Centers of Attention: Will Frosh Okafor Be More Like Davis or Drummond?

November 14th, 2014 - 20:49

Regal recruit Jahlil Okafor, designated preseason national player of the year in some quarters, hit 9 of 10 field-goal attempts for Duke as the Blue Devils hosed the Presbyterian Blue Hose, 113-44, in their season opener. But Okafor (19 points/6 rebounds) still needs to compete against quality competition for observers to try to gauge his potential. Will Okafor's first-season impact be more like Anthony Davis, the national player of the year two seasons ago when he sparked Kentucky to an NCAA title, or Andre Drummond, who averaged a modest 10 ppg and 7.6 rpg for Connecticut as the disappointing Huskies finished out of the 2011-12 final Top 25 polls?

Actually, textbook centers are becoming a rare breed. Time will tell if Davis or Okafor eventually deserve to be included among the premier pivotmen in college basketball history. By almost any measure, centers in the last 40 years don't seem to be anywhere close to duplicating feats that luminaries Lew Alcindor, Artis Gilmore, Bob Lanier, Jerry Lucas, Bill Russell and Bill Walton achieved in their initial varsity campaigns.

Similar to Navy's David Robinson in 1983-84, Drummond was scoreless in his season debut three years ago against Columbia. In a forgettable debut, Wake Forest's Tim Duncan was also scoreless in a season-opening loss to NCAA Division II Alaska-Anchorage in 1993-94 before rebounding with a 12-point, 12-rebound performance in his next outing against Hawaii.

Alcindor (77: 56 points/21 rebounds) and Chamberlain (83: 52 points/31 rebounds) each totaled more points and rebounds in their college game debut than Drummond, Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Nerlens Noel, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Robinson and Ralph Sampson amassed collectively. Following is a look at how many of the premier centers in history fared in their varsity debut against a major college and a summary of their first season of NCAA Division I competition:

Celebrated Center School First Varsity Season Debut Game PPG RPG W-L Mark
Nerlens Noel Kentucky 2012-13 4 points/9 rebounds 10.5 9.5 21-12
Anthony Davis Kentucky 2011-12 23 points/10 rebounds 14.2 10.4 38-2
Greg Oden Ohio State 2006-07 14 points/10 rebounds 15.7 9.6 35-4
Tim Duncan Wake Forest 1993-94 12 points/12 rebounds 9.8 9.6 21-12
Shaquille O'Neal Louisiana State 1989-90 10 points/5 rebounds 13.9 12.0 23-9
Alonzo Mourning Georgetown 1988-89 10 points/10 rebounds 13.1 7.3 29-5
David Robinson Navy 1983-84 scoreless/1 rebound 7.6 4.0 24-8
Hakeem Olajuwon Houston 1981-82 2 points/0 rebounds 8.3 6.5 25-8
Patrick Ewing Georgetown 1981-82 7 points/4 rebounds 12.7 8.5 30-7
Ralph Sampson Virginia 1979-80 4 points/6 rebounds 14.9 11.2 24-10
*Bill Walton UCLA 1971-72 19 points/14 rebounds 21.1 15.5 29-1
**Artis Gilmore Jacksonville 1969-70 35 points/18 rebounds 26.5 22.2 17-7
*Bob Lanier St. Bonaventure 1967-68 23 points/17 rebounds 26.2 15.6 23-2
*Lew Alcindor UCLA 1966-67 56 points/21 rebounds 29.0 15.5 30-0
*Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1959-60 16 points/28 rebounds 26.3 16.3 25-3
*Wilt Chamberlain Kansas 1956-57 52 points/31 rebounds 29.6 18.9 24-3
*Bill Russell San Francisco 1953-54 16 points/17 rebounds 19.9 19.2 14-7

*Sophomore classification.
**Junior classification after attending junior college.

Humble Pie: Will Memphis' Loss to Christian Brothers Send Tigers to Hell?

November 14th, 2014 - 19:57

"I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps." - Mahatma Gandhi

An exhibition game setback for Memphis against local Division II institution Christian Brothers was a generous dose of humility for the Tigers and coach Josh Pastner. But they can take some comfort from the fact that the inexplicable defeat won't formally count against their record. Tom Izzo-coached Michigan State (Grand Valley State MI prior to start of 2007-08 campaign) and Jim Boeheim-coached Syracuse (LeMoyne NY in 2009-10) each incurred the ignominy of succumbing against a small-school opponent in an exhibition contest before reaching an NCAA playoff regional semifinal by season's end. In 2010-11, Xavier participated in the NCAA tourney after bowing to Bellarmine KY. Actually, Pastner is in good company among mentors exposed to the humility described in Gandhi's quote.

Many of the biggest names in college coaching history had to recover from embarrassing defeats that aren't cited on their otherwise mostly-regal resumes. For instance, there are numerous mentors who captured NCAA championships despite losing to a small school at some point in their careers - Phog Allen (lost to Emporia State), Jim Calhoun (American International, Assumption, Brandeis, Bridgeport, Florida Southern, Merrimack, St. Anselm, Stonehill and Tufts), John Calipari (Florida Tech and Lowell), Denny Crum (Chaminade), Jim Harrick (Abilene Christian), Don Haskins (Louisiana College), Hank Iba (Abilene Christian and Westminster), George Ireland (Regis), Doggie Julian (Amherst, Colby, St. Anselm, St. Michael's, Springfield, Tampa and Williams), Mike Krzyzewski (King's, Scranton and SUNY-Buffalo), Rollie Massimino (New Orleans and Philadelphia Textile), Al McGuire (Evansville and Washington MO), Rick Pitino (Adelphi), Nolan Richardson Jr. (American-Puerto Rico), Norman Sloan (Presbyterian), John Thompson Jr. (Assumption, Gannon, Randolph-Macon and Roanoke) and Jim Valvano (Armstrong State, Bloomsburg, Gannon, Tampa and Wilkes).

Another power conference reversal in exhibition play this season was Texas Tech against Texas A&M-Commerce. In 2003-04, CBC defeated a DI university (Troy State) during the regular season. Kansas' Bill Self lost 18 consecutive contests bridging the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons with Oral Roberts but at least he didn't lose a decision to a non-Division I institution. The following alphabetical list "retraces steps" of prominent coaches like former national COY Frank Haith this season who lost games to non-Division I colleges during their major-college careers:

Walking Tall: O'Neill Killed Usama Bin Laden But Who Tracked Him Down?

November 11th, 2014 - 22:31

Fox News carried a riveting two-part program featuring Navy SEAL Team 6 member Robert O'Neill (senior chief petty officer is recipient of two Silver and five Bronze Stars) as "The Man Who Killed Usama Bin Laden." Amid focusing on ridding Planet Earth of UBL, it seems we should also be celebrating an authentic hero from the college basketball ranks who was instrumental in tracking the terrorist down. But the selfless ex-athlete from a Midwest university hasn't "come out of the closet" for security reasons and might be underground with a fake identification unless, of course, ax-grinding Left Coast Sen. Dianne Feinstein rats him out amid her vendetta.

In the documentation about dispatching UBL to hell (equivalent status even if satisfying 72 virgins is what transpired), the White House unveiled a photograph of President Barack Obama and his Cabinet inside the Situation Room, watching the daring commando raid unfold on May 1, 2011. But POTUS (JV player for Occidental CA) apparently wasn't the tallest ex-college hoopster in the room. Standing just outside the frame of that famous pic was an anonymous Central Intelligence Agency officer ("CIA John") who pursued UBL as a dogmatic deputy chief and reportedly was also influential as one of the principal proponents of drone deterrence. Two days after the world's most-wanted man was transformed into marine treat when dumped into the North Arabian Sea, "CIA John" accompanied then CIA Director Leon Panetta to Capitol Hill, where the Senate Intelligence Committee received a full briefing on the mission.

According to AP accounts at the time, the meticulous senior intelligence analyst was the first individual to put in writing that a legitimate CIA lead had been assembled on possibly locating UBL. He spearheaded the collection of clues for nearly 10 years, leading the agency to a fortified compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and its epic counter-terrorism success. Our freedom-loving nation is eternally grateful that his manhunt accuracy as a deep-cover agent in pinpointing UBL's whereabouts stood in stark contrast to his free-throw marksmanship as a deep-bench player (barely over 30%) as a member of multiple NCAA playoff teams.

Box-office hit "Zero Dark Thirty" was an inspiring movie focusing on a young female CIA operative allegedly also from flyover country. She exhibited her tenacity, dedication and courage in primarily monitoring a vital courier for al-Qaeda's upper brass. According to Esquire, the shooter who killed UBL (subsequently acknowledged as Butte MT native O'Neill) gave the magazine out of his gun as a souvenir to bloodhound "Maya." While the film doesn't do justice to the male super spy, the patriot is likely to defer anyway to the concept "there is no 'I' in team." Naturally, Langley issued a perfunctory "no comment" because concern exists about publishing his name and running biographical details might make him a target for retribution.

Over the decades, there have been other notable "Secret Agent Men" in the CIA who were former college hoopsters. In fact, a Final Four player isn't required to hit a decisive basket or be selected Most Outstanding Player to be a hero. He doesn't even need to participate on the court. Bob Ames, a member of the Tom Gola-led La Salle teams in 1954 (national champion) and 1955 (runner-up to San Francisco), never got off the bench at the Final Four those two years although he was the only La Salle player to hit more than three-fourths of his free throws the season the Explorers won the NCAA title.

"Our coach, Ken Loeffler, only used seven guys, and Bob was the eighth man," said Frank Blatcher, a starter for the Explorers each season and their leading scorer with a total of 42 points at the Final Four on the championship team. "He had the talent. He just never got a chance to show it."

Ames, a pre-law major who scored a total of eight points in three NCAA playoff games in 1955, did have an opportunity to show his ability in another more vital endeavor, however. He joined the CIA and worked his way up the chain of command to become the Director of the CIA's Office of Analysis of the Near East and South Asia. "The Spy Who Loved Basketball" worked closely with both the Carter and Reagan administrations.

Regrettably, Ames was killed in Beirut in 1983. A truck loaded with TNT on a suicide mission rammed into the facility where Ames was staying while serving as a liaison trying to allay contacts among the Lebanese, Syrians and Israelis in hopes of calming the escalating discord.

"Here was a guy that turned out to have had a greater influence on our lives than just about any 1,000 other basketball players you can name," Blatcher said. "It just shows you that you don't have to be a star to accomplish something." Something like becoming a genuine American hero.

Elsewhere, the CIA's deputy director under George Bush in 1976 was Hank Knoche, the leading scorer in the Mountain States (Big Seven) Conference with 16.4 points per game for Colorado's 1946 NCAA Tournament team. Knoche, the father of former American University coach Chris Knoche, reputedly was the first player selected in the NBA's first college draft in 1947 after enrolling at Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) to play on a 16-4 team with two of his brothers. But he never appeared in the then-fledgling league, which doesn't have any official draft records prior to 1949. The franchise that selected him, the Pittsburgh Ironmen, folded shortly after the draft, and his rights reverted to the New York Knicks.

"I didn't know I was the first No. 1 pick until a writer from Atlanta called me for a story," Knoche said. "An NBA historian had informed him of my alleged status."

The elder Knoche, who went to live in the Denver area, chose not to play in an uncertain situation for little money. "I never received any contact from the Ironmen," he said. "The Knicks sent a contract offer in the mail, but it was for just $3,500 and that's if I made the team (many NBA standouts earn five times that amount every quarter).

"I chose to play industrial basketball, where I remember playing six times one year against seven-footer Bob Kurland (Oklahoma State three-time first-team All-American who never played in the NBA). That wasn't much fun going against Kurland because I was just a 6-4 center."

Knoche was recalled to the military during the Korean War, where he was assigned to intelligence work for the Navy and later embarked on a civilian career leading to a job with the CIA.

Another former college hoopster who carved out a CIA career was Pete Sivess, a center for Dickinson PA in 1935-36 before compiling a 7-11 record as a righthanded pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies in three years from 1936 through 1938. While Moe Berg is the most famous MLB player linked with the CIA, his career as a spy pales in comparison to baseball contemporary Sivess, who is credited with defining CIA policy for handling Eastern Bloc defectors. During the height of the Cold War, Sivess conducted a "first haven" on Maryland's Eastern Shore where defectors were shipped to be debriefed. Probably the highest-profile spy Sivess monitored was "notorious double agent" Nicholas Shadrin, who died on a trip to Vienna in 1975 in a kidnapping attempt by Moscow's counterspies.

In the shadowy world of the CIA, no precise clues exist as to whether a basketball background for "CIA John" contributed to helping POTUS develop a comfort-zone bond with him similar to other ex-college hoopsters in his inner circle - Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (Harvard), departing Attorney General Eric Holder (Columbia), former "body man" Reggie Love (Duke) and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen (Navy). But it isn't ridiculous to suggest there might not have been a second inauguration for President Obama if he didn't trust "CIA John."

A vital hurdle approving the raid came when the SEAL Squadron leader briefed Mullen on merits of the mission. According to O'Neill's anonymous interview with Esquire, Vice Admiral William McRaven, head of Joint Special Ops Command, compared the raid and its fighters to the basketball movie Hoosiers in a final briefing with the participants in Operation Neptune's Spear.

A pithy precept occasionally surfaces in basketball trash talking that "some talk a good game and some play a good game." Depending upon your point of view, Time's Person of the Year in 2011 and each subsequent year could have been "CIA John." Surely, ex-Time managing editor Rick Stengel, a backup for Pete Carril-coached Princeton in the mid-1970s, would have encouraged his colleagues to give "CIA John" special consideration after the White House acknowledged him and his colleagues as "unbelievably competent professionals."

Deserved or not, other ex-college hoopsters may get the bulk of the glory ranging from taking credit for UBL's demise to some searing social issue actually paling in comparison. When, if ever, will our nation get the opportunity to pay homage to a genuine hoop hero comparable to Ames, Knoche and Sivess? Heaven only knows we need an authentic hero these days to offset a lawless West Wing supported by ideologically-driven lame-stream media plus collegiate academic scandals and athletes treating women as bad as Sharia-Law zealot Islamic radicals. But at the moment, the stirring tale will simply be "The Greatest Hoop Story Never Fully Told."

Military Salute: Two Vets Returned to A-A Status Following 3 Years in Service

November 10th, 2014 - 5:42

College basketball aficionados occasionally cite achievements they think never will be duplicated. On Veterans Day, they should be reminded about truly incredible comebacks likely never to be matched. In 1946-47, Andy Phillip (Illinois) and Gerry Tucker (Oklahoma) returned to first-team All-American status after missing three seasons while serving in the U.S. military during World War II. Charles Black (Kansas) and Kenny Sailors (Wyoming) also returned to All-American acclaim after missing two seasons serving in similar capacities.

Numerous standout players had their college playing careers interrupted by WWII. While much of the misguided media currently obsess with mundane matters as a new campaign is ushered in, they should be reminded about authentic American heroes. The press should be focusing on the following list of All-Americans - three each from Illinois, Kentucky and Notre Dame - who deserve to be honored, at least for a day, after having their college careers interrupted in the mid-1940s while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces:

Air Force - Charles Black (Kansas) and Jack Parkinson (Kentucky).

Army - Don Barksdale (UCLA), Lew Beck (Oregon State), A.L. Bennett (Oklahoma A&M), Gale Bishop (Washington State), Vince Boryla (Notre Dame/Denver), Harry Boykoff (St. John's), Bob Brannum (Kentucky), Arnie Ferrin (Utah), Alex Groza (Kentucky), Ralph Hamilton (Indiana), Walt Kirk (Illinois), Allie Paine (Oklahoma), Don Rehfeldt (Wisconsin), Jack Smiley (Illinois), Odie Spears (Western Kentucky) and Gerry Tucker (Oklahoma).

Marine Corps - Aud Brindley (Dartmouth), John Hargis (Texas), Mickey Marty (Loras), Andy Phillip (Illinois), Gene Rock (southern California) and Kenny Sailors (Wyoming).

Navy - Bobby Cook (Wisconsin), Howie Dallmar (Stanford/Penn), Dick Dickey (North Carolina State), Bob Faught (Notre Dame), Harold Gensichen (Western Michigan), Wyndol Gray (Bowling Green State), Hal Haskins (Hamline), Leo Klier (Notre Dame), Dick McGuire (St. John's) and John Oldham (Western Kentucky).

Valentine's Way: It's in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Post

November 8th, 2014 - 10:40

An old adage portends "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." You know the father-son deal whether they boasted big-man credentials enabling them to dominate in the post or were adept as a playmaker driving to the post! A challenging dynamic exists when playing for the same school where your dad was a standout. Whether or not it's a fair sampling (majority of dads are better), comparing the following father-son duos might provide a window depicting when the quality of play was superior.

The Valentine's Versatile Way (Carlton and Denzel) will generate headlines for Michigan State in the Big Ten Conference this season after the Marble Collection (Roy and Roy Devyn) excelled for Iowa in recent campaigns. Another Big Ten family affair for the same school making an impact this year will be at Purdue (sophomore son Kendall Stephens following in footsteps of father Everette).

Marques Johnson was the third-leading scorer and fourth-leading rebounder for UCLA's 1975 NCAA champion and son Kris was a backup freshman for the Bruins' 1995 titlist. They are the only father-son duo to capture NCAA crowns for the same institution, propelling them atop the list of premier father-son combinations.

The Valentines likely will gain more prominence if Denzel flourishes as expected. On the other hand, they could be overshadowed in this category by son Tyler Haws and father Marty Haws if Tyler continues his scoring exploits with BYU. Other duos to keep an eye on involve Vanderbilt frontcourter Luke Kornet, the son of All-SEC second-team selection Frank Kornet in 1988-89; South Carolina guard Justin McKie, the son of Gamecocks all-time leading scorer BJ McKie (2,119 points from 1995-96 through 1998-99); Florida State's Xavier Rathan-Mayes, the son of Seminoles leading scorer Tharon Mayes in 1989-90, and J.C. transfer Gary Payton II, the son of an Oregon State unanimous first-team All-American in 1990. USC will dip into the father-son well again next season with recruit P.J. Dozier. At any rate, there is something in the family DNA for the following all-time father-son tandems making the most impact for same major university factoring in how long they attended school:

Rank Family School Father's College Career Summary Son's College Career Summary
1. Johnson UCLA Marques, the national player of the year as a senior, averaged 14.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg from 1973-74 through 1976-77. Kris averaged 11.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg from 1994-95 through 1997-98.
2. Marble Iowa Roy, a three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection and the Hawkeyes' all-time leading scorer (2,116 points), averaged 15.8 ppg and 5 rpg from 1985-86 through 1988-89. Roy Devyn averaged 12 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.3 spg from 2010-11 through 2013-14, ranking among the school's all-time top seven in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
3. Burtt Iona Steve Sr., a two-time MAAC MVP, became the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,534 points by finishing among nation's top 17 scorers each of his last three seasons from 1981-82 through 1983-84. Steve Jr., a three-time All-MAAC selection, is school runner-up with 2,034 points from 2002-03 through 2005-06, finishing seventh in country in scoring as a senior.
4. Paxson Dayton James, a starter for two NIT runner-up teams, averaged 10.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg in three seasons in mid-1950s. Jim, an All-American as a senior, averaged 18 ppg and 4.5 rpg from 1975-76 through 1978-79.
5. Perry Holy Cross Ronnie Sr. averaged 13.6 ppg from 1951-52 through 1953-54. Ronnie Jr., a three-time All-American, averaged 23.2 ppg and 3.9 apg while shooting 88.5% at free-throw line from 1976-77 through 1979-80.
6. Hosket Ohio State Wilmer Clemens was named to third five on College Humor Magazine A-A in 1932-33 when he was fourth-leading scorer in Big Ten (8 ppg) as member of league co-champion. Bill, a member of the U.S. Olympic squad after appearing in Final Four as a senior, averaged 19.5 ppg and 12.3 rpg in three seasons from 1965-66 through 1967-68.
7. Haws Brigham Young Marty, an All-WAC first-team selection as a senior when leading the Cougars in scoring with 18.5 ppg, averaged 10.9 ppg and 4.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90. Tyler averaged 18.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg in his first three seasons, ranking among the nation's top seven scorers as a sophomore and junior.
8. Rautins Syracuse Leo, who led the Orangemen in rebounds and assists as a senior when he was an All-Big East Conference third-team selection, averaged 12.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 5 apg from 1980-81 through 1982-83 after transferring from Minnesota. Andy, an All-Big East second-team selection as a senior, averaged 8.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.4 spg from 2005-06 through 2009-10.
9. Brewer Arkansas Ron, an All-American as a senior for a 1978 Final Four team, averaged 15.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg after one season at JC level. Ronnie, a two-time All-SEC selection, averaged 15.7 ppg and 5 rpg from 2003-04 through 2005-06 before declaring early for NBA draft.
10. Robinzine DePaul William Sr. averaged 15.3 ppg in 1954-55 and 1955-56. William Jr. averaged 16.6 ppg and 11.4 rpg from 1972-73 through 1974-75, including team highs of 19.4 ppg and 13.5 rpg as a senior.
11. Young Houston Michael, an All-American as a senior, was top scorer for back-to-back Final Four teams featuring Akeem Olajuwon (1983 and 1984), averaging 18.6 ppg over final two years. Joseph averaged 14.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.4 apg in 2011-12 and 2012-13 with UH before transferring to Oregon.
12. Warren North Carolina State Tony Sr. averaged 9.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 1976-77 through 1978-79 under coach Norm Sloan, leading Wolfpack in field-goal percentage as junior. Tony "T.J." Jr. was an All-American and ACC Player of the Year as sophomore in 2013-14 before declaring early for NBA draft.
13. Price Oklahoma Dennis averaged 10.9 ppg from 1957-58 through 1959-60. Brent averaged 18 ppg and 5.8 apg for the Sooners in 1990-91 and 1991-92 after transferring from South Carolina.
14. Hummer Princeton Edward, a Final Four teammate of All-American Bill Bradley before becoming an All-Ivy League second-team selection, averaged 10.2 ppg and 7 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67. Ian, a three-time All-Ivy League selection, averaged 13.2 ppg and 5.9 rpg from 2009-10 through 2012-13.
15. Cox San Francisco Chubby, setting stage for first father-son tandem to both be two-time all-conference selection for same school in same league, averaged team-high 5.4 apg in each of his final two seasons in 1976-77 and 1977-78. John averaged 15.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2001-02 through 2004-05, leading the WCC in scoring as a senior.
16. Evans Oklahoma Eddie averaged 11.9 ppg from 1960-61 through 1962-63, including a team-high 16.4 ppg as a senior. Terry averaged 11.1 ppg and 5.3 apg from 1989-90 through 1992-93, setting school records in assists (628) and three-point field goals (259).
17. Raivio Portland Rick, a three-time All-WCAC selection who led the Pilots in FG% all four seasons, finished as their all-time leading rebounder (910/9.4 rpg) while averaging 17.2 ppg before becoming 1980 fifth-round draft choice by L.A. Lakers. Nik, a J.C. recruit, was an All-WCC selection as a junior in 2008-09 when he averaged 16 ppg and 6.5 rpg before heading overseas to play professionally after concluding his college career with 14.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg.
18. Temple Louisiana State Collis Jr., the first African-American varsity player in LSU history in 1971-72, averaged 10.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg in three seasons, ranking second in SEC in rebounding (11.1 rpg) and seventh in field-goal shooting (54.9%) as a senior. Collis III averaged 10.2 ppg from 1999-00 through 2002-03, including career-high 14.3 ppg as sophomore when he scored 30 points in regular-season finale at Tennessee. Garrett was defensive whiz for 2006 Final Four club before becoming an All-SEC second-team pick as senior in 2008-09.
19. Ainge Brigham Young Danny, a three-time All-American who averaged 20.9 ppg, was named national player of the year as a senior in 1980-81. Austin posted personal season highs of 9.5 ppg and 4.1 apg as a sophomore in 2004-05 en route to career marks of 6.6 ppg and 3.5 apg.
20. Guokas St. Joseph's Matt Sr. was tallest player and an original member of the famed "Mighty Mites" who asserted themselves in the Philly Big Five by winning 54 of 71 games in the late 1930s. Matt Jr. averaged 15.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg for the Hawks in 1964-65 and 1965-66 after transferring from Miami (Fla.).
21. Komives Bowling Green Howard averaged 25.8 ppg from 1961-62 through 1963-64, leading nation in scoring as senior All-American with 36.7 ppg. Shane averaged 10.6 ppg from 1992-93 through 1995-96, including career-high 14.3 ppg as a sophomore.
22. Ellis San Francisco Joe, a three-time All-WCAC first-team selection from 1963-64 through 1965-66, averaged 13.5 ppg and 8.9 rpg. Kevin averaged 9.1 ppg and 3 rpg his final two seasons in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
23. Springer Iona Gary Sr., a three-time All-MAAC selection, averaged 15.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg from 1980-81 through 1983-84. Gary Jr., an All-MAAC third-team selection as a senior in 2008-09, averaged 7.6 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
24. Becker Arizona State Art, a two-time All-WAC selection, averaged 15.7 ppg and 9 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64, ranks among school career leaders in rebound average, FG% (52.4) and FT% (79.7). Teammate of Joe Caldwell had two games with more than 20 points and 20 rebounds as a junior when leading team with 11.2 rpg. Mark averaged 8.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg from 1986-87 through 1989-90, leading team in rebounding as a sophomore with 5.5 per game.
25. Henry Kansas Carl, an OCU transfer, averaged 17.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg in 1982-83 and 1983-84 as a two-time All-Big Eight Conference selection. Xavier, an All-Big 12 Conference Rookie Team choice, averaged 13.4 ppg and 4.4 rpg as freshman in 2009-10 before leaving school early for NBA draft.
26. Frederick South Carolina Zam Sr. led nation in scoring as a senior in 1980-81 with 28.9 ppg to finish career with 13.7 ppg. Zam II, an All-SEC second-team selection as a senior, averaged 15.1 ppg with the Gamecocks in 2007-08 and 2008-09 after transferring from Georgia Tech.
27. Payne Iowa Tom was leading the Hawkeyes in scoring and rebounding at end of first semester of junior season (1956-57) when declared academically ineligible. Michael averaged 9.6 ppg and 7.3 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85, pacing team in rebounding his first two seasons.
28. Howard Brigham Young Orin was a multi-sport Hall of Famer for the school in the 1920s. Doug, a second-team All-WAC selection as a junior in 1968-69 (15.4 ppg, 4 rpg, 85.3 FT%) and senior in 1969-70 (18.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 85.3 FT%) led Cougars in scoring his last two years.
29. Butler Richmond Jeff, a transfer from Robert Morris (Pa.) when it was a junior college, led UR in scoring and rebounding in 1975-76 and 1976-77, averaging 15.2 ppg and 9.6 rpg. Ryan, a starter much of stint from 2006-07 through 2009-10, finished his career fifth in total steals and three-pointers, averaging 6.6 ppg and 2.8 rpg.
30. Ewing Georgetown Patrick Sr., the national player of the year as a senior, averaged 15.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85. Patrick Jr. averaged 5.1 ppg and 3.1 rpg with the Hoyas in 2006-07 and 2007-08 after transferring from Indiana.
31. Valentine Michigan State Carlton was the Spartans' leading scorer and rebounder as a senior in 1987-88, finishing his career with 8.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg. Denzel averaged 6.2 ppg and 5 rpg for NCAA playoff teams in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
32. Stockton Gonzaga John, MVP of the WCAC as a senior, averaged 12.5 ppg and 5.2 apg from 1980-81 through 1983-84. David averaged 4.6 ppg and 2.9 apg for four NCAA playoff teams from 2010-11 through 2013-14.
33. Mimlitz St. Louis Jack, a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, averaged 14.2 ppg from 1955-56 through 1957-58. Ted averaged 7 ppg for SLU in 1985-86 and 1986-87 after transferring from Missouri.
34. Morningstar Kansas Roger, runner-up in scoring for a Final Four squad, averaged 11.7 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 1973-74 and 1974-75 after transferring from a junior college. Brady averaged 5.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.6 apg from 2006-07 through 2010-11.
35. Shepherd Butler Bill Sr. averaged 5.9 ppg in 1947-48 and 6.6 ppg in 1948-49. Billy Jr., who scored 49 points in a game at Arizona as a junior, averaged 24.1 ppg from 1969-70 through 1971-72 (career-low senior mark of 19.3 ppg while contributing team-high 5.8 apg).
36. Fife Michigan Dan averaged 12.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg from 1968-69 through 1970-71. Dugan, a backup on the last Fab Five Final Four team, averaged 4.6 ppg and 2 rpg from 1992-93 through 1995-96.
37. Suttle Pepperdine Dane Sr., co-MVP of the WCAC as a senior, averaged 16.2 ppg from 1979-80 through 1982-83 before playing briefly in NBA. Dane Jr. averaged 5.6 ppg from 2009-10 through 2011-12.
38. Rose Houston Lynden, a J.C. recruit who became co-captain of 1982 Final Four squad, averaged 7.5 ppg and 3.3 apg. L.J. averaged 8.1 ppg and 5.1 apg as a UH sophomore in 2013-14 after transferring from Baylor.
39. Wilkins Illinois State Jeff averaged 16.4 ppg and 9.8 rpg from 1974-75 through 1976-77, leading team in scoring, rebounding and FG% as a senior before becoming an NBA second-round draft choice. John, a J.C. transfer, averaged 7.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg from 2010-11 through 2012-13.
40. Whitehead Louisville Eddie averaged 5.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg from 1963-64 through 1965-66, finishing runner-up in rebounding behind All-American Wes Unseld as a senior. Luke averaged 9.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg from 2000-01 through 2003-04, including NCAA playoff squads his final two seasons (leading rebounder and runner-up in scoring as senior).
41. Mills Kentucky Terry averaged 6.7 ppg for three NCAA Tournament teams from 1968-69 through 1970-71. Cameron, who averaged 4.3 ppg from 1994-95 through 1996-97, led UK in three-point FG% as a junior when he averaged 11.8 ppg in the NCAA playoffs.
42. Sutton Oklahoma State Eddie averaged 6.6 ppg and 2.6 rpg while shooting 82.1% from free-throw line in the late 1950s. Sean, pacing the Pokes in assists and three-point shooting both seasons, averaged 11 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 4.4 apg in 1990-91 and 1991-92 for two NCAA playoff teams after transferring from UK.
43. Melchionni Duke Gary averaged 10.4 ppg and 2.7 rpg from 1970-71 through 1972-73. Lee averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc from 2002-03 through 2005-06.
44. Altenberger Illinois Bill averaged 7.7 ppg from 1954-55 through 1956-57. Doug averaged 9.6 ppg from 1982-83 through 1986-87, including 13.6 ppg as a senior when he was an All-Big Ten third-team selection.
45. McElwain Stanford Les played in early 1930s. Mal averaged 10.9 ppg and 6.3 rpg as a three-year starting forward in late 1960s.
46. Urzetta St. Bonaventure Sam, who led the nation in FT% as a sophomore and senior, averaged 6.2 ppg from 1946-47 through 1949-50. Nick averaged 8.7 ppg in late 1970s.
47. Vopicka Illinois James was second-leading scorer in 1935-36 and a starter on 1936-37 club tying for Big Ten title. Jim averaged 5.7 ppg in 1963-64 and 3.8 ppg in 1964-65.
48. Christensen Brigham Young Harold, a member of 1951 NIT championship team, averaged 7.8 ppg and 4.4 rpg before he was chosen by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1953 NBA draft. Todd averaged 5.8 ppg in 1995-96, 1998-99 and 1999-00.
49. Parkinson Purdue Bruce, an All-Big Ten first-team selection as a junior, averaged 10.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 1972-73 through 1976-77. Austin averaged 2.2 ppg and 3.2 apg from 2000-01 through 2003-04.
T50. Hall Vanderbilt Jerry Don averaged 6.3 ppg and 1.7 rpg from 1960-61 through 1962-63. Dan, who led Vandy in rebounding as a sophomore, averaged 7.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 1989-90 and from 1991-92 through 1993-94.
T50. Craig Brigham Young Robert, a member of 1951 NIT titlist, averaged 3.5 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51. Steve, a teammate of All-American Danny Ainge, averaged 7.2 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 1975-76 and from 1978-79 through 1980-81.

