A high this month of 10 NCAA Division I All-Americans were born on December 11th including Seattle twins Eddie and Johnny O'Brien (also infielders for Pittsburgh Pirates). Kentucky contributed the most A-As born in December with five. Three All-Americans from different Big Ten Conference members plus pair of former Tulsa coaches (Nolan Richardson Jr. and Bill Self) were born on the 27th this month. Illinois All-Americans Dwight Eddleman and Jack Smiley were born 100 years ago this month. Following are A-As and Hall of Fame coaches born in December:

DECEMBER

1: All-American Rakeem Christmas (born in 1991/Syracuse).
2: All-Americans Ralph Beard (1927/Kentucky), Jason Collins (1978/Stanford), Alan Henderson (1972/Indiana) and De'Andre Hunter (1997/Virginia).
3: All-Americans Mike Bantom (1951/St. Joseph's) and Jim Brewer (1951/Minnesota) plus Hall of Fame coach Fred Taylor (1924/Ohio State).
4: All-Americans Brian Cook (1980/Illinois), Bernard King (1956/Tennessee), Jerome Lane (1966/Pittsburgh), Dick Ricketts (1933/Duquesne), Ronnie Shavlik (1933/North Carolina State), Doug Smart (1936/Washington) and Corliss Williamson (1973/Arkansas).
5: All-Americans Alfred "Butch" Lee (1956/Marquette) and Charlie Yelverton (1948/Fordham) plus Hall of Fame coach Bruce Drake (1905/Oklahoma).
6: All-American Otto Graham (1921/Northwestern).
7: All-Americans Larry Bird (1956/Indiana State), Aaron Gray (1984/Pittsburgh), Gary Phillips (1939/Houston) and Al Thornton (1983/Florida State).
8: All-Americans Ken Durrett (1948/La Salle), Bill Green (1940/Colorado State) and Johnny Green (1933/Michigan State).
9: All-Americans Otis Birdsong (1955/Houston), Cliff Hagan (1931/Kentucky) and Gerald Henderson (1987/Duke).
10: All-Americans Mark Aguirre (1959/DePaul), Lou Pucillo (1936/North Carolina State), Bennie Purcell (1929/Murray State) and Ray Ragelis (1928/Northwestern).
11: All-Americans Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1976/California), Mark Alarie (1963/Duke), Ernie Beck (1931/Penn), Malcolm Brogdon (1992/Virginia), Roy Hibbert (1986/Georgetown), Eddie O'Brien (1930/Seattle), Johnny O'Brien (1930/Seattle), Billy Schaeffer (1951/St. John's), Bob Spessard (1915/Washington & Lee VA) and Jim Tucker (1932/Duquesne).
12: All-Americans Bill Chmielewski (1941/Dayton), Byron Larkin (1965/Xavier), Bob Pettit (1932/Louisiana State) and Murray Wier (1926/Iowa).
13: All-Americans Fred "Buzz" Borries (1911/Navy), Phil Hubbard (1956/Michigan), Larry Kenon (1952/Memphis State) and Herb Wilkinson (1923/Iowa).
14: All-Americans William Bedford (1963/Memphis State) and John Brown (1951/Missouri).
15: All-Americans Thad Jaracz (1946/Kentucky), Jahlil Okafor (1995/Duke) and Charlie Scott (1948/North Carolina) plus Hall of Fame coach Phil Woolpert (1915/San Francisco).
16: All-Americans Brandin Knight (1981/Pittsburgh), Jeff Ruland (1958/Iona), Ben Swain (1933/Texas Southern), Jan van Breda Kolff (1951/Vanderbilt) and Sherman White (1928/Long Island).
17: All-Americans Jeff Grayer (1965/Iowa State), Bob Hassmiller (1916/Fordham), Chavano "Buddy" Hield (1992/Oklahoma), Kris Joseph (1988/Syracuse) and Albert King (1959/Maryland) plus Hall of Fame coach Sam Barry (1892/Iowa and Southern California).
18: All-Americans Vern Huffman (1914/Indiana), Bobby Jones (1951/North Carolina) and Gene Shue (1931/Maryland) plus Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer (1913/DePaul).
19: All-Americans Jay Arnette (1938/Texas), Tom Gugliotta (1969/North Carolina State) and Jimmy McNatt (1918/Oklahoma).
20: All-Americans Bill Hosket (1946/Ohio State), Dave Stallworth (1941/Wichita) and Don Sunderlage (1929/Illinois) plus Hall of Fame coaches Edgar "Eddie" Hickey (1902/Creighton, St. Louis and Marquette) and William "Bo" Ryan (1947/Milwaukee and Wisconsin).
21: All-Americans Walt "Corky" Devlin (1931/George Washington), Ervin Johnson (1967/New Orleans) and Cameron Krutwig (1998/Loyola of Chicago).
22: All-Americans Tom Hawkins (1936/Notre Dame), Nick Johnson (1992/Arizona), Dave Robisch (1949/Kansas), Jack Smiley (1922/Illinois), George Wahlquist (1913/Nebraska) and Bob Wiesenhahn (1938/Cincinnati).
23: All-Americans Ben Hansbrough (1987/Notre Dame), Bob Kurland (1924/Oklahoma A&M), David "Big Daddy" Lattin (1943/Texas Western) and Dan Swartz (1931/Morehead State).
24: All-Americans Dennis "Mo" Layton (1948/Southern California) and Paul Pressey (1958/Tulsa) plus Hall of Fame coach Jerold "Jay" Wright (1961/Hofstra and Villanova).
25: All-Americans Eric Gordon (1988/Indiana), Tim James (1976/Miami FL), Ollie Johnson (1942/San Francisco) and Wil Robinson (1949/West Virginia) plus Hall of Fame coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell (1931/Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State).
26: All-Americans Vince Hanson (1923/Washington State) and Eddie Owens (1953/UNLV).
27: All-Americans Kent Benson (1954/Indiana), Dwight Eddleman (1922/Illinois), Luka Garza (1998/Iowa) and Bill Henry (1924/Rice) plus Hall of Fame coaches Nolan Richardson Jr. (1941/Tulsa and Arkansas) and Bill Self (1962/Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas).
28: All-Americans Clyde Bradshaw (1959/DePaul), Keith Lee (1962/Memphis State) and Melvin Turpin (1960/Kentucky).
29: All-American Carlos "Bud" Ogden Jr. (1946/Santa Clara).
30: All-Americans Jesse Arnelle (1933/Penn State), Bill Logan (1934/Iowa), Kenyon Martin Sr. (1977/Cincinnati) and Jack Tingle (1924/Kentucky).
31: All-Americans Audley Brindley (1923/Dartmouth), Francisco Garcia (1981/Louisville), Cleo Littleton (1932/Wichita) and Chuckie Williams (1953/Kansas State). Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches

NCAA basketball All-Americans Bosey Berger (Maryland), Don Grate (Ohio State), Frank Howard (Ohio State), Johnny O'Brien (Seattle), Ryan Minor (Oklahoma) and Billy Werber (Duke) were involved in MLB transactions in December. They are among the following former college hoopers who were part of MLB off-season transactions during this month:

