North Carolina, Villanova and Virginia didn't participate in annual tradition attending the White House after winning national championships from 2017 through 2019. While not as white-hot grotesque as know-it-all NBA grim-reaper coaches Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, Doc Rivers and Stan Van Gundy, prominent NCAA bench bosses made incendiary comments about President Donald Trump; ostensibly to remain in good graces with their less-than-diverse player pipeline. The following NCAA mentors all had significant off-the-court issues they should have spent more time addressing in recent years, but they felt compelled to fall in line resembling public-shaming sheep in academia lambasting the Big Bad Orange Man (sans fictitious rebuttals until now):

Jim Boeheim: "He appeals to a certain radicalized part of the country that basically hates everything that's going on, without reason." - Trumpian Punch-back: "Are there reasons for observers to hate your speeding in fatal auto accident plus excessive number of players testing positive for banned substances, sexual abuse charges involving an assistant coach, academic misconduct and extra benefits?"

Mike Krzyzewski: "I think the only person in our country who's not accountable to anybody is our president." - Trumpian Punch-back: "Who should be accountable for Corey Maggette being paid by AAU coach/convicted felon, recruiting dealings with DC swamp agent, $100G in jewelry for mediocre player, Sullen-man Title IX reporting and keeping eventual #AudacityofHype "body man" Reggie Love from raunchy partying on UNC's campus?"

Rick Pitino: "Look, I've got problems with him like everybody does." - Trumpian Punch-back: "Does everybody have problems with your failure to adequately monitor Louisville's program (at least 15 seconds) during 'Thrill in the Ville' sex-for-pay scandal?"

Shaka Smart: "When someone is elected who has a history of being hateful, of being racist, of saying certain things that are derogatory toward a certain group, it feels like a slap in the face." - Trumpian Punch-back: "Is it a slap in the face to Longhorn faithful by your failing to post an NCAA tourney victory since your hiring? Is it racially hateful to point out you couldn't compile winning record in Big 12 Conference competition despite presence of lottery picks Mo Bamba and Jaxson Hayes on your roster?"

Roy Williams: "Our president tweets out more bulls--- than anybody I've ever seen." - Trumpian Punch-back: "How much bulls--- was academic fraud scheme featuring no-show classes costing your alma mater $18 million in legal fees? How much bogus bonus money did you "earn" via academic performance clause in your contract? Does your school president think you should be more or as attentive a landlord as #TheDonald?"

The prestigious pilots exhibited a sickness worse than Trump combating COVID. Trying out for political commentary role with #MessMedia outlets CNN and MSNBC, college coaches should stop lecturing us and start working harder on cleaning up their own profession. Unless you are a mental midget fond of castrate-the-GOP professor and damage to White House caused by #SickWillie's cigar, this potentially could be the equivalent of a #TimeIsUp movement. March Madness morphed into September Sadness several years ago amid a FBI sting with no end in sight regarding NCAA probes. If the feds genuinely know "the playbook" of an institutional crime family of coaches, it's doubtful there will be enough teams with winning records to stock an NCAA tourney field of 68. Let's be real! Coaches such as Kansas' defiant Bill Self know when prize prospects take a knee, dump or exam affecting eligibility. Nonetheless, there was an instantaneous and persistent Sgt. Schultz "I Know Nothing" routine among a colossal collection of contemptible characters as ugly as disrobed #HollyweirdHarveySwinestein and his legion of leftist enablers such as NBC failing to do the right thing. Self-righteous tarnished his credibility after lame explanation that troubled Lagerald Vick missed two games just before Christmas 2015 due to "illness." Please! Gradually becoming the personification of all that's wrong with college hoopdom, keep a barf bag nearby when his lips move or he soulful struts around in Adidas/rapper T-shirt before uncensored Snoop Dogg does likewise during raunchy "Late Night in the Phog" performance. Did KU mentor also orchestrate obfuscation when several of his shady standouts on the court exhibited rapper-like "Level 1" lack of Self-control off the court?

For what it's worth, Brian Bowen Jr. wasn't ranked among H.S. Top 10 players in any of the major recruiting polls in 2017. But testimony from his father indicated he received hefty offers for his son's services from sea to shining sea before crossing Pacific Ocean to play professionally in Australia. Are we supposed to believe Bowen Jr., who subsequently sued Adias, was only recruit susceptible to peculiar final-chapter shenanigans and Top 10 players didn't secure similar underhanded deals? Closing-time release took longer than 15 seconds, but the dominoes started falling sooner than originally expected. Embracing holier-than-thou Slick Rick's own words, "we got lucky on this one" when the Pompous Pilot finally received a swift kick in the ass of his Louisville white suit rather than another proverbial slap on the wrist. One-year interim Cardinals coach David Padgett seemed to be a pleasant enough person, but how perceptive can three-year teammate of thrown-under-the-bus former assistant Andre McGee possibly be not to discern what was going on in Get-Your-Fill-In-The-Ville's basketball brothel et al? If the NCAA wants to help the FBI break the code of silence, it should force Pitino's son and the nearly dozen other former assistants serving as current head coaches to take truth serum to tell what they really know.

In aftermath of North Carolina State, Georgia Tech and Kansas investigations, keep heading South for the next sweaty segment spotlighting Shoe Wars and check suit label of Auburn's smug coach for his tailor. Bruce on the Loose's "Pearl of Wisdom" prior to becoming an ESPN "expert" featured a failure to recognize his own residence. Despite "Rifle" along his side, he hardly admits even knowing the all-time leading scorer Person who chucked away his college coaching career via dumber-than-doorknob decisions. If not eventually rehired by ESPN akin to demented Keith Overbite despite dismal demonstration at first post-scandal press conference, Pearl's next gig could be as NCAA investigator or FBI mole since he has experience with surreptitious recording of a phone conversation with prize prospect. Pearl could also be BSPN's police reporter since such a high percentage of his players tortured the definition of textbook student-athlete by running afoul of the law.

If FBI doesn't switch gears because of bigger fish to fry or whale if include #Swinestein, it's just the tip of the iceberg as list of tainted schools increases weekly, if not daily. Where have the predictably pathetic press and toothless/clueless NCAA enforcement been for decades, anyway? With huge story staring them right in their beer goggles, inept national #MessMedia relied on cliches ("surprise commitment out of nowhere" and "late recruiting coup") when Brian Bowen Jr. affiliated late in the spring with Louisville before trial detailed how Pitino's hand-picked staff distributed under-the-table cash. The FBI sting gives predictably pathetic press pundits such as The Undefeated to go on another silly racial crusade. Black chief recruiters (including one with $600,000 salary) are the latest victims among the oppressed as they wander off plantations, warranting kneeling players or marches on major highways blocking traffic. Meanwhile, the NABC seeks to shed any scholastic requirement by reducing influence of ACT/SAT results and politically-correct NCAA has been more concerned with devoting time and energy to switching Indian nicknames for schools and gender-neutral restrooms as contributor to shifting national motto from "Tear Down This Wall" to "Tear Down This Stall."

Michael Jordan, the pre-endorsement Airness, donned Converse All-Star sneakers with North Carolina in the 1982 NCAA Tournament title game while Georgetown wore Nike. When did these shoe shenanigans start? The sneaker-linked fraud and corruption caught fire in mid-1980s when Nike owned the 1985 Final Four with each entrant donning the Swoosh. By the end of the "Gotta-Be-the-Shoes (Bribe)" decade, Final Four coaches connected to Nike such as ebullient Dana Kirk (Memphis State) and Jim Valvano (North Carolina State) either were imprisoned or well on their way to receiving a pink slip. Nike comrade Jerry Tarkanian (UNLV) was on suspect "sneaker" heels of Kirk and Valvano. Elsewhere on the scandal front in the Wild West days when shoes started orchestrating everything, Lefty Driesell left Nike for Reebok, which agreed to terms with Len Bias shortly before the Maryland All-American's cocaine-induced death. And guess who switched probation-shackled Kentucky from Nike to Converse upon succeeding Eddie Sutton? Yes, Slick Rick!

