BIG BAD BALLER
It’s hard to miss Jim McIlvaine and his Grabber Blue 1969 Mercury Cyclone GT. At 7 feet 1 inch, the 46-year-old former NBA center towers over most, and his Merc, dubbed “Confucius,” makes an equally powerful appearance. McIlvaine played pro ball from 1994 to 2001; in fact his first field goal was a dunk against Shaq. Following his career, McIlvaine moved into the automotive field, signing on as a part-time freelance writer penning stories for a host of automotive titles, and then as a social media specialist for Optima Batteries.
“When I was in the NBA, I had a lot of down time on the road, and that gave me the chance to think about what car I’d like to own. I wanted to get a modern performance car, one I could modify and take to the next level. I couldn’t fit in a Corvette, so I looked at Mustangs, including Roush’s Stage 3, but ultimately I ordered a