DECEMBER

1: RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman with Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by Chicago White Sox in 1936. . . . LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as senior All-American in 1956-57) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to San Francisco Giants in 1965. . . . OF-INF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s) traded by the Washington Senators to Cleveland Indians in 1964. . . . C Ed Madjeski (Seton Hall hoops letterman from 1928-29 through 1930-31) purchased from the New York Giants by Louisville (American Association) in 1937. . . . SS Gene Michael (Kent State's scoring leader with 14 ppg in 1957-58) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966. . . . RHP Rinty Monahan (scored 18 points for Niagara in 1947-48) selected from the New York Giants by Philadelphia Athletics in 1952 Rule 5 draft. . . . INF Johnny O'Brien (two-time All-American with Seattle was first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in single season by scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52) selected from the St. Louis Cardinals by Philadelphia Phillies and 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Kansas City Athletics in 1958 Rule 5 draft. . . . UTL Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball selection in 1962 for American River Community College CA) purchased from the Baltimore Orioles by New York Yankees in 1974. . . . C Les Peden (Texas A&M hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) selected from the Chicago Cubs by Washington Senators and RHP Jim Willis (Northwestern State hoops letterman in 1944-45 and from 1947-48 through 1949-50) selected from Shreveport (Texas) by the Chicago Cubs in 1952 Rule 5 draft.
2: OF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by St. Louis Browns in 1936. . . . OF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) selected from the Philadelphia Phillies by New York Yankees and INF-OF Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) selected from the Oakland Athletics by Atlanta Braves in 1968 Rule 5 draft. . . . C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) purchased from San Diego (PCL) by the Boston Red Sox in 1936. . . . C Bob Garbark (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Allegheny PA in 1932) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by Detroit Tigers in 1941. . . . INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by Cincinnati Reds in 1936. . . . C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Detroit Tigers in 1971. . . . RHP Rich Hand (averaged 6.2 ppg for Puget Sound WA in 1967-68) traded with three additional players by the Cleveland Indians to Texas Rangers for LHP Denny Riddleberger (averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg for Old Dominion in 1965-66) and three additional players in 1973. . . . RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper with Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the Chicago Cubs to San Francisco Giants in 1965. . . . UTL Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball selection in 1962 for American River Community College CA) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Minnesota Twins in 1967. . . . LHP-1B Ossie Orwoll (Luther IA hooper in first half of 1920s) traded by Milwaukee (American Association) to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1927. . . . OF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) purchased from the St. Louis Browns by Buffalo (International) in 1936. . . . C Jim Robertson (scored two points in one basketball game for Bradley in 1948-49) purchased from the Kansas City Athletics by Seattle (PCL) in 1955. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to California Angels in 1965. . . . UTL Roe Skidmore (scored 41 points in single game for Millikin IL in 1965-66) selected from the San Francisco Giants by Chicago Cubs in 1968 minor league draft. . . . RHP Dave Stenhouse (three-time All-Yankee Conference selection for Rhode Island from 1952-53 through 1954-55) selected from the Chicago Cubs by Cincinnati Redlegs in 1958 minor league draft. . . . UTL Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) selected from the Chicago White Sox by Cincinnati Reds in 1968 Rule 5 draft. . . . INF Jay Ward (attended McKendree IL for one semester as freshman in 1956-57) selected from the New York Yankees by Kansas City Athletics in 1958 minor league draft.
3: OF Frank "Tex" Carswell (three-time All-SWC first-team selection for Rice from 1938-39 through 1940-41) traded by the Detroit Tigers to St. Louis Cardinals in 1954. . . . CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Baltimore Orioles in 1957. . . . OF Grant Dunlap (Pacific hoops letterman in 1942-43 and 1946-47) purchased from Shreveport (Texas) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952. . . . OF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) shipped with a couple of additional players by Philadelphia Athletics to Portland (PCL) to complete trade made three months earlier in 1929. . . . RHP Dave Giusti (made 6-of-10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) traded by the San Diego Padres to St. Louis Cardinals in 1968. . . . OF-INF Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) traded by the Cleveland Indians to San Francisco Giants in 1960. . . . OF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) traded by the Chicago Cubs to New York Giants in 1941. . . . CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) traded by the New York Yankees to Philadelphia Phillies in 2004. . . . C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) selected from the New York Yankees by Chicago Cubs and LHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) selected from the Philadelphia Phillies by Boston Red Sox in 1956 Rule 5 draft. . . . UTL Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) traded by the Houston Astros to Detroit Tigers in 1973. . . . C El Tappe (All-Pioneer Conference first-team selection in late 1940s with Quincy College IL) selected from the New York Yankees by Chicago Cubs in 1951 minor league draft.
4: RHP Mark Acre (played in 1990 NCAA Tournament with New Mexico State) purchased from the Oakland Athletics by Yakult Swallows (Japan Central) in 1997. . . . RHP Walker Cress (Louisiana State hoops letterman from 1936-37 through 1938-39) selected from the Cincinnati Reds by Chicago White Sox in 1950 minor league draft. . . . OF Jim Gleeson (NAIA Hall of Famer was all-league hoops pick for Rockhurst MO in early 1930s) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Cincinnati Reds in 1940. . . . RHP Don Grate (NCAA consensus second-team All-American for Ohio State's Final Four teams in 1944 and 1945) selected from the Boston Braves by Dallas (Texas) in 1950 minor league draft. . . . OF-1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Washington Senators in 1964. . . . OF-1B Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. . . . RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the San Diego Padres to Detroit Tigers in 1969. . . . OF Carl Reynolds (juco recruit was basketball team MVP in mid-1920s for early SWC member Southwestern TX) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Washington Senators in 1931. . . . RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL scoring leader as senior MVP with 14.9 ppg in 1984-85) selected from the Pittsburgh Pirates by Montreal Expos in 1989 Rule 5 draft. . . . OF Ken Singleton (member of Hofstra's freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) traded by the Montreal Expos to Baltimore Orioles in 1974.
5: 1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) traded by Toronto (International) to the Detroit Tigers in 1928. . . . 2B Marv Breeding (Samford hooper in mid-1950s) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to Washington Senators in 1962. . . . LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) traded by the New York Yankees to Oakland Athletics in 1969. . . . OF Grant Dunlap (Pacific hoops letterman in 1942-43 and 1946-47) selected from the Cleveland Indians by St. Louis Browns in 1949 minor league draft. . . . RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) traded by the Chicago White Sox to California Angels in 1977. . . . RHP Don Kaiser (one semester on scholarship at East Central OK) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Milwaukee Braves in 1957. . . . C Tom Lundstedt (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1968-69 as teammate of Rudy Tomjanovich under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Minnesota Twins in 1974. . . . 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) shipped as player to be designated by the Cleveland Indians to New York Yankees in 1946 to complete trade made two months earlier. . . . RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Chicago White Sox in 1983. . . . OF Leon Roberts (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Houston Astros to Seattle Mariners in 1977. . . . RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) traded by the New York Yankees to Chicago White Sox in 1974.
6: 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) shipped as player to be designated by the Cleveland Indians to Los Angeles Angels in 1963 to complete trade made earlier in the month. . . . OF Lyle Bigbee (hoops letterman with his brother for Oregon in 1915) traded by Seattle (PCL) to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919. . . . 3B Buddy Blair (Louisiana State hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) traded by the New York Yankees to Philadelphia Athletics in 1941. . . . 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) shipped as player to be designated by the Philadelphia Phillies to California Angels in 1973 to complete trade made four months earlier. . . . 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for season with 21.7 in 1942-43) traded with a couple of other players by the Detroit Tigers to Chicago White Sox for 1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for Clarkson NY in 1942-43) and couple of additional players in 1954. . . . INF Howard Freigau (played hoops for Ohio Wesleyan) purchased from the Boston Braves by Toledo (American Association) in 1928. . . . LHP Bill Henry (letterman for Houston's NAIA Tournament team in 1946-47 featuring co-captain and future Cougars coach Guy Lewis) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Cincinnati Reds in 1959. . . . OF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) traded by the New York Giants to Chicago Cubs in 1938. . . . OF Leon Roberts (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Detroit Tigers to Houston Astros in 1975. . . . 1B Moose Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by Washington Senators in 1963. . . . OF-DH Champ Summers (led SIU-Edwardsville in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) traded by the San Francisco Giants to San Diego Padres in 1983. . . . 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) traded by the Washington Senators to Detroit Tigers in 1958.
7: 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) traded by the Detroit Tigers to Milwaukee Braves in 1960. . . . RHP Ray Burris (two-sport standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) traded by the Montreal Expos to Oakland Athletics in 1983. The next year, he was traded by the Athletics to Milwaukee Brewers in 1984. . . . OF Tony Johnson (All-VSAC selection in 1976-77 and 1979-80 for LeMoyne-Owen TN) selected from the Montreal Expos by Toronto Blue Jays in 1981 Rule 5 draft. . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) traded by the New York Yankees to New York Mets in 2001. . . . LHP Ernie Koob (Western Michigan hoops letterman in 1914) traded by the St. Louis Browns to Louisville (American Association) in 1920. . . . INF Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Montreal Expos in 1984. . . . RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper with Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the New York Yankees to Kansas City Royals in 1973 for OF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg as Tampa freshman in 1961-62) and another player. . . . RHP Scott Medvin (briefly played JV hoops for Baldwin-Wallace OH in early 1980s) selected from the Pittsburgh Pirates by Houston Astros in 1987 Rule 5 draft. . . . RHP Mike Smithson (averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg for Tennessee in 1974-75 and 1975-76 under coach Ray Mears) traded by the Texas Rangers to Minnesota Twins in 1983.
8: OF Jim Gleeson (NAIA Hall of Famer was all-league hoops pick for Rockhurst MO in early 1930s) purchased from the Cleveland Indians by New York Yankees in 1936. . . . 3B-1B Wayne Gross (led Cal Poly Pomona in assists in 1974-75) traded by the Oakland Athletics to Baltimore Orioles for RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion). . . . OF Rusty Kuntz (played J.C. hoops for Cuesta CA) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Detroit Tigers in 1983. . . . RHP Ben McDonald (started six times as freshman forward for Louisiana State in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to Cleveland Indians in 1997. . . . LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. . . . RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Boston Red Sox in 1987.