It's noxious to informed observers when they hear an announcer profusely identify a school by a coach's name although one can't deny college basketball fosters larger-than-life coaches. The players come and go, but the personable coaches remain, and their names become synonymous with the universities. The coaches virtually have perpetual cult followings in their propitious kingdoms. In other words, an ultra-successful coach such as Krzyzewski is the "pretty clean" King of Krzyzewskiville and isn't held accountable for multiple recruiting forays involving AAU player pimps, mediocre player with $100G in jewelry, Sullen-man Title IX incident and All-American already having abortion contract as NBA rookie. Moreover, one of his recent prize prospects helped get an ACC rival on NCAA probation by behaving boorishly attending a booby bar on recruiting visit to Atlanta. Do you wonder what sneakers this scholar donned for his entertainment excursion?

A potential conflict-of-interest exists, however, when high-profile coaches receive astonishing supplemental six-figure incomes to endorse certain brands of sneakers. No different than looters stealing from outlet store during hurricane or #ShoeLivesMatter riot, there is simply no business like sneaker business. As the endorsement paychecks increased despite all-school deals commencing in the late 1980s, the questions multiplied concerning the marriage between college athletics and shoe companies. Consider:

• In the 1980s before contract numbers went crazy, where was a coach's allegiance at times after selling his "sole" and receiving more compensation from an outside interest at the time than he earned in base salary from his school?

• Should a coach receive any remuneration at all, let alone a fat paycheck, for outfitting his players in apparel they would don anyway? Since a clear conscience makes the softest pillow, how much are the overpaid pariahs spending on medication these days to try to secure a decent night's sleep?

• What about the majority of a roster or even just one player who prefers a brand other than the one with which the coach and school is affiliated? Don't the exploited players warrant a piece of the action inasmuch as they are the primary running, walking and jumping human billboards?

• Where is the institutional control when coaches cut outrageous outside deals? Times really haven't changed from when coaches formed lines to sell their allotted Final Four tickets to brokers and took unreported-income bribes behind closed doors from promoters for in-season tournament participation.

• Doesn't this involvement in a corporate battle where coaches earn significantly more than university presidents shove college athletics deeper into commercialization and further away from the spirit of competition as part of the textbook overall educational experience? Schools shifted comprehensive athletic department-wide arrangements with shoe manufacturers, but much of the largess is still funneled to the marquee coaches.

• Where is media accountability? Shouldn't press pundits covering college games be held to a standard where the public knows how much they've received over the years from a sneaker company sponsoring the teams they're covering on any given day?

Converse, with its Chuck Taylors, was king of the shoe industry before Nike aggressively started signing prominent coaches to endorsement deals in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, other companies such as Reebok, Puma, Pony, L.A. Gear and Adidas entered the "shoe wars." When the can-you-top-this perks seemingly turned obscene, some of the companies chose to invest their promotional dollars elsewhere at the grassroots level (AAU). Although detractors suggest Odor-Eaters should be in vogue because the arrangement stinks when coaches, and not players, are paid by sneaker companies, the bidding war for celebrated coaches and their schools escalated in intensity more than ever after Under Armour arrived on the scene.

The grand payoff for shoe companies arrived each March when the NCAA playoffs provide untold millions of dollars in free advertising. While Nike appeared to be overdosing on signing as many coaches as possible on its advisory board, adidas was more selective for several years in the early 1990s and had just two coaches under contract - Bob Knight (Indiana) and protege Krzyzewski. It is difficult to dispute the argument that adidas, with five championship game appearances in seven years from 1986 through 1992, might have received the best return on its investment in that period. But that was before Nike, the Beaverton, Ore.-based conglomerate turned Tobacco Road into Nikeville prior to the start of the 1993-94 season by luring Krzyzewski away from adidas and North Carolina's Dean Smith away from Converse, ending a 22-year marriage. At the time, the 15-year contract cooked up with "Shoe-chefski" included a $1 million signing bonus, $375,000 annually plus stock options. Talk about "feet-first" coaches who want to "Be Like Mike!" although current Carolina coach Williams claims Nike was a "no-show" and never helped the Tar Heels secure a recruit. Of course, Roy knows this "fact" but wasn't aware of type of classes his scholars took enabling him to "earn" academic progress contractual bonuses. Meanwhile, N.C. State's unwillingness to admit to the NCAA what transpired during recruitment of Dennis Smith Jr. is an affront to common sense and pre-school level of logic.

Bench bosses got down on their hands and knees and thanked the Lord (or Devil) for Sonny Vaccaro when he started the supply-and-demand shoe-endorsement scheme. Vaccaro concocted the idea of personal-services contracts for Nike and initiated signing coaches to multi-year promotional deals. Sonny left Nike and subsequently headed adidas' fortunes. This move triggered raising the stakes under George Raveling, Vaccaro's spread-the-wealth successor at Nike. Depending upon your level of cynicism, the cozy relationship paid two-way street dividends. No wonder Nike nabob Raveling got plenty of support from coaching community regarding HOF enshrinement despite "sugar daddy" registering grand total of two NCAA playoff victories and zero league titles in 22 seasons as power-conference mentor (including 12 second-division finishes). During March on Washington in August 1963, Raveling worked security and came to possess the hard copy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King's famed "I Have a Dream" speech. By offering inside info, perhaps Raveling can also secure originals of Hall of Shame documents from intelligence agencies' files including a secret FBI analysis portraying MLK in a harshly-negative light.

Who benefited the most from Raveling and Vaccaro individually and shoe companies in general? Based on Slick Rick's 98% confiscation of Louisville shoe deal, it's time for some enterprising reporters to cite cumulative bounty prominent coaches received from sneaker manufacturers over the years. If not, we'll continue to hear drivel from Boeheim such as the following: "I sure as hell would rather have them (FBI) looking into terrorism and not spending three years investigating AAU programs or shoe companies. It's the least of our concern." Turns out FBI probe revealed just the tip of the iceberg of dirty dealing going on under the table.

Similarly, why else would Krzyzewski gaze down at "blip" from his ivory tower and proclaim: "Shoe companies have been great for our sport. Understand the total positive impact shoe companies have on our sport. It pays for a lot." Meanwhile, UNC's right-to-my-feelings Williams claims sneaker underworld is "foreign to me."

Countered AAU coach Myron Piggie, who wound up in prison: "Well, that's (expletive)," he told Yahoo Sports. "I mean, come on! You know Roy knew. He was in the mix. He knew what was going on. Roy's got amnesia." But Roy Boy does demonstrate dynamic dance delusions possibly triggering vertigo or causing heart problems comparable to Bernie "Doc Brown" Sanders when his college-running-into-the-ground spouse said she wanted to go "Back to the Future" on a second honeymoon to Russia.

Yes, coaching profiles for elite mentors such as Boeheim, John Calipari, Tom Izzo, Krzyzewski, Pitino, Self and Williams should include career sneaker-endorsement payouts alongside totals of victories, league titles and NCAA playoff appearances. Also, we should be aware of what percentage of their one- or two-year menacing mercenaries signed sponsorship deals with same sneaker company upon turning pro. For instance, what percentage of Kansas undergraduates this decade promptly and Self-lessly affiliated with Adidas? What choice did they have if Adidas bag man was indeed a client for same attorney as the Mafia hit man suspected of murdering former South Boston organized crime boss Whitey Bulger in a West Virginia federal prison? Former Big Ten Conference coaches John Beilein (ex-Michigan) and Tim Miles (ex-Nebraska) told cheating counterparts to "get the heck out of the game" while Calipari isn't certain corruption trials will faze cheaters. We do know, however, the new baseline one-year figure for premier prospects (G-League $125,000 remuneration) and Nebraska probably never will win an NCAA playoff game until there is a level playing field. Also, only a fool believes Gregg Marshall (Wichita State) is an isolated case of player abuse.