Family Feud: Pitinos Join Diddles as Only Father-Son Combos Meeting > Once

November 7th, 2014 - 17:13

When Minnesota (coached by son Richard Pitino) opposed Louisville (coached by father Rick Pitino) in their season opener at Puerto Rico, you almost knew the result in advance. But the meeting deserved acknowledgment if only because father-son coaching duels are rare events in NCAA annals. Until this year, the only father-son tandem to oppose each other more than once at the NCAA Division I level was Ed Diddle Sr. (Western Kentucky) and Ed Diddle Jr. (Middle Tennessee State) when they were Ohio Valley Conference rivals.

The Diddle duo combined for 815 victories in their college coaching careers but eight other family combinations boast more triumphs. The Suttons (father Eddie and sons Scott and Sean) are atop this list and surpassed the 1,100-win plateau.

Fathers know best insofar as dads won 16 of the first 18 family-feud games in the wake of Louisville leveling Minnesota, 81-68. Following is a chronological list of the first six coaching matchups involving fathers and sons of Division I schools (father listed first):

Ed Diddle Sr., Western Kentucky (11) vs.
Ed Diddle Jr., Middle Tennessee State (1)

Jan. 30, 1957 (Western Kentucky, 79-72)
March 2, 1957 (Western Kentucky, 86-82)
Jan. 23, 1958 (Western Kentucky, 69-67)
Feb. 18, 1958 (Middle Tennessee State, 81-75)
Jan. 19, 1959 (Western Kentucky, 89-65)
Feb. 28, 1959 (Western Kentucky, 110-85)
Feb. 6, 1960 (Western Kentucky, 109-89)
Feb. 27, 1960 (Western Kentucky, 109-80)
Dec. 1, 1960 (Western Kentucky, 70-67)
Feb. 27, 1961 (Western Kentucky, 84-73)
Jan. 20, 1962 (Western Kentucky, 89-69)
Feb. 13, 1962 (Western Kentucky, 87-81)

Ray Meyer, DePaul (1) vs.
Tom Meyer, Illinois-Chicago Circle (0)

Dec. 1, 1981 (DePaul, 78-53)

Butch van Breda Kolff, Hofstra (0) vs.
Jan van Breda Kolff, Cornell (1)

Jan. 12, 1993 (Cornell, 70-56)

Hugh Durham, Georgia (1) vs.
Doug Durham, Georgia Southern (0)

Nov. 28, 1994 (Georgia, 87-57)

Nolan Richardson Jr., Arkansas (1) vs.
Nolan Richardson III, Tennessee State (0)

Nov. 17, 2000 (Arkansas, 90-68)

Rick Pitino, Louisville (2) vs.
Richard Pitino, Florida International/Minnesota (0)

Dec. 19, 2012 (Louisville, 79-55)
Nov. 14, 2014 (Louisville, 81-68)

NOTE: NAIA affiliate Quincy College (coached by father Sherrill Hanks) lost at Samford (coached by son Mike Hanks), 99-92 in overtime, on December 21, 1982.

Final Four Curse: Former UCLA Forward Gavin Smith is Latest Example

November 6th, 2014 - 20:12

Is there a Final Four curse? That's a topic for ESPN talking heads to debate in its family feud although Bill Simmons might know just a mite more about basketball than concussion-ravaged Mike Golic. At any rate, the remains of former UCLA forward Gavin Smith, who scored 14 points for the third-place Bruins at the 1976 Final Four, were found in a rural desert area of Southern California in the latest of what could be considered the Final Four curse. Police had been probing Smith's mysterious disappearance 2 1/2 years earlier. Smith, a 57-year-old movie executive for Fox, was driving a black 2000 four-door Mercedes E Class when he vanished at night.

Smith, whose son (Evan) played for Southern California, didn't participate at either the 1974 or 1975 Final Fours before transferring from the Bruins' bench to becoming one of the NCAA's top scorers. Most media outlets focus on Smith's connection to UCLA but he actually made a hoop name for himself playing with Hawaii, where he finished 16th in the nation in scoring in 1976-77 by setting a Rainbows' single-season record (23.4 points per game).

Smith's vehicle was recovered at a storage facility in Simi Valley linked to an individual incarcerated on an unrelated narcotics conviction. Smith reportedly met in some sort of rehab therapy the wife of an admitted middleman in L.A.'s illicit drug world. Speaking with Inside Edition, Smith's wife opened up about her husband's extramarital affairs and his history of drug use.

Ranging from famous military battles to freak circumstances to mysterious disappearances to nuclear bombs to CIA activity to suicides, the existence of a Final Four curse is debatable although there is no denying that a striking number of prominent national semifinal players and coaches died prematurely. For instance, Sid Tanenbaum, the second-leading scorer for NYU's 1945 national runner-up, was murdered on September 4, 1986, at the age of 60 when stabbed to death by a local woman in his Queens machine shop. According to police reports, Tanenbaum was assaulted because he chose to stop lending money to his attacker after previously assisting her numerous times.

Any tribute isn't enough when a man is buried before his time. The following list of additional Final Four players (cited chronologically) passed away early (60 and younger), but the deceased left lasting memories:

  • Three of Oregon's starting five on the first NCAA championship team in 1939 - guards Bobby Anet and Wally Johansen and center Slim Wintermute - all died in their 40s. Wintermute disappeared in Lake Washington in 1977, a case that never has been solved.

  • Center Bill Menke, the third-leading scorer for Indiana's 1940 NCAA champion who supplied a team-high 10 points in the Hoosiers' national semifinal victory over Duquesne, later became a Navy pilot and served in World War II. In January 1945, he was declared missing in action (and presumed dead) when he didn't return from a flight in the Caribbean.

  • Thomas P. Hunter, a three-year letterman who was a sophomore member of Kansas' 1940 runner-up, was killed in action against the Japanese on Guam, July 21, 1944, while fighting with the Ninth Marines as a first lieutenant. Hunter was elected posthumously as captain of the Jayhawks' 1945-46 squad that compiled a 19-2 record.

  • Dale Gentry, the fifth-leading scorer for Washington State's 1941 national runner-up, collapsed and died of a heart attack in 1963 at the age of 50 after completing arrangements for his 16-year-old son's funeral following injuries incurred in an auto accident.

  • All 11 regulars on Pitt's 1941 Final Four team participated in World War II and one of them, guard Bob Artman, was killed in action.

  • Center Ed Voss, the second-leading scorer for 1942 champion Stanford, died of polio in 1953 at the age of 31, a month after his 7-year-old son also succumbed to the disease. Cardinal teammate Jack Dana's wife, California socialite Renee Cohu, died of a sleeping pill overdose in the winter of 1970 at the age of 42 when the missing daughter of a former TWA president was found in a Miami Beach motel.

  • Charles "Stubbie" Pearson, captain of Dartmouth's 1942 national runner-up and valedictorian of his class the same year, was killed in action on March 30, 1945, while dive-bombing a Japanese ship off the Palau Islands. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Teammate George Galbraith Jr., a backup forward, died in a training flight over Mississippi.

  • Three of the top seven scorers for Kentucky's first NCAA Tournament and Final Four team in 1942 died during World War II - Mel Brewer (Army second lieutenant/25 years old in France), Ken England (Army captain of ski troop/23 in Italy) and Jim King (Army second lieutenant and co-pilot/24 in Germany).

  • Bob Doll, a starter for Colorado in 1942, died in 1959 at the age of 40 of an apparent suicide.

  • Milo Komenich, leading scorer for Wyoming's 1943 NCAA titlist, died in 1977 at his home at the age of 56.

  • Georgetown's Lloyd Potolicchio, who matched DePaul legend George Mikan's 11-point output in the 1943 national semifinals when the Hoyas eliminated the Blue Demons before bowing to Wyoming in title tilt, joined the Air Force. Potolicchio was boom operator Master Sergeant when killed in a refueling mission on January 17, 1966, in a B-52 crash off the coast of southern Spain. His KC-135 tanker was completely destroyed when its fuel load ignited, resulting in the B-52G breaking apart with B28RI hydrogen weapons falling to earth and plutonium contamination occurring near the fishing village of Palomares. In March 2009, Time magazine identified the Palomares accident as one of the world's "worst nuclear disasters." Teammate Bob Duffey, a backup swingman, was killed on November 13, 1944, in European theater combat.

  • Curtis Popham, Texas' co-captain in 1943, was one of seven Longhorns lettermen since the mid-1930s to make the supreme sacrifice during WWII.

  • Swingman Johnny Jorgensen, a teammate of Hall of Famer George Mikan on DePaul's 1943 Final Four team, died in mid-January 1973 at the age of 51.

  • All-American Audie Brindley of 1944 runner-up Dartmouth died of cancer in 1957 at the age of 33.

  • Swingman Joe Bradley, a regular for Oklahoma A&M's 1946 NCAA champion, was 58 when he died on June 5, 1987.

  • Center Jack Underman, the leading scorer for Ohio State's 1946 national third-place team, was an oral surgeon in Elyria, Ohio, when he died in an auto crash on October 23, 1969, at the age of 44.

  • Frontcourter Frank Oftring, a key contributor for Holy Cross' 1947 champion and 1948 national third-place team, died on October 4, 1982, at the age of 58. Teammate Bob Curran, a regular for both squads, was 56 when he passed away on October 18, 1977.

  • Center Gerry Tucker, the leading scorer for Oklahoma's 1947 national runner-up, died on May 29, 1979, at the age of 57.

  • Forward Tom Hamilton, a regular as a freshman forward with Texas' 1947 national third-place club, died at the age of 48 on November 29, 1973, after suffering a brain hemorrhage prior to officiating a high school football game in Tyler, Tex. Hamilton, a first baseman briefly with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1952 and 1953, served as baseball coach and athletic director for St. Edward's (Tex.) at the time of his death.

  • Center Bob Harris, the leading scorer for Oklahoma A&M's 1949 national runner-up, died on April 10, 1977 at the age of 50. Teammate Joe Bradley, A&M's second-leading scorer, passed away on June 5, 1987, at the age of 58.

  • Bill Erickson, a starting guard for Illinois' 1949 national third-place team, died on September 21, 1987, at the age of 59. Teammate Don Sunderlage, the Illini's sixth-leading scorer in 1949 and top point producer for another third-place squad in 1951, died in mid-July 1961 at the age of 31 following an automobile accident in Lake Geneva, Wis.

  • Center Ed Roman, leading scorer for CCNY's 1950 titlist who was involved in a conspiracy to fix games, died of leukemia in early March 1988 at the age of 57.

  • Don Schlundt, the leading scorer and rebounder for Indiana's 1953 NCAA champion, died of pancreatic cancer in October 1985 at the age of 52. Teammate Dick Farley, the Hoosiers' third-leading scorer, passed away from cancer in early October 1969 at the age of 37.

  • Joe Cipriano, the second-leading scorer for Washington's national third-place team in 1953 before becoming Nebraska's all-time winningest coach, was 49 in late November 1980 when he died of cancer.

  • Forward Bob Ames, who scored a total of eight points in three playoff games in 1955 for La Salle's national runner-up after being a member of the Explorers' 1954 NCAA titlist, was killed in Beirut in 1983 at the age of 49. A truck loaded with TNT on a suicide mission rammed into the facility where Ames, a father of six children, was staying while serving as a liaison trying to allay contacts among the Lebanese, Syrians and Israelis in hopes of calming the escalating discord. He joined the CIA and worked his way up the chain of command to become the Director of the CIA's Office of Analysis of the Near East and South Asia. "The Spy Who Loved Basketball" worked closely with both the Carter and Reagan administrations.

  • Forward Jerry Mullen, runner-up in scoring and rebounding as captain for San Francisco's 1955 champion, died in September 1979 at the age of 45.

  • Bucky O'Connor, coach for Iowa's 1955 Final Four club and 1956 runner-up, died in 1958 at the age of 44 in a highway accident near Waterloo. "The boy who has faith in God can look to the future without worry or strain," O'Connor told his players. "I firmly believe that the boys on our team who attend church are more likely to be successful because they can face their problems with hope and encouragement."

  • Jim Krebs, the leading scorer and rebounder for Southern Methodist's 1956 Final Four squad, was killed in 1965 at the age of 29 in a freak accident. While helping a neighbor clear storm damage, a tree limb fell the wrong way and crushed his skull.

  • Forward Joe Kitchen, a member of Louisville's regular rotation for 1959 national fourth-place team, was 52 in 1991 when he died.

  • Forward Al Filardi, the third-leading rebounder for NYU's 1960 national fourth-place squad, just turned 60 when he died in early August 1999.

  • Gary Bradds, a backup to national player of the year Jerry Lucas for Ohio State's 1962 NCAA runner-up before earning the same award himself two years later, died of cancer in July 1983 when he was 40. Bradds was principal of an elementary school in Bowersville, Ohio, at the time of his demise.

  • Frank Christie, Wake Forest's third-leading rebounder for 1962 national third-place team, was 50 in mid-October 1992 when he passed away following a brief illness.

  • Vic Rouse, leading rebounder for Loyola of Chicago's 1963 NCAA champion, died in late May 1999 at the age of 56. He owned an educational consulting firm after earning three masters degrees and an PhD.

  • Guard Denny Ferguson, a regular for Duke's 1963 national third-place team and 1964 runner-up, died from cancer in 2001 at 58. He was a professor at Cornell.

  • Bill Buntin, the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer (behind Cazzie Russell) for Michigan's Final Four teams in 1964 and 1965, collapsed and died during an informal workout one day after his 26th birthday in May 1968.

  • Forward Jamie Thompson, the third-leading scorer for Wichita's 1965 fourth-place team who tallied 36 points when the Shockers were eliminated in the national semifinals by eventual champion UCLA, died in January 2006 at the age of 60.

  • Guard Bobby Joe Hill, the leading scorer for Texas Western's 1966 NCAA titlist, passed away from a heart attack in December 2002 at the age of 59.

  • Guard Rudy Waterman, Dayton's third-leading scorer for 1967 national runner-up, died at 34 in mid-June 1979 after shooting himself and developing bacterial meningitis while hospitalized in New York. He had been fired from his job as a sales representative for a Midwest aluminum company.

  • Ken Spain and Theodis Lee, starting frontcourters with All-American Elvin Hayes for Houston's team that entered the 1968 Final Four with an undefeated record, each died of cancer. Spain, who overcame cancer after he was first diagnosed with it in 1977, died of the disease 13 years later in October 1990 when he was 44. Lee, who played for the Harlem Globetrotters, was 33 when he passed away in March 1979, one week after the illness was diagnosed. Teammate Don Kruse, a center for the Cougars' national third-place team in 1967, died in the spring of 2004 at the age of 59.

  • Dave Sorenson, second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer as a sophomore for Ohio State's national third-place team in 1968, died in 2002 at the age of 54 because of cancer.

  • Herm Gilliam, leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for Purdue's 1969 national runner-up, died of a heart attack in 2005 at the age of 58.

  • Maury John, national coach of the year in 1969 when directing Drake to a national third-place finish, died of cancer in 1974 at the age of 55.

  • Steve Patterson, one of UCLA's top three rebounders for NCAA kingpins in 1970 and 1971 after serving as Lew Alcindor's understudy for another titlist in 1969, died in 2004 at the age of 56 because of lung cancer.

  • Point guard Vaughn Wedeking, third-leading scorer for Jacksonville's 1970 runner-up, died in the summer of 2009 at the age of 60 after suffering from Alzheimer's for several years.

  • New Mexico State backup guard Milton Horne, who averaged 4.4 ppg for 1970 national third-place team, died in 2001 at the age of 52.

  • Howard Porter, Villanova's leading scorer and rebounder for 1971 runner-up, was trying to trade money and crack cocaine for sex with a prostitute in St. Paul in May 2007 when the probation officer was beaten to death at the age of 58, according to murder charges filed several months later.

  • Reggie Royals, the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for Florida State's 1972 runner-up, passed away in mid-April 2009 at the age of 58.

  • Forward Mike Lawhon, Louisville's third-leading scorer for the Cardinals' 1972 national fourth-place team, died in early April 2004 at the age of 53. Lawhon was an orthopedic surgeon who passed away while attending a medical conference.

  • Larry Finch, Memphis State's leading scorer for 1973 runner-up, died in early April 2011 at the age of 60. Finch suffered the first of multiple strokes 10 years earlier. In early September 2014, his daughter (Shanae), suffering from Crohn's disease, collapsed and died at the age of 39. Teammate Ronnie Robinson, the Tigers' second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer, died in early May 2004 at the age of 53 from congestive heart failure.

  • Maurice Lucas, leading scorer and rebounder for Marquette's 1974 national runner-up, died in 2010 at the age of 58 from bladder cancer. Teammate Jerry Homan, a backup frontcourter, had a son, Luke, pass away in the fall of 2006 when the UW-LaCrosse student's body was recovered in the Mississippi River after last seen celebrating Oktoberfest (UW-L teammate Austin Scott was charged with two counts of obstructing officers for lying to authorities during the death investigation).

  • Danny Knight, the leading scorer and rebounder for Kansas' 1974 Final Four team, was 24 when he died in June 1977, three weeks after sustaining injuries in a fall down the steps at his home. Knight had been suffering headaches for some time and doctors attributed his death to an aneurysm in the brain. Teammate Norm Cook, the Jayhawks' second-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer as a freshman, was 53 in 2008 when he died after suffering from paranoid schizophrenia most of his adult life.

  • Dan Hall, a frontcourt backup from Kentucky's historic recruiting class as a freshman for UK's 1975 NCAA Tournament runner-up, died of an apparent suicide at age 58 the first full week in January 2013. Hall subsequently transferred to Marshall, where he averaged 10.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1976-77 and 1977-78. UK teammate G.J. Smith, a reserve forward, died in late summer 2012 at the age of 59 because of a heart attack.

  • Bob Parker, a backup center for Syracuse's 1975 national fourth-place team, passed away in January 2006 at the age of 51.

  • John Robinson, Michigan's second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for 1976 runner-up, died in late September 2012 at the age of 56.

  • Center Jerome Whitehead, the second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for Marquette's 1977 NCAA titlist, was 56 in mid-December 2012 when he was found dead because of chronic alcohol abuse. Teammate Gary Rosenberger, a guard who was the fourth-leading scorer in coach Al McGuire's swan song, passed away in the fall of 2013 at the age of 57 due to complications from a heart attack and stroke.

  • Tom Zaliagiris, North Carolina's top reserve guard for 1977 runner-up, died in late January 2007 at the age of 50 because of a bacteria infection.

  • Forward Glen Gondrezick, the leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for UNLV's 1977 third-place club, died in late April 2009 at the age of 53 due to complications stemming from a heart transplant he received the previous September. Teammate Lewis Brown, the third-leading rebounder and sixth-leading scorer for UNLV, spent more than 10 years homeless on the streets of Santa Monica, Calif., before passing away in mid-September 2011 at the age of 56. According to the New York Times, family members said the 6-11 center used cocaine with the Rebels. "Drugs were his downfall," said his sister. Murray State transfer Larry Moffett, UNLV's second-leading rebounder, passed away in early May 2011 in Shreveport, La., at the age of 56. He previously was a cab driver in Las Vegas.

  • Guard Chad Kinch, the third-leading scorer for UNC Charlotte's 1977 national fourth-place team as a freshman, died at his parents' home in Cartaret, N.J., from complications caused by AIDS. He passed away on April 3, 1994, the day between the Final Four semifinals and final in Charlotte. The host school happened to be UNC Charlotte. It was the second time Kinch's parents lost a son. Sixteen years earlier, Ray Kinch, a Rutgers football player, was killed in a house fire. UNCC teammate Lew Massey, the 49ers' runner-up in scoring and rebounding, died in mid-January 2014 at the age of 57.

  • Point guard John Harrell, a point guard for Duke's 1978 runner-up after transferring from North Carolina Central, died of an aortal aneurysm at age 50 in the summer of 2008.

  • Orlando Woolridge, a backup freshman in 1978 when Notre Dame made its lone Final Four appearance before he became a scoring specialist in 13 NBA seasons, died at the end of May 2012 at the age of 52 because of a chronic heart condition.

  • Curtis Watkins, DePaul's second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1979 national third-place team, died in June 2008 at the age of 51 due to a blocked artery.

  • Matt White, the second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for Penn's 1979 Final Four squad as a senior, was fatally stabbed in mid-February 2013 by his wife, who told police she had caught him looking at child pornography. White, the Quakers' all-time leader in field-goal shooting (59.1%), was 55.

  • Derek Smith, the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer as a sophomore forward for Louisville's 1980 NCAA champion, died of a heart ailment at age 34 on August 9, 1996, while on a cruise with his family. He was the leading scorer and second-leading rebounder for the Cardinals' 1982 Final Four team before averaging 12.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg in the NBA with five different franchises. His son, Nolan, became a starting guard for Duke's 2010 NCAA titlist.

  • Drake Morris Jr., the 29-year-old son of the third-leading scorer for Purdue's 1980 national third-place team, was shot to death in northwest Indiana in the middle of the night in late August 2011.

  • Center Greg Cook, third-leading rebounder and fifth-leading scorer for LSU's national fourth-place team in 1981, died in mid-March 2005 from congestive heart failure at the age of 46.

  • Rob Williams, leading scorer for Houston's 1982 Final Four team, died of congestive heart failure at the age of 52 in March 2014 after suffering a stroke 15 years earlier that left him blind in his left eye and partially paralyzed on his left side. Williams denied rumors he was too high on cocaine to play up to par against North Carolina in the national semifinals (0-for-8 field-goal shooting). But Williams admitted he used drugs. "Cocaine came later but I started out smoking weed (in junior high)," Williams said. "I was always a curious type of fellow, so I wanted to see what cocaine was about. So I tried it. And to tell you the truth, I liked it."

