Basketball On The Internet.

IT wasn’t “Fe Fi Fo Fum” that the giant who strode over the NBA in 1982-83 said, but “Fo Fo Fo”.

Having been asked how he thought his Philadelphia 76ers would go in the playoffs, Moses Malone said: “Fo, Fo, Fo” … meaning his Sixers would win the three best-of-seven series necessary to claim the championship 4-0, 4-0, 4-0.

Why not?

Those 76ers had gone 65-17 in the regular season and were starting Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney at guard, Julius “Dr J” Erving at small forward, Marc Iavaroni and Malone up front.

Power forward Bobby Jones and guard Clint Richardson were my two most memorable inserts off the 76ers’ bench as the troops were marshalled by coach Billy Cunningham.

Malone was close to right.

Philly went 4-0 over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semis, 4-1 over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Final, before sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 for the NBA championship.

FO, FI, FO: NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien hands the Championship Trophy to Dr J and Moses.

Watching Dr J at mid-court start grinning and Cheeks flying all the way for a closing dunk in Game 4 at the Forum in Los Angeles is as vivid today as it was 32 years ago.

Damn. It’s not only Dr J that flies.

For years frustrated by the Boston Celtics or Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s dominance of the paint, the 76ers finally decided they had to find a man to match the master of the skyhook.

Caldwell Jones and Darryl Dawkins, two of Philadelphia’s most notable pivots of the era, could not handle Kareem so they were gone when Malone was brought in from Houston Rockets.

Jones passed away a year ago and Dawkins earlier this year. This week, Malone joined them, leaving us at the age of 60, another giant of the game passing on into legendary status.

(The one thing three of Philly’s finest centres wouldn’t be doing, is playing cards with arguably the greatest, Wilt Chamberlain, somewhere in the hereafter.)

Malone’s name often is overlooked in discussions about the great centres. He may have lacked the flash and flair but he was tradesmanlike and would outwork opponents. His record speaks for itself.  

“I had major moments with him that really helped define my career with our championship run in 1983,” Erving said.

“But beyond that, we’ve been friends for a long time.

“When he came into basketball at age 19, I welcomed him to the ABA and told him: ‘You’re getting into the deep water now. This isn’t high school, are you ready to swim?’ He said: ‘I’ll do alright.’

“He did more than alright — 21 seasons and not only a great champion but a great co-leader.

“He always said: ‘This is Doc’s show in Philly, but maybe with me it will be a better show’.”

It certainly was.

By the time Moses made it to Australia on an “All Stars” tour playing against the Boomers, he was long past his best. But the glimpses were still there.

MOSES PARTS THE D: Malone shoots it over the Boomers at the Clipsal Powerhouse.

It was a treat to see him live in Adelaide, as it would have been for other basketball junkies around the country.

“Fo, fo, fo” may be no mo, but his passing serves to remind of our own mortality and of another of the outstanding players who brought us so much joy and entertainment.

May he rest in peace.