By any measure and in many sordid ways, gimme-gimme-gimme Shoe Wars remains in an out-of-control spiral, exhibiting me-myself-and-I attitude with little integrity and no moral compass. If ESPN belatedly informs the masses that Kevin Love (UCLA) was worth $250,000, what was value of Anthony Davis before guiding Kentucky to 2012 national title as a freshman despite school threatening to sue Chicago Sun-Times for implying a significantly lower fee(t)-for-services? In the meantime, if Pitino really does "love the players," he should have proclaimed he would donate any settlement from millions remaining on his salary, at least the sneaker proceeds since the Cards were Adidas' flagship school after UCLA departed for Under Armour, to try to help Louisville's arena (KFC Yum! Center) from defaulting on debt payments. Hall of Shamer Pitino and other feet-elite/father-figure coaches owe the sport that and so much more. Instead, they circled the wagons similar to hypocritical Dimorats such as creepy Clinton cronies Lisa Bloom, David Boies, Lanny Davis and Anita Dunn protecting denizen donor #HollyweirdHarveySwinestein as if movie mogul was #SickWillie clone. In the same way they subsequently abandoned a sinking ship like so many rats, there eventually will be similar self-preservation of about two dozen prominent programs maneuvering through the plea-bargain minefield as series of "sold-your-sole-and-soul" trials unfolded in the last year. Stonewalling remarks such as those by Arizona's Sean Miller, LSU's Will Wade and Self of late can't possibly survive for long. We almost long for the simpler "good old days" at the turn of this century when Florida's Brent Wright sued Nike seeking damages after his Maxair shoe ripped open during a SEC contest. Wright claimed the defective sneaker caused permanent damage to his right foot, limiting his earning capacity as a professional player. In the big picture, Nike and its competitive counterparts have caused permanent damage to ethical standards in college sports by completely corrupting an unprincipled coaching community. College coaches bow before sneaker-company funding similar to quivering NBA mentors and "misinformed" social-justice warrior LeBron James kowtowing before "free-speech loving" China. After winning an NBA crown, self-righteous King James appears far more interested in visiting Beijing for ceremony than the White House. Well, shoe salesman can take his talents there with holier-than-thou Charles "Round Mound of Expound" Barkley as they are poised to be "shut-the-hell-up" Communist ambassadors similar to intellectual heavyweight Dennis Rodman coziness with North Korea.

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former hoopers from eight universities reaching Final Four at some point in their history - Jim Beattie (Dartmouth), Ralph Branca (NYU), Alvin Dark (Louisiana State), Buddy Myer (Mississippi State), Steve Renko (Kansas), Dave Robertson (North Carolina State), Moose Skowron (Purdue) and Randy Winn (Santa Clara) - made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 3

• New York Yankees rookie RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) won opener of 1978 ALCS against the Kansas City Royals, yielding only two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

• Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) sustained his sixth setback of 1951 season against the New York Giants when Bobby Thomson hit "shot heard round the world" (three-run homer in bottom of ninth inning) to decide N.L. playoff. A single by SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) started the rally climaxed by Thomson's historic blast.

• 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's "Mr. Basketball") traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1958.

• Jim Fanning (Buena Vista IA hooper in late 1940s) resigned as Montreal Expos manager in 1982.

• Baltimore Orioles RHP Dick Hall (averaged 12.8 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 with Swarthmore PA for three Southern Division champions in MASC) earned the win with 4 2/3 innings of one-hit relief against the Minnesota Twins in opener of 1970 ALCS. Six years earlier, Hall improved his record to 9-1 by closing out the 1964 campaign with his 13th straight scoreless relief appearance.

• Cleveland Indians LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) collected two doubles, including a two-run safety in eighth inning, in 2-1 win against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 to clinch 1998 ALDS.

• LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage as a Portland freshman in 1975-76) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988.

• Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) tossed an 11-inning shutout against the St. Louis Browns in opener of 1937 twinbill.

• Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) smacked the first homer of 1957 World Series (third inning of Game 2 against New York Yankees).

• In 1904, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) fanned 16 St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-1 triumph.

• Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) committed three errors in opener of 1933 World Series against the New York Giants.

• RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) provided a two-run triple to fuel a four-run, first-inning outburst sparking the Chicago Cubs to 9-0 win against the Detroit Tigers in opener of 1945 World Series.

• Chicago White Sox OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) collected five RBI against the Oakland Athletics in a 1987 game.

• Despite striking out seven consecutive New York Mets hitters, Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) had his record fall to 1-10 with a 5-2 defeat against Hall of Famer Tom Seaver in opener of 1972 doubleheader.

• New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 4-for-4 in 1916 game against the Brooklyn Robins.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) registered a complete-game victory against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of 1952 World Series.

• New York Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) smashed three-run, first-inning homer to ignite a 5-1 Game 6 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1955 World Series.

• Chicago Cubs RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) secured a save against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of 1984 NLCS.

• Tampa Bay Devil Rays CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) ripped a grand slam in 6-2 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1999.

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Ex-hoopers from five current and former Big East Conference members - Danny Coombs (Seton Hall), Walt Dropo (Connecticut), Bob Gibson (Creighton), Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati) and Birdie Tebbetts (Providence) - made MLB news on this date. Ex-Pasadena City Community College CA hoopers Darrell Evans and Jackie Robinson supplied notable offensive outputs on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 2

• Chicago Cubs RHP Dale Alderson (All-Iowa Conference basketball selection for Upper Iowa in 1938-39 and 1939-40) lost his lone MLB decision (2-0 against Boston Braves in 1943).

• Philadelphia Athletics LHP Stan Baumgartner (hooper for University of Chicago's Big Ten Conference champion in 1913-14) hurled a six-hit shutout against the New York Yankees in 1925, holding both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig hitless.

• RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) yielded the first pinch-hit homer in World Series history (by Yogi Berra of New York Yankees in 1947) but the Brooklyn Dodgers still prevailed in Game 3, 9-8. Two days earlier, Branca lost Game 1 when he was knocked out in the fifth inning.

• New York Yankees OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) pounded a pinch homer off the Brooklyn Dodgers' winning rookie RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) in Game 5 of 1955 World Series.

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) contributed both of his homers in 31 World Series contests in the first two outings against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930.

• CF Earle Combs (three-year hoops captain for Eastern Kentucky) clubbed a homer and scored four runs as the New York Yankees swept 1932 World Series by crushing the Chicago Cubs, 13-6. It was the Bronx Bombers' 12th straight WS game win.

• In 1964, Houston Colt .45s LHP Danny Coombs (Seton Hall's third-leading scorer and rebounder as sophomore in 1961-62) notched his first MLB victory, holding the Los Angeles Dodgers scoreless over five innings as a starter.

• Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Jack Coombs (hoops captain and starting center for Colby ME) hurled a shutout, beating the New York Giants for sixth time in as many decisions in 1916.

• SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) extended his World Series competition hitting streak to 12 in a row with three safeties in Game 4 as the New York Giants finished their sweep of the Cleveland Indians in 1954.

• CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) contributed four hits as the Cleveland Indians assure themselves of a tie for 1948 A.L. title with an 8-0 triumph against the Detroit Tigers.