9: OF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by Philadelphia Phillies in 1955. . . . INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Chicago White Sox in 1959. . . . LHP Don Gross (Michigan State freshman hooper in 1949-50) traded by the Cincinnati Redlegs to Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957. . . . RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Kansas City Athletics in 1959. . . . RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) shipped as player to be designated by the Chicago White to Cincinnati Reds in 1952 to complete trade made three months earlier. . . . 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) traded by Seattle (PCL) to the Boston Braves in 1931. . . . OF Terrell Lowery (two-time All-WCC first-team selection and league-leading scorer for Loyola Marymount in 1990-91 and 1991-92) selected from the New York Mets by Chicago Cubs in 1996 Rule 5 draft. . . . RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) traded by the New York Giants to St. Louis Cardinals in 1935. . . . RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65 traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Philadelphia Phillies in 1975. . . . RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for 31-5 Rio Grande OH team participating in 1985 NAIA Tournament) traded by the Kansas City Royals to Montreal Expos in 1992. . . . UTL Roe Skidmore (scored 41 points in single game for Millikin IL in 1965-66) traded by the Houston Astros to Boston Red Sox in 1974. . . . 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Philadelphia Athletics in 1936. . . . 1B John Young (played sparingly for Chapman CA in late 1960s) traded by the Detroit Tigers to St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.
10: OF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by New York Giants in 1940. The next year, he was purchased from the Giants by Reds on same date. . . . LHP Thornton Lee (played center for Cal Poly in 1925-26) traded as part of a three-team swap by the Cleveland Indians to Chicago White Sox in 1936. . . . CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) traded by the Houston Astros to Cleveland Indians in 1991. . . . 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Cleveland Indians in 1969. . . . C-OF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 excelled in multiple sports for Lenoir-Rhyne NC) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941. . . . 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by New York Giants in 1941.
11: 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola New Orleans in late 1920s and early 1930s) traded by the Washington Senators to New York Giants in 1938. . . . 1B Doe Boyland (averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Wisconsin-Oshkosh in half a season in 1974-75) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to San Francisco Giants in 1981. . . . RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) traded with another player by the Kansas City Royals to San Francisco Giants for OF Jerry Martin (Furman's second-leading scorer in 1969-70 and third-leading scorer in 1970-71) in 1981. . . . RHP Scott Medvin (briefly played JV hoops for Baldwin-Wallace OH in early 1980s) shipped as player to be designated by the Detroit Tigers to San Francisco Giants in 1985 to complete trade made two months earlier. . . . INF Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring standard with 49 points in 1918-19) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to Salt Lake City (PCL) in 1923. . . . OF-1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Philadelphia Phillies in 1985. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) traded by the New York Yankees to Kansas City Athletics in 1959.
12: RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman with Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Boston Braves in 1935. . . . C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to Detroit Tigers in 1933. . . . C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland Indians in 1940. . . . RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to Chicago White Sox in 1933. . . . LHP Vic Johnson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire hoops letterman in 1942-43) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland Indians in 1945. . . . OF Jerry Martin (Furman's second-leading scorer in 1969-70 and third-leading scorer in 1970-71) traded by the Chicago Cubs with two additional players to San Francisco Giants for LHP Phil Nastu (averaged 13.6 ppg and 4.2 rpg as senior for Bridgeport CT 1976 DII Elite Eight team compiling 24-5 record) and another player in 1980. . . . OF Red Murray (Lock Haven PA hooper in early 1900s) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to New York Giants in 1908. . . . OF Leon Roberts (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Seattle Mariners to Texas Rangers in 1980. . . . OF-1B Mike Stenhouse (averaged 4.1 ppg for Harvard in 1977-78) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Boston Red Sox in 1985.
13: 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Boston Bees in 1938. . . . RHP Marty McLeary (Mount Vernon Nazarene OH academic redshirt) selected from the Boston Red Sox by Montreal Expos in 1999 Rule 5 draft. . . . LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Boston Red Sox in 1969. . . . INF-OF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to New York Giants in 1956. Deal voided when Robinson refused to report to his new team. . . . LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Baltimore Orioles in 1954. . . . C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by Cleveland Indians in 1950.
14: UTL Leo Burke (averaged 9.2 ppg for Virginia Tech in 1952-53 and 1953-54) selected from the Baltimore Orioles by Washington Senators as first pick in 1960 premium expansion draft (minor league). . . . OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) selected from the New York Yankees by Kansas City Athletics as 38th pick in 1960 expansion draft. . . . RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman team) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Cincinnati Reds in 1964. . . . INF Al Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) traded by the Boston Braves to New York Giants in 1949. . . . LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection was Washington State's leading rebounder each season from 1992-93 through 1995-96) traded as part of a three-team swap by the Toronto Blue Jays to Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. . . . OF-INF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s) selected from the Baltimore Orioles by Washington Senators as 46th pick in 1960 expansion draft. . . . RHP Ken Hunt (member of BYU's freshman basketball team in 1957-58) selected from the New York Yankees by Los Angeles Angels as 40th pick in 1960 expansion draft. . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) traded by the New York Mets to Oakland Athletics in 2001. . . . OF Carl Reynolds (juco recruit was basketball team MVP in mid-1920s for former SWC member Southwestern TX) traded by the Washington Senators to St. Louis Browns in 1932. In 1933, he was traded by the Browns to Boston Red Sox. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) traded by the California Angels to San Francisco Giants in 1966. . . . RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Washington Senators in 1960 A.L. expansion draft. . . . SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Los Angeles Angels as 27th pick in 1960 expansion draft and promptly traded to the Washington Senators. . . . 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Los Angeles Angels as 25th pick in 1960 expansion draft.
15: RHP Elden Auker (All-[Big Six Conference](conferences/big-eight-conference first five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) traded by the Detroit Tigers to Boston Red Sox in 1938. . . . RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman with Sam Houston State during first half of 1920s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932. . . . RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Boston Red Sox in 1960. . . . INF Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Cincinnati Reds in 1960. . . . RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to Philadelphia Phillies in 1966. . . . 1B Gary Holle (Siena's scoring and rebounding leader in 1974-75 and 1975-76) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to Texas Rangers in 1978. . . . INF Jack Kubiszyn (All-SEC first-team guard as senior averaged 18.3 ppg for Alabama from 1955-56 through 1957-58) traded by the Cleveland Indians to St. Louis Cardinals in 1962. . . . SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) traded by the St. Louis Browns to Washington Senators in 1917. . . . INF Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Washington Senators in 1928. . . . OF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by St. Louis Browns in 1933. . . . OF Earl Robinson (three-time All-PCC second-team selection for California from 1955-56 through 1957-58 under coach Pete Newell) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by Baltimore Orioles for $60,000 in 1960. . . . OF Ted Savage (led Lincoln MO in scoring average in 1955-56) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. . . . RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) and another player shipped by the Boston Red Sox as players to be designated to Cincinnati Reds in 1966 to complete a trade made four months earlier. . . . RHP Dave Stenhouse (three-time All-Yankee Conference selection for Rhode Island from 1952-53 through 1954-55) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Washington Senators in 1961. . . . 2B Johnny Temple (briefly played hoops for Catawba NC in 1945 before serving in U.S. Navy) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Cleveland Indians in 1959. . . . OF Sammy Vick (pre-WWI three-sport athlete for Millsaps MS) traded by the New York Yankees to Boston Red Sox in 1920. . . . RHP Billy Wynne (one of prime hoopers in mid-1960s for Pfeiffer NC) traded by the New York Mets to Chicago White Sox in 1967.
16: 1B Tom Hamilton (member of Texas' 1947 Final Four team was SWC's leading scorer in league competition in 1949-50) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to New York Yankees in 1953 for C Jim Robertson (scored two points in one basketball game for Bradley in 1948-49) in an 11-player swap. . . . 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) shipped as player to be designated by the Boston Braves to New York Yankees in 1941 to complete trade made previous week.
17: RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to St. Louis Cardinals in 1932. . . . RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year hoops letterman for Saginaw Valley State MI in late 1970s) traded by the New York Mets to San Diego Padres in 1992. . . . OF Carl Reynolds (juco recruit was basketball team MVP in mid-1920s for early SWC member Southwestern TX) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Washington Senators in 1935.
19: RHP Floyd Newkirk (Hall of Fame selection at Illinois College) shipped in late 1934 with several additional players and cash by the New York Yankees to San Francisco (PCL) for OF Joe Dimaggio to complete trade made the previous month. . . . RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college player in mid-1970s for Butler County PA) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Montreal Expos in 1985.
20: OF-1B Larry Biittner (Buena Vista IA runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1966-67) traded by the Texas Rangers to Montreal Expos in 1973. . . . INF Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) traded by the New York Giants with another player to St. Louis Cardinals for INF Rogers Hornsby in 1926. . . . INF Irv Jeffries (team-high 11.5 ppg for Kentucky in 1927-28) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Philadelphia Phillies in 1933. . . . OF Moose McCormick (four-sport athlete for Bucknell in early 1900s) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Philadelphia Phillies in 1904. . . . RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Montreal Expos in 2002.
21: INF Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American in 1931-32) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Boston Red Sox in 1938. . . . RHP Don Carlsen (Denver hoops letterman in 1943) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by Hollywood (PCL) in 1950.
22: 3B Ryan Minor (two-time All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection for Oklahoma was league player of year as junior in 1994-95 when averaging 23.6 ppg and 8.4 rpg) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to Montreal Expos in 2000. . . . 1B Desi Wilson (Fairleigh Dickinson's all-time leading scorer was Northeast Conference player of year in 1989-90) traded by the Texas Rangers to San Francisco Giants in 1994.
23: OF Rip Repulski (part-time starter for St. Cloud State MN) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958.
24: SS Leon Brinkopf (Southeast Missouri State hoops letterman in 1944-45) traded by Dallas (Texas League) to the Chicago Cubs in 1948.
26: INF Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American in 1931-32) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939. . . . OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Philadelphia Phillies in 1917.
28: INF Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring standard with 49 points in 1918-19) shipped as player to be designated by the Chicago Cubs to Louisville (American Association) in 1925 to complete trade made earlier in the month.
31: RHP Charlie Robertson (Austin College TX hooper pre-WWI) awarded off waivers from the Chicago White Sox to St. Louis Browns in 1925.