  • Lorenzo Charles, the second-leading rebounder for N.C. State's 1983 champion, provided one of the tourney's most memorable moments with a game-winning dunk against heavily-favored Houston in the final. Working for a limousine and bus company based in Apex, N.C., he was killed in June 2011 when the charter bus the 47-year-old was driving with no passengers aboard crashed along Interstate 40 in Raleigh. Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano also was 47 in the spring of 1993 when he passed away because of cancer. Backup forward Quinton Leonard died of a heart attack in the spring of 2006 at the age of 44.

  • Melvin Turpin, the leading scorer and second-leading rebounder as a senior for Kentucky's 1984 Final Four team (29-5 record), was 49 and battling diabetes in July 2010 when he committed suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.

  • Baskerville Holmes, a starting forward who averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for Memphis State's 1985 Final Four team, and his girlfriend were found shot to death on March 18, 1997 in an apparent murder-suicide in Memphis. He was 32.

  • Swingman Don Redden, who averaged 13 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for Louisiana State's 1986 Final Four squad, was 24 when he died in March 1988 of heart disease.

  • Keith Hughes, a backup forward as a freshman for Syracuse's 1987 runner-up before transferring to Rutgers, died suddenly at his N.J. home in February 2014 at the age of 45.

  • Armen Gilliam, the leading scorer and rebounder for UNLV's 1987 Final Four team, died from a heart attack on July 5, 2011, while playing basketball in a Pittsburgh area gym. He was 47.

  • Mike Masucci, a freshman backup center for Kansas' eventual 1988 champion dismissed from the Jayhawks before the tourney commenced and his subsequent transfer, died in January 2005 at the age of 36 from a heart attack.

  • Guard Phil Henderson, the leading scorer and senior captain of Duke's 1990 NCAA Tournament runner-up, died of cardiac arrest in mid-February 2013 at his home in the Philippines at the age of 44. He was the Blue Devils' second-leading scorer as a junior and sixth-leading scorer as a sophomore for two more Final Four squads.

  • Larry Marks, a backup forward for Arkansas' 1990 Final Four squad after being a starter the previous season, died of an apparent heart attack in mid-June 2000 after playing some recreational basketball. He was 33.

  • Sean Tunstall, a reserve guard for Kansas' 1991 NCAA Tournament runner-up was shot and killed at age 28 in the parking lot of a recreation center in his native St. Louis on October 16, 1997, in a drug deal gone bad. Tunstall, recruited to KU when Larry Brown was the Jayhawks' coach, had received a prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of selling cocaine in 1993. "He was one of the few kids I never thought I completely reached," then KU coach Roy Williams said. Power forward Chris Lindley, who signed with Kansas and would have been a freshman for the 1991 squad before having his right foot amputated in January 1990 after a train accident, died at 34 in mid-February 2007.

  • Peter Sauer, a captain and third-leading rebounder for Stanford's 1998 Final Four squad, was 35 when he collapsed during a recreation game in White Plains, N.Y., hit his head and never was revived. His father, Mark Sauer, is a former president of two pro franchises - the NHL's St. Louis Blues and MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • A 32-year-old brother of defensive stopper Byron Mouton, Maryland's fourth-leading scorer and rebounder for a 2001 Final Four team, was shot and killed in an apparent carjacking incident in Houston about one month into the next season. The Terrapins went on to capture the 2002 NCAA championship as the Tulane transfer finished as their third-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer.

All-Conference Dry Spell: New Big Ten Member Rutgers in Knightmare Rut

November 3rd, 2014 - 22:01

Rutgers might need to visit its archives and bring Dick Vitale back as a recruiter. The Scarlet Knights have fallen on hard times and are the nation's only NCAA Division I school not to have an all-conference choice in the previous eight seasons. Vitale helped lure diploma-less coach Eddie Jordan to Piscataway before the Scarlet Knights reached the 1976 Final Four.

Rutgers, failing to secure an all-league choice since Quincy Douby in 2005-06, is headed for its third alliance in as many campaigns. The Knights' arrival gives the Big Ten Conference additional Nebraska/Northwestern/Penn State mediocrity - a famine-relief trio combining for three NCAA playoff victories in previous 59 years (all by Nittany Lions).

Five struggling schools - Louisiana-Monroe (Sun Belt), Pepperdine (WCC), Sacramento State (Big Sky), Southern Illinois (Missouri Valley) and Texas Tech (Big 12) - left this dubious category in 2013-14. Rutgers, eliminated by Louisville by 61 points in the AAC Tournament last season, is joined by DePaul and Samford on the following list of schools enduring honor droughts having no all-league picks at least the past six seasons:

School Conference(s) Last All-League Selection
DePaul Big East Sr. G Draelon Burns in 2007-08 (2nd team)
Rutgers Big East/American Athletic Jr. G Quincy Douby in 2005-06 (1st team)
Samford Ohio Valley Sr. C Travis Peterson in 2007-08 (2nd team)

Left Behind: Barnes, Donovan and Ryan Never Been Named National COY

November 2nd, 2014 - 20:13

"It is better to be looked over than overlooked." - Mae West

It doesn't seem possible, but Rick Barnes (Texas), Billy Donovan (Florida) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin) never have been anointed as national coach of the year by a major award despite being the all-time winningest coaches for their respective power conference schools. Enhancing their prospects for placement on a pedestal this campaign is recognition among the AP preseason Top 10 teams.

Maryland named its court after Gary Williams, the school's all-time winningest coach who guided the Terrapins to the 2002 NCAA title during a span when he became the only mentor ever to defeat the nation's top-ranked team in four straight seasons (2000-01 through 2003-04). Surprisingly, Williams never was courted as national coach of the year by one of the major awards, joining Donovan (back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007) and other NCAA championship coaches such as Denny Crum, Joe B. Hall, Don Haskins, Rollie Massimino and Jim Valvano "shorted" by this dubious distinction.

Does this blemish exist because of envious fellow coaches or the media in dire need of brain scans? A total of 17 individuals received acclaim as national COY despite never reaching an NCAA playoff regional final - Rod Barnes, Tony Bennett, Mike Brey, Perry Clark, Jim Crews, Keno Davis, Matt Doherty, Cliff Ellis, Eddie Fogler, Frank Haith, Leonard Hamilton, Marv Harshman, Todd Lickliter, George Raveling, Al Skinner, Charlie Spoonhour and Dick Versace. Following is an alphabetical list of high-profile retired coaches who never received one of the five major national coach of the year awards since 1955 despite their significant achievements:

Dave Bliss - Compiled a total of 14 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Dale Brown - Led LSU to 15 consecutive postseason tournaments (1979 through 1993) en route to becoming the second-winningest coach in SEC history at the time (behind Adolph Rupp) in both overall and SEC games.

Vic Bubas - Guided Duke to NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances three times in a four-year span from 1963 through 1966.

Pete Carril - Never incurred a losing record in 29 seasons with Princeton from 1968 through 1996.

Gale Catlett - Went his first 23 seasons without a losing record with Cincinnati and West Virginia; participated in nine consecutive national postseason tournaments in the 1980s.

Denny Crum - Won 15 regular-season conference championships in the Missouri Valley and Metro in his first 23 seasons with Louisville; only coach to twice win conference and NCAA tournaments in the same year (1980 and 1986).

Don DeVoe - Compiled a total of 12 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Don Donoher - One of first 10 coaches to take his first three teams to the NCAA playoffs guided his first seven Dayton clubs to national postseason competition; posted double digits in victories all 25 seasons.

Lefty Driesell - One of only three different coaches to guide four different schools to the NCAA playoffs; captured conference tournament titles in four different leagues; only coach to win more than 100 games for four different schools en route to total of 786 victories; had 14 final Top 20 rankings.

Hugh Durham - One of only three coaches in NCAA history to win at least 225 games for two Division I schools, directing both Florida State and Georgia to the Final Four.

Bill C. Foster - Only six losing records in 25 seasons at the Division I level with UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Miami (FL) and Virginia Tech.

Jack Gardner - Only coach to direct two different schools to the Final Four at least twice apiece.

Pete Gillen - Remarkable run with Xavier (winning five Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament titles in six-year span from 1986 through 1991) before posting 20-win seasons with Providence in the Big East and Virginia in the ACC.

Joe B. Hall - Averaged 23 victories annually in 13 seasons with Kentucky, reaching championship game in either NCAA Tournament or NIT three times in a four-year span from 1975 through 1978.

Don Haskins - Captured four Western Athletic Conference Tournament championships with Texas-El Paso in a seven-year span from 1984 through 1990 while winning more than 20 games each of those seasons; compiled a total of 17 20-win campaigns.

Lou Henson - Compiled only one losing record in his last 22 years with Illinois and New Mexico State; finished in first division of the Big Ten Conference nine straight seasons.

Terry Holland - Averaged 20 victories annually in 21 seasons with Davidson and Virginia.

Harry Litwack - Finished third with Temple in three consecutive national postseason tournaments (1956 and 1958 in NCAA and 1957 in NIT). Posted only one losing record in 21 seasons with the Owls through 1973.

Rollie Massimino - Averaged more than 20 victories annually in the 1980s; participated in 14 consecutive national postseason tournaments with Villanova and UNLV before coaching at small-school level in Florida.

Ray Mears - Finished lower than third place in SEC standings with Tennessee just once in his final 14 seasons from 1964 through 1977.

Shelby Metcalf - Averaged 18.6 victories annually with Texas A&M in an 18-year span from 1971-72 through 1988-89.

Eldon Miller - Won more than 20 games with three different DI schools (Western Michigan, Ohio State and Northern Iowa).

Joe Mullaney - Reached the 20-win plateau nine straight seasons from 1958-59 through 1966-67, directing Providence to the NIT semifinals four times in the first five years of that stretch; won more than two-thirds of his games with the Friars decided by fewer than five points.

C.M. Newton - Posted at least 22 victories with Alabama six times in the last seven seasons of the 1970s.

Dave Odom - Won 20 or more games 10 times in a 14-year span from 1992-93 through 2005-06 with Wake Forest and South Carolina.

Ted Owens - Finished first or second in Big Eight Conference standings each of his first seven seasons with Kansas from 1965 through 1971.

Tom Penders - Won at least 20 games with three different schools (Rhode Island, Texas and George Washington) a total of 10 times in a 13-year span from 1987 through 1999 before winning more than 20 games three times in six seasons with Houston.

Jack Ramsay - Worst record in 11 seasons with St. Joseph's was an 18-10 mark.

Wimp Sanderson - Won five SEC Tournament titles with Alabama, including three in a row from 1989 through 1991.

Fred Schaus - Won Southern Conference Tournament championships each of his six seasons with West Virginia from 1955 through 1960 before posting winning records in Big Ten competition all six years with Purdue.

Roy Skinner - Compiled only one losing record in 16 seasons with Vanderbilt.

Billy Tubbs - Directed Oklahoma to 12 consecutive 20-win seasons, a Big Eight Conference best; took the Sooners to national postseason play his last 13 years with them before moving on to TCU and Lamar.

Jim Valvano - Guided Iona to a school-record 29 victories in 1979-80 before winning at least 18 games each of his last nine seasons with North Carolina State from 1982 through 1990.

Gary Williams - All-time winningest coach for Maryland directed 13 teams to Top 20 finishes in final polls, including a couple of them with Boston College.

Ned Wulk - All-time winningest coach for Arizona State finished atop conference standings in six of his first seven seasons with the Sun Devils.

Misplaced Priorities: Could Kentucky Fall Out of Final AP Poll 3rd Year in Row?

November 2nd, 2014 - 8:45

Which will be the next touted team failing to live up to enormous preseason hype? There has been an average of one such squad fall in that dubious category each year thus far this century. It doesn't seem possible, but could Kentucky under John Calipari dramatically disappoint for the third consecutive campaign if the Wildcats' flaunted freshmen flop? Or could Arizona, Duke, Kansas and Wisconsin be knocked off their preseason pedestals?

The last 21 squads in this great-expectations category incurred at least double digits in defeats. Following is a chronological list of the first 25 teams that were preseason Top 5 selections since 1968-69 but finished out of the AP's final Top 20 poll:

Preseason Top 5 Team Season Preseason AP Ranking Coach Record Top Players For Disappointing Squad
Notre Dame 1968-69 4th Johnny Dee 20-7 Austin Carr, Bob Arnzen, Bob Whitmore, Dwight Murphy, Collis Jones and Sid Catlett
Purdue 1969-70 3rd George King 18-6 Rick Mount, Larry Weatherford, George Faerber, Bob Ford, William Franklin and Tyrone Bedford
Southern California 1971-72 3rd Bob Boyd 16-10 Paul Westphal, Joe Mackey, Ron Riley, Dan Anderson and Mike Westra
Florida State 1972-73 2nd Hugh Durham 18-8 Reggie Royals, Lawrence McCray, Otis Cole, Benny Clyde and Otis Johnson
Indiana 1976-77 5th Bob Knight 14-13 Kent Benson, Mike Woodson, Wayne Radford and Derek Holcomb
Kansas 1978-79 5th Ted Owens 18-11 Darnell Valentine, Paul Mokeski, John Crawford, Wilmore Fowler and Tony Guy
DePaul 1984-85 3rd Joey Meyer 19-10 Tyrone Corbin, Kenny Patterson, Dallas Comegys, Marty Embry, Tony Jackson and Kevin Holmes
Indiana 1984-85 4th Bob Knight 19-14 Steve Alford, Uwe Blab, Stew Robinson, Dan Dakich, Delray Brooks and Daryl Thomas
Louisville 1986-87 2nd Denny Crum 18-14 Herbert Crook, Pervis Ellison, Tony Kimbro, Mark McSwain, Keith Williams, Kenny Payne and Felton Spencer
Michigan State 1990-91 4th Jud Heathcote 19-11 Steve Smith, Matt Steigenga, Mike Peplowski and Mark Montgomery
Clemson 1997-98 5th Rick Barnes 18-14 Greg Buckner, Terrell McIntyre, Harold Jamison and Tony Christie
Auburn 1999-00 4th Cliff Ellis 24-10 Chris Porter, Doc Robinson, Scott Pohlman, Daymeon Fishback, Mamadou N'diaye and Mack McGadney
UCLA 2001-02 5th Steve Lavin 21-12 Jason Kapono, Billy Knight, Matt Barnes, Dan Gadzuric and T.J. Cummings
Arizona 2003-04 4th Lute Olson 20-10 Hassan Adams, Salim Stoudamire, Channing Frye, Andre Iguodala and Mustafa Shakur
Michigan State 2003-04 3rd Tom Izzo 18-12 Paul Davis, Chris Hill, Kelvin Torbert, Maurice Ager and Alan Anderson
Missouri 2003-04 5th Quin Snyder 16-14 Arthur Johnson, Rickey Paulding, Linas Kleiza, Jimmy McKinney, Travon Bryant and Jason Conley
Georgia Tech 2004-05 3rd Paul Hewitt 20-12 Jarrett Jack, B.J. Elder, Will Bynum, Luke Schenscher and Isma'll Muhammad
Michigan State 2005-06 4th Tom Izzo 22-12 Maurice Ager, Paul Davis, Shannon Brown and Drew Neitzel
Louisiana State 2006-07 5th John Brady 17-15 Glen Davis, Tasmin Mitchell, Terry Martin, Garrett Temple and Darnell Lazare
Texas 2009-10 3rd Rick Barnes 24-10 Damion James, Avery Bradley, Dexter Pittman, J'Covan Brown, Gary Johnson and Dogus Balbay
Kansas State 2010-11 3rd Frank Martin 23-11 Jacob Pullen, Rodney McGruder, Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels
Michigan State 2010-11 2nd Tom Izzo 19-15 Kalin Lucas, Draymond Green, Durrell Summers, Delvon Roe and Keith Appling
Connecticut 2011-12 4th Jim Calhoun 20-14 Andre Drummond, Jeremy Lamb, Ryan Boatright, Alex Oriakhi, Shabazz Napier, Roscoe Smith and Tony Olander
Kentucky 2012-13 3rd John Calipari 21-12 Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin, Ryan Harrow, Julius Mays, Nerlens Noel, Alex Poythress and Kyle Wiltjer
Kentucky 2013-14 1st John Calipari 29-11 Willie Cauley-Stein, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee, Alex Poythress, Julius Randle and James Young

Undergraduate Odds Against Top-Ranked Kentucky Returning to Final Four

November 2nd, 2014 - 6:53

Each Final Four since 1995 had at least one school promptly lose a minimum of one player early to the NBA, including all four participants in 2007 (Florida, Georgetown, Ohio State and UCLA). But what happened to those national semifinal schools such as Kentucky last season that had multiple players declare early for the NBA?

The first 15 "star light" schools with multiple defectors failed to reach an NCAA regional final the next season until Kentucky reversed the trend with a national championship in 2012 after losing Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins in 2011. Will UK, after freshmen Julius Randle and James Young were among the top 17 NBA draft choices in 2014, duplicate that feat this campaign? It would have been one of the greatest achievements in college basketball history if UK returned to the 2013 Final Four after losing five undergraduates from the 38-2 NCAA titlist. The perils of losing so much young talent was reflected in the Wildcats' failure to reach the NCAA playoffs and losing in the opening round of the NIT against Robert Morris.

The only team in this category other than UK to lose fewer than seven games was Duke (29-5 in 1999-00). After the first 13 squads thus far this century suffered an average of nine defeats in the wake of such pro defections, Kentucky faces an uphill climb based on the following chronological look at how Final Four schools fared the year after having multiple players renounce their college eligibility:

Year Final Four Team Multiple Undergraduates Lost to NBA Draft Record Postseason Outcome Next Season
1995 Arkansas (2) Scotty Thurman, Corliss Williamson 20-13 Lost regional semifinal
1995 North Carolina (2) Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace 21-11 Lost in second round
1996 Mississippi State (2) Erick Dampier, Dontae' Jones 12-18 Did not qualify
1998 North Carolina (2) Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison 24-10 Lost in first round
1999 Duke (3) William Avery, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette 29-5 Lost regional semifinal
2000 Florida (2) Donnell Harvey, Mike Miller 24-7 Lost in second round
2001 Arizona (3) Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, Michael Wright 24-10 Lost regional semifinal
2001 Michigan State (2) Zach Randolph, Jason Richardson 19-12 Lost in first round
2004 Connecticut (2) Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor 23-8 Lost in second round
2005 Illinois (2) Dee Brown, Deron Williams 26-7 Lost in second round
2005 North Carolina (4) Raymond Felton, Sean May, Rashad McCants, Marvin Williams 23-8 Lost in second round
2007 Florida (4) Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford, Joakim Noah 24-12 Reached NIT semifinals
2007 Ohio State (3) Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook, Greg Oden 24-13 Won NIT
2008 Kansas (3) Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush 27-8 Lost regional semifinal
2008 UCLA (3) Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Russell Westbrook 26-9 Lost in second round
2011 Kentucky (2) Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins 38-2 Won national title
2012 Kentucky (5) Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague 21-12 Lost in NIT first round
2013 Michigan (2) Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. 28-9 Lost regional final
2014 Kentucky (2) Julius Randle, James Young TBD TBD

NOTE: Arkansas' Scotty Thurman went undrafted in 1995.

On This Date: November Calendar for Notable Games in College Hoops History

November 1st, 2014 - 9:12

Did You Know?: Rick Barnes (Texas), Gene Bartow (UAB), Bob McKillop (Davidson), Mike Montgomery (Stanford) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin) incurred defeats in their debuts before eventually becoming the all-time winningest coaches for these schools. Check out the following November calendar for memorable games in NCAA major-college history:

NOVEMBER
9 - Brad Stevens made his Butler debut in 2007 with a 61-45 victory at Ball State before guiding the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament championship game in back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011. . . . David Holston (43 points vs. St. Bonaventure at Austin, Tex., in 2006) set Chicago State's Division I single-game scoring record. . . . Junior Hairston (21 rebounds vs. Loyola Maryland in 2007) set Towson's Division I single-game rebounding record.
13 - Rotnei Clarke (51 points vs. Alcorn State in 2009) set Arkansas' single-game scoring record before transferring to Butler. . . . Gregg Marshall made his Wichita State debut in 2007 with a 61-56 victory vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff before guiding the Shockers to the 2013 Final Four and becoming national COY in 2014. . . . Siena's school-record 38-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Vermont (80-76 in 2010). . . . Shaka Smart made his VCU coaching debut in 2009 with a 77-51 triumph vs. Bethune-Cookman before directing the Rams to the 2011 Final Four.
14 - Jamie Dixon made his Pittsburgh coaching debut in 2003 with a 71-62 triumph vs. Alabama in New York before becoming national COY in 2009. . . . Larry Eustachy made his Idaho debut in 1990 with an 88-54 victory vs. Simon Fraser before becoming national COY with Iowa State in 2000 and the first coach in NCAA history to compile at least 24 wins in a single season with five different DI schools. . . . Bill Guthridge made his North Carolina debut in 1997 with an 84-56 success vs. Middle Tennessee State en route to becoming the winningest first-year coach in NCAA history and national COY.
15 - Reggie Williams (45 points vs. Virginia Intermont in 2006) set Virginia Military's single-game scoring record.
16 - Al Skinner made his Boston College debut in 1997 with an 87-54 victory vs. Central Connecticut State before going on to become the Eagles' all-time winnningest coach and national COY in 2001.
17 - Rick Barnes made his Texas debut in 1998 with a 71-69 reversal at Houston before going on to become the Longhorns' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bo Ryan made his Wisconsin debut in 2001 with a 74-69 defeat at UNLV before going on to become the Badgers' all-time winningest coach. . . . Florida's school-record 33-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Miami FL (69-67) in 2014.
18 - Mike Brey made his Notre Dame coaching debut in 2000 with a 104-58 rout of Sacred Heart before becoming national COY in 2011. . . . Jim Larranaga made his George Mason debut in 1997 with a 78-72 victory at Howard University before going on to become the Patriots' all-time winningest coach and guiding them to the 2006 Final Four.
19 - Frank Kaminsky (43 points vs. North Dakota in 2013/modern-era mark) set Wisconsin's single-game scoring record.
20 - Okechi Egbe (44 points vs. Bethel in 2000) set Tennessee-Martin's Division I single-game scoring record. . . . Tom Izzo made his Michigan State debut in 1995 with a 69-66 triumph at Chaminade en route to becoming the Spartans' all-time winningest coach. . . . Chicago product Ben Wilson, entering his senior season generally regarded as the nation's premier prospect because of Magic Johnson-like skills, was shot within a block of high school campus and died the next day after bumping into two gang members while walking down the street following lunch break.
21 - Nick Davis (23 rebounds vs. Jackson State in 1997) set Arkansas' single-game rebounding record. . . . Mark Few made his Gonzaga debut in 1999 with a 76-61 triumph at Montana en route to becoming the Zags' all-time winningest coach. . . . Jay Wright made his Villanova coaching debut in 2001 with an 82-68 victory vs. Grambling State before becoming national COY in 2006 and guiding the Wildcats to the 2009 Final Four.
22 - Billy Donovan made his Florida debut in 1996 with an 80-63 triumph vs. UCF en route to becoming the Gators' all-time winningest coach. . . . Scott Drew made his Baylor debut in 2003 with a 72-59 success vs. Texas Southern en route to becoming the Bears' all-time winningest coach. . . . Western Carolina's Kevin Martin (46 points vs. Coastal Carolina in 2002) and Stony Brook's Anthony Jackson (36 at Toledo in 2013) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Bruce Weber made his Illinois coaching debut in 2003 with a 94-66 victory vs. Western Illinois before becoming national COY in 2005 when guiding the Illini to the NCAA Tournament championship game.
23 - Kevin Stallings made his Vanderbilt debut in 1999 with a 72-55 triumph over Belmont en route to becoming the Commodores' all-time winningest coach.
24 - Gene Bartow made his UAB debut in 1978 with a 64-55 defeat against Nebraska before becoming the Blazers' all-time winningest coach. . . . Steve Fisher made his San Diego State debut in 1999 with a 73-57 victory vs. UC Riverside en route to becoming the Aztecs' all-time winningest coach and national COY in 2011. . . . Nolan Richardson made his Arkansas debut in 1985 with an 86-72 triumph over Southern Illinois en route to becoming the Razorbacks' all-time winningest coach.
25 - Bethune-Cookman's Reggie Cunningham (46 points at Stetson in 1995) and Nevada's Kevin Franklin (48 at Loyola Marymount in 1989) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Louisiana Tech's school-record 39-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Stephen F. Austin (67-58) in 1985. . . . Steve Alford made his Southwest Missouri State coaching debut in 1995 with an 83-71 win vs. Texas-Pan American en route to guiding four different DI schools to the NCAA playoffs. . . . Lute Olson made his Arizona debut in 1983 with a 72-65 triumph over Northern Arizona en route to becoming the Wildcats' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bob Huggins made his Cincinnati debut in 1989 with a 66-64 triumph over Minnesota en route to becoming the Bearcats' all-time winningest coach. . . . Gale Catlett made his West Virginia debut in 1978 with an 86-66 triumph over Rider en route to becoming the Mountaineers' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bob McKillop made his Davidson debut in 1989 with an 84-65 setback at Wake Forest before becoming the Wildcats' all-time winningest coach and earning national COY acclaim in 2008. . . . Roy Williams made his Kansas coaching debut in 1988 with a 94-81 success at Alaska-Anchorage before becoming national COY on four occasions. . . . Eventual national player of year Tim Duncan went scoreless in his Wake Forest debut, a 70-68 loss at NCAA Division II Alaska-Anchorage in 1993.
26 - Dana Altman made his Creighton debut in 1994 with a 68-61 win at Oral Roberts en route to becoming the Bluejays' all-time winningest coach. . . . Dave Bliss made his New Mexico debut in 1988 with a 96-71 success vs. Loyola (Md.) en route to becoming the Lobos' all-time winningest coach. . . . Jim Boeheim made his Syracuse debut in 1976 with a 75-48 triumph over Harvard en route to setting the NCAA career record for most victories by a coach at a single school. . . . Larry Brown made his Kansas coaching debut in 1983 with a 91-76 reversal at Houston before guiding the Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA title when he was named national COY. . . . John Calipari made his Massachusetts coaching debut in 1988 with an 84-61 success vs. Southern Connecticut before directing the Minutemen and two more schools to the Final Four. . . . In his freshman debut, Rudy Macklin (32 rebounds vs. Tulane in 1976) set Louisiana State's single-game rebounding record. By contrast, eventual national player of year David Robinson went scoreless with only one rebound for Navy in his first game against a DI opponent (Yale in 1983). . . . Kelvin Sampson made his Oklahoma coaching debut in 1994 with an 85-74 victory vs. Coppin State before becoming a two-time national COY with the Sooners. . . . . Bill Self made his ORU debut in 1993 with a 78-66 win vs. Sam Houston State before becoming the only coach in NCAA history to reach a Division I Tournament regional final in back-to-back years with different schools. . . . Tubby Smith made his Tulsa debut in 1991 with a 94-81 setback at TCU before becoming the only coach to take three consecutive teams seeded sixth or worse to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA playoffs and earn national COY acclaim with Kentucky in 2003.
27 - Brandon Wood (39 points at Georgia Southern in 2009) set Valparaiso's single-game scoring record against a Division I opponent. . . . P.J. Carlesimo made his Seton Hall coaching debut in 1982 with an 87-63 victory vs. St. Anselm (N.H.) before directing the Pirates to an NCAA Tournament runner-up finish in 1989 when he was named national COY. . . . Lon Kruger made his Texas-Pan American debut in 1982 with a 66-58 setback vs. Louisiana Tech before becoming the first coach to direct three different schools to the Top 20 of a final wire-service poll. . . . John Thompson Jr. made his Georgetown debut in 1972 with a 61-60 triumph over St. Francis (Pa.) en route to a school-record 596 victories with the Hoyas. . . . Alvan Adams (28 rebounds vs. Indiana State in 1972) set Oklahoma's single-game rebounding record.
28 - Tom Davis made his Iowa debut in 1986 with a 91-81 success at Alaska-Anchorage en route to becoming the Hawkeyes' all-time winningest coach. . . . Lou Henson made his Illinois debut in 1975 with a 60-58 triumph at Nebraska en route to becoming the Illini's all-time winningest coach. . . . Mike Krzyzewski made his Army head coaching debut in 1975 with a 56-29 victory over Lehigh before becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history with Duke. . . . Mike Montgomery made his Stanford debut in 1986 with a 67-65 defeat against Georgia Tech at Richmond before becoming the Cardinal's all-time winningest coach.
29 - The three-point goal was an experimental rule in the Southern Conference in 1980 when Western Carolina's Ronnie Carr made the first three-pointer in history at Reid Gymnasium vs. Middle Tennessee State. . . . Craig Bradshaw (42 points at Ohio University in 2014) set Belmont's single-game scoring record against a DI opponent. . . . Alan Williams (39 vs. South Dakota State in 2013) tied UC Santa Barbara's single-game scoring record. . . . Mike Krzyzewski made his Duke debut in 1980 with a 67-49 triumph over Stetson en route to becoming the Blue Devils' all-time winningest coach. . . . Jim Calhoun made his Connecticut debut in 1986 with a 58-54 triumph over Massachusetts en route to becoming the Huskies' all-time winningest coach. . . . Cliff Ellis made his South Alabama debut with an 82-68 defeat vs. Centenary before becoming the only coach in the 20th Century to hold three school single-season records with at least 25 victories at the same time. . . . Billy Tubbs made his Lamar head coaching debut in 1976 with an 80-73 triumph over Houston Baptist en route to more than 600 victories with three schools. . . . Gene Keady made his Purdue debut in 1980 with a 72-59 triumph over Colorado State en route to becoming the Boilermakers' all-time winningest coach.
30 - Dartmouth set an NCAA single-game record by having nine different players contribute at least one three-point basket vs. Boston College in 1993. . . . John Chaney made his Temple debut in 1982 with a 68-67 triumph at George Washington en route to becoming the Owls' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bobby Cremins made his Georgia Tech debut in 1981 with an 82-66 triumph against Presbyterian (S.C.) en route to becoming the Yellow Jackets' all-time winningest coach.