• In 1950, Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for season with 21.7 in 1942-43) became the first player to surpass 100 with more RBI (144) than games played (136).

• Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) hammered his MLB-leading 40th homer in 1985, becoming the first player to reach such a plateau in each league (41 round-trippers for Atlanta Braves in 1973).

• In the opener of the 1968 World Series, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) outdueled 30-game winner Denny McLain, 4-0, and established a WS record by fanning 17 Detroit Tigers.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) went 4-for-4 against the Seattle Mariners in a 1985 contest.

• Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) fired as New York Mets manager in 1983.

• In 1966, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) concluded his final season with career bests of 27 victories and 1.73 ERA. The previous year, Koufax finished with a single-season MLB-mark 382 strikeouts after fanning 13 Milwaukee Braves batters. In 1963 World Series opener, the first five batters he faced whiffed en route to 15 strikeouts in a 5-2 win against the New York Yankees.

• CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) supplied a homer to help the Cleveland Indians edge the New York Yankees, 4-3, in Game 3 of their 1998 A.L. playoff series.

• Rookie RF Bud Metheny (hoops letterman for William & Mary from 1935-36 through 1937-38) belted a first-game homer against the St. Louis Browns to help power the New York Yankees to their 14th sweep of doubleheader in 1943.

• New York Yankees rookie RHP Zach Monroe (played hoops briefly for Bradley in 1950-51) hurled one inning of relief against the Milwaukee Braves in Game 2 of 1958 World Series.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) registered a postseason career-high three hits in 3-2 win against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of 1953 World Series.

• Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) stroked four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1929 contest.

• Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) closed out the 1938 campaign with four multiple-hit games in a row.

• C Wes Westrum (Bemidji State MN hooper one season before serving in military during WWII) supplied two sacrifice flies for the New York Giants to help them defeat the Cleveland Indians, 7-4, in Game 4 and sweep 1954 World Series.

Extra! Extra! Unless you are a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Three former hoopers from Louisiana universities - Walker Cress (LSU), Lee Smith (Northwestern State) and Cecil Upshaw (Centenary) - made N.L. pitching news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 1

• California Angels RHP Mike Barlow (basketball player for Syracuse from 1967-68 through 1969-70) won his lone start in 1977, yielding only two hits in seven innings in a 4-1 decision over the Kansas City Royals.

• Brooklyn Dodgers rookie RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) won 1952 World Series opener with six-hit, complete-game triumph (4-2 against New York Yankees). Black's only two starts during the regular season were his final two of 56 appearances.

• RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) incurred loss for the Brooklyn Dodgers when they dropped first-ever N.L. playoff in 1946 at St. Louis, which got three hits from C Joe Garagiola.

• 1B Herb Conyers (second-leading scorer for Central Missouri State in 1941-42 when earning All-MIAA first-team recognition) clobbered a homer during an eighth-inning, five-run rally to help propel the Cleveland Indians to 7-5 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1950.

• Cincinnati Reds RHP Walker Cress (Louisiana State hoops letterman from 1936-37 through 1938-39) hurled a complete game but lost his lone MLB decision (2-1 against Pittsburgh Pirates in 1948).

• Chicago White Sox RHP Charles "Slim" Embrey (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) appeared in his lone MLB game in 1923.

• After having only 66 regular-season at-bats, Chicago White Sox backup 3B Sammy Esposito (averaged 7 ppg in 1951-52 as starting guard under Indiana coach Branch McCracken) batted twice in an 11-0 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 World Series opener.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1985 contest against the Toronto Blue Jays en route to an A.L.-high 40 round-trippers.

• Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper for Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) collected six RBI in an 8-4 win against the San Francisco Giants in 1980.

• San Francisco Giants RHP Bob Garibaldi (starting forward averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg for Santa Clara in 1961-62) lost his lone MLB start (9-4 against San Diego Padres in 1969).

• Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as senior in 1956-57) went the distance winning his last three decisions of the 1961 campaign, including two shutouts (three-hitter and one-hitter).

• Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) registered a hold in Game 2 of 2003 NLDS against the Chicago Cubs. He was unscored upon in his first five NLDS relief appearances.

• In the first game ever broadcast live coast-to-coast, RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) notched a career-high 17th triumph for the New York Giants in opener of 1951 N.L. playoff series against Branca and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Supporting Hearn with a homer was LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s).

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 4-for-4 in a 1986 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) contributed three hits and three RBI in an 8-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of 1955 World Series.

• Wally Kopf (Dartmouth hoops letterman in 1919) collected his lone MLB hit, a single with the New York Giants as substitute for Hall of Fame third baseman Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain), in the nightcap of 1921 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• Cincinnati Reds RF Earle "Greasy" Neale (West Virginia Wesleyan College hooper graduated in 1915) contributed three hits in a 9-1 success against the Chicago White Sox in opener of 1919 World Series.

• In his third start in five days, RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-1, in 1950 as Whiz Kids clinched the Philadelphia Phillies' first pennant in 35 years. Roberts became first 20-game winner for the Phils since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1917.

• RHP Charlie Robertson (Austin College TX hooper before joining U.S. Army during WWI) selected by the Boston Braves from Milwaukee (American Association) in 1926 Rule 5 draft.

• In a 1970 game, New York Mets rookie LF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) supplied the only two hits (both doubles) off Chicago Cubs standout Ferguson Jenkins.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) established N.L. record for most saves in a single season in 1991.

• In 1954, OF Ted Tappe (leading scorer in 1949 NJCAA Tournament was Washington State's third-leading scorer the next year in 1949-50) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago Cubs in a deal involving RHP Jim Willis (Northwestern State letterman in late 1940s).

• In his MLB debut, Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) tossed three hitless innings of relief against the Cincinnati Reds in 1966.

• St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) played the entire schedule in 1963.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, 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 do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the 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 September 30 in football at the professional level:

SEPTEMBER 30

• Boston Redskins RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) contributed a 75-yard rushing touchdown against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1934 game. A 22-yard TD catch by Paul Riblett (Penn hoops letterman in early 1930s) from Chris Cagle (four-year letterman for USL and Army in mid-1920s) in fourth quarter gave the Dodgers a 10-6 win.

• Kansas City Chiefs DE Buck Buchanan (earned hoops letter as Grambling freshman in 1958-59) intercepted a pass in 16-3 win against the Oakland Raiders in 1973.

• Pittsburgh Steelers HB Lynn Chandnois (forward scored 15 points in 11 games for Michigan State in 1946-47 and 1947-48) scored three touchdowns - two rushing/one receiving - in a 30-13 win against the Washington Redskins in 1956 season opener.

• Dallas Texans QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three second-half touchdown passes in a 41-21 AFL win against the Buffalo Bills in 1962.

• Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) kicked a 47-yard field goal for the game's only score in 3-0 win against the Buffalo All-Americans in 1923.

• 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 of his NFL-high 16 touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 38-17 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2013. Five years later with the Green Bay Packers, Graham opened the game's scoring with a TD pass reception from Aaron Rodgers in 22-0 victory against the Buffalo Bills in 2018.

• Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes in a 33-27 setback against the New York Jets in 1979.

• Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 34-23 win against the Denver Broncos in 2002.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) caught 10 passes for 169 yards in a 37-34 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2018.

• Denver Broncos QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 326 yards in a 33-14 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1973.

• Washington Redskins DB Joe Lavender (averaged 13.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) had two interceptions in a 16-7 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1979.

• Baltimore Colts TE Dee Mackey (All-Lone Star Conference first-team hoops selection for East Texas State and member of NAIA All-Tournament team as senior) had a career-high five pass receptions in 29-20 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1962.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Bill Mackrides (Nevada-Reno hoops letterman in 1944) opened game's scoring with a 22-yard touchdown pass in 17-14 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1951 season opener.

