John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Alvin Attles, Jr., Golden State Warriors player and coach and Stanford Law School lecturer, died on Aug. 20 at 87.
William B. Gould IV, a labor and sports law expert and Charles A. Beardsley Professor of Law Emeritus at Stanford Law School, expressed his grief over the passing of Attles. "Along with many Stanford Law School students who were part of the first Sports Law course offered here, I grieve the death of my co-teacher and Golden State Warriors great Alvin Attles, Jr."
Gould recounted their enduring friendship that began in the mid-1980s in Oakland. He noted how he persuaded Attles to serve as a lecturer at Stanford Law School for two decades, benefiting many students with his experience and wisdom.
The Stanford Sports Law seminar started in the '80s after Gould helped his colleague Bob Berry with a similar curriculum at Boston College. The seminar featured Gould covering labor law aspects, Leonard Koppett providing the journalist perspective, and Attles sharing insights from his experiences as a player and coach.
Gould described how they discussed various topics such as sports rules and draft systems while fostering camaraderie among themselves and their students. He highlighted Attles' deep voice and distinctive presence.
Attles graduated from North Carolina A&T before joining the Philadelphia Warriors. He often shared stories about his early career negotiations with Philadelphia owner Eddie Gottlieb. Despite being known for his defensive skills, he would reveal that he was the second-highest scorer (17 points) when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in Hershey, PA.
"Al was always a true gentleman and a distinguished ambassador for organized sports," Gould remarked.
Stanford Law School mourns Attles' death alongside its alumni community. Condolences have been extended to his family by those who knew him both personally and professionally.
Gould has been an influential figure in labor relations for over fifty years, serving as Chairman of both the National Labor Relations Board (1994-98) and California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (2014-17). His contributions include resolving significant labor disputes in Major League Baseball during the 1990s.
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