Bad Boys and Ball Boys: Fireman Boeheim Deals With Orange-Hot Flames

October 29th, 2014 - 21:28

On the hardwood, Syracuse has been white hot for much of coach Jim Boeheim's four-decade stint. But the Orange joined North Carolina in ACC academic disarray. To the cage cynic, that might translate into additional NCAA probation for non-power conference schools such as Centenary, Cleveland State, Long Beach State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana Tech, Western Kentucky and Wichita State.

Off the court, Boeheim occasionally is fire chief extraordinaire, putting out fire after fire including calling an NCAA proposal "completely nuts" requiring teams to be on track to graduating half their players, the dismissal of assistant coach Bernie Fine amid predator allegations and Yahoo Sports publishing a story claiming SU didn't follow its drug-testing policies in allowing 10 players in the previous decade to continue playing after positive results. Right as one might think Boeheim deserved Ex-Cuse fire retardant, the program was embroiled in an NCAA probe resulting in an assortment of sanctions announced near the conclusion of the 2014-15 campaign.

Unaccountable Boeheim seems beleaguered when he doesn't defuse scrutiny by making it appear beneath his dignity to address any significant issue (including hiding under his desk at season-ending post-game press conference). The surly mentor sounds as if he needs a generous dose of truth serum when discussing his program's drug-testing culture and academic anemia. Any relevant candor appears odd such as Boeheim being "impressed" about one-and-done Carmelo Anthony's 1.8 gpa before failing to mention if Anthony attended more classes than games his second semester. Odd also describes the NCAA's timing for not having its probe go back to include Anthony's NCAA titlist squad in 2003.

The tales of tumult escalate when a dismissive Boeheim fails to control his tongue, let alone disdainful facial expressions. Apology notwithstanding, his incendiary money-motivated defense of the alleged 'Cuse Abuse certainly wasn't "fine" when considering the "high" number of suspect students he recruited. In deference to what seemingly is more important to them, the Orange Village People should sing YMCA while passing the hat for player donations before home games rather than a hand-over-the-heart National Anthem.

Syracuse, where Child and Family Studies is emphasized, was one of 13 schools in the 2012 NCAA playoffs that would not have participated in the tournament if a new APR (Academic Progress Rate) was in effect that year. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who averaged a team-high 16.9 points per game for Harvard in 1986-87, didn't mention Boeheim by name but seemed to take a backhanded slap at him when discussing graduation rates. And Duncan probably wasn't even aware of SU's athletic department Fab(ulous) scholastic string-pulling to keep a defensive dynamo eligible.

"When athletic programs have their priorities in order," Duncan was quoted in USA Today, "there are simply no better ways to teach invaluable life lessons than on the playing field or on the court. I just never understood why a small number of universities and colleges allowed rogue programs and coaches to taint that tremendous record of achievement and success."

SU had a longstanding reputation for giving the most clang for your buck when it came to success at the foul line. A need for eye exams and other physical testing may explain the previous faulty free-throw marksmanship if a striking number of players indeed were fitted for orange jumpsuits upon immersion in alleged off-the-court shenanigans.

Fine was not charged with a crime and refuted the allegations lodged against him. But is accuser Bobby Davis, a former ball boy who unsuccessfully tried to sue Boeheim and the university for defamation (although case still simmers after reinstatement by New York's highest court), lying about him being noticed in Fine's road hotel room or is additional backtracking in the offing for Boeheim? In a worst-case scenario, could he be equally oblivious to the problematical academic progress and drug testing? Perhaps all of these questions will be adequately answered in the next three seasons before Boeheim plans to retire.

Post-college career or not, it isn't worth recounting the off-the-court distractions encountered by a disconcerting number of "Boeheim Bad Boys" who were All-Big East selections. There doesn't appear to be a smoking gun glowing over some of the garbage. But where there's smoke, there's a high likelihood of orange-tinged fire. By any measure, the unseemly incidents and scholastic neglect covering an extended period leave an unsavory culture-of-corruption stench.

Hunt for Mr. October: Best World Series Players Who Were College Hoopers

October 21st, 2014 - 6:56

If it was easy, then everyone could do it. After playing college hoops for current Division I universities, MLB All-Stars Joe Adcock (LSU/.250 with no extra-base hits), Mickey Cochrane (Boston University/.245), Dick Groat (Duke/.204), Davey Johnson (Texas A&M/.192 and homerless), Kenny Lofton (Arizona/.250), Wally Moon (Texas A&M/.240 with only one extra-base hit), Graig Nettles (San Diego State/.225 and homerless), Jackie Robinson (UCLA/.234) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota/.136 and homerless) struggled at the plate in World Series competition significantly more than they did during the regular season.

On the other hand, which such versatile athletes thrived in the Fall Classic? The premier pitcher and player overall in this category probably is Bob Gibson (Creighton) while the most regal regular may come from among outfielders Earle Combs (Eastern Kentucky), Tony Gwynn (San Diego State) and Riggs Stephenson (Alabama). Following is an All-Mr. October Team featuring former varsity basketball players who attended schools that are or were major colleges before excelling in the World Series:

Position Ex-College Hoopster DI School World Series Summary
LHP Marius Russo Long Island Permitted only one earned run in winning both of his Fall Classic complete games with Yankees - 1941 (vs. Dodgers) and 1943 (Cardinals).
RHP Bob Gibson Creighton Compiled 7-2 record and 1.89 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 81 innings with Cardinals in 1964 (Yankees), 1967 (Red Sox) and 1968 (Tigers).
Reliever Ron Reed Notre Dame Allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings in five relief appearances with Phillies in 1980 (Royals) and 1983 (Orioles).
C Tom Haller Illinois Hit .286 (4-for-14 including one homer off Hall of Fame P Whitey Ford) with Giants in 1962 (Yankees).
1B Hank Greenberg NYU Hit .318 (27-for-85) with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI with Tigers in 1934 (Cardinals), 1935 (Cubs), 1940 (Reds) and 1945 (Cubs).
2B Charles "Buddy" Myer Mississippi State Hit .286 (8-for-28) in eight games with Senators in 1925 (Pirates) and 1933 (Giants).
3B Billy Werber Duke Hit .326 (14-for-43) in games with Reds in 1939 (Yankees) and 1940 (Tigers).
SS Alvin Dark LSU/USL Hit .323 (21-for-65) in 16 games for Braves (.167) and Giants (.415) in 1948 (Indians), 1951 (Yankees) and 1954 (Indians).
LF Riggs Stephenson Alabama Hit .378 (14-for-37) in nine games with Cubs in 1929 (Athletics) and 1932 (Yankees).
CF Earle Combs Eastern Kentucky Hit .350 (21-for-60) in 16 games with Yankees in 1926 (Cardinals), 1927 (Pirates), 1928 (Cardinals) and 1932 (Cubs).
RF Tony Gwynn San Diego State Hit .371 (13-for-35) with Padres in 1984 (Tigers) and 1998 (Yankees).
Most Underrated Charlie Keller Maryland OF hit .306 (22-of-72 with 10 extra-base hits) in 19 games with Yankees in 1939 (Reds), 1941 (Dodgers), 1942 (Cardinals) and 1943 (Cardinals).
Manager Walter Alston Miami (Ohio) Seven N.L. pennants with Dodgers resulted in four World Series championships (1955-59-63-65).

Julius Thomas Already Cracks Top Ten Among Ex-College Hoopster Tight Ends

October 20th, 2014 - 20:48

If you need more unassailable evidence proving who are the best team-sport athletes in the world, check out Julius Thomas on the list of premier tight ends in the NFL. Thomas was slated to be the league's most-coveted free agent in the spring of 2015. A striking number of the elite players at that rigorous position are former college basketball players although ESPN (Engineering Social Priorities Network) probably is more interested in positioning Michael Sam for another destination after he was "kissed" adrift from the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. In the past, what kind of "picks" do you think imposing Mike Ditka (Pittsburgh) and John Mackey (Syracuse) set back in the day before the Big East Conference was formed? Wouldn't you love to see LeBron James maneuver down the field like Charles Atlas the same way he does when driving down the lane?

Although ex-California hoopster Tony Gonzalez failed to reach the 2013 postseason with the Atlanta Falcons in his quest to finally win a playoff game before he retired, succeeding in the NFL remains a "Battle of the Titans" at the TE position. Former hoopsters Antonio Gates (Kent State) and Jimmy Graham (Miami, Fla.) spark the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints, respectively. Coming on strong at the same position is fellow ex-college hoopster Thomas, a relatively obscure player for the Denver Broncos until exploding on the scene last season as their runner-up in touchdowns with 12 and contributing a team-high eight pass receptions in an AFC title-game victory against the New England Patriots.

Thomas, an All-Big Sky Conference hoopster with Portland State, flashed potential as the next game-changing tight end when he caught nine touchdown passes in the Broncos' first five games this season. A 74-yard TD strike to "It's So Easy" at San Diego in mid-season last year illustrated that QB Peyton Manning intends to capitalize on Thomas' athleticism the same way he did ex-hoopster Marcus Pollard (Bradley) with the Indianapolis Colts. Pollard, a J.C. transfer who was the Braves' leading rebounder in 1992-93, caught at least three touchdown passes each of Manning's first seven NFL seasons from 1998 through 2004.

Ditka has a quality successor as an ex-hoopster tight end with the Bears in Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M). Thomas, Bennett and Jordan Cameron of the Cleveland Browns should keep moving up the following list of Top 25 NFL tight ends who were former college basketball players:

Rank Former College Hoopster Alma Mater Summary of NFL Tight End Career
1. Tony Gonzalez California First tight end in NFL history with 100 touchdowns completed his 17-year career in 2013 with 1,325 receptions for 15,127 yards and 111 TDs. He was 13-time Pro Bowl selection.
2. Antonio Gates Kent State Set an NFL single-season record with 13 TD receptions in 2004 en route to becoming San Diego Chargers' all-time leader for TD catches, receptions and receiving yards.
3. Mike Ditka Pittsburgh Five-time Pro Bowl selection caught 427 passes for 5,812 yards and 43 TDs in 12 seasons.
4. John Mackey Syracuse Hall of Famer caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 TDs in 10 seasons.
5. Jimmy Graham Miami (Fla.) Led New Orleans Saints in pass receptions in 2012 and 2013. Twice has had streaks of at least four games with more than 100 yards in pass receptions. After only four years, he ranked second all-time among New Orleans Saints' tight ends in receiving.
6. Todd Heap Arizona State Caught 467 passes for 5,492 yards and 41 TDs with the Baltimore Ravens from 2001 through 2010, leading them in receptions in 2002 with 68.
7. Ben Coates Livingstone (N.C.) Established NFL single-season record for most receptions by a TE with 96 in 1994.
8. Marcus Pollard Bradley Finished his 13-year career with 349 receptions for 4,280 yards and 40 TDs (long of 86 yards in 2001 midway through stint as starter for the Indianapolis Colts).
9. Pete Metzelaars Wabash (Ind.) Played in more games at TE than any player in NFL history when he retired. Led the Buffalo Bills with 68 receptions in 1993.
10. Julius Thomas Portland State Began 2014 campaign with a bang by catching three first-half TD passes in season opener from Peyton Manning en route to nine TDs in first five games for the Denver Broncos. Thomas was team runner-up with 12 TD receptions the previous year.
11. Joe Senser West Chester State (Pa.) Caught 165 passes for 1,822 yards and 16 TDs in four-year career with the Minnesota Vikings in early 1980s.
12. Andrew Glover Grambling State Caught at least one TD pass each of his 10 pro seasons from 1991 through 2000, finishing with 208 receptions for 2,478 yards and 24 TDs.
13. Rich McGeorge Elon (N.C.) Caught 175 passes for 2,370 yards and 13 TDs with the Green Bay Packers in nine years from 1970 through 1978.
14. Rickey Dudley Ohio State Scored 29 TDs in five seasons with the Oakland Raiders before hooking on with two other teams.
15. Derrick Ramsey Kentucky Caught 188 passes for 2,364 yards and 21 TDs with three different teams from 1978 to 1987.
16. Jordan Cameron BYU/Southern California Blossomed in third year with Cleveland Browns in 2013, catching 80 passes for 917 yards and seven TDs (three in game at Minnesota). He had three contests with at least nine receptions.
17. Reuben Gant Oklahoma State Caught 127 passes for 1,850 yards and 15 TDs with the Buffalo Bills in seven seasons from 1974 through 1980.
18. Bob Windsor Kentucky Caught 185 passes for 2,307 yards and 14 TDs with the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots in nine years from 1967 through 1975.
19. Keith McKeller Jacksonville State (Ala.) Caught 124 passes for 1,464 yards and 11 TDs with the Buffalo Bills in seven years from 1987 through 1993.
20. Martellus Bennett Texas A&M Caught 205 passes for 2,231 yards and 14 TDs with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Chicago Bears in first six years from 2008 through 2013.
21. Greg Latta Morgan State (Md.) Caught 90 passes for 1,081 yards and seven TDs with the Chicago Bears in five years from 1975 through 1979.
22. Pat Richter Wisconsin Caught 99 passes for 1,315 yards and 14 TDs in nine seasons for the Washington Redskins after being their first-round pick in 1962.
23. Jeff King Virginia Tech Registered 93 receptions for 802 yards and seven TDs with the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals in first seven years from 2006 through 2012.
24. Ulysses Norris Georgia Best season of seven-year career was in 1983 when he had seven TDs with the Detroit Lions.
T25. Dee Mackey East Texas State Caught 94 passes for 1,352 yards and eight TDs in six NFL/AFL seasons from 1960 through 1965.
T25. Al Dixon Iowa State Caught 84 passes for 1,248 yards and eight TDs with four different teams from 1977 through 1984.

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Gory: Elite Schools Play Lame Non-League Slates

October 19th, 2014 - 14:30

By any measure, it was shortsighted of Indiana and Kentucky to let their "Clash of the Titans" rivalry expire a couple of years ago because of colossal coaching egos. Regrettably, the schedule neglect doesn't end there although perhaps IU was clairvoyant and knew half of its roster would be sanctioned for assorted pinhead/pothead reasons. It's equally obscene fans aren't able to enjoy the following potentially great natural non-league matchups between in-state power league members: Cincinnati/Ohio State, DePaul/Illinois, Georgetown/Maryland and Penn State/Villanova.

Tennessee's hiring of an apparent Bruce Pearl rerun notwithstanding, Memphis mentor Josh Pastner didn't discern the benefit in renewing the Tigers' series with the Volunteers. He'd rather just sit at home afflicted with ED (Entertainment Dysfunction) and beat up on out-of-state fodder. Do you think there is any connection between such a misguided mindset and Pastner's pathetic record against opponents ranked in the Top 25? An exhibition-game loss against local Christian Brothers this season could be another indication why the Tigers look extensively beyond state borders to pad their record although they lost by double digits against Stephen F. Austin to kick off a nine-game homestand.

Shortsighted Maryland, rather than coping with an exit fee lawsuit from the ACC, should have faced litigation from Terrapin fans because of woeful non-league home schedule the last several years probably costing them at-large berths in the NCAA playoffs. The Terps' non-league slate upon joining the Big Ten remains "turrible." Shouldn't the overriding view be what's best for the fans, players and game in general? Instead, a striking number of schools should be criticized for their fiasco picking on an excessive number of patsies. Clemson can be criticized for losing at home against Winthrop but the Tigers shouldn't be flogged for meeting the Eagles. How many premium performances has the neglect caused fans to miss out on over the years such as Niagara's Calvin Murphy erupting for a school-record 68 points against Syracuse in 1968-69? In a recent bragging-rights cessation, it's ridiculous that West Virginia intends to nix its series with Marshall.

Two of the last three NCAA titlists - Kentucky and Louisville - oppose each other but should be embarrassed about their non-conference schedules leading up to their annual battle. Rather than insomnia-curing mismatches, how much more interest would there be in Wichita State opposing Kansas and Kansas State, Akron and Dayton against Cincinnati and Ohio State, Tulsa against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Illinois State against DePaul and Illinois, Missouri against Missouri State and Saint Louis, plus Belmont against Tennessee and Vanderbilt? KU may have one of the nation's most rigorous non-league slates for a Top 20 team but the Jayhawks should still have an entertaining duel with the Shockers on the heels of their recent respective Final Four appearances. At some point, Self-serving needs to defer to what's best for the sport. Mizzou's season-opening setback against UMKC probably shows why the Tigers avoid SLU and Missouri State.

In a form of "gaming," a striking number of power league schools "man up" by appearing as if they want to celebrate Black History month in advance during their non-conference slates by overdosing on scheduling outmatched opponents from the MEAC and SWAC. Baylor is virtually an HBCU adjunct member this season with five home games against historically black colleges and universities.

Arkansas, Indiana, Memphis, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Ohio State players, officials and coaching staff should don hoodies hiding their faces in shame during warmups for their non-league home slates. Why would anyone spend their hard-earned money on attending many of these blowouts? Even if an observer detests government involvement, perhaps state legislatures should step in where they can and force power league members to get off their high horse and play the following potentially entertaining intra-state games against quality mid-level opponents:

Power League Member Shunned Quality In-State Mid-Major Foes Out-of-State Non-League Weak Sisters on 2014-15 Home Schedule
Alabama South Alabama and UAB Appalachian State, North Florida, Stillman, Tennessee Tech, Towson and Western Carolina
Arizona State Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona Bethune-Cookman, Chicago State, Colgate, Lehigh and Pepperdine
Arkansas Arkansas State and UALR Alabama State, Delaware State, Iona, Milwaukee, North Texas, Northwestern State, Southeast Missouri State and Utah Valley
Auburn South Alabama and UAB Coastal Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Milwaukee, North Alabama, Texas Southern and Winthrop
Baylor numerous non-HBCU schools in Texas Huston-Tillotson, McNeese State, Norfolk State, Prairie View, Southern (La.) and Texas Southern
California Saint Mary's, San Francisco, San Jose State and Santa Clara Alcorn State, Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Eastern Washington, Montana, Princeton and Wyoming
Cincinnati Cleveland State, Dayton and MAC schools East Carolina, Eastern Illinois, Morehead State, North Carolina Central, Saint Francis (Pa.), Stony Brook and Wagner
Georgetown American, George Mason and George Washington Radford, Robert Morris, St. Francis (N.Y.), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Towson
Illinois Bradley, Illinois State, Loyola of Chicago, Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois American, Austin Peay State, Brown, Coppin State, Georgia Southern, Hampton and Kennesaw State
Indiana Evansville, Indiana State and Valparaiso Eastern Washington, Grand Canyon, Lamar, Mississippi Valley State, New Orleans, UNC Greensboro, Savannah State and Texas Southern
Iowa Drake Alcorn State, Hampton, Missouri-Kansas City, North Dakota State, North Florida and Pepperdine
Kansas State Wichita State Bradley, Missouri-Kansas City, Nebraska-Omaha, Savannah State, Southern Utah and Texas Southern
Kentucky Morehead State, Murray State and Western Kentucky Boston University, Buffalo, Columbia, Grand Canyon, Middle Tennessee State and Texas-Arlington
Louisiana State Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette and Tulane Charleston, Gardner-Webb, Sam Houston State, Savannah State and Southern Mississippi
Louisville Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Murray State Cal State Northridge, Cleveland State, Florida International, Jacksonville State, Marshall, UNC-Wilmington and Savannah State
Marquette Green Bay and Milwaukee Alabama A&M, Morgan State, Nebraska-Omaha, NJIT, North Dakota and Tennessee-Martin
Maryland American, George Mason, George Washington and Loyola (Md.) Central Connecticut State, Fordham, North Carolina Central, USC Upstate, Virginia Military, Wagner and Winthrop
Memphis Belmont, Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee Bradley, Jacksonville State, North Carolina Central, Oral Roberts, Prairie View A&M, USC Upstate, Stephen F. Austin and Western Illinois
Michigan State Detroit Arkansas-Pine Bluff, The Citadel, Loyola, Santa Clara and Texas Southern
Mississippi Southern Mississippi Austin Peay State, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Northern Arizona, Southeast Missouri State, Southern (La.) and Western Kentucky
Mississippi State Southern Mississippi Arkansas State, Clayton, Jacksonville, McNeese State, Mississippi Valley State, USC Upstate and Western Carolina
North Carolina State Appalachian State, Charlotte, Davidson, East Carolina and Western Carolina Boise State, Charleston Southern, Hofstra, Jackson State, Jacksonville, Louisiana Tech, Richmond and Wofford
Northwestern Bradley, Illinois State, Loyola of Chicago and Southern Illinois Central Michigan, Elon, Houston Baptist, Mississippi Valley State, North Florida, Northern Kentucky and Western Michigan
Notre Dame Ball State and Butler Binghamton, Chicago State, Coppin State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Grambling State, Hartford, Mount St. Mary's, Navy and Northern Illinois
Ohio State Akron, Cleveland State, Dayton and Xavier Campbell, Colgate, High Point, James Madison, Massachusetts-Lowell, Morehead State, North Carolina A&T and Sacred Heart
Oklahoma State Oral Roberts and Tulsa Middle Tennessee State, Milwaukee, North Texas, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Prairie View A&M and Southeastern Louisiana
Oregon Portland UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Northridge, Concordia (Ore.), Coppin State, Delaware State and Detroit
Oregon State Portland State UC Santa Barbara, Corban, Grambling State, Mississippi Valley State, Oral Roberts and Rice
Pittsburgh Robert Morris Bryant, Florida Gulf Coast, Holy Cross, Manhattan, Niagara, Oakland, St. Bonaventure and Samford
Purdue Butler, Evansville, Indiana State and Valparaiso Arkansas State, Gardner-Webb, Grambling State, IPFW, IUPUI, North Florida and Samford
St. John's Iona, Manhattan and Stony Brook Fairleigh Dickinson, Franklin Pierce, Long Beach State, NJIT, Niagara, Saint Mary's and Tulane
UCLA Fresno State and Loyola Marymount UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton, Coastal Carolina, Montana State, Nicholls State and San Diego
Utah Utah State and Utah Valley Alabama State, Ball State, UC Riverside, Carroll (Mont.), North Dakota, South Dakota State and Texas-Pan American
Wake Forest Appalachian State, Charlotte, Davidson, East Carolina and Western Carolina Bucknell, Delaware State, Iona, Mount St. Mary's, Nicholls State, Princeton and Samford
Washington Gonzaga Grambling State, Pacific, San Jose State, South Carolina State and Stony Brook

World Series-ous Athletes: Impact of Former College Hoopers on Fall Classic

October 18th, 2014 - 18:56

Numerous universities have had versatile athletes who played college basketball before going on to major league baseball careers. While many single-minded basketball fans are assessing polls and rankings in preseason hoop magazines and websites, following is an incisive "Who Am I?" quiz for well-rounded basketball/baseball enthusiasts taking a toll on their memories as they try to recall World Series participants, including former members of the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants, who played varsity basketball for a current NCAA Division I college.