• Kansas City Chiefs LB Ken McAlister (averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.2 rpg for San Francisco from 1978-79 through 1981-82) had 2 1/2 sacks and returned an interception 22 yards in 10-6 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1984.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw three first-half touchdown passes in a 40-18 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2001.

• Baltimore Colts TE Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) opened game's scoring with a touchdown pass reception from Bert Jones in 14-10 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1973.

• Chicago Hornets B Ray Ramsey (Bradley's top hoops scorer in 1941-42 and 1942-43) had a 77-yard touchdown reception in 42-24 AAFC setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1949.

• Dallas Cowboys rookie RB Larry Robinson (All-SEC third-team hoops selection as Tennessee senior in 1972-73) rushed twice for 17 yards in a 45-10 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.

• Washington Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two first-half touchdown passes to Bobby Mitchell in a 24-14 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, 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 do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the 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 September 29 in football at the professional level:

SEPTEMBER 29

• DE Doug Atkins (center was Tennessee's third-leading scorer with 9.9 ppg in 1950-51) concluded the Chicago Bears' scoring by recording a safety in 37-21 win against the Detroit Lions in 1963.

• Cleveland Browns TE Jordan Cameron (redshirt freshman forward for Brigham Young in 2006-07 before playing briefly for Southern California in 2008-09 under coach Tim Floyd) had 10 pass receptions for 91 yards in 17-6 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013.

• Los Angeles Dons rookie WR Len Ford (center for Morgan State's CIAA hoops titlist in 1944) supplied the go-ahead score with a touchdown catch in 20-10 AAFC win against the New York Yankees in 1948.

• San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught 10 passes for 136 yards in a 30-21 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.

• Cincinnati Bengals DT Oliver Gibson (Notre Dame hooper in 1990-91) had an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 contest. 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 three TD passes in 35-7 win against the Bengals.

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught seven passes for 140 yards - including three touchdowns from Trent Green - in a 48-30 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2002. Eleven years later with the Atlanta Falcons, Gonzalez caught 12 passes for 149 yards - including two TDs - in a 30-23 setback against the New England Patriots in 2013.

• New York Giants rookie Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted six times for a 48-yard average in 14-6 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1974.

• Chicago Bears E Luke Johnsos (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1927 and 1928) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 23-7 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1935.

• Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) returned a punt 79 yards for touchdown in 52-25 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2002.

• Philadelphia Eagles DB Joe Lavender (averaged 13.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) returned an interception 37 yards for touchdown in 30-10 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1974.

• RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) accounted for the Cleveland Browns' only touchdown with a 55-yard halfback pass in 29-7 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.

• New York Yanks QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw four touchdown passes in a 44-21 win against the Detroit Lions in 1950.

• In his pro debut, Detroit Lions E Ivan Schottel (three-year hoops letterman for Northwest Missouri State from 1940 through 1942) caught a 70-yard touchdown pass in 34-14 setback against the Chicago Cardinals in 1946 season opener.

• 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 seven pass receptions for 169 yards in a 14-10 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1963.

• Buffalo Bisons E Al Vandeweghe (William & Mary hoops letterman in 1942 and 1943) scored a touchdown on eight-yard pass reception in 21-21 AAFC tie against the Los Angeles Dons in 1946.

• New York Jets DE Marvin Washington (played in 1985 NCAA Tournament with UTEP under coach Don Haskins before averaging 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho under Tim Floyd in 1987-88) had two sacks in a 41-23 win against the Miami Dolphins in 1991.

• Detroit Lions 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 20-yard rushing touchdown for game's lone score in 6-0 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1940.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, 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 do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the 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 September 28 in football at the professional level:

SEPTEMBER 28

• Rookie E Neill Armstrong (played one hoops game under legendary Oklahoma A&M coach Hank Iba in 1944) caught a 29-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for the Philadelphia Eagles' final score in 45-42 win against the Washington Redskins in 1947 season opener. Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (TCU three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw five touchdown passes - three of them at least 36 yards. Redskins B Dick Poillon (Canisius hooper in early 1940s) caught a 57-yard TD pass from Baugh. In his NFL debut as E, teammate Hugh Taylor (led OCU in scoring with 11.4 ppg as senior in 1947) caught three TD passes from Baugh and amassed 212 yards receiving.

• Chicago Bears TE Martellus Bennett (averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.5 rpg as Texas A&M freshman in 2005-06 before playing hoops briefly next season under coach Billy Gillispie) had nine pass receptions for a career-high 134 yards in 38-17 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 2014.

• San Francisco 49ers HB J.R. Boone (hoops teammate of eventual NFL executive Jim Finks for Tulsa in 1947-48) caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Frankie Albert in 17-3 win against the Detroit Lions in 1952 season opener.

• Chicago Bears QB Jack Concannon (grabbed one rebound in one Boston College basketball contest in 1961-62) threw two touchdown passes in a 20-17 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969.

• Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three first-half touchdown passes in a 48-3 AFL win against the Miami Dolphins in 1968. Two years later, Dawson threw four TD passes in a 44-24 NFL win against the Baltimore Colts in 1970.

• Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) opened the game's scoring with a 52-yard field goal (longest in NFL for nearly 30 years) in 17-7 win against the Milwaukee Badgers in 1924 season opener.

• 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 five passes for 106 yards - including two touchdowns from Jeff George - in a 35-17 win against the St. Louis Rams in 1997.

• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Jim Finks (led Tulsa with 8.9 ppg as sophomore in 1946-47) rushed for two touchdowns in a 31-25 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1952 season opener. Eagles E Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) opened the game's scoring with an 84-yard TD reception.

• Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting hoops center for Michigan in 1944) caught a touchdown pass in all four quarters from Norm Van Brocklin in 54-14 win against the New York Yanks in 1951 season opener.

• 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 28-19 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997.

• Minnesota Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) passed for 449 yards and seven touchdowns - including 83 and 42 yards to Gene Washington - in a 52-14 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1969.

• San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 31-16 win against the Miami Dolphins in 1986.

• WR Bob McChesney (Hardin-Simmons TX hoops letterman in 1945-46) scored the New York Giants' first touchdown by catching a 26-yard pass from Charlie Conerly in 24-6 win against the Dallas Texans in 1952 season opener.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 335 yards - including five touchdowns (four to Ben Hawkins) - in a 41-27 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969.

• Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw three touchdown passes - including game winner in overtime - in a 37-31 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.

• Dallas Cowboys P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection for Tennessee averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted six times for 278 yards (46.3 average) in a 21-17 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1969.

• Staten Island Stapletons B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) threw two touchdown passes in a 21-0 win against the Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1930.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, 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 do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the 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 September 27 in football at the professional level:

SEPTEMBER 27

• In his NFL debut, New York Giants rookie E O'Neal Adams (three-year Arkansas hoops letterman was third-leading scorer in 1941 when Razorbacks lost against Washington State in NCAA Tournament national semifinals) returned an interception 66 yards for the decisive score in 14-7 win against the Washington Redskins in 1942 season opener. Giants E Will Walls (starting forward for TCU for three years from 1935 through 1937) opened the game's scoring with a 50-yard touchdown pass reception.

• Boston Braves RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) provided the go-ahead score with a 68-yard rushing touchdown in 14-3 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1936.

• Detroit Lions E Cloyce Box (combined with twin brother Boyce to help West Texas win Border Conference hoops title in 1943) caught five passes for 143 yards in a 38-21 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1953 season opener. Steelers E Elbie Nickel (Cincinnati's second-leading scorer in 1942 also earned hoop letter in 1947) had two touchdown receptions.