MLB OFF-SEASON WHEELING AND DEALING PREVIOUS MONTH
MLB November Transactions Involving Former College Hoopers

Weekly, we get a weak effort from #MessMedia super-spreaders of spit telling the entire story as public respect for their vocation plummets quicker than Plagiarist Bile-dumb's approval ratings. During messy presidential campaign in 2016, Wikileaks hacking confirmed what many believed about collusion between left-leaning politicians, a predictably pathetic press and big tech lawyer such as Jim Baker. If the lame-stream media featuring Chris "Fredo" Cuomo as Exhibit A did its job, there wouldn't be any need for paying attention to undisputed facts distributed by Wikileaks, let alone voting fraud. At any rate, the best pre-Christmas present in decades for conservatives was watching unhinged leftists whine and vomit in fetal position after biased bozos got Trumped for years. Seems as if majority of press puke should be in the woods tracking down #ShrillaryRotten for a selfie. They certainly didn't attend her "I'm So Vain" tour. Regrettably, the progressive mindset depicted by inauguration-nauseated Rockette(s), White House Christmas-party boycotting #CNNSucks and in lopsided editorial endorsements for POTUS also infects the toy department (sports).

According to Wikipedia, V was an American science fiction TV series running two seasons on ABC, chronicling the arrival on Earth of a technologically advanced alien species ostensibly coming in peace, but actually boasting sinister motives. This could be Webster's definition of the lame-stream media seeking therapy for post-election anxiety. ABC is in the midst of another annual V rerun on vaunted ESPN after losing in excess of 10 million subscribers over four years. The intent isn't vile (raising in excess of $140 million for cancer research) but, if an observer values the whole truth, there is vast soap-boxing fiction involved amid the "V" all day every day as the vindicated big man on ESPN's Jesus-free campus seemingly a perfect fit for "Z" as in zero-integrity Jeff Zucker to leave fake-news #CNNSucks and become chief executive for another press-puke venue. Would Zucker bring back Lov Gov bro for Don Lemon to practice his journalistic jackal moves like he did anal analyst Jeffrey Toobin and pet snake of Zoom renown? Paying any attention to these clowns and #Dimorat Administration/Congressional dumpster fire is akin to having Jeffrey Dahmer discuss culinary aspects of his policies more intelligently than Senator-elect Fetterman.

Veering off-course with velocity promoting gabby "V" - not baby "J" - as the reason for the season, the Nationwide Leader's culture violates the time-honored vow of telling the entire story in a veracious way. It's vexing as ESPN's parade of glorification pitchmen, including staffers and it-takes-a-village coaches, incessantly laud former commentator Jim Valvano by chapter and verse. If "V" sycophants could fly like Clinton with Epstein, the embellishing mess media highlighted by ESPN and most of the coaching community would be jets. A "Jimmy V Week" culminates with an early-season classic to enhance cancer research fundraising for a foundation named after an individual who joins John Calipari (UMass/Memphis) and Jerry Tarkanian (Long Beach State/UNLV) as the only repeat-offender coaches shackled with having multiple schools under their watch forced to vacate NCAA playoff participation. Too bad 100% of the donated plaudits don't go straight through a truth detector such as the "biased" New York Times, which detailed how ESPN received more than $250 million in state tax breaks and credits thus far this century.

Anyone with a visible pulse supports the vision of finding a cure for the vulnerable afflicted by cancer, but a classic lack-of-proper-perspective stemming from the cult-of-personality dynamic is ESPN's vivid hero worship of the vibrant Valvano. He wasn't a bloodthirsty vampire villain but there are a variety of vigorous Smollett-ruse reasons for not carrying ESPN's water supporting his canonization in the wake of vanquishing Houston to vault to the 1983 NCAA playoff title. How was his deceit that much different from another cancer celebrity such as Lance Armstrong? After Valvano ran afoul of NCAA investigators at Iona, a private attorney retained by North Carolina State volunteered he was convinced that the institution could successfully sue him for failing to ensure the academic progress of his NCSU players. While Duke overdoses on recruiting one-and-done exemptions with board scores nowhere close to average Cameron Crazy student, the biggest scholastic question in the ACC is which ethically-impaired school - NCSU vs. UNC - wins the battle for most egregious academic scandal over the last four decades.

At the very least, virile Valvano should have verified that standout guard Sidney Lowe took a remedial tax preparation course to help him steer clear of vice squad by vandalizing the state or Child Rearing 101; especially if Lowe, twice voted All-ACC and a first-teamer with teammate Thurl Bailey in 1983, was going to become one of his head coaching successors with the Wolfpack. Additional suspect characters aligning with Valvano at NCSU included Kenny Drummond, David Lee, Russell Pierre, Dinky Proctor, Charles Shackleford, Craig Tyson and Chris Washburn (of 470 SAT fame in a league where athletes previously had to reach 800 to be eligible). Did Jimmy V brag that stereo-stealer Washburn was going to "make our program"? Did V mean break rather than make? A commission cited one unidentified player completing four seasons of eligibility with a 1.122 grade-point average and 76 credits (52 shy of graduation). Awash in intellect, Shackleford, who admitted accepting $65,000 cash from outside influences during his final two years enrolled in college, is perhaps best known for the following quote: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." After a series of drug-related incidents, he was found dead in his apartment at the age of 50.

Concurrent with holiday season King Herod-like ESPN vetoed a "venal" hospital ad several years ago celebrating Jesus before relenting, press parasites seemingly will "never give up" a vintage and valiant voyage portraying V as the most virtuous coach in history. The sanitized version is in the network's veins akin to trying to duplicate anchorman Ron Burgundy's humor in promotional ads. Voicing opposition to this mythical narrative leaves a cynic open to vilification as being venomous. Still, the network's doctored depiction of V is as honest as ex-POTUS #AudacityofHype and his vultures telling citizens with a "period" about retaining their current physician (ESPN previously aired ObamaCare ad passing its rigid standards); authentic as the sign language interpreter at a Nelson Mandela memorial; genuinely patriotic as lip-syncing Beyonce; real as Ray "Dancin' On Their Graves" Lewis lecturing us about NFL violence and ball-deflation ethics; genuine as claiming no behind-the-scenes negotiations occurred naming Bruce Jenner's inner woman courageous nearly 40 years after he was a gold-medal winning Olympian, or as valid as fake girlfriend of former Notre Dame All-American linebacker Manti Te'o. B.S. Detection Memo to prayerful #NannyPathetic as she sanctimoniously "shreds" Bible during her Congressional clown show to remove any perceived reference to abortion and swap out devil with another five-letter word (Trump): Yes, Russia's Putin, Plagiarist Bile-dumb's son ex-business partner Tony Bobulinski and aggrieved #SanFranfreakshow hairdresser made me point out these hate-ridden flaws to impact donations!

Irish idealist Dick Vitale spearheads promoting the V Foundation, impressively raising in the neighborhood of $200 million. Understandably, his visceral reaction probably is that any dissent makes Valvano the victim of a vicious vendetta. Anything but vapid, there is no doubt vivacious Vitale means well and has his heart in the proper place serving as Valvano's valet. But as verbose Vitale is wont to do, he is vulnerable to vehemently going overboard with his voluminous embellishment. Preying on emotions, a majority of vacuous media smugly fall in line seemingly signing off on one of those old phantom NCSU readmission agreements after flunking out where they made a commitment "pledging to work hard (at maintaining image) and keep a positive mental attitude." Does press know if Washburn signed worthless piece of paper in new vroom Datsun before vagabond ventured out to find victim's stereo while needing help from staff finding various classrooms such as demanding "Leisure Alternatives"?

In an affront to valuable numbers that never lie, there are fake-news times when ESPN sycophants operate in a vacuum shamelessly enhancing Valvano's credentials as a "survive-and-advance" tactician, perpetuating a falsehood he was a late-game strategical genius. You can't take a fake-news vacation from the veracity of cold hard facts having Valvano rank in the lower third of DI coaches among those with at least 150 close contests (decided by fewer than six points). Capitalizing on six opponents combining to shoot an anemic 56.8% from the free-throw line, the law of averages was with NCSU in 1983 when it became the only school to have as many as four NCAA playoff games decided by one or two points en route to a title. The Wolfpack trailed in the final minute of seven of its last nine triumphs, helping offset his typical high percentage of close-contest setbacks.

The arena in Reynolds Coliseum, the former home to N.C. State hoops, has been named for Valvano after supporters made a $5 million pledge. But people in power need to be held accountable even if a coach such as Duke's Mike Krzyzewski claims many of the "allegations were fabrications" against his ACC counterpart who entered the league together in 1980-81. "I can't breathe" holding opinion unless Coach K moonlighted as an investigator because there is no reason to be vague and treat big boys with velvet gloves. ESPN could virtually avoid any vanishing credibility in this instance by incorporating deceased Rick Majerus in the foundation equation. After all, the 24-year veteran college head coach was also a vocal ESPN analyst. Unless it detracts from the storyline, call it the V & M Foundation and add heart disease to the venture's research grants. Didn't Majerus exhibit as much, if not more, valor? Perhaps Vitale and trend-setting broadcaster Stuart Scott should be principal focal point because of their battles with cancer. Instead, we'll probably get lame-stream media responding like politicians legitimizing smash-and-grab crime.

A tearjerker ESPY speech notwithstanding, a cancer of priorities exists as ESPN sullies its reputation with insufferable verbal voodoo vouching Valvano was something he wasn't beyond a good coach who never had a season with fewer than four defeats in conference competition. Amid narcissism and extensive self-promotion, an "inspirational" story reeks of overkill because vermin among complicit sports media are predictably unprincipled and offer the maximum tear-inducement reminiscent of a fairy-tale sans conveying the entire picture. Forget the vulgar academic progress of Valvano's players at N.C. State (735 average SAT score and excessive number of positive drug tests during the 1980s). No Extra Sensitive Pious Network should be an outside-the-lines enabler seemingly unaccountable while selling a partial story. They have an obligation to visit the whole story; not vacillate and be on verge of failing their constituency in regard to vainly providing a viable role model. Don't forget guilt-by-association coaching vacancy at Drake, which forced former V enabler Tom Abatemarco (at Iona and NCSU) to resign due to various valueless practices with the Bulldogs akin to #Demonrat Congressional claptrap from specious sad sack of Schiff and heavyset heart of nutty Nadler - the Laurel and Hardy of petulant political pestilence unworthy of an Army/Navy prank "OK" hand gesture. The rot wasn't exactly virgin territory. The New York Daily News charged that Iona illegally subsidized its players, who billed the school for several thousand dollars worth of long-distance cab fares, restaurant and bar tabs plus telephone calls. Valvano was part-owner of one of the bars involved. Iona icon Jeff Ruland said he took unspecified amounts of money from Valvano (during recruiting process and while playing for the Gaels). "I'm watching those (TV apologists) guys, and I'm thinking, 'Don't give me that high-and-mighty stuff. People know some things. What I'm talking about, I lived. Greenbacks changed hands,'" Ruland told the Philadelphia Daily News.