Keep your chin up if you need relief answering the following questions because they're almost as difficult as both teams probably will find scoring off brilliant bullpens:

I was a 13-year major league second baseman who set several fielding records and played in the 1967 World Series with the Boston Red Sox after ranking among the nation's top 12 free-throw shooters both of my college basketball seasons with Oklahoma State.
Who am I? Jerry Adair

I was a 17-year first baseman who hit four homers and a double in a single game and played in back-to-back World Series with the Milwaukee Braves after being LSU's leading scorer (18.6 points per game) for the Tigers' 1945-46 team compiling an 18-3 record and losing against Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference Tournament final.
Who am I? Joe Adcock

I was a 10-year pitcher who led the A.L. in winning percentage in 1935 with an 18-7 record (.720) for the World Series-bound Detroit Tigers after I was named to the first five on an all-conference basketball team in my final season at Kansas State. I was a submariner who hurled a complete game victory in a 10-4 verdict over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the '34 Series before losing Game 7 to Dizzy Dean.
Who am I? Eldon Auker

I was a shortstop who participated in five World Series, four with the champion, in a six-year span from 1910 through 1915 after earning a basketball letter for Holy Cross in 1908.
Who am I? John "Jack" Barry

I was a rookie pitcher in 1978 with the New York Yankees who went the distance for the first time in my major league career in a Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. I was a 6-5 forward who averaged 14.3 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game for Dartmouth in 1974-75 when I was selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League.
Who am I? Jim Beattie

I was a catcher who appeared in back-to-back World Series with the New York Yankees (1927 and 1928) after being a basketball letterman for Niagara from 1916-17 through 1918-19.
Who am I? Bernard "Benny" Bengough

I was an outfielder who, during my 11-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hit a double in the 1925 World Series to help them become the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a seven-game series. I played with my brother on Oregon's basketball squad before we briefly played alongside each other with the Pirates.
Who am I? Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee

I was a player-manager who earned American League MVP honors in leading the Cleveland Indians to the 1948 World Series after being the top scorer for an Illinois team sharing a Big Ten Conference basketball title.
Who am I? Lou Boudreau

I was a pitcher who appeared in the 1947 and 1949 World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers after notching 21-12 and 13-5 won-loss marks, respectively, following a basketball career at NYU, where I was the Violets' sixth-leading scorer in 1943-44 with an average of 3.8 points per game. Major league player and manager Bobby Valentine is my son-in-law.
Who am I? Ralph Branca

I was a 12-year outfielder who played in three World Series with the New York Yankees and hit 38 home runs in one season with Kansas City after finishing my college basketball career ranking fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list.
Who am I? Bob Cerv

I am a Hall of Fame catcher who participated in five World Series (1929-30-31-34-35) with the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers after playing basketball for Boston University.
Who am I? Mickey Cochrane

I posted a 1.88 ERA in 14 1/3 innings for the Boston Red Sox against the New York Giants in the 1912 World Series after being a two-year basketball letterman with Vermont.
Who am I? Ray Collins

I am a Hall of Fame outfielder for the New York Yankees who compiled a .350 batting average in four World Series (1926-27-28-32) after being captain with Eastern Kentucky's basketball squad.
Who am I? Earle Combs

I am a three-time All-Star Game performer who pitched in the 1957 World Series for the Milwaukee Braves after being an All-Pacific Coast Conference first-team selection in 1949-50 when the 6-7 sophomore center led Washington State and the PCC North Division in scoring (13.3 points per game).
Who am I? Gene Conley

I hit .323 in three World Series (1948 with Boston Braves; 1951 and 1954 with New York Giants). Member of LSU's 1942-43 basketball squad before entering military service (Marine Corps V-12 program) during World War II. Known as the "Swamp Fox," I was a five-sport letterman with Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now Louisiana-Lafayette) during 1943-44.
Who am I? Alvin Dark

I led N.L. outfielders in putouts three years and hit near or over .300 for three St. Louis Cardinal pennant winners (1926, 1928 and 1930) after earning letters three seasons in basketball for California.
Who am I? Taylor Douthit

I was a 10-year utility infielder who saw action in two World Series games in 1959 with the Chicago White Sox after averaging seven points per contest as a 5-9 starting guard for Indiana in 1951-52.
Who am I? Sammy Esposito

I was a catcher who appeared in two World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1974 and 1978). Pacific teammate of All-American Keith Swagerty averaged 3.7 ppg and 2.3 rpg in 1965-66 and 1966-67 under coach Dick Edwards, scoring two points against eventual NCAA champion UCLA in the 1967 West Regional final.
Who am I? Joe Ferguson

I led the A.L. in won-loss percentage in 1946 with a 25-6 mark before pitching a shutout in Game 3 of the World Series for the Boston Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals after being a basketball letterman for Mississippi State in 1940-41.
Who am I? Boo Ferriss

I was a lefthanded hitting backup outfielder who participated in the 1929 World Series with the Philadelphia Athletics after being a basketball letterman for Army's 18-5 team in 1921 following two campaigns with Rutgers.
Who am I? Walter French

I wasa righthanded pitcher who appeared in the 1980 World Series with the Kansas City Royals after leading New Hampshire with 7.2 rebounds per game in 1975-76.
Who am I? Rich Gale

I was a first baseman-outfielder who hit 103 major league homers and pinch hit four times for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1961 World Series after earning a letter with Temple's basketball team in 1948-49 when I averaged 2.7 points per game.
Who am I? Dick Gernert

I was a lefthanded pitcher who appeared in the 1960 World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates after finishing my four-year college career as Mississippi's leader in career scoring and rebounds following a senior season when my scoring average was higher than first-team All-Americans Elgin Baylor (Seattle) and Wilt Chamberlain (Kansas).
Who am I? Joe Gibbon

I am a Hall of Fame pitcher who set a record with 17 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers in my third World Series in five years after becoming the first basketball player in Creighton history to average at least 20 points per game in a career.
Who am I? Bob Gibson

I am a palm-ball specialist who blanked the Baltimore Orioles in 5 1/3 innings in three relief appearances for the champion Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1971 World Series after becoming the first N.L. pitcher to appear in each contest of a four-game LCS. I connected on 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60.
Who am I? Dave Giusti

I am a Hall of Fame first baseman-left fielder who had 14 extra-base hits in four World Series with the Detroit Tigers after attending NYU briefly on a basketball scholarship in 1929.
Who am I? Hank Greenberg

I am an eight-time All-Star Game shortstop who started for World Series championship teams with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960 and St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 after twice ranking among the top four scorers in the country with Duke.
Who am I? Dick Groat

I was a perennial All-Star outfielder with multiple Gold Gloves and N.L. batting titles who sparked the San Diego Padres to two World Series (1984 and 1998) after being a two-time All-WAC second-team selection as a San Diego State guard who led the league in assists as a sophomore and junior.
Who am I? Tony Gwynn

I was a three-time All-Star catcher who played in the 1962 World Series with the San Francisco Giants (swatted a two-run homer off Hall of Famer Whitey Ford of the Yankees in Game Four) after playing as a backup forward for Illinois' basketball squad as a sophomore (1956-57) and junior (1957-58).
Who am I? Tom Haller

I was a 12-year lefthanded reliever who appeared in back-to-back World Series with the New York Yankees after being a 6-7 Morehead State forward-center who ranked 15th in the country in scoring as a junior (24.2 ppg) and among the nation's top 10 rebounders as a senior (19.1 rpg).
Who am I? Steve Hamilton

I was a 12-year lefthanded pitcher who appeared in the 1989 World Series with the San Francisco Giants after being a 6-2 guard who averaged 5.3 points per game as a freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as a sophomore in 1977-78 for East Tennessee State.
Who am I? Atlee Hammaker

I was a first baseman-outfielder who participated in the 1942 World Series with the New York Yankees after playing for Manhattan basketball teams winning a school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931.
Who am I? John "Buddy" Hassett

I was a lefthanded hitting utilityman who participated as a rookie with the New York Yankees in the 1923 World Series against the New York Giants after being a basketball letterman for Vanderbilt in 1918.
Who am I? Harvey Hendrick

I was a 10-year pitcher who hurled four shutout innings as the fourth-game starter for the New York Yankees in the 1939 World Series after being a basketball All-American for Butler. I was named to the first A.L. All-Star team in 1933.
Who am I? Oral Hildebrand

I was a 16-year first baseman/outfielder who homered in Game 4 of the 1963 World Series to help the Los Angeles Dodgers sweep the New York Yankees and twice led the A.L. in homers after leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding as a junior and senior.
Who am I? Frank Howard

I was a 13-year infielder who slugged 43 of my 136 career homers for the Atlanta Braves in 1973 after appearing in four World Series with the Baltimore Orioles (1966, 1969, 1970 and 1971). I averaged 1.7 points per game as a sophomore in my only varsity basketball season (1961-62) with Texas A&M before signing a pro baseball contract.
Who am I? Davey Johnson

I was a 13-year outfielder who hit .306 for the New York Yankees in 19 World Series games after being a three-year basketball letterman for Maryland.
Who am I? Charlie Keller

I was a Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher who became N.L. MVP but lost the 1950 World Series opener to the New York Yankees as a starter, 1-0, after playing two seasons for Syracuse basketball teams.
Who am I? Jim Konstanty

I began rookie year with the Chicago Cubs by winning nine of my first 10 decisions before becoming a reliever for the 1969 Amazin' Mets World Series champion. I was a standout basketball player for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when the North Carolina-based school was a junior college.
Who am I? Cal Koonce

I was an infielder-outfielder who hit .303 in my 15-year career. When I was with the Detroit Tigers, I led the A.L. in batting average once (.353 in 1959), hits four times (209 in 1953 when he was rookie of the year, 201 in 1954, 196 in 1956 and 198 in 1959) and doubles on three occasions (38 in 1955, 39 in 1958 and 42 in 1959) before appearing in the 1962 World Series with the San Francisco Giants. I managed the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1982 World Series. I played in five games for Wisconsin's basketball team in the 1951-52 season.
Who am I? Harvey Kuenn

I was a three-time All-Star outfielder who posted a .331 average with 22 HRs and 107 RBI in my first full season with the New York Giants in 1935 before appearing in the World Series in 1936 and 1937. I had two hits in a six-run second inning of Game Four in the Giants' lone victory against the New York Yankees in 1937 after scoring 16 points in nine basketball games for Arizona in 1931.
Who am I? Hank Leiber

I am an outfielder who led the A.L. in stolen bases, a record for an A.L. rookie, and appeared in the World Series with three different teams (Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants) after setting Arizona basketball records for steals in a season and career.
Who am I? Kenny Lofton

I was a 12-year infielder who played in the 1957 and 1958 World Series with the New York Yankees after being a member of Southwest Missouri State squads that won 1952 and 1953 NAIA Tournament titles.
Who am I? Jerry Lumpe

I was a lefthanded outfielder who appeared in 1943 World Series for the New York Yankees against the St. Louis Cardinals after being a basketball letterman with William & Mary from 1935-36 through 1937-38.
Who am I? Arthur "Bud" Metheny

I was a Gold Glove left fielder in 1960 between participating in two World Series with the Dodgers (1959 and 1965) after averaging 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50.
Who am I? Wally Moon

I was a righthander who appeared in 1934 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals' Gas House Gang against the Detroit Tigers. I was an all-around athlete for East Tennessee State.
Who am I? Jim Mooney

I was an infielder who hit .303 with the Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox in 17 A.L. seasons from 1925 through 1941, participating in two World Series (1925 and 1933). I was a basketball letterman for Mississippi State in 1923-24.
Who am I? Charles "Buddy" Myer

I was a five-time All-Star who holds the A.L. record for most homers by a third baseman (319), but was homerless in five World Series (four with the New York Yankees and one with the San Diego Padres). The highlight of my career was four dazzling stops in Game 3 of the 1978 World Series to help the Yankees win their first of four consecutive games. I averaged 5.3 points per game while earning basketball letters in my hometown for San Diego State in 1963-64 and 1964-65, shooting 87.8% from the free-throw line (36 of 41) as a sophomore.
Who am I? Graig Nettles

I was a 19-year pitcher who appeared in two World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies after averaging 18.9 points and 14.3 rebounds in three varsity basketball seasons with Notre Dame.
Who am I? Ron Reed

I was a catcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1967 and 1968 World Series. I led Duquesne in scoring in my senior season with a 17.9 average in 1956-57 when I finished fourth in the nation in free-throw percentage (86.2). As a sophomore, I was a starter for an NIT championship team that compiled a 22-4 record and finished sixth in the final AP poll.
Who am I? Dave Ricketts

I appeared in 1915 World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies en route to becoming the N.L.'s winningest lefthanded pitcher until Warren Spahn broke my record. I earned basketball letters with Virginia in 1911-12 and 1913-14.
Who am I? Eppa Rixey Jr.

I am a Hall of Fame pitcher who was a 20-game winner for six consecutive seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies after leading Michigan State in field-goal percentage as a junior captain. In 1950, I lost my only World Series start, 2-1, when the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio homered off me in the 10th inning.
Who am I? Robin Roberts

I am a Hall of Fame infielder who was a regular for six National League pennant winners after compiling league-high scoring averages in both of my seasons with UCLA. I collected two homers and seven doubles in World Series competition for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Who am I? Jackie Robinson

I was a four-time All-Star third baseman with the New York Yankees who appeared in six of the seven World Series from 1936 through 1942. I managed the Detroit Tigers after being a head basketball coach with Yale and with the Toronto Huskies of the Basketball Association of America. I played in a handful of basketball games for Dartmouth.
Who am I? Robert "Red" Rolfe

I was a New York Yankees lefthander who registered a pair of 2-1 World Series victories (over the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941 and St. Louis Cardinals in 1943) after playing for two of the premier teams in college basketball history when LIU went 24-2 in 1934-35 and 26-0 in 1935-36. I was named to the first five on the Metropolitan New York Basketball Writers Association All-Star Team after the undefeated season.
Who am I? Marius Russo

I pitched in two World Series games for the New York Yankees in 1964 after being a 6-4 sophomore forward who averaged 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for Connecticut's NCAA Tournament team in 1959-60.
Who am I? Rollie Sheldon

I was a three-time All-Star first baseman-outfielder who played in the 1956 and 1958 World Series with the New York Yankees and 1967 World Series with the Boston Red Sox. I was a member of Southwest Missouri State squads that won back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953.
Who am I? Norm Siebern

I was an infielder-outfielder who batted .319 or better in 12 of 14 major league seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs from 1921 through 1934. In 1927, my first full season with the Cubs, I led the N.L. with 46 doubles. In the Cubs' 1929 pennant-winning season, I combined with Hall of Famers Kiki Cuyler and Hack Wilson to become the first outfield in N.L. history to have each starter finish with more than 100 RBI. I hit .378 in nine World Series games with the Cubs in 1929 and 1932 after being a guard who earned a basketball letter with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1920.
Who am I? Riggs Stephenson

I was a 10-year switch-hitting utilityman who played in the 1970 World Series with the Cincinnati Reds. I was an all-conference selection both years when I finished third in scoring for Austin Peay State teams in 1959-60 (11.5 points per game) and 1960-61 (10.4 ppg) that participated in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Who am I? Jimmy Stewart

I was a 13-year veteran who appeared in 485 major league games, all as a reliever, and won a 1979 World Series game with the Baltimore Orioles after being a starting forward opposite national player of the year David Thompson of North Carolina State for an NCAA basketball champion.
Who am I? Tim Stoddard

I was a lefthander who led the N.L. in won-loss percentage in 1973 (12-3 mark with the New York Mets) before appearing in the World Series and notching a save in Game 2 against the Oakland A's. Basketball letterman for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66 (averaged 14.7 ppg as teammate of noted women's coach Leon Barmore).
Who am I? George Stone

I was a lefthanded swinging catcher-utilityman who participated in 1940 World Series with the Detroit Tigers after being a basketball letterman for Portland in the late 1920s.
Who am I? Billy Sullivan

I was an 11-year infielder who led the A.L. in stolen bases three times and hit .326 in the World Series for back-to-back N.L. pennant winners with the Cincinnati Reds after becoming the first Duke player to earn All-American honors in basketball. I was the initial player to bat in a televised major league game (Reds vs. Brooklyn on August 26, 1939) and the only player ever to hit four consecutive doubles in a game in both leagues.
Who am I? Billy Werber

I was an outfielder who played in 12 All-Star Games and had over 3,000 career hits after playing the entire game for Minnesota in the Gophers' first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1972. I participated in the World Series with the New York Yankees (1981) and Toronto Blue Jays (1992).
Who am I? Dave Winfield

Craig's Grist: POTUS' Coaching Failure Brother-in-Law Given ESPN Welfare

October 8th, 2014 - 19:04

In politics, "elections have consequences" unless, of course, your side doesn't win as more foreign workers are legalized than jobs created. If you don't win in sports (occasionally at least 2/3 of the time), it eventually doesn't matter how consequential an elected-official might be; including the proverbial most powerful man in the world. You can just be like aging leftist leader Nanny Pathetic, who stretches the pass-it-now-read-it-later truth even more than her "Petty Woman" West face, and lie to "stupid" public about not knowing ObummerCare con-artist insult-ant Jonathan Gruber. Face the facts: Dimocrats don't win through blockbuster ethical arguments; they bust through changing ethnic percentage of voting bloc.

At first glance, a new TV commentator hiring resembles Chelsea Clinton charity when she was given a journalistic role at a major network. Let's just hope Barry-brother-in-law Craig Robinson is a better ESPN analyst than he was coach in a power league after the network contributed to record-setting levels of welfare under pen-and-phone President Barack Obama. Devoid of any media credentials, Chelsea received a political favor via an annual salary of $600,000 when she joined NBC News as a "special correspondent" (in excess of $25,000 for each minute displaying her hard-working brilliance on-air to make certain she wasn't dead-broke after leaving the White House and academic pursuits before making Shrillary Rotten a grandma). It isn't brain surgery, but the Dimocrap Dominatrix wearing the pants suits in her family doesn't believe jobs are created by businesses, so they must be given; not earned.

Robinson, beseeching the country for seven-footers regarding his Pacific-12 Conference welfare, was part of the Democratic Convention in Charlotte two years ago helping introduce sister Michelle Obama. Amid questioning whether about "2/3" of the party was shamed into putting God back into its platform, a "Fluke" inquiry lingered wondering if Robinson got a vacation from significant media criticism because he is brother-in-law of paternalistic POTUS pondering contrived definitions of "workplace violence" and marriage while turning the U.S. into a welfare nation, appointing a political operative with zero medical/health care expertise as Ebola Czar, penning secret "dove" letters to Iran's Ayatollah and serving unilaterally as lame-duck Extra-Constitutional bell hop for millions of illegal aliens.

The wily White House, adverse to an alleged discriminatory travel ban involving West Africa, wants U.S. military to combat Ebola in that region of the world on only four hours of training. But didn't demented Dems with perhaps 2/3 of a brain such as Ron Klain exhibit some sort of bias disease traveling to Florida to work hard for four weeks to ban overseas military ballots in 2000 recount standoff?

Continuing to take Beaver Nation in the wrong direction although Robinson "didn't create that," the sick circumstances at Oregon State failed to change last season and he lost his job after failing to secure a presidential pardon as the Drone Ranger was bogged down religiously reading 2/3 of his intelligence briefings and prepping 2/3 of NCAA playoff brackets for ESPN. The Beavers bombed in their season opener against visiting Coppin State, the second HBCU to win in Corvallis in four years, and things didn't improve much from there comparable to the Oval Office tracking terrorists (no national or family security). The golfer-in-chief with more than 200 rounds under his mom-jeans belt, fond of comparing himself to Abraham Lincoln but too busy to attend the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, unilaterally couldn't give Robinson a mulligan as he was apparently too busy assembling an excuse for not saying "under God" while reciting a portion of the famous speech for historian Ken Burns.

At least Oregon State is sufficiently God-fearing to know not to put Seattle back on its schedule after losing at home to the Reclassifying DI school, 99-48, in 2009-10. That regrettable result (matching the most-lopsided setback in OSU history) reminiscent of Reagan mauling Mondale has to qualify as the most embarrassing clunker by a power league member thus far this century. It was perhaps as appalling as Central Planning's health care rollout debacle - the signature legislation for the selfie-taking "Audacity of Hype" - or his Marvin Gaye routine "I (Only) Heard It Through the Grapevine" pleading of ignorance regarding a poison-pen and sell-phone series of scandals and shortcomings. After shaking down the health-care industry for money rather than closely monitor website development, his sniveling former HHS secretary said during Congressional testimony: "Don't do this to me!" Meanwhile, about "2/3" of the non-Medicad populace says: "Don't do this to us!"

Right-thinking Americans don't like Duncan-like liars, Progressive Jihad, the White House "health-care apology" or ISIS-containing ineptitude and DC can keep it, period! Let me be more-than-2/3-of-the-way clear about the ideology as defenseless as the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, ill-conceived as shaking hands with/bowing down to dictators and insidious as intimidating witnesses of the Libyan lynching! But chill out, if your identity is pilfered by a navigator felon/former ACORN staffer, no one will be more upset than Mr. Teleprompter's neighborhood. In order to show compassion and not run the race-baiting risk of offending a grandstanding progressive, it's time to give the Obowwow apologists and lame-stream media enablers a hug like you would your little puppy and then let them go back to supporting sucking on at least 2/3 of the government nanny's boob. After the mid-term elections, at least give delusional Dimocrats free instruction on how to do "2/3" of "the wave."

There is no need to give them the old deflection-and-distraction razzle dazzle by being Clintonesque and parcing "is is" words amid the chronic fabrication. Few in the establishment media acknowledged it until the bitter end, but even a sports intern could realize no evidence existed from an unimpeachable source that Robinson could end the Beavers' bump-in-the-road streak of 32 consecutive campaigns winless in the NCAA playoffs. At least Robinson exhibited more character than other members of his family circle by not chronically immersing himself in the Bush-league ploy of blaming his predecessor (Jay John) for six lackluster OSU years. He also didn't turn for consolation and consultation to tax cheat Al "Not So" Sharpton after a significant setback.

Robinson's voice may resemble Homer Simpson but he matches the postseason expertise of ESPN analysts Dan Dakich and Tim Welsh - both never posted an NCAA Tournament win as a Division I bench boss. His credentials don't quite measure up to ESPN experts Fran Fraschilla, Dino Gaudio, Seth Greenberg and Dick Vitale - each of whom has a lone NCAA playoff triumph in a collective 45 years of DI head coaching. But at least Robinson doesn't have a top-shelf job at Target.

Hoping cynical comments aren't monitored in an IRS targeting binder assembled by Iranian-born Oval Office lackey Valerie Jarrett, let's move to a place where Robinson's commentary doesn't follow in his sister's organic-garden footsteps (a/k/a "dancing with turnip") by lecturing college hoopsters on what at least 2/3 of them should eat for lunch. But the good news is, as long as Robinson maintains a pulse, there is absolutely no way he already isn't a more competent media member than the former First Daughter.

Sad State: Roy Ebron's Death Depicts Inferior Quality On and Off Hardwood

October 5th, 2014 - 16:00

In the aftermath of former Southwestern Louisiana center Roy Ebron recently passing away in New Orleans area, hoop aficionados subsequently have endured a classic lack-of-proper-perspective example of the cult-of-personality outweighing amateurish hoops history. Inexcusably, more sports columnists and self-proclaimed basketball experts dwelt on a variety of mundane subjects - Steve Alford's one-year contract extension with UCLA, Butler coach takes leave of absence, Jim Calhoun working as analyst for ESPN, Kentucky televising NBA combine, Oregon players arrested for shoplifting, etc. - rather than even acknowledging the passing of half of one of the premier Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside combinations in NCAA annals. Explosive USL guard Dwight "Bo" Lamar scored 51 points in each of back-to-back road games in 1971-72 en route to becoming the only player in NCAA history to pace the nation in scoring at both the college and university divisions.

In the early 1970s, SI designated Ebron, ULL's all-time leading rebounder, as perhaps the nation's premier pivotman other than UCLA's Bill Walton. Ebron, a Norfolk, Va., product, averaged 21.2 ppg and 13.2 rpg for USL in 1971-72 and 1972-73 during a span when national POY Walton averaged 20.8 ppg and 16.2 rpg. But have SI, ESPN, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, USA Today, Yahoo or a wide range of other prominent content providers for college basketball websites offered any relevant analysis since Ebron's demise?

In a "shatterproof" achievement likely never to be duplicated, USL became the only school ever to finish in the Top 10 of the final Division I rankings in its inaugural season at that level. Lamar collected 35 points and a tourney-high 11 assists and Ebron chipped in with 33 points and 20 rebounds in a 112-101 triumph against Marshall in the opening round of the 1972 Midwest Regional as the Ragin' Cajuns tallied the most points in the history of the tourney for a school in its first playoff game.

Contemporary players and teams, resembling ill-equipped sportswriters and producers, simply aren't anywhere as competent as personnel on and off the court 40 years ago. For instance, USL and Jerry Tarkanian-coached Long Beach State of 1971-72 vintage likely would be the preseason top two clubs in the country this campaign. Lamar and fellow junior Ed Ratleff of LBSU became the only set of former high school teammates (hometown of Columbus, OH) to be named NCAA consensus first-team All-Americans together. USL's 90-83 early-season victory over visiting Long Beach might have been one of the best intersectional matchups few people know about or remember.

Much of the present mass media should be placed in mothballs (issued the "death penalty"), but it was USL needing a restraining order to enter the 1973 NCAA playoffs because the school was accused of 125 rules violations. In an era when in-state schools Centenary (All-American Robert Parish) and Louisiana Tech (Mike Green) also went on NCAA probation, Cajuns coach Beryl Shipley's response: "Was that all they could find?"

Many of the allegations resulting in placing USL's program on the sideline for two seasons involved Lamar and Ebron. One of the legendary accounts linked to Ebron had him "winning" a drawing for a new automobile at a Lafayette dealership the day after he arrived on campus. "I'll be honest," Shipley told award-winning Louisiana author John Ed Bradley. "I didn't care about any damn rule book. I just tried to do what was right for the boys, what I knew I had to do."