• New York Giants E Glenn Campbell (Emporia State KS hooper) opened game's scoring with a 30-yard touchdown catch in 14-6 win against the Providence Steam Roller in 1931 season opener. E Al Rose (Texas hoops letterman from 1928 through 1930) had Providence's lone TD with a blocked punt return.

• Frankfort Yellow Jackets rookie B Clyde Crabtree (Florida hoops letterman in 1928 and 1929) rushed for game's only touchdown in a 7-3 win against the Staten Island Stapletons in 1930.

• Philadelphia Eagles HB Bob Davis (Kentucky hoops letterman in 1937 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) capped off game's scoring with a 21-yard touchdown catch in 35-14 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942. Eagles FB Bert Johnson (played one hoops game in 1934-35 under Rupp) had a 65-yard TD reception.

• New York Giants DB Percy Ellsworth (appeared in all four of Virginia's NCAA tourney contests for 1995 Midwest Regional finalist) had two interceptions - including one for touchdown - in a 34-16 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1998.

• Chicago Bears 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 in a 30-26 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Teammate Demetrius Harris (led Milwaukee in FG% and rebounding as senior in 2012-13) chipped in with three pass receptions.

• Detroit Lions E Chuck Hanneman (three-year Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in mid-1930s) caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Whizzer White (two-time all-conference first-team selection averaged 6.8 ppg for Colorado from 1935-36 through 1937-38), tying the score in 14-14 result with the Chicago Cardinals in 1941.

• Chicago Cardinals QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 49-21 win against the Washington Redskins in 1959 season opener.

• Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) had 10 pass receptions in a 26-23 setback against the Detroit Lions in 2020.

• Jacksonville Jaguars TE Damon Jones (averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg for Southern Illinois in 1995-96 under coach Rich Herrin) caught a touchdown pass from Mark Brunell in his second consecutive contest in 1998.

• Washington Redskins DB Joe Lavender (averaged 13.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) had two interceptions in a 20-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976.

• San Francisco 49ers rookie DB Ronnie Lott (USC hooper as junior in 1979-80) returned an interception 26 yards for fourth-quarter touchdown in 21-14 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1981.

• Chicago Bears B Ray Nolting (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1936) scored two touchdowns (39-yard rush and 35-yard fumble recovery return) in a 44-28 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1942 season opener.

• B Kink Richards (Simpson IA hoops letterman) had the New York Giants' lone touchdown with a 59-yard scamper following lateral in 10-7 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1936.

• Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) had 10 pass receptions for 177 yards - including three touchdowns - in a 41-31 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1992.

• 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 eight pass receptions for 149 yards in a 38-17 AFL setback against the Houston Oilers in 1964.

• In 1953 season opener, San Francisco 49ers E Billy Wilson (averaged 3.3 ppg as senior letterman for San Jose State in 1950-51) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle in a 31-21 win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Order in the courtroom - here come de judge!" This mantra, a familiar refrain decades ago to fans of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, is associated with African-American comedians Sammy Davis Jr. and Flip Wilson playing magistrate with black robe and powdered wig.

Flipping off reality with half a peace sign amid refusing to meet with nominee, deranged #Dimorats likely will again be bigger joke than Davis' entertaining Rat Pack slapstick at Judiciary Committee nomination hearing involving Amy Coney Barrett. Leftist lunatics exhibited their true contemptible colors two years ago in similar freak-show proceeding defecating in public on Brett Kavanaugh. Dismissive diva Dianne Feinstein, a foolish fossil farce with which to be reckoned (COVID masks for thee but not for me), probably already has received intel from next Dr. Blah-Blah-Blah Fraud about unseemly incident at mysterious residence known only in myopic magistrate stalker Alyssa Milano's feeble brain. Meanwhile, CNN/MSNBC haughty hosts howling for misfit Michael #Avenaughty as President may have another creepy porn lawyer client handy to fictitiously claim firsthand knowledge regarding nominee participating in gang rape of Catholic males at "Handmaid's Tale" themed sorority party.

As for college basketball packing the court, a striking number of former hoopers are party to honorably performing judgeship role in real life. The state of Florida flaunts a triune tribunal of ex-players judged as vital for Florida, Florida State and Miami among the following alphabetical list going from the hardwood court to hard-fisted court of law:

JAMES "JEB" BOASBERG, Yale
In 2011, he was appointed U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia. Boasberg served as Presiding Judge of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2020 and 2021. In late April 2012, he ruled the public had no right to view government photographs of a deceased Osama Bin Laden. . . . The 6-5 Boasberg averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85.

FRANK BURGESS, Gonzaga
Appointed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, he served as U.S. District Court Judge in Tacoma, Wash., until passing away in spring of 2010. . . . All-American guard averaged 28.2 ppg and 7.6 rpg from 1958-59 through 1960-61. Selected in the third round of the 1961 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of rebounder deluxe Bill Bridges (Kansas).

ED CAHN, Lehigh
After graduating Magna Cum Laude, he became a chief judge in Philadelphia from 1993 until retiring at the end of 1998, responsible for overseeing 35 federal district judges. He was nominated by President Gerald Ford in late November 1974 to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. . . . First player in Lehigh history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Cahn, who earned second-team All-Pennsylvania honors, became his alma mater's all-time leading scorer in only his junior season (1953-54).

BOBBY CONRAD JR., Clemson
In 2003, he was nominated to a federal judgeship (Western District of North Carolina) by President George Bush and served in that capacity until 2013. He had been instrumental in prosecuting supporters of a Hezbollah terrorist cell in the state. Conrad was scrutinized after sentencing a black man to life in prison for selling marijuana. . . . Illinois native averaged 4.7 ppg and 3.5 apg from 1976-77 through 1979-80. He led the Tigers in assists as a junior and senior. His son, Branden, played for South Carolina in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

STEVE EHLMANN, Furman
Circuit judge in St. Charles County (Mo.) until January, 2004, when he became the county's Director of Administration. Two years later, Ehlmann was elected County Executive. Previously, he served in the Missouri House of Representatives for four years and the Missouri Senate for eight years (serving two terms as Republican floor leader). . . . Forward averaged 1.4 ppg and 0.9 rpg in 36 games from 1970-71 through 1972-73. Played briefly in 1971 NCAA playoffs against Digger Phelps-coached Fordham.

HAROLD "JIM" ELLIS, Santa Clara
Appointed as a San Mateo County judge in 1988, where he served for more than 20 years. . . . Played seven games for the Broncos in 1962-63.

MARK FILLEY, Williams (Mass.)
Family court judge in his hometown of Troy, N.Y., from 1954 to 1971. . . . Filley played hoops in college in the early 1930s. Righthander appeared in one MLB game as a reliever for the Washington Senators in 1934.

RON GAGNON, Providence
Appointed Associate Judge of the Rhode Island Superior Court in early 1988 before retiring from the bench in 2003. . . . Gagnon averaged 2 ppg for PC in 1950-51 and 1951-52.

HERB GALCHINSKY, Denver
Spent 16 years as Denver County Court judge. Mandatory retirement at 72 didn't prompt Galchinsky, nicknamed "Herby the Love Judge" by co-workers, to relinquish his weekend passion of performing weddings. "You get to see happy people for a change," he said. "You see a lot of things that are nasty in the courthouse. It's good for me to see happy people at the wedding and reception." . . . The 6-1 Galchinsky averaged 5.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg from 1957-58 through 1959-60.

EARLE GIBBONS, California
In 1969, Governor Ronald Reagan appointed him as a Municipal Court Judge. . . . Gibbons averaged 2.6 ppg for Cal from 1948-49 through 1950-51.