As for venerable Majerus, there won't be a vicarious movie or "30 for 30" special made about his self-effacing humor, eating habits and fact none of his NCAA playoff teams with three different schools ever had to vacate NCAA play. In a stark scholastic contrast, his 1998 Utah squad provided the vanguard of Final Four achievements - only team ever to feature three Academic All-Americans among its versatile regulars. For the record, Majerus ranked among the top third of coaches in games decided by fewer than six points. But he simply doesn't fit into a contrived storyline. It would be a surprise if Utah players under Majerus took an "Understanding Music" class during Christmas vacation to help stay eligible like NCSU scholars did under Valvano.

Keep everything in perspective. This isn't Michael Bloomberg going after your Big Gulp and straws. Alluding to allegations about a professor altering grades of Wolfpack players, faculty senate chairman at the time asked SI: "If we're supposedly changing grades, how come we have so many people in academic difficulty?" Pulitzer Prize winner Claude Sitton, a vigilant local editor/columnist for the Raleigh News & Observer during Valvano's tenure, was unapologetic about the paper's contemporaneous coverage of NCSU scandal. "Looking back on it, Valvano just initiated academic rape as far as basketball players were concerned," Sitton said. "But Valvano only did what (Chancellor Bruce) Poulton wanted him to do, and that was win ball games no matter how." It's as crazy as ex-baseball 1B President Trump expected to give A1 attention to Puerto Rico trash-can lecture from cheater Alex Cora.

In a scornful column, Sitton wrote with verve: "College sports, in short, are corrupt. The rot reaches far beyond the campus - to the kid on the corner who thinks sports opens the glory road, the high school teacher who gives a player a free pass, the TV executive who manipulates universities for profit, sportswriters who see, hear and speak no evil, and all who know that higher education has been turned into a sideshow by the commercial sports conglomerate and do nothing to end it." Sitton's summary long before NCSU's unseemly sneaker-stench recruiting of Dennis Smith Jr. continued to ring true as the ACC summoned Louisville and Syracuse to its ranks in recent years as they each soon went on probationary status with their Hall of Shame coaches.

ESPN's abundant coverage seemed to revel in cancer front-man Lance Armstrong's arrogant stumblin' and bumblin' "one big lie" rather than taking his bike-ride fall in a valley as time for self-reflection. Might be deleted from holiday card list, but this vantage point is that defend-the-brand revisionist history is a misguided echo chamber resembling hostage videos. Amid the distortion, a final verdict persists about a greater-good higher calling. As many folks as possible should make a vintage donation to the V Foundation. Just envision V as Victory (over cancer) or as Vitale (regarding his long-term heavy lifting for project). We'd like to secure Dan Dakich's valuable view on the topic, but network shed his candid commentary as if he was some vagrant sans vaccine.

It wasn't long before name-dropping ESPN, via former Out House correspondent Andy Katz apparently getting as much beer-summit face time with trustworthy ex-POTUS as ex-HHS Secretary Kathleen "Get-In-Line" Sebelius, went viral giving a prominent "Audacity-of-Hype" venue for Oval Office NCAA bracket selections. But the West Wing(ing) verve must absorb so much dignified time for the selfie-taking hooper-in-chief that a Sgt. Schultz "I-know-nothing" routine emerges while chronically pleading ignorance about various less vital matters such as the Benghazi terrorist attack, #ShrillaryRotten's multiple email address changes as Secretary of Yoga, IRS targeting of conservatives, Fast and Furious gun-running, healthcare exchange ineptitude, NSA spying on allies, disgraced Katie Hill's preferences, North Korea's cyber "vandalism," Obama's Justice Department snooping on national media while unmasking opponents, etc., and then failing to attend a church service at Christmas. Meanwhile, a void in thought-police treatment made more faith-influenced individuals nearly vomit when the network's "inn" didn't have room for the authentic Messiah's message vying for a little air time more important to many Americans than giving free political points.

As the #AudacityofHype, our departed fearless leader, might proclaim to Russia: "Cut it out!" Thus, it was no surprise sister network A&E emerged equally intolerant of deeply-held religious beliefs when "be(ing) original" by suspending/marginalizing the brassy "Duck Dynasty" patriarch for his version of "Vagina Monologues." Are you buyin' what ESPN's flock of woke quacks are sellin' verbatim - accepting the laughing/thinking/crying hook, line and sinker? Very odd this vociferous emphasis on V. Upon "ducking" and turning the other cheek again, it's time to say an old-fashioned: "Merry CHRISTmas, ESPN!" If this vernacular is objectionable to sensibilities of the politically-correct elite, then avoid a GQ bearded set-up with a patronizing "Happy Holidays!" As multiple ESPN personnel layoffs reached into the hundreds, we'll try for the 100th time to appeal for virtuous network specifically and hoop press generally to lay off attempting portrayal of "V" as someone he wasn't. At least boast the vinegar to go beyond veneer and never give up attempting to tell the entire tale. Instead, we'll likely get spoon-fed version of the scene in book Personal Fouls regarding circumstances surrounding Walker Lambiotte's transfer from NCSU to Northwestern (where he averaged 17.4 ppg in 1988-89 and 1989-90). Vainglorious Valvano, exhibiting as much remorse and responsibility as #Hollyweird's gun-toting Alec Baldwin to Georgey Step-on-the-truth-to-us, said: "I don't deserve that. I'm above being treated like that." Are you kidding me?

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks at NFL "slavery" and politicized multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on November 28 in football at the professional level (especially in 1948 and 2004):

NOVEMBER 28

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Larry Ball (played eight hoops games for Louisville as sophomore in 1968-69 before persuaded by coach Lee Corso to concentrate on football) had an interception in 49-16 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1976.

• TE Kevin Boss (averaged 3 ppg and 2.7 rpg while shooting 51.9% from floor for Western Oregon in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught 32-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning with 3:15 remaining to give the New York Giants a 24-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010.

• TE Luther Broughton (forward scored five points in five games for Furman in 1994-95) scored both of the Philadelphia Eagles' touchdowns with fourth-quarter receptions from QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) in a 20-17 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1999.

• Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for 146 yards on 20 carries and scored four touchdowns - three rushing/one receiving - in a 42-21 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1965.

• Brooklyn Dodgers E Harry Burrus (three-year hoops letterman in early 1940s for Hardin-Simmons TX) had a 60-yard pass reception for touchdown in 38-20 AAFC setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1948.

• Detroit Lions TB Dutch Clark (four-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference hoops choice for Colorado College) scored both of game's touchdowns in a 14-2 win against the Chicago Bears in 1935.

• New York Giants TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw two of his league-high 10 touchdown passes in a 21-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935.

• Boston Yanks HB Bob Davis (Kentucky hoops letterman in 1937 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) opened game's scoring with a 21-yard touchdown catch in 34-10 win against the Detroit Lions in 1946.

• Oakland Raiders TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught two touchdown passes from Rich Gannon in a 37-34 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999.

• San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 34-31 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.

• New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught two touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 49-24 win against the New York Giants in 2011.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw four touchdown passes in a 31-28 AAFC win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1948.

• Dallas Cowboys CB Cornell Green (Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder when career ended in 1961-62) returned a fumble recovery for touchdown in 34-31 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1965.

• Carolina Panthers WR Donald Hayes (played in two basketball games for Wisconsin in 1995-96 under coach Dick Bennett) caught a career-long 56-yard touchdown pass from Steve Beuerlein in 34-28 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1999.

• Detroit Lions RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) provided go-ahead score with a 62-yard rushing touchdown in 18-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1957.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976. Redskins DB Joe Lavender (averaged 13.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) had an interception in his fourth consecutive contest of month.

• Tennessee Titans TE Erron Kinney (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.3 rpg in six basketball games for Florida in 1996-97 under coach Billy Donovan) caught two first-quarter touchdown passes from Steve McNair in 31-21 setback against the Houston Texans in 2004.

• E Eggs Manske (point guard led Northwestern to share of 1933 Big Ten Conference crown) provided the Chicago Bears' second touchdown with a 43-yard pass reception in 15-7 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1937. Three weeks earlier, Manske had a 64-yard TD catch in 24-14 setback against the Green Bay Packers.

• Buffalo Bills TE Pete Metzelaars (averaged 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg for Wabash IN while setting NCAA Division III field-goal shooting records for single season as senior in 1981-82 and career) had 10 pass receptions in a 23-7 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993.

• Buffalo Bills HB Chet Mutryn (Xavier letterman in 1943) returned a punt 88 yards for touchdown in 35-14 AAFC win against the New York Yankees in 1948. Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) had two second-quarter rushing TDs.

• Chicago Cardinals FB Ernie Nevers (All-PCC second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) rushed for six touchdowns in a 40-6 win against the Chicago Bears in 1929. Two years later, Nevers rushed for two second-quarter TDs in a 21-0 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1931.

• Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) returned an interception 46 yards for touchdown in 21-14 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.

• Philadelphia Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) opened the game's scoring with a five-yard rushing touchdown in 17-0 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1948.

• Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught an 85-yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer in 25-24 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 2004.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes to Pete Retzlaff in a 28-24 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965.

• Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) had three sacks in a 24-17 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2004.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" and politicized multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on November 26 in football at the professional level (especially in 1939, 1961 and 1967):

NOVEMBER 26

• Washington Redskins FB Frank Akins (averaged 1.7 ppg for Washington State's 1941 NCAA Tournament runner-up) opened game's scoring with a rushing touchdown in a 14-7 win against the Boston Yanks in 1944.

• New York Giants DB Erich Barnes (played hoops briefly for Purdue as sophomore in 1955-56) returned an interception 35 yards for touchdown in 37-21 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1961.

• B Len Barnum (West Virginia Wesleyan hooper) opened the New York Giants' scoring with a touchdown pass to E Jim Lee Howell (All-SWC first-five hoops selection as Arkansas senior in 1935-36) in 28-7 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939. It was one of Howell's two TD catches in game.

• Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw three touchdown passes in a 38-28 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1950.

• Detroit Lions E Cloyce Box (combined with twin brother Boyce to help West Texas A&M win Border Conference hoop championship in 1943) caught a 97-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) in 34-15 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1953.

• Chicago Bears FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for three first-half touchdowns in a 28-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1961.

• Detroit Lions TB Dutch Clark (four-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference hoops choice for Colorado College) scored game's decisive touchdown with a 51-yard run from scrimmage in fourth quarter in 13-7 win against the Chicago Bears in 1936.

• St. Louis Rams LB London Fletcher (started two games for St. Francis PA as freshman in 1993-94 before transferring to John Carroll OH) had two interceptions in a 31-24 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2000.

• Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) rushed for two first-quarter touchdowns in a 24-17 win against the Detroit Lions in 1959.

• Minnesota Vikings QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw three touchdown passes in a 31-26 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2006.

• Minnesota Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 41-27 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1967. Steelers LB Bill Saul (averaged 6.1 ppg for Penn State in 1959-60) intercepted one of Kapp's passes. Vikings DB Earsell Mackbee (teammate of Utah State All-American Wayne Estes averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 1964-65) had two INTs (returning one 32 yards for TD).

• DE Tom Miller (three-year hoops letterman for Hampden-Sydney VA in late 1930s and early 1940s) accounted for the Philadelphia Eagles' lone touchdown with a 35-yard interception return in 28-7 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1944.

• HB Kent Ryan (two-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference first-team choice for Utah State averaged 8.1 ppg in league play in 1933-34, 9.9 ppg in 1934-35, 9.3 ppg in 1935-36 and 7.6 ppg in 1936-37) scored the Detroit Lions' lone touchdown with a three-yard rush in 31-7 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1939.

• Pittsburgh Steelers DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for UMES returned a punt 55 yards for touchdown in 30-27 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1961.

• Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) had a 50-yard rushing touchdown in 38-31 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 2000.

• New York Giants QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three first-half touchdown passes in a 62-10 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972.

• New York Jets SS Shafer Suggs (averaged 10.7 ppg and 7.9 rpg in three-year career, setting Ball State record with nine consecutive field goals without miss and leading Cardinals in rebounding in 1974-75) returned an interception 29 yards in a 24-13 win against the Miami Dolphins in 1978.

• Baltimore Ravens LB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) scored a touchdown on 57-yard fumble recovery return in 27-0 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006.

• Green Bay Packers P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg for Tennessee from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted six times for 304 yards (50.7 average) in a 21-16 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1972.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" and politicized multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on November 24 in football at the professional level (especially in 1957, 1963, 1974 and 1996):

NOVEMBER 24

• Cleveland Browns rookie HB Al Akins (forward was letterman for Washington in 1944 after lettering with Washington State previous two years) rushed for a 50-yard touchdown in 42-17 AAFC win against the Buffalo Bisons in 1946.

• Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) threw four touchdown passes in a 33-6 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1974. Bengals rookie DL Bob Maddox (two-time MVP for Frostburg State MD shot 60.7% from floor in three seasons) recovered a fumble for TD.

• Detroit Lions LB Roosevelt Barnes (collected 14 points and 23 rebounds in 24 games for Purdue's 1980 Final Four team after scoring 39 points in 43 games previous two seasons) returned an interception 70 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1983. Lions TE Ulysses Norris (Georgia hooper in 1975-76) caught two touchdown passes from Eric Hipple in 45-3 win against the Steelers.

• Cleveland Browns rookie FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for four touchdowns - one of them for 69 yards - in a 45-31 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1957. Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan in 1944) caught two second-quarter TD passes from Norm Van Brocklin.

• Chicago Bears FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for two touchdowns in a 27-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1957.

• Indianapolis Colts TE Joe Dean Davenport II (appeared in two NCAA playoff games for Arkansas in 1999 under coach Nolan Richardson Jr.) caught a career-high three passes in a 23-20 win against the Denver Broncos in 2002.

• Chicago Bears TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) caught seven passes for 146 yards in a 17-17 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1963.

• New York Giants DB Scott Eaton (three-year Oregon State letterman averaged 6 ppg and 2.8 rpg) secured his third interception of month in 1968.

• New York Giants rookie DB Percy Ellsworth (appeared in all four of Virginia's NCAA tourney contests for 1995 Midwest Regional finalist) provided an interception for second straight game in 1996.

• New York Giants rookie E Tod Goodwin (West Virginia hoops letterman in 1932-33) scored the game's lone touchdown with a 55-yard pass from Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) in a 10-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1935.

• New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught two touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 34-27 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in 2014.

• Dallas Cowboys CB Cornell Green (Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder when career ended in 1961-62) returned a fumble recovery 20 yards for touchdown in 27-17 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1963.

• Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes - of them to SE Karl Noonan (member of Iowa's basketball squad in 1963-64) - in a 34-10 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1968. Nine years later, Griese threw six TD passes in a 55-14 NFL win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977.

• San Diego Chargers SS Rodney Harrison (averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.6 spg for Western Illinois in 1992-93) intercepted two passes in a 28-14 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1996.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 21-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2002.

• St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 24-17 win against the New York Giants in 1963.

• Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in 19-3 win against the New York Jets in 2013.

• San Francisco 49ers RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) had 11 pass receptions in a 19-16 win against the Washington Redskins in 1996.

• Oakland Raiders DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) returned two interceptions a total of 47 yards in a 38-14 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1991.

• Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 28-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1949.

• New York Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) registered three sacks and returned an interception 56 yards for touchdown in 34-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.

• Chicago Bears B Keith Molesworth (three-year hoops letterman for Monmouth IL in late 1920s) scored a touchdown in his third consecutive contest in 1932.

• Chicago Cardinals FB Ernie Nevers (All-PCC second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) rushed for three touchdowns in a 19-0 win against the Dayton Triangles in 1929.

• New York Yankees TB Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1936) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 38-28 AAFC setback against the Chicago Rockets in 1946.

• Chicago Bears E Dick Plasman (Vanderbilt two-year starting hoops center named to 1936 All-SEC Tournament second five) caught a 58-yard touchdown pass in 47-25 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1940.

• New England Patriots TE John Tanner (JC recruit averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Tennessee Tech in 1968-69) opened game's scoring by catching a touchdown pass from Jim Plunkett in 27-17 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1974.

• Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) scored game-winning touchdown - 10-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick - with 10 seconds remaining in a 23-19 nod over the Oakland Raiders in 2013.

More than 20,000 thank yous can't begin to express infinite appreciation for setting the stage regarding procedure in Texas saving life of a grandson when he was only two days old. The gratitude beyond measure is for world-famous heart surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley, who performed well in excess of 20,000 open-heart operations before passing away several years ago at the age of 96. He was a three-year letterman (1938-39 through 1940-41) on Texas basketball teams combining for a 51-21 record. The 6-3 Cooley, named the 32nd most influential student-athlete in 2006 when the NCAA celebrated its centennial anniversary, saw action in both of the Longhorns' games in the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1939 after they captured the Southwest Conference championship.

"I've always had the opinion that my training in athletics equipped me for a life in medicine," Houston-based Dr. Cooley said, "and particularly in surgery because there's so much of the physical part involved. Surgery is a specialty in which a person must have vigor and a healthy body to perform at his peak. It requires a certain amount of physical training as well as mental training. In surgery, operations are accomplished by teams. As in athletics, a strong individual effort is possible only with the support of a good team. The morale of the team must be maintained by the captain. And these are the things individuals learn in a program of competitive sports. We learn to accept defeat but not to be satisfied with defeat; that there is no alternative for winning. Extra effort and determination and hard work and practice are what lead to accomplishment and victory."

Again, thank you Dr. Cooley for your extra effort and determination and hard work. A Thanksgiving holiday week absolutely should include the time-honored tradition of a smorgasbord mulling over a mixture of heartfelt Thank Yous while also chewing on tasteless Turkeys. The list of candidates in college basketball is extensive stemming from issues and individuals your most grateful for and those of dubious distinction. Following is a healthy serving of food-for-thought Thanksgiving tributes and tongue-lashings for hoop observers to gobble-gobble up:

THANK YOUS

• Cheers to mid-major players deserving post-season recognition this season if A-A voters are paying attention.

• Cheers to multiple players carrying the torch for their father at the same school dear old dad attended or playing under their father at the same university.

• Cheers to this season's crop of entertaining freshmen although they pale in comparison to the depth exhibited by gifted group in 1979-80.

• Cheers to ex-college hoopers dominating as NFL tight ends as long as they don't #KneelWithJemele or #ColonKrapernick.

• Cheers to Canada, which could again provide a north-of-the-border All-American.

• Cheers to the Big East Conference, which appears to be continuing a renaissance after losing prominent members to supposedly superior leagues.