Granted, Ebron didn't live up to expectations as a professional. But has there ever been a more underappreciated duo in NCAA history than Ebron and Lamar? Ebron (6-9) is the tallest player ever to average more than 20 ppg in the same season a teammate led DI in scoring. For the record, following are the highest-scoring teammate of a player the campaign when they were the nation's most prolific point producer:

Season Nation's Leading Scorer DI School Teammate Averaging > 20 PPG
1989-90 Greg "Bo" Kimble (35.3 ppg) Loyola Marymount Eric "Hank" Gathers (29)
1952-53 Frank Selvy (29.5) Furman Nield Gordon (24.3)
1953-54 Frank Selvy (41.7) Furman Darrell Floyd (24.3)
1975-76 Marshall Rogers (36.8) Pan American Gilbert King (23.3)
1971-72 Dwight "Bo" Lamar (36.3) Southwestern Louisiana Roy Ebron (23)
1988-89 Eric "Hank" Gathers (32.7) Loyola Marymount Jeff Fryer (22.9)

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopsters Make Headlines in October MLB Games

September 30th, 2014 - 21:13

Extra! Extra! Read 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 four percent of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series 50 years ago with a roster featuring six former college basketball players - Roger Craig, Bob Gibson, Dick Groat, Bobby Humphreys, Ray Washburn and Bill White. The Cards defeated the New York Yankees, a club boasting three pitchers with college hoops connections - Al Downing, Steve Hamilton and Rollie Sheldon. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October calendar involving such versatile 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. . . . RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) incurred the loss for the Brooklyn Dodgers when they dropped the 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 a 7-5 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1950. . . . Cincinnati Reds RHP Walker Cress (LSU letterman from 1936-37 through 1938-39) hurled a complete game but lost his lone MLB decision (2-1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1948). . . . Chicago White Sox RHP Charles "Slim" Embrey (Vanderbilt 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 the 1959 World Series opener. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (member of 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). . . . In the first game ever broadcast live coast-to-coast, RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) notched a career-high 17th triumph for the New York Giants in the opener of 1951 N.L. playoff series against Branca and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Supporting Hearn with a homer was OF Monte Irvin (played for Lincoln PA 1 1/2 years in late 1930s). . . . Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (played for 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 the 1955 World Series. . . . Cincinnati Reds RF Earle "Greasy" Neale (West Virginia Wesleyan College hoopster graduated in 1915) contributed three hits in a 9-1 success against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of the 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 the Whiz Kids clinched the Philadelphia Phillies' first pennant in 35 years. Roberts became the first 20-game winner for the Phils since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1917. . . . In 1970, New York Mets rookie LF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman 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 a 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). . . . St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s) played the entire schedule in 1963.
2 - Chicago Cubs RHP Dale Alderson (All-Iowa Conference selection for Upper Iowa in 1938-39 and 1939-40) lost his lone MLB decision (2-0 against the Boston Braves in 1943). . . . Philadelphia Athletics LHP Stan Baumgartner (played 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 the 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 team) in Game 5 of the 1955 World Series. . . . Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (played for Boston University in early 1920s) contributed both of his homers in 31 World Series games in the first two outings against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930. . . . OF Earle Combs (three-year captain for Eastern Kentucky) clubbed a homer and scored four runs as the New York Yankees swept the 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 (captain and starting center for Colby ME) hurled a shutout, beating the New York Giants for the sixth time in as many decisions in 1916. . . . SS Alvin Dark (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. . . . OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) contributed four hits as the Cleveland Indians assure themselves of a tie for the 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 letterman) went 4-for-4 against the Seattle Mariners in 1985. . . . 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 manager of the New York Mets in 1983. . . . In 1966, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman 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 the 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. . . . OF 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 (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 a doubleheader in 1943. . . . New York Yankees rookie RHP Zach Monroe (played briefly for Bradley in 1950-51) hurled one inning of relief in Game 2 against the Milwaukee Braves in the 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 a 3-2 win against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the 1953 World Series. . . . Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama letterman in 1920) stroked four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in 1929. . . . Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (played for Providence in 1932) closed out the 1938 campaign with four multiple-hit games in a row. . . . C Wes Westrum (played for Bemidji State MN 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 the 1954 World Series.
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 the opener of the 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 the 1951 season against the New York Giants when Bobby Thomson hit the "shot heard round the world" (three-run homer in bottom of the ninth inning) to decide the N.L. playoff. A single by SS Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL 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 (played for Buena Vista IA in late 1940s) resigned as manager of the Montreal Expos 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 the opener of the 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 (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg) collected two doubles, including a two-run safety in the eighth inning, in a 2-1 win against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 to clinch the 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. . . . Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (played for Binghamton in 1948-49) smacked the first homer of the 1957 World Series (third inning of Game 2 against New York Yankees). . . . In 1904, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) fanned 16 St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-1 triumph. . . . Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State letterman in 1923-24) committed three errors in the opener of the 1933 World Series against the New York Giants. . . . RF Bill Nicholson (played 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 a 9-0 win against the Detroit Tigers in the opener of the 1945 World Series. . . . Chicago White Sox OF Gary Redus (J.C. player 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 the opener of a 1972 doubleheader. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (played for Harding AR in late 1930s) registered a complete-game victory against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the 1952 World Series. . . . New York Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) smashed a 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 the 1984 NLCS.
4 - RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) helped the Detroit Tigers capture their first World Series in 1935, starting Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs and allowing two earned runs in six innings in a contest Detroit won in extra frames. . . . In a one-game playoff for the 1948 A.L. pennant, Cleveland Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out four hits, including two homers, in an 8-3 win at Boston. He finished the year with only nine strikeouts, the lowest number by any regular since 1922. . . . Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) collected three hits, two runs and two stolen bases in a 9-8 win against the California Angels in Game 2 of the 1979 ALCS. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Bud Culloton (Fordham letterman from 1919 through 1921) started and yielded only one earned run in five innings but dropped his lone MLB decision (4-1 in nightcap of 1925 doubleheader). . . . New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) delivered a three-run homer against New York Yankees P Allie Reynolds in the opener of the 1951 World Series. Thirteen years later, Dark was dismissed as manager of the San Francisco Giants in 1964. . . . In 1930, St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California letterman from 1922 through 1924), who hit an anemic .140 in 13 career World Series contests, broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning by smacking his lone postseason homer in a 5-0 victory against the Philadelphia Athletics in Game 3. . . . California Angels RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) lost his lone postseason start (against Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 of 1979 ALCS). . . . INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of his last three seasons with Lebanon Valley PA in late 1920s) selected by the Washington Senators from the St. Louis Browns in 1938 Rule 5 draft. . . . In the opener of the 1967 World Series, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) fanned 10 Boston batters in a 2-1 triumph. Red Sox OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a pinch single off Gibson but his pinch-runner was left stranded. . . . Detroit Tigers OF Hank Greenberg (attended NYU briefly on hoop scholarship in 1929) whacked a homer in a 4-1 Game 2 victory against the Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series. . . . In the opening game of the 1951 World Series, LF Monte Irvin (played for Lincoln PA 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) stole home and collected four hits to spark the New York Giants to a 5-1 victory against the New York Yankees. . . . New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) launched his second homer of the 1942 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse player in late 1930s), after making 133 straight relief appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies, started Game 1 of the 1950 World Series but lost against the New York Yankees, 1-0. . . . Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) swiped three bases against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the 1996 ALDS. Nine years later, Lofton collected three hits and four RBI against the New York Yankees in the 2007 ALDS opener. . . . Philadelphia Phillies OF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference Tournament MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring previous season) smacked a pinch homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of the 1978 NLCS. . . . St. Francisco Giants RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year letterman in late 1970s for Saginaw Valley State MI) tossed his lone MLB shutout (four-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Atlanta Braves in 1985). . . . Minnesota Twins 2B Dan Monzon (played briefly for Buena Vista IA in 1964-65) scored four runs against the Chicago White Sox in 1972. . . . In 1930, Chicago White Sox rookie OF Jimmy Moore (Union TN standout in late 1920s) stroked a pinch-hit single in his first World Series at-bat in Game 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . RF Bill Nicholson (played for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for former N.L. batting champion Harry Walker in 1948. . . . RHP Roy Parmelee (letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) selected from the Boston Red Sox by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 Rule 5 draft. . . . RHP Cotton Pippen (Texas Western letterman in 1929-30) selected from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 Rule 5 draft. . . . Jim Riggleman (two-year letterman for Frostburg State MD averaged 7.2 ppg in early 1970s) fired as Chicago Cubs manager in 1999. . . . New York Yankees LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling a 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) hurled a four-hitter in a 2-1 verdict over the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1941 World Series. In the seventh inning of a scoreless tie, Russo broke P Fred Fitzsimmons' knee with a line drive. . . . New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (played for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) tossed a five-hitter in a 6-1 victory in Game 2 of the 1933 World Series against the Washington Senators. . . . Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) yielded a run in final relief appearance of 1980 campaign after holding the opposition scoreless in previous 14-game span during the month when he recorded seven saves.
5 - RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) won Game 6 of the 1947 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers when he was helped by Al Gionfriddo's famous catch of New York Yankees Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio's long drive to left field. . . . Milwaukee Braves OF John DeMerit (Wisconsin letterman in 1956-57) served as a pinch-runner in Game 3 of the 1957 World Series. . . . New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in the opener of the 1921 World Series. . . . St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s with Lebanon Valley PA) hit safely in first four World Series games against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1930. . . . New York Giants INF Eddie Grant (paced Harvard's freshman squad in scoring in 1902 and played varsity as sophomore before declared ineligible for receiving money in independent summer baseball league) died from German shelling in 1918 in the Argonne Forest, France, during WWI while in charge of his battalion after his commanding officer was killed. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection was Washington State's leading rebounder each season from 1992-93 through 1995-96) allowed his only hit in three scoreless relief appearances against the New York Mets in the 2006 NLDS. . . . 1B Gil Hodges (played for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) went 3-for-3, including a two-run double putting the Brooklyn Dodgers ahead for good, in a 13-8 win against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the 1956 World Series. Three years later in the 1959 WS, Hodges' homer in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Dodgers a 5-4 triumph against the Chicago White Sox in Game 4. . . . New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (played for Lincoln PA 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) hit safely seven straight times in the 1951 World Series against the New York Yankees. . . . Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg in 1961-62 with Texas A&M) homered in back-to-back 1970 ALCS games against the Minnesota Twins. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers RF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52), blanked by Dave McNally and Moe Drabowsky of the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 opener, went hitless for the only time in his last nine World Series contests. . . . DH David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg) homered off Dwight Gooden to help the Cleveland Indians square their 1997 ALDS at two games apiece with the New York Yankees. . . . New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) contributed four hits, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the ninth inning, in a 7-4 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 4 of the 1941 World Series. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as All-Iowa Conference freshman selection in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66) contributed a homer and triple while knocking in three runs in a 4-0 decision over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of 1978 NLCS. . . . CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) accounted for the Philadelphia Phillies' lone run with a homer in a 7-1 setback against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1977 NLCS. . . . 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State letterman in 1923-24) had three hits, scored the Washington Senators' first run and drove in their last two runs in a 4-0 win against the New York Giants in Game 3 of the 1933 World Series. . . . Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (letterman with Millsaps MS in late 1920s and early 1930s) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the 1945 World Series. . . . RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years he attended Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) selected from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937 Rule 5 draft. . . . Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) lost Game 2 of the 1950 World Series against the New York Yankees, 2-1, on Joe DiMaggio's leadoff homer in the 10th inning. . . . New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (played for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) notched the victory in Game 5 of the 1936 World Series against the New York Yankees. Schumacher lost Game 2 three days earlier. . . . Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) yielded only one hit in combining with Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) for a 4-0 triumph against the Minnesota Twins in 1980. . . . St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (led Whitworth WA in scoring and named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won Game 3 of the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers. . . . In 1985, RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) became the first New York Yankee to collect 100 RBI and score 100 runs in a single season since Joe DiMaggio in 1942.
6 - Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) went the distance in whipping the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-4, in Game 4 of the 1934 World Series. . . . Philadelphia Phillies rookie LHP Stan Baumgartner (played for University of Chicago's Big Ten Conference champion in 1913-14) closed out the 1914 campaign with a seven-inning shutout against the New York Giants. . . . Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (played for Boston University in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in 1929. . . . St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California letterman from 1922 through 1924) collided with a teammate in Game 4 and was sidelined for the remainder of the 1926 World Series against the New York Yankees. . . . RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA player in 1922) square the 1931 World Series with a two-hit, 3-0 shutout for the Philadelphia Athletics against the St. Louis Cardinals. The previous year, Earnshaw combined Hall of Famer Lefty Grove for a three-hit shutout against the Cardinals in Game 5 of the 1930 World Series. . . . Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (attended NYU briefly on hoop scholarship in late 1920s) accumulated two doubles among his four hits in a 10-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of 1934 World Series. Six years later, Greenberg's three-run homer opened the scoring in an 8-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 5 of the 1940 WS. . . . 3B Wayne Gross (led Cal Poly Pomona in assists in 1974-75) whacked a three-run homer to power the Oakland Athletics to a 4-0 triumph against the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the 1981 ALDS. . . . Despite walking eight batters, New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) won his only World Series start (6-2 against the New York Yankees in Game 3 in 1951). . . . LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) outdueled fellow lefthander Whitey Ford as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the 1963 World Series from the New York Yankees. RF 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) contributed both of L.A.'s safeties off Ford, including a long homer in the fifth inning. . . . Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) fired as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2000. . . . Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (played for Binghamton in 1948-49) doubled home the tying run in the bottom of the 10th inning and scored on Eddie Mathews' game-winning homer in a 7-5 decision over the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1957 World Series. Yankees 3B Jerry Lumpe (played in 1952 NAIA Tournament final for Southwest Missouri State's championship team) hit safely in third consecutive WS outing. . . . Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) secured his first two of 260 MLB victories by winning both ends of a 1923 doubleheader in relief against the Cleveland Indians. . . . St. Louis Cardinals LHP Jim Mooney (played for East Tennessee State) hurled one inning of scoreless relief in Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers in the 1934 World Series. . . . RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) posted his 20th triumph of the 1980 season (7-1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in one-game playoff) to propel the Houston Astros to postseason competition for the first time since the franchise started in 1962. . . . New York Yankees LHP Joe Ostrowski (led Scranton in scoring with 15.1 ppg in 1942-43) tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Game 3 of 1951 World Series against the New York Giants. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers OF Rip Repulski (part-time starter for St. Cloud State MN) received an intentional walk in Game 5 in his only at-bat in the 1959 World Series against the Chicago White Sox. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (played for Harding AR in late 1930s) tossed a shutout against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the 1949 World Series. The contest's only RBI was supplied by 1B Gil Hodges (played for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948), who drove in 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41). . . . New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) registered his fourth multiple-hit game in the 1936 World Series against the New York Giants. Rolfe hit .400 in six contests. . . . Closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) lost Game 4 with the Chicago Cubs in the 1984 NLCS and Game 2 with the Boston Red Sox in the 1988 ALCS. . . . Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) relieved in each of the first three games against the New York Mets in the 1969 NLCS. . . . Washington Senators RHP Monte Weaver (played center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) toiled 10 1/3 innings before losing Game 4, 2-1, against the New York Giants in the 1933 World Series.
7 - Joe Adcock (LSU's leading scorer in 1945-46) never had an extra-base hit in 28 World Series at-bats, but the Milwaukee Braves 1B drove in the only run of Game 5 in 1957 with a single off New York Yankees P Whitey Ford. . . . New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) reached base five times with two hits and three walks against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the 1921 World Series. . . . Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected three doubles in an 8-4 win against the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the 1945 World Series. . . . In 2001, Hall of Fame OF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) played final game of his 20-year career for the San Diego Padres. Seventeen years earlier, Gwynn's two-run double put the Padres ahead to stay in a 6-3 win against the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the 1984 NLCS. . . . In Game 7, Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (played for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) went hitless again against the New York Yankees and finished 0-for-21 in the 1952 World Series. . . . 1B-OF Doug Howard (All-WAC second-team selection with Brigham Young in 1968-69 and 1969-70) shipped by the California Angels to the St. Louis Cardinals to complete an earlier deal in 1974. . . . New York Yankees RF Charlie Keller (three-year letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) clobbered two homers in a 7-3 triumph at Cincinnati in Game 3 of the 1939 World Series. . . . Kansas City Royals DH Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT letterman in mid-1960s) scored two runs in a 6-2 victory against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the 1977 ALCS. . . . Chicago White Sox 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for BYU from 1974-75 through 1976-77) knocked in his lone postseason run (against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the 1983 ALCS). . . . Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) died of tuberculosis in 1925 at the age of 45. . . . Philadelphia Phillies OF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) sent Game 4 into extra innings with a pinch homer before they bowed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, in the 1978 NLCS. . . . Cincinnati Reds RF Greasy Neale (graduated in 1915 from West Virginia Wesleyan) went 3-for-4 for the second time in the first six games of the 1919 World Series against the Chicago White Sox. . . . Houston Astros RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) hurled eight shutout innings in a 1-0 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1981 NLDS. . . . Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke All-American in 1929-30) hit safely in first six games of 1940 World Series against the Detroit Tigers. . . . RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection for Princeton in 1999-00) notched the San Diego Padres' only victory in the 2006 NLCS (3-1 against St. Louis Cardinals). . . . New York Yankees LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC letterman in 1916) hurled a complete-game, 7-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the 1928 World Series.
8 - New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (played for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) delivered three doubles against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1951 World Series. . . . RHP George Earnshaw (played for Swarthmore PA in 1922), clearly the pitching standout of the 1930 World Series, carried the Philadelphia Athletics to a decisive 7-1 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . RHP Eddie Fisher (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the California Angels in 1968. . . . New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) supplied his fourth multiple-hit game in 1922 World Series to finish with a .471 batting average for champions in five outings against the New York Yankees. . . . St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the 1967 World Series. . . . San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) supplied a go-ahead homer off Whitey Ford in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1962 World Series. . . . RHP Oral Hildebrand (All-American for Butler in 1928-29 and 1929-30) hurled four scoreless innings as the New York Yankees' starter in Game 4 of the 1939 World Series when they swept the Cincinnati Reds. . . . Boston Red Sox LHP Bruce Hurst (played J.C. for Dixie UT in mid-1970s) secured a 9-2 victory against the California Angels in Game 2 of the 1986 ALCS. . . . New York Yankees RF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) broke up a scoreless duel with a seventh-inning homer en route to a 7-4 success against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 4 of the 1939 World Series. . . . St. Louis Cardinals LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV squad with Bloomsburg PA three years in mid-1930s) delivered a homer and double in a 2-0 win against the St. Louis Browns in Game 5 of the 1944 World Series. . . . Chicago Cubs CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) supplied four hits against the Florida Marlins in Game 2 of the 2003 NLCS. . . . In Game 2, RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) hurled a 10-inning shutout for the New York Giants' lone victory against the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1913 World Series. . . . LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) capped off a six-run, fourth-inning eruption with a two-run homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the 1959 World Series crown with a 9-3 triumph against the Chicago White Sox in Game 6. . . . RHP Roy Parmelee (letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs in 1936. . . . New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) provided a pair of doubles in a 5-1 win against the New York Giants in Game 3 of the 1937 World Series. . . . New York Yankees LF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered a triple among his postseason career-high three hits in a 3-0 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the 1981 ALDS.
9 - C Benny Bengough (Niagara letterman from 1916-17 through 1918-19) secured a hit for the third straight 1928 World Series game to help the New York Yankees sweep the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . Boston Red Sox LHP Ray Collins (Vermont letterman in 1907 and 1908) started Game 2 of the 1912 World Series against the New York Giants when they tied, 6-6, in a contest called after 11 innings. . . . Before a crowd of 81,897, CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) contributed the first homer of the 1948 World Series to spark the Cleveland Indians to a 2-1 victory against the Boston Braves in Game 4. . . . Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State letterman in 1941) hurled a 4-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the 1946 World Series. . . . New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (played for Lincoln PA 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) provided his fourth multiple-hit outing in first five World Series games in 1951 against the New York Yankees. . . . New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (played for Arizona in 1931) contributed two hits, two runs and two RBI in a 7-3 win against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1937 World Series. . . . In the first World Series utilizing a seven-game format, New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) blanked the Philadelphia Athletics, 3-0, in the opener of the all-shutout 1905 World Series. Mathewson also tossed whitewashes in Game 3 and Game 5. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates SS Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) hit safely in all three 1974 NLCS games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. . . . Despite yielding only one earned run in 9 2/3 innings in two starts against the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer in early 1930s for Mount Morris IL) lost his lone World Series decision (3-1 in Game 6 in 1944). . . . Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. player for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) went 3-for-3, including two extra-base hits, and scored the decisive run in a 3-2 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the 1992 NLCS. . . . St. Louis Cardinals C Dave Ricketts (three-year starter led Duquesne in scoring senior season with 17.9 ppg in 1956-57) registered his lone World Series hit with a pinch single off Detroit Tigers P Denny McLain in Game 6 in 1968. . . . St. Louis Cardinals RF Wally Roettger (Illinois letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) hit safely in all three of 1931 World Series games he started against the Philadelphia Athletics. . . . CF Bill Virdon (played for Drury MO in 1949) stroked a two-run single propelling the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 triumph against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1960 World Series. . . . Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC letterman in 1916) hurled a complete-game, 2-1 win against the New York Giants in Game 6 of the 1924 World Series. Zachary also won Game 2.
10 - Texas Rangers RHP Mike Adams (played for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) registered the victory in Game 2 of the 2011 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers after posting holds in his first four postseason relief appearance that year. . . . OF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) and LHP Jim Mooney (played for East Tennessee State) traded by the New York Giants to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932. . . . Increasing his hitting streak in World Series competition to eight in a row, Philadelphia Athletics SS Jack Barry (letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) banged out two doubles among three safeties against the New York Giants in Game 4 of 1913 World Series. . . . 1B Kevin "Chuck" Connors (scored 32 points in 15 varsity games for Seton Hall in 1941-42 before leaving school for military service) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs in 1950. Connors, star of the television series The Rifleman, gained critical acclaim playing the role of a slave owner in the TV mini-series Roots (1977). . . . In the 1961 expansion draft, the New York Mets selected RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman team) from the Los Angeles Dodgers, OF John DeMerit (letterman for Wisconsin in 1956-57) from the Milwaukee Braves, 1B Gil Hodges (played for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) from the Dodgers and RHP Jay Hook (Northwestern's third-leading scorer with 10.7 ppg as sophomore in 1955-56) from the Cincinnati Reds. The same expansion draft also had the Houston Colt .45s selecting 1B-OF Dick Gernert (letterman with Temple in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) from the Reds and RHP Jim Umbricht (Georgia's captain in 1951-52) from the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . . Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) won the 1979 World Series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . . New York Yankees rookie OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt letterman in 1918) made his lone World Series at-bat in 1923 opener against the New York Giants. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) lashed a Game 4 homer in a 7-2 win against the Minnesota Twins in the 1965 World Series. . . . OF Joe Lahoud (letterman for New Haven CT in mid-1960s) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers in a 10-player swap in 1971. . . . Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) reached base five times with three hits and two walks against the Seattle Mariners in the opener of the 1995 ALCS. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as All-Iowa Conference freshman selection in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66) collected two homers and five RBI in an 11-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 1978 World Series. . . . In decisive Game 7, Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) tossed his second five-hit win in the 1939 World Series in City Series against the Cubs. . . . Houston Astros RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) hurled 10 shutout innings in winning his first postseason game (against Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of 1980 NLCS). . . . Los Angeles Dodgers CF Billy North (played briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stroked a pinch two-run double in the 1978 World Series opener against the New York Yankees. North contributed only one more hit in 24 other career at-bats in WS competition. . . . Breaking up a scoreless duel in Game 7 of the 1968 World Series, Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) stroked a decisive seventh-inning triple off St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57). Gibson won his previous seven WS starts. . . . Washington Senators RHP Curly Ogden (Swarthmore PA center in 1919, 1920 and 1922) started Game 7 of the 1924 World Series as a decoy to get Bill Terry out of the New York Giants' lineup. . . . New York Yankees LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling a 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) hurled a complete game and knocked in the decisive run with a double in a 2-1 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the 1943 World Series. . . . 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) smashed a grand slam to help the New York Yankees win Game 7 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. . . . Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) won Game 2 of the 1976 ALCS with 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief against the New York Yankees. . . . Philadelphia Athletics SS Dib Williams (played for Hendrix AR in mid-1920s) delivered his third two-hit outing of the 1931 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
11 - In 1925, Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (played for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) went hitless for the only time in 11 World Series games. . . . In 1948, SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) doubled for the third consecutive World Series contest with the champion Cleveland Indians in Game 6 against the Boston Braves. . . . St. Louis Cardinals RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman team) earned a victory by fanning eight New York Yankees batters in 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief in Game 4 of the 1964 World Series. . . . RHP Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) traded by the Houston Astros to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968. . . . In 1971, 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 a save in Game 2 of the World Series for the second straight season. . . . RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) traded by the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Phillies for P Stu Miller in 1956. . . . INF Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) was the on-deck batter in Japan in 1976 when Sadaharu Oh stroked his 715th homer to pass Babe Ruth's mark. Incredibly, Johnson was also the next hitter in April 1974 when Atlanta Braves OF Hank Aaron hammered his 715th round-tripper. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) hurled a four-hit shutout in Game 5 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. . . . Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) whacked a homer but it wasn't enough to prevent a 5-3 defeat against the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1998 ALCS. . . . Rookie RF Bud Metheny (William & Mary letterman from 1935-36 through 1937-38) supplied his lone World Series hit by singling in a 2-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 to help the New York Yankees clinch the 1943 title. . . . Detroit Tigers OF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 4-3 triumph against the Oakland Athletics in Game 4 of the 1972 ALCS.
12 - St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) won decisive Game 7 against the Boston Red Sox in the 1967 World Series. Gibson helped his cause with a homer. Three years earlier, Gibson whiffed 13 batters in a 10-inning, 5-2 win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1964 WS. . . New York Yankees OF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) socked a homer in a 10-7 triumph against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of the 2004 ALCS. . . . In Game 3, New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) tossed his second of three shutouts against the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 World Series. . . . Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) yielded back-to-back homers to LF George Foster and C Johnny Bench to start the ninth inning as the Cincinnati Reds came from behind to win, 7-6, and sweep their 1976 NLDS. . . . Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) made his lone postseason appearance, hurling 1/3 of an inning against the Minnesota Twins in Game 5 of the 1987 ALCS. . . . Toronto Blue Jays DH-RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) walloped a homer but it was in vain as the Oakland A's avoided elimination with a 6-2 Game 5 victory in the 1992 ALCS.
13 - Los Angeles Dodgers RF Joe Ferguson (member of Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) smacked a homer off Oakland Athletics P Vida Blue, accounting for the game-winning hit in a 3-2 triumph in Game 2 of the 1974 World Series. . . . Unscored upon in all seven postseason relief appearances covering 9 2/3 innings, Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) earned a save in Game 4 of the 1971 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. . . . 1B Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg for Pepperdine in 1963-64) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Kansas City Royals in 1970. . . . 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 manager of the San Diego Padres in 1981. . . . Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85) jacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 6 of the 1992 NLCS. . . . OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) traded by the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox in 1971. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers 1B-OF Len Matuszek (Toledo starter for squad compiling 18-7 record in 1975-76) collected his lone postseason hit, a pinch single against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the 1985 NLCS. . . . 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) hit a three-run, first-inning double to spark the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory against the Oakland A's in the 1981 ALCS opener. Nettles' spectacular defense highlighted a 5-1 triumph for the Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1978 World Series. Nettles whacked two homers in Game 4 of the 1976 ALCS for the Yankees but they weren't enough to prevent a 7-4 loss against the Kansas City Royals. . . . Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia letterman in 1912 and 1914) allowed two homers in 6 2/3 innings in a 5-4 defeat against the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of the 1915 World Series. . . . Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) won Game 4 as a reliever against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1979 World Series. . . . In his final MLB and only World Series at-bat, San Diego Padres OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) fanned as a pinch-hitter against a former teammate (Jack Morris of Detroit Tigers) in Game 4 of the 1984 WS. . . . CF Bill Virdon (played for Drury MO in 1949) smacked a two-run single to help the Pittsburgh Pirates outlast the New York Yankees, 10-9, in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.
14 - Montreal Expos RHP Ray Burris (Southwestern Oklahoma State player) hurled a shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of 1981 NLCS. Five days later in Game 5, Burris yielded only five hits in eight innings. . . . 1B Donn Clendenon (played for Morehouse GA) selected from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Montreal Expos in 1968 expansion draft. . . . RF Walt French (letterman for Rutgers and Army) struck out as a pinch-hitter but the Philadelphia Athletics rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the 1929 World Series. . . . RHP Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) selected from the St. Louis Cardinals by the San Diego Padres as the third pick in 1968 expansion draft. . . . New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) saved Game 6 in the 1964 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals after replacing starter Jim Bouton. . . . San Francisco Giants LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 as sophomore in 1977-78 under ETSU coach Sonny Smith) lost decisive Game 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1987 NLCS. . . . St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) hurled a scoreless inning of relief against the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the 1964 World Series. . . . New York Yankees OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg) homered in a 5-0 win against the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of 2000 ALCS. . . . Toiling on two days rest, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) hurled a three-hit shutout in Game 7 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. Supporting Koufax with a fourth-inning homer was LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52). . . . OF Rusty Kuntz (played in J.C. for Cuesta CA) supplied a sacrifice fly in the fifth and decisive game for the champion Detroit Tigers in the 1984 World Series against the San Diego Padres. . . . Baltimore Orioles RHP Dave Leonhard (averaged 4.8 ppg with Johns Hopkins MD in 1961-62) hurled a scoreless inning of relief against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 5 of the 1971 World Series. . . . CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) delivered the game-winning safety in the bottom of the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2002 NLCS to send the San Francisco Giants to the World Series. . . . In Game 5, New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) tossed his third shutout against the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 World Series. . . . Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) banged out a postseason career-high three hits, including a three-run homer, in a 7-6 decision over the Kansas City Royals in the opener of the 1980 World Series. . . . New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) singled twice in a seven-run fourth inning in Game 2 of the 1981 ALCS against the Oakland A's to become the first player ever to collect two safeties in a single frame in LCS competition. . . . LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1965-66) notched a save in Game 2 of the 1973 World Series when the New York Mets outlasted the Oakland A's, 10-7, in 12 innings. . . . INF Gary Sutherland (Southern California's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg) selected from the Philadelphia Phillies by the Montreal Expos in 1968 expansion draft. . . . 1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) purchased from the Brooklyn Dodgers by the Chicago Cubs for $100,000 in 1949.
15 - 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) selected from the Boston Red Sox by the Kansas City Royals in 1968 expansion draft. . . . New York Yankees rookie RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) went the distance, striking out eight Los Angeles Dodgers batters in a 12-2 success, in Game 5 of the 1978 World Series. . . . LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon letterman in 1915) knocked in the tying run with an eighth-inning, pinch-hit double off Hall of Fame P Walter Johnson and scored the go-ahead tally as the Pittsburgh Pirates upended the Washington Senators, 9-7, in Game 7 of the 1925 World Series. . . . OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) purchased from the New York Yankees by the Kansas City Athletics in 1956. . . . In 1957, 2B Jack Dittmer (played for Iowa in 1949-50) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the New York Giants for 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year letterman for Western Michigan in late 1940s). . . . St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) won decisive Game 7 against the New York Yankees in the 1964 World Series. . . . Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) stepped down as Philadelphia Phillies manager to become general manager of the Chicago Cubs in 1981. . . . OF Hinkey Haines (Penn State letterman in 1919-20 and 1920-21) scored the tying run as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning as the New York Yankees came from behind with three tallies to beat the New York Giants, 6-4, and clinch the 1923 World Series. . . . RHP Rich Hand (averaged 6.2 ppg for Puget Sound WA in 1967-68) shipped by the California Angels to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974 to complete an earlier deal. . . . Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State letterman) fired as Cleveland Indians manager in 1999. . . . Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg in 1961-62 with Texas A&M) supplied a postseason career-high three hits, including a pair of run-producing safeties, against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 5 of the 1970 World Series. . . . In 2001, OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85) whacked a pinch-hit homer to help the New York Yankees defeat the Oakland A's and become the first team ever to capture a best-of-5 series after dropping the first two contests at home. . . . RHP Don Kaiser (one semester on scholarship at East Central OK) traded by the Milwaukee Braves to the Detroit Tigers in 1959. . . . New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) notched three RBI in each of three ALCS games against the Oakland Athletics in 1981. . . . Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) earned the save in a 6-4 verdict over the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the 1980 World Series. . . . New York Yankees RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) retired all six St. Louis Cardinals batters he faced in Game 7 of the 1964 World Series.
16 - In Game 5, 1B Donn Clendenon (played for Morehouse GA) homered in his third consecutive appearance against the Baltimore Orioles to help power the New York Mets to the 1969 World Series title. . . . Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the New York Yankees in 1961. . . . 1B Dick Siebert (played for Concordia-St. Paul MN in 1929 and 1930) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to the St. Louis Browns in 1945. . . . Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman squad in mid-1960s) supplied his second three-hit game in the 1979 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
17 - OF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup player and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) started decisive Game 7 of the 1979 World Series but wasn't involved in the decision (4-1 win against Baltimore Orioles). . . . New York Yankees 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) contributed his only RBI in 37 postseason at-bats (against Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of 2004 ALCS). . . . Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting center for Colby ME) outdueled Christy Mathewson, 3-2, in 11-inning Game 3 of the 1911 World Series. . . . Alvin Dark (letterman for Louisiana State and Louisiana-Lafayette during World War II) fired as Oakland A's manager in 1975. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (member of Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) stroked two doubles off New York Yankees P Catfish Hunter in Game 6 of the 1978 World Series. . . . San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) secured three hits, including his lone postseason homer, in the opener of the 1998 World Series against the New York Yankees. . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg), winner of the 2000 ALCS MVP award, contributed a three-run homer to help the New York Yankees defeat the Seattle Mariners, 9-7. . . . RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year letterman in late 1970s for Saginaw Valley State MI) registered a hold for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the 1993 World Series but yielded his only run in 11 career postseason relief appearances. . . . After winning the opener of the 1911 World Series, New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) took a shutout into the ninth inning in Game 3 when 3B John Baker belted a contest-tying homer for the Philadelphia Athletics, who went on to win in the 11th frame. The clutch blast helped him become known as "Home Run" Baker. . . . RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs in 1962. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Kent Tekulve (played as freshman in mid-1960s for Marietta OH) notched a save in decisive Game 7 of the 1979 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
18 - RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup player and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) traded by the New York Mets to the St. Louis Cardinals in an eight-player swap in 1971. . . . Boston Red Sox LHP Bruce Hurst (played J.C. for Dixie UT in mid-1970s) notched a 1-0 victory against the New York Mets in the 1986 World Series opener.
19 - RHP Bob Garibaldi (starting forward for Santa Clara in 1961-62 when averaging 10.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg) traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Kansas City Royals in 1970. . . . Kansas City Royals LF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) contributed a pinch-hit triple against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of the 1985 World Series. . . . In 1978, Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) named player-manager of the Chicago White Sox after they dismissed Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist). . . . St. Louis Cardinals RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college in mid-1970s with Butler County PA) tossed a four-hitter in a 13-1 romp over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 6 of the 1982 World Series.
20 - Texas Rangers RHP Mike Adams (played for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) registered a victory in Game 2 of the 2011 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . Philadelphia Athletics SS Jack Barry (letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) contributed three hits and three runs against the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 1910 World Series. . . . St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) captured the 1931 N.L. MVP. . . . Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (attended NYU briefly on basketball scholarship in late 1920s) won 1935 A.L. MVP. . . . Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State letterman) named Seattle Mariners manager in 2004.
21 - 1B Bill Davis (averaged 12.5 ppg in 1963-64 for Minnesota team including eventual NBA standouts Archie Clark and Lou Hudson) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the San Diego Padres in 1968. . . . Kansas City Royals RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) lost Game 6 when the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the 1980 World Series championship. . . . RHP Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) traded with C Dave Ricketts (Duquesne's leading scorer with 17.9 ppg in 1956-57) by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969. . . . San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) provided his third multiple-hit game in four World Series contests against the New York Yankees in 1998. . . . In 1995 opener against the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four squad compiling 35-3 record) became the first player since 1921 to steal two bases in one inning of a World Series game. . . . RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) made his lone World Series appearance, hurling two innings of shutout relief for the Minnesota Twins in Game 4 of the 1987 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . RHP Claude Passeau (played for Millsaps MS in late 1920s and early 1930s) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1935. . . . OF Richie Scheinblum (averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 1962-63 and 1963-64 with LIU-C.W. Post) purchased from the Texas Rangers by the Kansas City Royals in 1971.
22 - LHP Danny Coombs (Seton Hall's third-leading scorer and rebounder in 1961-62) purchased from the Houston Astros by the San Diego Padres in 1969. . . . C Art Kusnyer (led Kent State in field-goal percentage in 1965-66 when he was team's third-leading scorer and rebounder) traded by the California Angels to the Milwaukee Brewers in a nine-player swap in 1973. . . . OF Joe Lahoud (letterman for New Haven CT in mid-1960s) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the California Angels in a nine-player swap in 1973.
23 - In Game 5 of the 1910 World Series, Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting center for Colby ME) tossed his third complete-game victory against the Chicago Cubs. . . . Boston Red Sox LHP Bruce Hurst (played J.C. for Dixie UT in mid-1970s) notched a 4-2 complete-game victory against the New York Mets in Game 5 of the 1986 World Series. . . . Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) hired as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998. . . . Kansas City Royals LF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) contributed a pinch-hit double against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the 1985 World Series. . . . Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) replaced by Bob Watson as New York Yankees general manager in 1995. . . . INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons for UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945, paving the way for MLB integration. . . . OF Richie Scheinblum (averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 1962-63 and 1963-64 with LIU-C.W. Post) purchased from the Cleveland Indians by the Washington Senators in 1970.
24 - Philadelphia Athletics SS Jack Barry (letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) stroked two doubles among his three hits in a 4-2 Game 4 victory against the New York Giants and Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) in the 1911 World Series. . . . Securing at least one steal in his seventh consecutive postseason contest, Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 3-for-3, scored three runs and received three walks in a 7-6 win against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the 1995 World Series. Seven years later with the San Francisco Giants, Lofton provided three hits for the second straight game in the 2002 World Series against the Anaheim Angels. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as All-Iowa Conference freshman selection in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66) supplied the game-winning RBI in an 8-7 victory against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1981 World Series. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons for UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41), the first black major leaguer of the 20th Century, died of heart disease at the age of 53 in 1972. . . . DH-RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) banged out a two-out, two-run double in the top of the 11th inning to spark the Toronto Blue Jays to their first World Series championship with a 4-3 decision over the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 in 1992.
25 - OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago White Sox in 1955. . . . C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) purchased from the Detroit Tigers by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972. . . . 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State letterman) traded by the Texas Rangers to the San Diego Padres in 1978. . . . In 1977, RHP Jim Todd (played for Parsons IA before averaging 16 ppg with Millersville State PA in 1968-69) shipped by the Chicago Cubs to the Seattle Mariners to complete an earlier deal in the spring.
26 - Detroit Tigers OF Hank Greenberg (attended NYU briefly on basketball scholarship in late 1920s) won 1940 A.L. MVP. . . . In 1960, Washington Senators President Calvin Griffith (letterman in 1934 and 1935 when George Washington compiled 25-10 record) made decision to move franchise to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. . . . RHP Oral Hildebrand (All-American for Butler in 1928-29 and 1929-30) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees in 1938. . . . RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) traded by the Texas Rangers to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.
27 - SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) traded with 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s) and C Bob Uecker by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies for C Pat Corrales, OF Alex Johnson and P Art Mahaffey in 1965.
28 - St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) captured the Cy Young Award in 1968. . . . A homer by Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg) against the Cleveland Indians accounted for the only run in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series as the Braves became the first franchise to win championships representing three different cities (previously Boston and Milwaukee). . . . SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975. . . . OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) traded by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to the Seattle Mariners in 2002.
29 - Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) stepped down as president and general manager of the Chicago Cubs in 1987. . . . OF Wally Roettger (Illinois letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) purchased from the New York Giants by the Cincinnati Reds in 1930.
30 - Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) and St. Louis Cardinals SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) finished 1-2 in N.L. MVP voting in 1963. . . . 1B Gary Holle (Siena's scoring and rebounding leader in 1974-75 and 1975-76) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981. . . . Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) hired as Baltimore Orioles manager in 1995.
31 - SS Alvin Dark (basketball letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) traded by the Milwaukee Braves to the San Francisco Giants in 1960. . . . Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) named winner of the 1979 A.L. Cy Young Award.