PAUL "BILL" GLENN, Florida State
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for more than 25 years. . . . Averaged 10.9 ppg and 5 rpg for FSU in 1965-66 and 1966-67. Team MVP as top scorer in coach Hugh Durham's first season with the Seminoles.

PAUL GRANT, Utah
At the age of 33, he was elected a city court judge. Eventually, Grant rose to the circuit court, where he earned a reputation as a decisive, no-nonsense judge with quick, dry wit. At the age of 56, he retired and moved to Wyoming in 1992. "I expected to stay on the bench for eight years, but there's the tyranny of the paycheck," Grant said. . . . Following a Mormon Church mission, Grant played sparingly for the Utes in 1958-59 under Hall of Fame coach Jack Gardner before quitting to enter law school. Father of 12 including three NCAA Division I players (Greg/18.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2 spg for Utah State from 1982-83 through 1985-86; Nate/5.7 ppg and 4.1 rpg for Utah State in 1985-86 and 1986-87, and Josh/15.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.5 spg for Utah from 1988-89 through 1992-93). Greg (Big West in 1986) and Josh (WAC in 1991 and 1993) were conference MVPs.

FRED GREEN, Illinois
Republican was elected as a County Judge in 1956 and Circuit Judge in 1964. He became an Appellate Judge in 1974, retiring in 1998. . . . Green averaged 6.2 ppg for the Illini's national third-place team in 1949 under Harry Combes.

JACK HEKKER, Georgetown
Municipal Judge in South Nyack, N.Y., for 24 years and two years as a judge in Orangetown, N.Y. He was appointed by Gov. George Pataki to serve on New York State Industrial Board of Appeals. . . . Hekker averaged 3.6 ppg with the Hoyas from 1950-51 through 1952-53.

BILL JOHNSON, Dartmouth
Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1985 to 1999. Chairman of the N.H. Republican party from 1964 to 1966. . . . Scored eight points in 13 games in 1950-51.

MARC KELLY, Notre Dame
Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County in California since 2000. In the spring of 2015, the County Board of supervisors formally demanded his resignation following a decision to give less than half the mandatory sentenced to a man who sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl. But a grassroots recall effort fizzled following organizers failing to secure enough signatures to put a recall measure on the June 2016 ballot. . . . Collected 20 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists and 6 steals in 45 games from 1978-79 through 1981-82 under coach Digger Phelps.

JOHN KIRWAN, Detroit
Elected to Wayne County (MI) Circuit Court from which he retired in 1998 after more than 40 years of public service. . . . Team leader in scoring in 1948-49, member of the Titans' first-ever 20-win team as junior (1949-50) and All-Missouri Valley Conference second-team selection as senior.

ROSS KRUMM, Gettysburg (Pa.)
Serving from 1986 to 2012, he was chief judge for U.S. bankruptcy court/Western District of Virginia. . . . Averaged 4.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg from 1965-66 through 1967-68.

FRED LEWIS, Florida Southern
Justice on the Florida Supreme Court from end of 1998 to early 2019. . . . The 5-10 Lewis, born to a coal mining family in West Virginia, averaged 6.9 ppg from 1965-66 through 1968-69.

PLUMMER LOTT, Seattle
Justice for the Supreme Court of Kings County in Brooklyn from 1996 to early 2009, presiding primarily over felony cases. One of the best-know cases involved a con man who posed as film legend Sidney Poitier's son, inspiring the play Six Degrees of Separation and a 1994 film adaptation of the same name. Appointed as a Justice of the Appellate Division in spring of 2009. . . . Averaged 9.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg for SU from 1964-65 through 1966-67. As a senior, he grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in 62-54 defeat against defending champion Texas Western in West Regional of NCAA tourney.

ARNOLD LYNCH, Austin Peay State
District Judge in Kentucky for more than 12 years before hanging up robe in late 2014. . . . Averaged 1.1 ppg and 1.3 rpg in 16 games for APSU in 1974-75.

L. CASEY MANNING, South Carolina
Circuit Court Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in South Carolina since 1994. Served as Assistant Attorney General for the state of South Carolina for five years (1983-88) and Chief of Prosecutions (1988 and 1989). In the spring of 2014, some observers think Manning took a "flop" on wrong court with a ruling establishing criminal immunity for legislators. . . . Averaged 2.4 ppg for three NCAA tourney teams from 1970-71 through 1972-73 under coach Frank McGuire.

JOE BILLY McDADE, Bradley
Senior U.S. District Court Judge in Central Illinois since end of February 2010. . . . Averaged 9.8 ppg and 7.2 rpg for BU from 1956-57 through 1958-59 for three NIT teams.

DENNIS McGUIRE, DePaul
Judge on Cook County 11th Subcircuit in Illinois since 2002. . . . The 6-8 McGuire averaged 2.1 ppg and 1.5 rpg for the Blue Demons from 1977-78 through 1980-81 under coach Ray Meyer, appearing in 1979 Final Four.

TYRONE MEDLEY, Utah
Utah's first black judge (appointed to Fifth District Court in late 1984) served on the bench until retiring in summer of 2012. . . . Averaged 11 ppg and 2 rpg for the Utes from 1971-72 through 1973-74 under coach Bill E. Foster. As a senior, he averaged 16.4 ppg was for their NIT champion.

MICHAEL F. MULLEN, Fairfield
In January 1987, he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Claims by New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo and for 20 years sat in the Supreme Court, Suffolk County. He was described by the New York Post as "a fair, no-nonsense, scholarly jurist who doesn't like cases to drag on." . . . Collected 18 points and 10 rebounds with the Stags in seven games in 1958-59.

JOEL NOVAK, Iowa
Appointed as a 5th Judicial District Court trial judge in August 1979, serving in that capacity until September 2017. . . . Averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg with the Hawkeyes in 1960-61 and 1961-62 as teammate of All-American Don Nelson.

ANDY OWENS, Florida
Appointed judge for the state's 12th Judicial Circuit in 1983, serving on the bench until spring of 2017. . . . Averaged 19 ppg and 8.3 rpg with the Gators from 1967-68 through 1969-70. As an All-SEC first-team selection, he scored career-high 41 points in game against Mississippi State his senior season.

KENNETH RYSKAMP, Miami (Fla.)
Federal judge who presided over cases in the U.S. Southern District of Florida for more than three decades following President Ronald Reagan's nomination in 1986. President George H.W. Bush twice nominated Ryskamp to the appellate court, but he was defeated both times after senators, including Joe Biden and Bob Graham, raised questions about his sensitivity to minority groups. . . . The 6-6 Ryskamp averaged a team-high 9.5 rpg with the Hurricanes in 1954-55 under coach Bruce Hale.

DERWIN WEBB, Louisville
First African-American to serve as a judge solely in Louisville's Family Court in the history of Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was publicly reprimanded by the Kentucky Supreme Court for an error in private practice causing a former female client to be married to two men at the same time. . . . Webb averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.7 rpg with the Cardinals from 1989-90 through 1992-93 under coach Denny Crum.

