Walt "Clyde" Frazier was one of the first to become a cultural icon off the court. Players like Pete Maravich and Calvin Murphy continued that trend, but their popularity stemmed from their play on the court.

With the NCAA an ever-growing, billion-dollar industry, the debate continues about whether the players deserve to be compensated financially for their roles in helping to bring in millions to their schools.

The ball, the common denominator, the object of a shared feeling is held, passed to and from, caressed, embraced, twirled, hugged, whispered to, and even kissed as the final act of an expression of shared emotion.