• Cheers to "old-school" seniors for not abandoning college hoops early and giving the sport at least some modicum of veteran leadership by attending the same school their entire career.

• Cheers to pristine playmakers who show again and again that "pass" is not a dirty four-letter word amid the obsession with individualistic one-on-one moves by self-absorbed one-and-done scholars.

• Cheers to model coaches who have their egos in check and carry their personal profiles in school media guides after, not before, the player bios.

• Cheers to upstanding schools having their academic priorities in order although it is getting increasingly difficult not to accept the stereotype that universities need to be one-dimensional sports factories to assemble successful NCAA Division I basketball programs.

• Cheers to entertaining little big men (players 5-10 or shorter) who inspire us with their self-confidence and mental toughness in the Land of the Giants.

• Cheers to women's hoops, which has improved immeasurably while the men's game has suffered somewhat from inattention to fundamentals such as competent free-throw shooting. The team-oriented women look for passing angles to teammates "flashing" into the lane while far too many one-dimensional men seek camera angles to trigger a "flash-dance" routine. Some of the self-centered men haven't quite comprehended it isn't platform diving or figure skating they're participating in and you don't secure extra points for degree of difficulty.

• Cheers to junior college players and foreigners who overcome perceptions in some misguided quarters that they are the rogues of recruiting.

• Cheers to the numerous promising first-year coaches assuming control of programs this season. They need to remember the fortitude exhibited by many of the biggest names in coaching who rebounded from embarrassing defeats in their first season as a head coach. An active luminary who lost multiple games to non-Division I colleges in his initial campaign before ascending to stardom as the all-time winningest coach is Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (lost to SUNY-Buffalo, Scranton and King's College in 1975-76 while coaching Army).

TURKEYS

• Jeers to Hall of Fame coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, Bill Self and Roy Williams (North Carolina) for respective Eeyore-like analysis after their schools became immersed in assorted Hall of Shame scandals. How close did Mike "Let's Move On" Krzyzewski come to joining this negative ACC-heavy list in aftermath of reasons for recruiting player paid by AAU coach/convicted felon, Reggie Love's profane party photographs, mediocre starter having $100G in jewelry, Rasheed Sulaimon's "Title IX" departure from Duke and one-and-done rental player Jahlil Okafor's infatuation with clubbing before the then NBA rookie center acquired a baby-sitting security guard before ever helping the Philadelphia 76ers win a game?

• Jeers to Division I schools in a chaotic restructuring of conferences forsaking tradition although the quest for mega-leagues could be delusional because they're vying for television revenue that might not exist as network sports divisions operate at ample deficits in pandemic era.

• Jeers to the striking number of power conference members who've provided a long list of players on their rosters participating in an authentic "War on Women."

• Jeers to recruiting services incapable of discerning who should have been a Top 100 recruit coming out of high school. Ditto to announcers who infect the sport by spreading this virus without ever seeing any of the players enough to properly evaluate them.

• Jeers to marquee coaches such as Bruce Pearl (Auburn) who've served up assistants as sacrificial lambs when the heat of an investigation of their program intensifies. Let's hope Pearl recognizes his current residence and has lower percentage of his latest SEC roster run afoul of the law than he did with Tennessee.

• Jeers to anyone who incessantly castigates the majority of undergraduates declaring early for the NBA draft. Before accepting the party line that many of the players are making monumental mistakes by forgoing their remaining college eligibility, remember that more than half of the NBA's All-Pro selections in the last several decades left college early or never attended a university.

• Jeers to any school for not promptly granting a recruit seeking to enroll elsewhere a release from its letter-of-intent when he wants to attend another institution for legitimate reasons.

• Jeers to "Me Generation" showmen who've failed to comprehend their respective teams don't benefit on the court from a trash-talking Harlem Globetrotter routine.

• Jeers to self-absorbed players who spend more time getting tattoos and practicing macho dunks than team beneficial free throws. It all hinges on dedication. There is a reason they're supposed to be "free" throws instead of Shaq-like "foul" shots.

• Jeers to high-profile coaches who take off for greener pastures despite having multiple years remaining on their contract or don sweaters and workout gear with a logo of a sneaker manufacturer instead of their school during TV games and interviews. Where is their allegiance?

• Jeers to network analysts when they serve as apologists for the coaching community. When their familiar refrain echoes throughout hoopdom, they become nothing more than the big mouths that bore.

• Jeers to marquee schools forsaking entertaining non-conference games with natural rivals while scheduling a half-dozen or more meaningless "rout-a-matics" at home.

• Jeers to several colleges that hired tainted coaches, showing winning is still more important than dignity at some schools of lower learning. The crass-act enablers of academic anemia know who they are!

• Jeers to defrauding coaches who manipulate junior colleges and high schools into giving phony grades to regal recruits even before encouraging them to take lame courses at their day-care facilities to keep the team GPA out of danger zone. Ditto coaches who steer prize high-school prospects to third parties toying with standardized test results.

• Jeers to "fatherly-advice" coaches who don't mandate that any player with pro potential take multiple financial literacy courses. Did they notice in recent years that products from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Kentucky and Syracuse filed for bankruptcy after combining for more than half a billion dollars in salaries over their NBA careers? What contrived classes such as Afro Studies at North Carolina are taken in college anyway if a staggering 60% of NBA players file for bankruptcy five years after retirement?

• Jeers to overzealous fans who seek to flog freshmen for not living up to their high school press clippings right away. The impatient onlookers need to get a grip on themselves.

• Jeers to the excessive number of small schools thinking they can compete at the Division I level. There are far too many examples of dreamy-eyed small schools that believe competing with the big boys will get them national recognition, make big bucks from the NCAA Tournament and put the institutions on the map. They don't know how unrealistic that goal is until most of the HBCU and hyphenated/directional schools barnstorm the country during their non-conference schedules in college basketball versions of Bataan Death Marches.

• Jeers to lap-dog media embarrassed looking the other way at Louisville when stripped naked by lap-dancing Katina the Escort keeping copious copulation comments to assemble one of the biggest stories of the decade (Get Your Fill in the Ville) while the press passed out from Pitino Personality or his bourbon. How many other Pitino Places are out there such as Bo Knows Affairs at Wisconsin?

• Jeers to coaches who weigh in on political issues thinking anyone cares about their self-serving views. They sound dumb as a doorknob (a/k/a rooftop-dancing bartender AOC).

• Jeers to ESPN (Extra Sensitive Pious Network) for rejecting a charity hospital ad promoting Jesus several years ago while giving forums to individuals who either lie to NCAA investigators as a head coach, lose new coaching job due to drunkenness, become a recruiting guru for the network after shady dealings at the highest level, specialize in man-check motivation, practice reprehensible race-baiting with the intellectually-bankrupt "Uncle Tom" bomb (Jalen Rose), damage our ears with Screamin' A. Stiff or spew journalistic-junk spin over the years with lunatic liberal propagandists Howard Bryant, LZ Granderson, Jemelle Hill and Bomani Jones.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" and politicized multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on November 21 in football at the professional level (especially in 1948):

NOVEMBER 21

• Todd Bouman (South Dakota State transfer averaged 7.1 ppg and 3.3 rpg for St. Cloud State MN from 1993-94 through 1995-96) signed as free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2006 to replace injured Aaron Rodgers as their second-string QB.

• Miami Dolphins WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught nine passes in a 24-17 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in 2004.

• Chicago Bears B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern basketball letterman in 1916) provided the decisive score with a 24-yard fumble return for touchdown in 19-13 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1926. He also kicked two field goals and threw a TD pass.

• New York Giants rookie WR Bruce Gehrke (four-year Columbia hoops letterman averaged 9.5 ppg as senior) caught a touchdown pass from Charlie Conerly in 49-3 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1948. Giants rookie DB Emlen Tunnell (forward was top reserve for Toledo team compiling 22-4 record and finishing second in 1943 NIT) returned an interception 43 yards for TD.

• New York Giants TB Hinkey Haines (Lebanon Valley PA transfer earned hoops letter for Penn State in 1920 and 1921) rushed for two touchdowns in a 21-0 win against the Providence Steam Roller in 1926.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) caught two touchdown passes from Deshaun Watson (35 and 30 yards) in a 20-17 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2019. Three years later with the Arizona Cardinals, Hopkins caught at least nine passes for fourth time in his first five contests of 2022 season after being activated.

• Cleveland Browns RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) had nine pass receptions in a 31-17 setback against the Carolina Panthers in 1999.

• New York Giants TB Tuffy Leemans (three-year hoops letterman for George Washington in mid-1930s) threw two third-quarter touchdown passes in a 24-13 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1943.

• Boston Yanks QB Gene Malinowski (three-year hoops letterman for Detroit in mid-1940s) threw two touchdown passes in a 51-17 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1948. A 68-yard strike opened the Yanks' scoring in first quarter.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw four touchdown passes in a 28-6 win against the Washington Redskins in 2004. Six years later with the Washington Redskins, McNabb passed for 376 yards in a 19-16 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2010.

• Brooklyn Dodgers rookie TB Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1936) scored two third-quarter touchdowns - including 44-yard punt return - in a 23-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1937.

• Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had two sacks for third game in a row in 2004.

• Washington Redskins B Dick Poillon (Canisius hooper in early 1940s) returned a fumble recovery 93 yards for touchdown in 42-21 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1948.

• Chicago Rockets B Ray Ramsey (Bradley's top scorer in 1941-42 and 1942-43) scored two touchdowns (one rushing/one receiving) in a 41-16 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1947.

• Washington Redskins CB Lonnie Sanders (averaged 10.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg as Michigan State forward in 1961-62) returned two interceptions a total of 79 yards in 31-3 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1965.

