Earl Monroes twisting, spinning, faking, and dribbling exploits made him a cult hero and earned him the nickname "The Pearl." Under Hall of Fame coach Clarence Gaines, Monroe became a collegiate star of considerable stature at Winston-Salem State winning the College Division national championship in 1967. Monroe then dazzled professionally with the Baltimore Bullets where he and fellow Hall of Famer Wes Unseld created a devastating fast break not seen before in the NBA. In 1971, Monroe joined the New York Knicks where he and Walt Frazier formed an All Star celebrity backcourt that ultimately landed the Knicks the 1973 NBA championship.