributor to his son's albums. Lynn's spoken poetry graces the last song on each CD. Lynn says tells Robert Siegel Common's influence set Lynn himself on the right path.[28]

— Robert Siegel

Death

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Lynn died of prostate cancer on September 12, 2014, at the age of 71.[29][2]

References

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  1. ^ "Common At The White House: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Goldsborough, Bob (September 24, 2014). "Lonnie Lynn Sr. performed on son Common's albums". Chicago Tribune.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am Jackson, Steve (August 21, 1997). "The Education of Lonnie Lynn". Westword.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Archibald, John J. (June 18, 1967). "Hawk Rookie Lynn Doubles As Chicago Social Worker". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 46. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c "11 Star Seniors Give Views and Reveal Desires". Chicago Tribune. January 14, 1962. p. 44. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "DuSable Rated 1st, Moline Third, Rocks Climb to 14th". The Dispatch. January 23, 1962. p. 17. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Frisk, Bob (February 1, 1962). "Kickin' It Around". The Daily Herald. p. 119. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c "Recent Prep Is Upper Iowa Star". Des Moines Tribute. February 7, 1962. p. 32. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d Dowd, Bill (January 18, 1968). "Press Box". Press and Sun-Bulletin. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Two Ineligible Players Said At Wilberforce". Springfield News-Sun. December 12, 1963. p. 39. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Three Marauders On NAIA Squad". Chillicothe Gazette. February 23, 1965. p. 10. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "BC Braves Sign Lonnie Lynn Of Wilberforce". Battle Creek Enquirer. November 3, 1966. p. 23. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Lynn Drafted By St. Louis". Gazette News-Current. May 14, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Local Pro Cagers Draft 19 Players". Battle Creek Enquirer. May 26, 1966. p. 29. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ White, Don (June 12, 1966). "Guerin Eyes Tri-State's Merriweather, Kron". Evansville Courier and Press. p. 46. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Hawks' Hudson in Army". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 26, 1967. p. 5. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Basketball Miners Home With Colonials Tonight". Scrantonian Tribune. December 3, 1967. p. 63. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Flyers' Cry: We Want Rudy". Press and Sun-Bulletin. February 5, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b Dowd, Bill (February 9, 1968). "Satterwhite's On Flyers' Side". Press and Sun-Bulletin. p. 16. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Famers Make Deal With Miners". The Berkshire Eagle. November 21, 1968. p. 25. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Zabitka, Matt (December 30, 1968). "Bellamy 62 sets Bomber record". The Morning News. p. 22. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Former Flyer Lynn 'Rockets' to Denver". Press and Sun-Bulletin. September 18, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Belmont to Get First Test as Rocket Mentor". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. December 11, 1969. p. 29. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Signs Contract". Republican and Herald. January 23, 1970. p. 12. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Condors Sign Four Vets". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 25, 1970. p. 9. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Condors Put Two On Waivers". Florence Morning News. August 22, 1970. p. 7. Retrieved November 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b "Basketball Player Jailed Here for Abducting Wife". The Capital Times. June 25, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Siegel, Robert (June 17, 2005). "'Pops' Contributes to Rapper Common's Cause". NPR. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  29. ^ "Rapper Common's father, Lonnie Lynn, dies at 71". New York Daily News. September 16, 2014.
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