• One of AAFC-leading 11 interceptions for New York Yankees rookie DB Otto Schnellbacher (averaged 11 ppg in four-year Kansas career, earning All-Big Six/Seven Conference honors each season) was returned 40 yards for a touchdown in 34-21 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1948.

• Detroit Lions B Bill Shepherd (Western Maryland hooper) returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in 16-7 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1937.

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Morris Stroud Jr. (tallest TE in NFL history averaged 7.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 1967-68 when 6-10 junior shot team-high 50.9% from floor for Clark Atlanta GA) opened game's scoring with a 39-yard touchdown reception from Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) in 28-10 win against the Denver Broncos in 1971.

• Denver Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) had 11 pass receptions for 141 yards - including two second-half touchdowns - in a 28-20 AFL setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1965.

• Minnesota Vikings CB Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two UTEP games under coach Don Haskins in 1967-68) had two interceptions for second consecutive contest in 1971.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" and politicized multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on November 20 in football at the professional level (especially in 1955):

NOVEMBER 20

• Minnesota Vikings LB Matt Blair (played in 1970 NJCAA Tournament for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M hoops team finishing in seventh place) scored a touchdown off blocked punt in 10-7 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1977.

• Philadelphia Eagles CB Jimmy Carr (three-year hoops letterman for Morris Harvey WV appeared in NAIA Tournament in 1953 and 1954) supplied decisive touchdown in fourth quarter with a 38-yard fumble recovery return in 17-10 win against the New York Giants in 1960.

• Chicago Bears B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern basketball letterman in 1916) threw two touchdown passes (52 and 28 yards) in 14-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1927.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 41-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955. Steelers E Elbie Nickel (Cincinnati's second-leading scorer in 1942 also earned hoops letter in 1947) had two first-half TD catches.

• Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) passed for 349 yards in a 35-30 setback against the Houston Oilers in 1978.

• New York Giants LB Mel Hein (Washington State hoops letterman in 1930) returned an interception 50 yards for touchdown in 15-3 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1938.

• Chicago Bears E Harlon Hill (Florence State AL hoops letterman in 1951) had two touchdown receptions in a 24-14 win against the Detroit Lions in 1955. Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two first-half TD passes.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes in a 35-34 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1966.

• Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) rushed for two of his league-high 13 touchdowns and threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass in 33-31 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1960.

• San Diego Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught seven passes for 165 yards in a 31-20 setback against the Chicago Bears in 2011.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw two third-quarter touchdown passes in a 24-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1972.

• Miami Dolphins RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) had eight pass receptions for second straight game in 1995.

• Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw three first-half touchdown passes - including one for 81 yards to Ken Kavanaugh - in a 31-21 win against the Washington Redskins in 1949.

• Cleveland Browns WR Jordan Norwood (collected one rebound and one assist in four basketball games for Penn State in 2006-07) had a 51-yard pass reception from Colt McCoy in 14-10 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011.

• Denver Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) had 10 of his AFL-leading 92 pass receptions in a 20-10 AFL setback against the Houston Oilers in 1960.

• Kansas City Chiefs FL Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) had nine pass receptions - including two third-quarter touchdowns from Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) - in a 27-27 AFL tie against the Boston Patriots in 1966. Pats WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) caught a career-high 11 passes (including two second-quarter TDs from Babe Parilli).

• Jacksonville Jaguars WR Cedric Tillman (averaged 4.3 ppg and 2.6 rpg while serving as part-time starter for Alcorn State in 1990-91) had career highs of eight receptions and 175 receiving yards in a 32-28 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1994.

• New York Giants DB Emlen Tunnell (forward was top reserve for Toledo team compiling 22-4 record and finishing second in 1943 NIT) returned an interception 55 yards for touchdown in 45-21 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1949. Six years later, Tunnell returned a punt 66 yards for TD in 31-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1955.

• Rookie B Whizzer White (two-time all-conference first-team hoops selection averaged 6.8 ppg for Colorado from 1935-36 through 1937-38) had a 79-yard touchdown run for the Pittsburgh Pirates' lone score in 14-7 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1938.

Any player worth his sneakers seeks to compete against quality, not inferior, opponents with something such as in-state bragging rights at stake rather than devouring cupcakes. But many power-conference members steer clear of competent in-state opponents in pre-conference competition. For example, Washington State has avoided Gonzaga's Drew Timme during his three All-American seasons.

LSU refrains from opposing Tulane in recent years but one of the greatest freshman debuts in college annals took place when Tigers forward Rudy Macklin grabbed a school-record 32 rebounds against the Green Wave to open the 1976-77 campaign. How many comparable splendid performances never had a chance to unfold on the court? Meanwhile, how many power-player schools fodder-bored torture us with age-old, one-sided arguments flapping their self-serving jaws about nothing to gain? Indiana likely will eventually somehow survive a defeat at IPFW and season-opening setback against Indiana State several years ago while many power-conference counterparts usually compete in exotic-outpost tournaments in front of disinterested algae, barnacles, crabs, mussels, sea shells, snails and handful of assorted beach creatures. Do they seek to be there just to by chance view Jay Bilas or some other ESPN personality in a bathing suit? Why don't more thin-skinned elite schools put an emphasis on what is best for the sport in general by scheduling more entertaining contests against competitive in-state foes? That was a relevant question to ask UCLA several years ago as the Bruins made three's-company travel arrangements regarding low-end trip back home for three high-end Louis Vuitton freshman scholars following their three-joint play paving way to theft detention in China.

Isn't this supposed to be the era for putting an end to bullying tactics? Prior to his exit, pompous pilot Rick Pitino said Louisville played "four white guys and an Egyptian" to not embarrass lowly Savannah State in a mismatch. If that is the case, then why schedule a Savannah vacation in the first place? Giving fans half-a-peace sign and Quaaludes reminiscent of Bill Cosby's victims, the hoop haughtiness of power schools denying fans stimulating non-league games isn't funny or a new phenomenon. Did you know LSU avoided potentially attractive in-state assignments for decades by never opposing McNeese State's Joe Dumars, Tulane's Jerald Honeycutt, New Orleans' Ervin Johnson, Louisiana Tech's Karl Malone, Northeast Louisiana's Calvin Natt, Centenary's Robert Parish and Southwestern Louisiana's Kevin Brooks, Bo Lamar and Andrew Toney? The Bayou Bengals didn't bother to give freshman sensation Ben Simmons an opportunity to oppose ULL's Shawn Long, one of only six players in NCAA history to finish career with more than 2,250 points and 1,400 rebounds.

Similarly over the years, North Carolina shunned Davidson first- and second-team All-Americans Stephen Curry, Mike Maloy and Dick Snyder during the regular season. The Tar Heels did defeat Davidson in exciting back-to-back East Regional finals by a total of six points in 1968 and 1969 when Maloy averaged 21.5 ppg and 13 rpg. In 1974, South Carolina's powerhouse boasting Mike Dunleavy, Alex English and Brian Winters, couldn't keep skirting Furman and succumbed in the East Regional, 75-67, when the Padadins' Clyde Mayes collected 21 points and game-high 16 rebounds. Dick Vitale-coached Detroit was eliminated from the NCAA playoffs in the 1977 Mideast Regional semifinals by Michigan after the Wolverines avoided the Titans' terrific trio comprised of Terry Duerod, John Long and Terry Tyler in the regular season that year and the previous campaign while opposing Fordham, Kent State, La Salle, Miami (Ohio), Rhode Island, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky.

Did we deserve to see national players of the year such as Indiana State's Larry Bird (never opposed Indiana), Princeton's Bill Bradley (Seton Hall), La Salle's Tom Gola (Villanova), Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin (Ohio State), Cincinnati's Oscar Robertson (Ohio State), Navy's David Robinson (Georgetown and Maryland), Xavier's David West (Ohio State) and Bradley's Hersey Hawkins (Illinois) strut their stuff in regular-season contests against nearby prominent programs? Shouldn't we have been entertained by mercurial Murray State guard Ja Morant competing vs. in-state foes Kentucky and Louisville several years ago rather than UK and UL both opposing Vermont?

The Terrapins only met "The Admiral" upon being forced to compete in the second round of 1985 Southeast Regional when Robinson contributed game-high figures in scoring, rebounding and blocks. Unbelievably, more than 30 All-Americans from Ohio colleges in the last 60 years never had an opportunity to oppose Ohio State during the regular season (including small-school sensation Bevo Francis of Rio Grande).

Power-conference members give appearance of parasites while playing more than 85% of their out-of-conference games at home or a neutral site. Check out the non-league parade of patsies predatory powers Kansas and Kansas State scheduled while avoiding Fred VanVleet for four years earlier this decade and Wichita State All-American Antoine Carr the first half of the 1980s. The following mid-major/non-power league All-Americans specifically and fans generally were shortchanged during the regular season by smug in-state schools since the accepted modern era of basketball commenced in early 1950s:

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind (about your size) don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Despite cancel culture's obsession with him, the good doctor (Seuss) must know big things can come in even smaller 24-carat packages. What they may lack in height, they more than compensate for with heart. Brimming with self-confidence and mental toughness, the premium point guards defy odds by excelling in a big man's game.

The latest mighty mite of consequence at NCAA Division I level is Kansas State's Markquis Nowell (5-8), a transfer from UALR. Among those shorter than Nowell, Abilene Christian's Damien Daniels (5-7 dynamo has averaged 5.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg and 2.6 apg since 2018-19). Daniels will eventually join the following alphabetical list examining top players in NCAA history shorter than 5-8:

HONORABLE MENTION