MLB achievements in September by former college basketball players

MLB achievements in August by former college basketball players

MLB achievements in July by former college basketball players

MLB achievements in June by former college basketball players

MLB achievements in May by former college basketball players

MLB achievements in April by former college basketball players

Transfer Talk: Coaches Usually Don't Support Player Switch Within League

September 27th, 2014 - 12:40

Since they frequently can't trust their counterparts, forbidding intraconference player transfers is usually on the agenda for the coaches and ADs. On the other hand, there is little mention of the double standard whereby coaches aren't denied a right to do the same thing. We don't recall coach Bo Ryan raising a stink about intraconference transfers when Sharif Chambliss led the Badgers in assists and three-pointers in nearly guiding them to the 2005 Final Four in his lone season with them after leaving Penn State.

In regard to priorities, there is virtually no word on coaches and conferences wanting the NCAA to introduce guidelines to determine a penalty to enforce if a player is caught doing drugs or committing domestic violence. Transfer power forward Charles Mitchell found it easy to remain in the ACC with Georgia Tech because Maryland chose to switch membership to the Big Ten. Elsewhere, Syracuse was still in the Big East Conference during Michael Gbinije's redshirt season in 2012-13 after departing Duke. At any rate, CollegeHoopedia.com is unaware of the following players, including Xavier coach Chris Mack, causing extensive trouble because they transferred within a league:

Transfer Player Pos. Conference Two League Members Played For
Al Akins ? Pacific Coast Washington State 42-43/Washington 44
Carvell Ammons F Big Ten Northwestern 97/Illinois 99
DeMario Anderson G Northeast Central Connecticut State 04-05/Quinnipiac 07-08
Luke Axtell F-G Big 12 Texas 98/Kansas 00-01
Twany Beckham G SEC Mississippi State 09-10/Kentucky 12-13
Jason Carter F Southeastern Alabama 11 | Mississippi 13
Sharif Chambliss G Big Ten Penn State 01-03/Wisconsin 05
Richard Congo F East Coast Lafayette 80/Drexel 82-84
Thomas Dodd C-F SWAC Texas Southern 95-96/Grambling 98-99
Charles Dorsey G Midwestern Collegiate Loyola of Chicago 81-82/Oral Roberts 84-85
Gary Ervin G Southeastern Mississippi State 04-05/Arkansas 07
Cedric Foster G SWAC Alcorn State 94-95/Mississippi Valley State 97-98
Lawrence Funderburke F Big Ten Indiana 90/Ohio State 92-94
Antonio Gates F Mid-American Eastern Michigan 00/Kent State 02-03
Michael Gbinije G-F Atlantic Coast Duke 12/Syracuse 14-15
John Gordon G America East Maine 96-97/Delaware 99-00
Derick Grubb C West Coast Pepperdine 03-06/Loyola Marymount 07
Jason Grunkemeyer G Mid-American Ohio University 97/Miami (OH) 99-01
Damontre Harris C Southeastern South Carolina 11-12/Florida 14
Jason Hernandez G America East New Hampshire 97/Hofstra 99-01
Derek Holcomb C Big Ten Indiana 77/Illinois 79-81
Randy Holcomb F WAC/Mountain West Fresno State 99/San Diego State 01-02
David Huertas G Southeastern Florida 05-06/Mississippi 08
Lindsey Hunter G SWAC Alcorn State 89/Jackson State 91-93
Ben Johnson G Big Ten Northwestern 00-01/Minnesota 03
Napoleon Johnson C SWAC Texas Southern 80-81/Grambling 83-84
Trey Johnson G SWAC Alcorn State 04/Jackson State 06-07
Oggie Kapetanovic C Ivy League Brown 97-98/Penn 00-01
John Lucas III G Big 12 Baylor 02-03/Oklahoma State 04
Chris Mack G Midwestern Collegiate Evansville 89-90/Xavier 93
Horace "Bones" McKinney C Southern North Carolina State 41-42/North Carolina 46
Jamar Miles F SWAC Alabama A&M 99/Prairie View 01-03
Charles Mitchell F ACC Maryland 13-14/Georgia Tech 15
Ross Neltner F-C Southeastern Louisiana State 04-05/Vanderbilt 07-08
Sam Okey F Big Ten Wisconsin 96-97/Iowa 99
Marvin Owens G-F Midwestern Collegiate Oklahoma City 84-85/Detroit 87-88
Jason Parker F Southeastern Kentucky 01/South Carolina 03
Charles Price F SWAC Grambling 86-87/Texas Southern 89-90
Luke Recker G-F Big Ten Indiana 98-99/Iowa 01
Earnest Ross F SEC Auburn 10-11/Missouri 13-14
Brian Schmall G Big South Augusta 89-90/Radford 92-93
Glen Selbo G Big Ten Wisconsin 44 & 47/Michigan 46
Brad Sellers F Big Ten Wisconsin 82-83/Ohio State 85-86
Marcus Stewart F Big South Coastal Carolina 98-99/Winthrop 01
Curtis Stuckey G Missouri Valley Drake 88/Bradley 90-91
Kenny Taylor G Big 12 Baylor 02-03/Texas 04
Charles Terrell G Big West San Jose State 90-91/Pacific 93-94
Jarrod Uthoff F Big Ten Wisconsin 12 (RS) | Iowa 14-15
Eloy Vargas C Southeastern Florida 09/Kentucky 11-12
Damion Walker C-F WAC Texas Christian 96-97/New Mexico 99-00
Marcus Watkins G Big 12 Texas A&M 03-04/Missouri 05-06
Malcolm White F Southeastern Mississippi 08-09/Louisiana State 11-12
Trent Whiting G Mountain West Utah 00/Brigham Young 01
LeRon Williams F Southeastern Florida 95-96 | South Carolina 98-99

Top Cop: Eric Holder, Duplicating His Columbia Hoop Career, was Zero as AG

September 25th, 2014 - 20:07

In hoop parlance, it's the equivalent of triple-teaming as an unprecedented animosity escalates toward government unaccountability and its community disorganizing. Republican lawmakers, perceiving disregard for the Constitution and stonewalling their oversight by withholding documents, have focused for an extended period on a series of Amateur Hour White House Administration lawless shenanigans - Benghazi bungling, IRS targeting of conservative groups, incompetent Obamacare roll-out chock-full of deception (HHS Secretary at the time spent more time fundraising to publicize the health care law rather than testing the enrollment website for glitches), far-reaching snooping of world leaders (including allies), subpoenas of the media, approval of not informing Congress about Taliban 5 swap for a deserter plus mid-term election monitors.

Is there any coincidence that Eric Holder's dignified "kiss-my-ass" resignation as U.S. Attorney General came in the aftermath of another court edict ruling that the Justice Department must relinquish material about how the DOJ lied to Congress and the American public regarding the Operation Fast and Furious scandal. Clearly, Special Agent John Dodson was smeared by DOJ officials for having the courage to be the first whistleblower in the scheme. Despite claims that intimidating and criminalizing the media "is something I've never been involved with or heard of (signed warrant nonetheless)," Holder's intrusive actions impacting freedom of the press wasn't the first time he was in the middle of a firestorm. After all, in Holder's warped world we can't possibly have leaks supporting a policeman who protects his sorry butt or leaks about Benghazi beating up on my boss. No wonder an ex-FBI agent, appalled at Holder's lack of leadership, wrote a scathing letter about him and his racial-agenda rhetoric putting cops in jeopardy.

Conducting an off-the-record session with selected media members and focusing on a parade float mocking POTUS rather than vital issues did nothing to resolve many questions about his priorities seemingly more in favor of towel-head terrorists and CAIR-ing Muslim mutilators than law-abiding American citizens such as Uncle Sam, Father Jim and Brother Bob. Prior to an election-eve document dump, Holder previously failed to divulge sufficient information about the botched "Fast and Furious" ATF "gunwalking" operation selling 2,000 firearms to Mexican drug cartels. The nation's corrosive top cop, treating the DOJ as a partisan sanctuary community according to mistreated opponents, seemed to be shedding light on as much material regarding the controversial ATF topic and media meddling as the number of FGM he contributed to Columbia's freshman basketball squad in 1969-70 (misfired on all four field-goal attempts). Was Holder entitled to reschedule semester exams if traumatized by his inability to connect from the floor? So unstable years later, he thought Edward Snowden did U.S. a public service.

Parcing words like "is," demented Dimorat defenders at tax cheat Al "Not So" Sharpton's Race Card Convention probably would "enable" Holder if the AG said he didn't fib to Congress about monitoring the press' co-conspirator calls or was Columbia's all-time leading varsity scorer instead of Leonard "Buck" Jenkins (1,766 points from 1989-90 through 1992-93). Holder might be more useful flexing his Geico-lizard muscle helping "Resist We Much" Sharpnado descend into Brainville by discerning the difference between Chipotle and Chipola plus Ottawa and Iowa. We saw how much Holder and Sharpton "grieved" in the aftermath of two assassinated NYPD police officers the week before Christmas and how libs essentially were accessories to the shooting of two police officers several months later at Ferguson City Hall.

Despite numerous emails detailing his direct involvement in crafting "Fast and Furious" talking points, Holder seemed to try to set a Guinness Book of World Records for most times saying "I don't know" during Congressional oversight testimony. Do you think he knew the first female director of the Secret Service wanted the agency to be "more like Disney World"? It doesn't seem possible but the DOJ reportedly also facilitated anti-George Zimmerman protests in Florida, failed to adequately monitor runaway overtime payments in his department and was so petty that Ferguson, Mo., occupying-force police officers were banned from wearing bracelets supporting their colleague and law enforcement was told to "behave" (rather than pea-brained out-of-town protestors). Evidence of widespread passivity existed when there wasn't a sufficient sentiment calling for the resignation of Holder, one of several former college basketball players in the StinkBurger Administration apparently incapable of consistently absorbing intelligence briefings in a serious fashion. If Ferguson and the Fort Hood massacre are any indication, the Holder-infected DOJ and fellow race baiters may treat the hero reserve sheriff's deputy in Moore, Okla., as the word-game problem for the "workplace violence" rather than the Muslim convert savage.

Whether or not there is a cover-up or obstruction of justice, lost amid the juvenile freshman-like gamesmanship is the moral obligation to supply a full explanation to the distraught family of murdered border patrol agent Brian Terry feeling as if the "idiot-crony" government is hiding something. The House oversight committee leader for the Democrats said they "would not rest" until they found answers but some shameless political parasites on The Hill are more concerned with covering their side's back rather than discerning who shot Terry in the back. Depending upon your perspective, it's not unreasonable to think some folks were accessories to murder of many Mexicans and Terry. An arrogant Holder, claiming he made an "extraordinary offer" (estimated mostly-redacted 7,600 of 80,000-plus subpoenaed documents) before requesting executive privilege from the White House, was in hot water for a variety of issues, including his responses regarding other issues such as the New Black Panther Party, voter rights, enforcement of immigration laws and national security leaks. Meanwhile, the CYAG (Cover Your _ _ ) White House tried to protect Holder with executive privilege (including emails to his wife) and voiced support for him despite Mr. Recusal's unprincipled surveillance of the media. There was proof that the Oval Office and DOJ colluded to target former CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson, one of the few members of the mainstream media to pay any attention to the gun-running scandal.

(With)Holder, an Ivy League freshman the same year as Princeton's Brian Taylor and Harvard's James Brown, was confirmed as AG despite his outrageous pandering to leftist special interests in orchestrating a pardon from Sick Willie for international fugitive Marc Rich and clemency for 16 members of a terrorist group (FALN). Will Holder end up seeking a pardon from the Audacity of Hype for pill-distributing Dr. "Herbal Medication" Huxtable similar to what he did for Rich? It might hinge on whether Holder is too busy seeking a pardon for Sharpton to cover the Out House confidant's massive tax bill. If Holder is focused on helping tax cheats, Sharpton's MSLSD "Lien Forward" colleagues can probably pool resources and secure a group rate.

Obama, a backup JV basketball player for Occidental (CA), said as an Illinois Senator that the President is not the AG's client. But does his race-card reveling administration emphasize rules for radicals more than principles of patriots? Why were several dozen FBI agents assigned to Ferguson rather than going to Minneapolis investigating a breeding ground for homegrown terrorists? If bothering to show up in Virginia, race hustlers such as Holder, Jesse Jerkson and Sharpton are more likely to support the civil rights of suspect Jesse Matthew rather than victims Hannah Graham and Morgan Harrington. Ditto Philly cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.

The feds' priorities were more concerned with detaining an obscure producer of an anti-Islamic film making light of the prophet Mohammed. Meanwhile, the stonewalling Obama Administration - either grossly incompetent or immersed in a corrupt cover-up - dealt with a terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, by standing in front of caskets at an airport hangar (plus the White House press corps, the U.N. and national politically-oriented shows) offering an orchestrated narrative claiming the nondescript video was responsible for a spontaneous murder of the American ambassador and three other Americans. Unbelievably, a Navy SEAL among the deceased violated stand-down orders to help save numerous individuals at the embassy and then fought the terrorists for seven hours while his pleas for backup at an annex were ignored by morally-bankrupt government officials real-time watching events unfold. Months later, the apologist-in-chief and cowardly cronies were still striving to supply a cogent response to their deflect-and-deny sacrificial inaction. They would rather sanctimoniously flash half a peace sign to opponents by promoting Susan "Damsel in Distress" Rice despite her incessant Benghazi video lies comprehended as such by everyone across the nation possessing a triple-digit IQ.

The father of slain SEAL Tyrone Woods said bombastic VP Joe Biden asked an incredibly inappropriate question: "Did your son always have balls the size of cue balls?" Countered Woods' father: "Better to die a hero than to live as a coward." Bomb-thrower Biden, who adds to national debt by charging rent to Secret Service bodyguards protecting him, should have had Holder help him in the War of Drugs to prevent his own kids from going astray. But Holder, rather than enforcing existing laws, was more interested in creating new legislation, saying his biggest regret was an inability to pass gun control. Beyond oceans receding amid remaking America, we were told this would be most transparent administration in history. But with Holder headlining a slew of polarizing progressive puke, the lawless administration became the most transparently corrupt climaxed by finding missing IRS emails and selectively preaching to nation about embracing illegal aliens on back-to-back days. Along the way, libnuts in the media seemed more concerned about whether Holder or Obama won their one-on-one NCAA Tournament bracket battle.

Good riddance to Eric the Dread, who should have been quarantined for longer than any three weeks after supporting overhauling Ferguson police department but not renegade IRS. If you're interested in political players and seek a mite more insight than you'll generate any morning from MSLSD's Mika the Myopic Mannequin and her clueless comrades such as MHP the Quack, CollegeHoopedia.com has conducted extensive research on politicians and political appointees who were college hoopsters. The vast majority of them honor the Constitution more than splitting-hairs Holder, who was anything but the "right" man to investigate himself, refute the FBI with a probe of Zimmerman, distinguish radical Islam from administration's radical ignorance or assess anything of significance for that matter. Faking skills as much as Obama's sign-language interpreter at Mandela memorial, Holder departs as AG missing shots (at four vital qualities - credence, excellence, relevance and substance) like he did as a Columbia hoop freshman; leaving the country with a Jimmy Carter-like crisis of confidence.