BYRON "WHIZZER" WHITE, Colorado
United States Supreme Court Justice for 32 years after being appointed by President Kennedy in 1962. White, a dissenter in the 7-2 Roe vs. Wade ruling, was known for his regard for the power of Congress. On the bench, White was a fierce questioner who seemed to revel in backing a lawyer into a corner. White's most controversial verdict was his 1986 majority opinion upholding Georgia's ban on consensual homosexual conduct. . . . College Football Hall of Famer finished second in the 1937 Heisman Trophy voting after rushing for a national-leading 1,121 yards, passing for 475, returning punts and kickoffs for 746, punting for a 42.5-yard average, intercepting four passes and scoring a nation-leading 122 points. Played three seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1938) and Detroit Lions (1940 and 1941). He led the NFL in rushing in 1938 and 1940 and in punt returns in 1941. White was one of the first big-money players, making $15,800 as a rookie. In a low-scoring era of basketball, he averaged 6.8 ppg for the Buffaloes in conference play in three varsity seasons (1935-36 through 1937-38). White scored 10 points in 1938 NIT championship game when Colorado was defeated by Temple, 60-36. He was a third-team all-league selection as a sophomore (7.7 ppg in Rocky Mountain) and first team as a junior (RMC) and senior (Mountain States). After CU's 48-47 victory over NYU in 1938 NIT semifinals, the New York Times wrote that "White was the guiding genius of the team and its steadying influence. The Rhodes Scholar, with a build as solid as an oak tree, was all-powerful on defense and an excellent shot when he chose."

PAUL "HOOKS" YESAWICH JR., Niagara
New York Judge served as a member of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court/First Judicial Department from 1974 to 1981. . . . Four-year letterman averaged 8.6 ppg as a senior in 1947-48 under coach Taps Gallagher. Yesawich's college career was interrupted by serving as officer in U.S. Navy during WWII. He was deployed on attack cargo ship participating in largest amphibious assault of conflict at Okinawa.

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

A pair of former Iowa small-college hoopers - Larry Biittner (Buena Vista) and Paul Splittorff (Morningside) - supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-Oregon hoopers Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee and Fred "Moon" Mullen. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 26 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 26

• New York Yankees rookie SS Frank Baker (Southern Mississippi basketball letterman in 1965-66 and 1966-67) banged out three hits for second consecutive contest against the Detroit Tigers in 1970.

• In 1972, Milwaukee Brewers RHP Jerry Bell (Belmont hooper in 1965-66 and 1966-67) posted his fifth victory in as many decisions in the span of a month.

• Cleveland Indians RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a four-hit shutout in his MLB debut against the Philadelphia Athletics in nightcap of 1925 doubleheader. He also collected two hits.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1924 doubleheader.

• Chicago Cubs LF Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1966-67 for Buena Vista IA) supplied three extra-base hits in a 10-7 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1977.

• In midst of four-game hitting streak, Boston Red Sox C Danny Doyle (averaged 6.8 ppg for Oklahoma A&M in late 1930s and 1944 under Hall of Fame coach Hank Iba) reached base four times against the Detroit Tigers with a single and three walks in opener of 1943 twinbill.

• Chicago White Sox SS Sammy Esposito (averaged 7 ppg in 1951-52 as starting guard under Indiana coach Branch McCracken), who hit .207 in his 10-year MLB career, went 3-for-3 against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1958 game.

• Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) stroked three extra-base hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1972 contest.

• Intended as a sacrifice, Hall of Fame C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hooper in mid-1920s) contributed a bunt single in 1941 that was only hit for the St. Louis Browns against Cleveland Indians P Bob Feller.

• Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) had his no-hit bid end with two outs in ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians in 1978.

• St. Louis Browns rookie LF Joe Gallagher (Manhattan varsity hooper in 1934-35) slugged three homers in a 1939 doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected five extra-base hits, five runs and nine RBI in a 1934 twinbill sweep of the Chicago White Sox.

• In 1954, 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered his 25th homer at Ebbets Field (new Brooklyn Dodgers single-season record). Hodges also finished the year with a MLB-high 18 sacrifice flies.

• New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) delivered three extra-base hits and four of his N.L.-high 121 RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1951 game.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) made his 71st relief appearance of the 1950 campaign. It was a MLB record (subsequently broken).

• In a 1986 outing, Toronto Blue Jays DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's junior varsity team in 1975-76) went 3-for-3 against Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) capped off his 1954 Rookie of the Year season with an 11th-inning, two-run homer at Milwaukee.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie 2B Moon Mullen (backup guard for Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team winning inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939) scored career-high three runs in nightcap of 1944 doubleheader when tying his career-long hitting streak of eight games in a row.

• Milwaukee Brewers rookie DH John Poff (member of Duke's freshman basketball squad in 1970-71) contributed a career-high three hits in 10-7 win against the Oakland Athletics in 1980.

• RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years he attended Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) purchased from the Boston Braves by the Cincinnati Reds in 1949.

• In 1951, Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons for UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) annoyed the Boston Braves by stealing home with a 13-3 lead in the eighth inning.

• New York Yankees LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU hoop teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) fired his third three-hit shutout of the 1941 campaign.

• Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) won his fifth straight start to finish the 1973 season with 20 victories.

• Pittsburgh Pirates starting RHP Jim Umbricht (Georgia hoops captain in 1951-52) lost his MLB debut (against Cincinnati Reds in 1959).

• Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) smacked two homers against the Washington Senators in a 1954 game.

• San Francisco Giants CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) went 4-for-4 against the San Diego Padres in a 2005 contest.

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former hoopers from four current Pac-12 Conference members - Taylor Douthit (California), Mark Hendrickson (Washington State), Hank Leiber (Arizona) and Gary Sutherland (Southern California) - supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 25 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 25

• Philadelphia Phillies LHP Stan Baumgartner (played for University of Chicago's Big Ten Conference basketball champion in 1913-14) toiled 10 innings for his first MLB victory, a 3-2 nod over the Chicago Cubs in 1914.

• St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) banged out four hits in the nightcap of a 1936 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

• INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) traded by the Milwaukee Braves to New York Mets in 1965 to complete an earlier deal.

• Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) had his 53-inning scoreless streak ended by the Chicago White Sox in 1910.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) contributed four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1930 game.

• In one of his eight multiple-hit contests in a nine-game span, Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (hoops captain played for Valparaiso from 1918-19 through 1920-21) manufactured four safeties in a 10-9 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of 1929 twinbill.

• Toronto Blue Jays rookie LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 selection was Washington State's leading rebounder each season from 1992-93 through 1995-96) won his last three starts in 2002 after debuting as MLB starter earlier in the month with a no-decision, yielding only three earned runs in 26 innings in those four assignments. Three years later, Hendrickson won his seventh straight verdict with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2005.

• Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) tossed a shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965, raising his season strikeout total of 356.

• In his only MLB pitching appearance, New York Giants OF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) hurled a complete game in a 9-1 setback against the Philadelphia Phillies in nightcap of 1942 doubleheader. Teammate Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) earned win in the opener, 6-3.

• Boston Red Sox CF Jerry Mallett (two-time All-SWC first-team selection averaged 15.3 ppg and 12.7 rpg for Baylor from 1954-55 through 1956-57) supplied two of his four MLB hits and lone RBI in a 10-4 victory against the Washington Senators in 1959.

• Cincinnati Reds SS Nolen Richardson (Georgia hoops captain in 1925-26 as All-Southern Conference Tournament selection) went 3-for-3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1938 contest.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) registered his 28th victory in 1952, completing 30th game in 37 starts.

• Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) provided his fifth straight multiple-hit game in 1968.

• Finishing regular season with four consecutive holds, LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) went unscored upon in his 18 relief appearances with the Washington Nationals after acquisition from the New York Yankees.

• In the midst of an eight-game hitting streak, San Francisco Giants 1B Desi Wilson (Fairleigh Dickinson's all-time leading scorer was Northeast Conference player of the year in 1989-90) homered against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1996.

• Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) went 6-for-9 in a 1949 twinbill split against the Philadelphia Athletics. He was issued at least one walk in each of his previous eight contests. Eleven years later with the Detroit Tigers, Yost homered twice in a 1960 game against same franchise but based in Kansas City.

• Detroit Tigers 1B John Young (played hoops sparingly for Chapman CA in late 1960s) went 2-for-3 in his lone MLB start (against New York Yankees in 1971).