War on Women: Colleges Need to Reduce Violence Before It Reaches Pros

September 13th, 2014 - 20:16

Which sexual-deviant B.C. (Bill Clinton or Bill Cosby) should be designated BC (Biggest Conniver)? Beyond Clinton's Oral Office, is nothing sacred as father-figure Cosby's silence about numerous female accusations speaks volumes? We'll never think of Fat Albert and Jell-O pudding in the same way the more we hear about a settlement between former Temple women's basketball staffer Andrea Constand and Cosby, the school's most famous alumnus. Standards depend upon how much one donates to a university on or off the court/field. Temple's indifferent administration, apparently still much too fond of Jello-O pudding samples or Quaaludes lethargic, kept Cosby as a member of its Board of Trustees while many other entities dropped Dr. Huxtable off a cliff quicker than a Ferguson or Baltimore thief mishandling a liquor bottle scampering out of a looted convenience store hurdling debris like an aging track star fantasizing about an aphrodisiac drink. The Cosby Show was finally cancelled as a TU Trustee after Thanksgiving before degenerate's striking number of accusers formed a cathartic coalition. Cigars stored elsewhere, Clinton must have a freezer full of Jell-O pops spiked with "distinguishing-characteristic" Quaaludes received from admirer Cos, going blind from who knows what.

If Jimmy Carter feels comfortable smiling while criticizing "we-know-what-has-to-be-done," then there is an absolute absence of mentally-tough authentic leaders. We're not in good shape if Charles Barkley makes infinitely more sense discussing police than dialogue from a vacation junkie Oval Office more interested in junket doing the wave at Cuban baseball game and tango in Argentina. Whether or not it's viewed on a major network, many must not get it until they see it. POTUS (a.k.a. Mr. Mom Jeans), while praising Muslim cleric who endorsed Fatwa against American troops, doesn't have a strategy for declaring war with ISIS until multiple gruesome beheadings and pressure isn't applied on teflon NFL regarding domestic violence until Candid Camera delivers demonstrable deviance igniting a cover-up. In sports, what the presstitutes miss is that zero tolerance for the troubling "War on Women" needs to be addressed in high school and college before the lack of a moral compass reaches the green room for pink-ribbon and pink-shoe donning pros.

Heaven knows where tawdry allegations end up in aftermath of legal maneuverings against former Memphis guard Derrick Rose and Sacramento Mayor/Depreciated Democrat Kevin Johnson. Rose testified he was taught at the NBA's rookie camp to take used condoms with him after sex. Cynically, coach John Calipari could have been referring to Rose's group-effort escapades several years ago when saying "he (great kid) is taking better care of his body than at any other point during his career." Shouldn't there be more reflexive concern for victims rather than impact on roster of team with alleged criminal? According to the FBI, about 70% of domestic violence probes fail to result in criminal cases. Those figures coincide with estimates claiming about two-thirds of sexual assault charges involving college athletes reportedly are dropped or not filed similar to two Michigan State freshmen hoopers during orientation in the fall of 2010, a Washington player probed in 2010-11 and pair of Providence freshman "players" several seasons ago. In light of Marquette failing to report multiple messy incidents to Milwaukee police, can you begin to fathom how many times "big-time" schools have covered up "Boys Gone Wild" indiscretions with get-out-of-trouble-free cards to keep rap sheets shorter than stat sheets?

Forfeiting any recruiting dignity, the MSU and PC freshman felonious activity coupled with Minnesota's frosh porn-star tryout in 2015-16 indicate that, at the bare minimum, schools need to improve their background checks. Statistics show athletes are convicted at a much lower rate than the general population. According to a USA Today study during a trial involving Kobe Bryant, prominent athletes are much less likely to be convicted of sexual assault than the average citizen. Consider this stark statistical comparison: 2/3 of the public-at-large is convicted when charged with sexual assault while 2/3 of prominent athletes are exonerated in similar allegations involving the brotherhood of scumbags.

Disturbing allegations at Louisville (Chris Jones), Kansas (multiple players) and Duke (Rasheed Sulaimon) had their celebrated coaches either making incoherent comments or hiding under their desk. Minnesota and West Virginia endured similar unseemly "violation-of-team-rules" situations in the mid-1980s. Ditto Arizona State in the mid-1990s and priorities across the country haven't improved. Consider an Inside Higher Ed article written about a Syracuse dean facing dismissal for refusing to cover up an assault of a female student on campus by basketball players. Elsewhere, a culture concerning abuse of females frequently goes unchecked at sports factories reminiscent of group assault charges at Arkansas under coaches Nolan Richardson and John Pelphrey resulting in Ray Rice-like initial modest sanctions. Will it really change under Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson, who had more than his share of problem children at Missouri?

There are words and there are actions as well as "tough" guys and "cool" guys in this criminal "no-means-no" climate change. One-sided co-ed boxing apparently needs to get personal before the player-predator issue penetrates some thick skulls in the establishment media. For instance, ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, obsessed with "payday" and "cash" as always, tweeted he doesn't "dig actions away from ring but he (Floyd Mayweather Jr.) is an all-time great." Well, let's "dig" on one easy hipster wannabee layup straight from the grandstanding opening bell. Unless mindset of role model Dancin' Ray contaminates network judgment across the sports spectrum including Screamin' A. Stiff, no one with an extensive history of domestic abuse charges such as misfit Mayweather should be designated an all-time great in any way, shape or form with or without a cover-your-fanny-like-commish qualifier. Ditto for Florida State's troubled Jameis Winston, who Vitale tweeted was "great to have on your side on Saturday."

Presumably, Dickie V didn't mean late Saturday night with him and Uber driver or at any sort of Winston post-college game celebration leaving an accuser susceptible to dragging through the mud one way or the other (perhaps on a scooter). In a textbook example of Buc-kissing shilling, Vitale bragged about Shameless Jameis joining him at gala in Tampa Bay QB's first appearance as NFL player before the university settled with Winston's accuser for $950,000 in the spring of 2016. Methinks Vitale knows little, if anything, about FSU "football-fixer" associate AD who served time in prison for cocaine distribution. The general public's prevailing ignorance resembles failing to acknowledge the corrupt Clintons' "War on Women."

Consider the stark contrast on ESPN between the embarrassing bumblin', mumblin' and stumblin' of Ray Lewis (Who set the bar so low to hire him as expert missing his creme-colored suit on heels of wayward Hugh Douglas?) to enlightening Hannah Storm's emotional monologue on how to explain the violence. No matter how well-meaning, we can second-guess everyone leading up to the grotesque seeing-is-believing video and protecting the brand. Perhaps Storm's father could have done more to curtail the me-myself-and-I excesses when Mike Storen was a pro basketball executive during the wild and wooly '60s and '70s. And if the holier-than-thou press is so concerned about PC-police nickname changing, perhaps they should encourage schools to be more accurate with monikers such as Bailor Needed For Bad News Bears, Cincinnati Barely Can Read 'Cats, UConn Artists, Indiana Booziers, Kansas Jailhawks, Louisville Horndogs Breaking Cardinal Rules, Memphis Mafia Malcontents, Minnesota Go-for-hers, Miz-zou Animals, UNCheat Tarrin (Gals in) Heels, Syracuse Orange Jumpsuits, UNLV Sin City Rebels, etc.

Also, can any of the journalistic jackals unearth whether "The Carolina (Academic) Way" for Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson included a rigorous African and Afro-American independent study course on how to treat the opposite sex, Africa's subjugation of females or discerning the origin of HIV and Ebola virus rather than the importance of Swahili language? If the scheme was solely for GPA boosting, Carolina's 2005 (10 of 15 members were AFAS majors with total of 35 "pretty doggone good" bogus classes over two semesters) and 2009 NCAA titles could be in jeopardy of being vacated. Wait until subpoena-related deposition details emerge from suing players promised a good education but major-manipulated into AFAS, Communications plus Exercise and Sport Science. At any rate, for the sake of supplying a good chuckle to offset a portion of the angst, please let the public try to digest a sampling of prose from those unread Prime Time 10-page papers (assigned mostly A grades with few B+ marks since a few players may have misspelled their names). UNC, admitting "regrettable actions," should receive the death penalty simply because disgraceful no-show classes came under the umbrella of a Center For Ethics.

The university has paid in excess of $1 million in PR costs dealing with the scholastic scandal but that's an affordable expense insofar as there was significant savings over these many years when no faculty was necessary to actually provide instruction for bogus bookwork. Rather than learning classy pass fakes on the court, the courted players passed by "learning" in fake classes. It's no excuse but, if the let's-not-dwell-on-the-negative media would get off its royal cushion, how many other schools across the nation have comparable compromising courses? A polluted program under latest coach Richard Pitino isn't exactly virgin territory among power-league members with a history featuring a former Minnesota tutor claiming she wrote or helped write more than 400 papers or pieces of coursework for in excess of 20 Gophers players in the mid-1990s. Amid notice of allegations to UNC, the NCAA should remember: "If you don't stand for something (such as higher scholastic standards), you'll fall for anything (excessive number of suspect student-athletes)."

How in Heel is having athletic department personnel steering players into sham classes for 18 years not, at its core curriculum, a textbook definition of "lack of institutional control?" When will ESPN get to the bottom of the chicanery by giving truth serum to two of the network's college football commentators (former UNC coaches Mack Brown and Butch Davis) or yielding answers via another orchestrated interview with coach Roy Williams serving as master of "really-bothered-by-whole-thing" ceremonies featuring backdrop of supportive ex-players? ESPN should have just gone ahead and issued Williams' support group some "Game Day" posters for their little pep rally. Amid all of the scholastic shenanigans, even if you have to fabricate, don't let integrity icon Dean Smith's last two Final Four teams in the mid-1990s be involved in any way or else no coach on the planet can be trusted. Ditto for Mike Krzyzewski and Bill Self if they were involved in any sort of Title IX cover-ups.

How difficult would it have been for Williams, instead of pleading educational mission ignorance, to take a few minutes per semester assessing academic progress of each of his players? Didn't he acknowledge there was "class clustering" early in his Carolina head coaching tenure? It is the height of hypocrisy for him and other DI mentors/"fathers" to have a contract bonus provision stemming from APR/graduation rates. Will UNC encourage him to apologize to whistle-blower tutor Mary "Just Keep My Players Eligible" Willingham? Didn't Williams figuratively punch her (triggering death threats in aftermath of additional administration admonishments) by impugning Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary's character saying her illiteracy claims were untrue and totally unfair about a striking number of scholars boasting middle-school reading skills? Said Willingham prior to settling a lawsuit with UNC for $335,000 (about $1,000 per basketball player enrollment in paper class minus attorneys' fees): "I went to a lot of basketball games in the Dean Dome, but Roy never came and sat with me while I tutored his guys." Heaven help us if Williams' "sad-time" excuses, coupled with equally lame remarks from gridiron mentors Brown and Davis regarding the academic debris, are typical of the coaching community level of interest in authentic advancement toward a genuine diploma.

Which is worse - free grades/dean's list for not even attending rogue class (see Rashad McCants), free abuse of female tutor or free rental cars for top returning scorer (P.J. Hairston) linked to an ex-convict? An absence of press accountability in the Carolinas probably is why a Democratic male running for statewide office can chuckle after calling a Republican female sitting governor a "whore." What we have here is a failure to exhibit standards; not so much an inability to thoroughly discuss the (physical and/or verbal) beat-down topic and appease the all-women sports gabfest "We Need to Talk" on CBS. The coaches' Sgt. Schultz "I-know-nothing" routine is insulting spit because they usually know when a regular takes an irregular dump. The NFL and NBA likely will announce policies "to do more," but when will colleges and the media do likewise to mitigate Sharia Law-like malignant message dumping on women? Instead, we get Kansas' Selfless coach creatively saying a player involved in school probe was "ill" upon missing a couple of games.

What is it about punks flourishing at sports that makes adults fall all over themselves making excuses for abhorrent behavior? Amid the pimpish compartmentalization, there are also "clever" outfits such as Oregon stemming from its timing in waiting to expel three players implicated in an alleged sexual assault in order to avoid a reduction in its Academic Progress Rate score before reaching 2017 Final Four with another player under comparable criminal investigation. Meanwhile, fellow Pac-12 Conference member California adopted a stricter admissions policy when it comes to academics. Meanwhile, Indiana embraced a no-admittance policy regarding previous indiscretions. Will Cal and IU set a nationwide trend for increased scholastic and decorum standards or will majority of universities duck the issue? Not if the condescending NCAA headquarters appears much more concerned about Indian nicknames than ending licking of dames. Can the NCAA at least encourage its members to consider utilizing Norway's syllabus teaching Muslim male migrants how to treat non-veiled women?

Speaking of "tough, cool and clever" guys, Mayweather told CNN's Rachel Nichols that "only God can judge me." But let's play The Almighty role and make things personal prior to enablers going on their merry way "earning" academic-anemia "dollars" off the next round of ill-equipped recruits. Father-figure coaches masquerading as social workers who persuade admissions offices to enroll some of the "exception" vermin should be sued by victims if the abuse is campus connected under their stewardship. As for the mess media (student newspaper had to step up to the plate at Duke), perhaps Vitale's next book could be "You're Awful, Baby! With a Capital A!: 100 Players I Praised as Great But Glad My Daughters Didn't Date." Striving to avoid turning a blind eye, below we'll give his researchers a head start on the EBOLA (Excessive Beatings are Outlandish of Ladies by Athletes) epidemic with robust list of scholars to assess en route to him setting a Guinness Book of World Records for most basketball volumes with name on the cover as author.

Research shows that arrests of college athletes are more than double those of pros. Former Duke starter Jay Bilas, Vitale's successor as ESPN's Prime Time Performer in the GameDay color commentator role, has experiential ACC knowledge competing against colorful North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano's suspect squads (735 average SAT score - featuring Chris Washburn at 470 - and excessive number of positive drug tests during the 1980s). While pondering rigorous courses washout Washburn passed to remain academically eligible for more than a season, a cold-blooded question surfaces as to whether the academic anemia at UNC is worse than what occurred at N.C. State, which probably gains the negative nod if only because of Washburn teammate Charles Shackleford's following animal-expert quote: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." The "A" in "bring your A-game" in an ACC ad apparently doesn't stand for academics.

If bookish Bilas genuinely knows self-evaluation "toughness," he will maneuver upstream and shift his passion from lambasting the NCAA about paying these gentlemen and scholars to a lawyerly focus on stopping the NCAA from preying on players who have no business representing universities because they aren't authentic student-athletes (although Sulaimon was still enrolled as student when allegations against him surfaced). Granted, such an academic-values modification will translate into an inferior product for him and his network to promote (and for luminaries such as Jim Boeheim, Calipari, Bob Huggins, Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino plus Williams to coach for that matter). But does a mediocre Duke player such as Lance Thomas need more than $30,000 as down payment on jewelry? What about multiple Memphis players reporting they were robbed of more than $66,000 worth of vital items for Calipari-coached college students (mink coats, diamond earrings, stereo equipment, flat-screen TV)?

Moreover, Syracuse's Boeheim wouldn't have an opportunity to be "impressed" about one-and-done Carmelo Anthony's 1.8 gpa before failing to mention if Anthony attended more classes than games his second semester. Did BMOC Melo mellow out in Orange-hot Child and Family Studies? At least the win-at-all-costs mentality is gender neutral as goalie Hope Solo flies above the Soccer Wars like Han Solo. More coaches are becoming members of the Garbage Collectors Guild as they don't give a rat's ass about anything beyond winning a few more games.

How interested could Bilas' alma mater possibly be in education these days, anyway? Freshman sensation Jahlil Okafor of the 2015 NCAA champion was one of Duke's seven one-and-done "graduates" in a six-year span. Julius Randle is one of eight Kentucky freshmen in the last six years to be among the NBA's top eight draft picks. UK's gifted group may have pooled credit-hour resources for a single shared diploma (hopefully not useless AFAS). Randle, breaking his right leg in NBA debut with the L.A. Lakers, and Duke All-American Jabari Parker, incurring a season-ending knee injury between Thanksgiving and Christmas, got prompt "nothing-lasts-forever" lessons that it might be prudent to pay a little attention to academic pursuits. What quality of classes are taken in college by mercenary professional-caliber athletes such as Rose if a mind-numbing 60% of NBA players file for bankruptcy five years after retirement?

Amid a scholastic schedule laden with decidedly non-academic courses, personal character flaws didn't surface solely upon reaching the professional level and power league members unscathed by female battery are clearly in the minority. As much of the lame-stream media looks the other way like a referee in waning moments seeking a blowout game to finish, here are vital facts on what really is outside the lines since ESPN came on the scene in the late 1970s and CBS assumed control of March Madness. Key commentators, appearing as if they were drugged, aimlessly address relevant "no-means-no" issues about as much as Cosby answers pertinent inquiries. Compare how much air-time was given to "singing the praises" of the following alphabetical list of Three-S "Men" (Stupid, Sin-tillating and Sin-sational) to how much was devoted elaborating on their Hoop Hall of Shame misdeeds against women or offering solutions preventing exploitation of such derelict student-athletes even if the quality of basketball is reduced and might negatively affect ratings, endorsement deals, speaking engagement fees or circulations of periodicals:

Fall-Americans: Why Wasn't Barnes an ESPN Expert Similar to Dancin' Ray?

September 8th, 2014 - 20:26

Prior to penalizing deflating balls twice as much as flogging a female against elevator walls, remember this admonition from Commish Good-For-Nothing (as boxing judge): "Ignorance isn't an excuse." Well, does the Big Ten Conference have buyer's remorse adding this suspect new member? What do they put into the Rice and Famous at Rutgers? It most certainly isn't proper instruction about anti-bullying. Only a couple of years ago, basketball coach Mike Rice Jr. made a fool of himself abusing players (including one with learning disabilities who eventually settled a suit with the school for $300,000). And now we're back into a Rice paddy wagon in football because video changes everything.

Prior to a disturbing TMZ-secured tape showing a Mike Tyson-like TKO followed by a couple of love-bird (raven) callous kicks while she's down and out, don't buy for a second that ESPN and numerous other establishment media outlets in bed with the NFL didn't have a "smidgeon" of an idea what transpired in a casino elevator between punk running back Ray Rice and his then-fiancee he treated like Rocky did a frozen side of beef before maneuvering limp sack of "sugar" with an abundance of care. Did all of the enterprising journalists and NFL executives apparently more concerned with RG3's Jesus T-shirt think she passed out from a passionate kiss or take a bite from a wicked witch's Scarlet (Knights) apple?

Since clubby hubby lost job for which the he-man "worked his (Cro-Magnon) ass off" before kicking her butt figuratively and literally (only Neanderthal trimmings missing were club and hair pulling), Rice's spittin' mad now-wife probably could add to "horrible nightmare" by joining any class-action lawsuit stemming from concussion caused by associating with the NFL. The Rice-a-Phony insanity spread like wildfire including politics as CNN's Wolf Blitzer refused to ask National Security Adviser Susan Rice about Benghazi on the anniversary of the terrorist attack. On the heels of analyst Screamin A. Stiff's stupid pre-complete video "provoke-wrong-actions" remark regarding the blatant beating, the bullet-proof Extra Sensitive Pious Network had the gall to give Rice role model Ray "Dancing On Their Graves" Lewis a violence/cover-up forum to assess Rice's demise albeit without Lewis' old knife-wielding "Cobalt" entourage. The self-absorbed network, after giving atheism a forum but not allowing analyst Curt Schilling to pitch opinions about Muslims, must be contemplating a new reality-show channel, ESPR, to dwell on big items such as Kim K's derriere and Bruce's Olympian effort to be deemed pretty after assisting rehab efforts for Rice with an ESPY courage award-winning website meal-ticket column featuring punching bag/enabler wife Janay's byline.

Meanwhile, much like O.J. Simpson kept looking for his ex-wife's killer on golf courses, Lewis must be using studious-looking glasses trying to find his blood-stained cream suit in Atlanta on weekday scavenger hunts while serving as the enthusiastic NFL poster boy for fathering children out of wedlock. Amid the latest Warren Commission-like investigation, perhaps the NFL can consult him for a similar "protect-the-shield" hiding place regarding the complete elevate-her video a law enforcement official said he confirmed shipping to the league office. What a colossal pile of crap when an ESPN host asked Lewis - the network's top mind(backer) after Hugh Douglas departed just before rough-sex episode - about how a player should conduct himself off the playing field! Thus we're not really blindsided when ESPN's journalistic integrity took "hits" as NFL pressure apparently led the network to refuse "to go all the way" in a concussion investigation project with Frontline and Miami columnist Dan LeBatard, a typical sanctimonious ESPN host, "gave" his baseball Hall of Fame vote to readers of Deadspin's snarky sports blog.

If "no comparison" Lewis is deemed worthy of a commentator's role, Janay the Journalist Jewel gets editorial control and Britt "Just Another Petty Face" McHenry gets to strut her self-absorbed stuff, then why wasn't former Providence All-American Marvin Barnes hired to a similar motivational speaker role alongside college basketball soothsayers Jay Bilas, Jalen Rose and Dick Vitale? Barnes, beset by demons, died at age 62 on the same day Lewis lectured dupes about Rice. Barnes boasted the most overall skill of any ABA player in the mid-1970s including Julius Erving, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore, Moses Malone, Maurice Lucas, George McGinnis and David Thompson. But Barnes, donning a wide-brimmed pimp-style hat, was a deviant who would show up at a game with his uniform on under his full-length fur coat and go straight to the on-court bench proclaiming he was ready to go after gettin' down at only heaven knows where.

There is no doubt Barnes had the talent to eventually go to the Basketball Hall of Fame but he averaged a modest 9.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg with four different NBA teams in as many seasons from 1976-77 through 1979-80. Falling short of his enormous ability, Barnes most certainly didn't measure up off the court in his post-playing days like the vast majority of All-Americans.

"Movin'' Marvin's rap sheet always seemed to be moving on up. Two and one-half years ago, the three-time Providence All-American was arraigned in Rhode Island on a charge of soliciting a 17-year-old minor for sex after they met through his Rebound Foundation for at-risk youths. Barnes' previous indiscretions are too numerous to mention but are summarized among more than 50 former All-Americans included in CollegeHoopmedia.com's Hall of Shame list of several hundred "Bad Boys of Basketball."

The formation of the Big East Conference wouldn't occur for another seven years after Barnes powered the Friars to the 1973 Final Four. But with someone such as Lewis as a headliner, it leaves an impression that ESPN wouldn't have thought much about Barnes' tire-iron activity with the Friars if the Big East was intact earlier in Barnes' Time Machine and the network had a contractual relationship with the alliance. After all, the "Toughness" talent level needs to reach a certain GameDay "elevator" level for Bilas, Rose and Vitale to arrive on campus and frequently refer to "cash." Naturally, that cozy synergy could have changed swiftly if the Big East had the audacity to depart, for say, a better monetary deal with a fledgling Fox Sports network.

As for the big picture, there are ample reasons why the majority of Americans fail to have confidence in a biased mass media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly. Any doubt CNN is getting out of the news business ended when arrogant anchor Carol Costello reveled in abuse of Sarah Palin's daughter while not being quite so gleeful about the banishment of the real VP's cokehead son. According to a Gallup poll, fewer than 1/4 of American adults have "a great deal" of confidence in newspapers and television news. Whether they admit it or not, the recent sales of the Boston Globe and Washington Compost plus pending peddling or dumping of numerous other lame-stream media ventures are additional signs of the apocalypse for the print media. It's the inevitable outcome for folks who generally believe, feel and think instead of specifically knowing items. The pariah press resembles aging intern Kneepads Lewinsky failing to tell a complete story by glossing over the culpability of both of the Clintons for her overt humiliation. Fawning over Sick Willie although he probably deserved a stint in the Clinton Correctional Facility in update New York, Lewinsky resembles Big Mama Mitchell's multi-dimensional support of escaped convicts.

A problem persists that the overwhelming majority of slanted reporters chronicling events big and small write through a liberal prism insulting our common sense and intelligence while probably supporting censuring of sermons by intolerant lesbian Houston mayor. The sports sandbox of the fourth-rate estate is cut largely from the same cloth complicit in the dumbing down of America as they're frequently more concerned with the War on Christmas and War on Redskins than the War on Terrorism. For instance, Seth Davis of SI and CBS, while not exhibiting as much liberal lunacy as ESPN senior writer LZ Granderson on CNN or gender-obsessed Nebraska school district seeking to label kids as purple penguins, admitted in a tweet he "hasn't missed one of (leftist) E.J. Dionne's columns since I learned to read." Davis' dad - Shrillary leg humper attorney Lanny Davis (if in fact he can get an appendage around one of her beer kegs) - is a staunch supporter of the corrupt Clintons and probably shouldn't have missed arranging for jello-loving phony Bill Cosby to get his Presidential Medal of Freedom from Sick Willie; rather than George Dubya. Meanwhile, almost in unison with a "no cops" reference as Rice emerged from his UFC rectangle, the snitches-get-stitches lookalike media might as well have been chanting "no effort (to uncover whole truth)."

Actually, it only takes a few minutes assessing Twitter incest and the flock of fake followers to reveal much of the follow-the-pack press simply kissing each other's butt like a pack of puppies in a municipality without a dog catcher. Compare the content of the majority of the most popular college basketball websites and it's easy to discern they all virtually read the same. Where are the irascible and irreverent reporters bucking the system by circumventing all of the spin or will they resemble Snoop Dog reality-show like ESPN and simply seek to know showering habits, drive social engineering issues down our throats plus overemphasize gambling lines, point spreads and over/unders of collegiate games?

Does the establishment media, boasting a veracity comparable to Pinnochio, really care about the integrity of college hoops? Frankly, it's a privilege, not a right, to compete as a college athlete. If more players were genuine students, they would comprehend the value of an education and analysts wouldn't be so obsessed with providing them additional "goodies." Thus it's distressing to see most of the media wear blinders amid the abysmal graduation ratios and vacuous coverage coddling so many suspect players and coaches.

You couldn't tell it from the genuine rodeo clowns in the press but something is wrong with the frequency of college basketball players running afoul of the law. Where are the provoking stories and commentary assessing how enforcing more rigorous academic standards could virtually eliminate this blight? What is being done to reduce the seemingly incessant number of "tough guys" tossing women around like rag dolls? They can't even take the time to review a tape, give us a two-minute warning and rule whether or not there was a beat-down.

Held hostage by an Ariel Castro-like media as manipulative as Jodi Arias, the general public suffers from gullible glorification syndrome. When the lame-stream sports media is as incompetent as the general newsroom and editorial department, they foist other athletic heroes upon the general public such as Lance Armstrong, Ryan Braun, Aaron Hernandez, DeSean Jackson, Johnny "I Can Sign My Name" Manziel, Adrian Peterson, Bobby Petrino, Oscar Pistorius, A-Roid, Josh Shaw, Manti Te'o, Michael Vick, Jameis Winston and Tiger Woods. The media, allowing Peterson to play the blame game via using the disciplinary methods passed down by his father, don't, at the bare minimum, inform the masses his dad was Idaho State's leading basketball scorer and an All-Big Sky Conference first-team selection in 1984-85 before spending eight years in prison following an arrest for money laundering in connection with a crack-cocaine ring.

By any measure, the puff-piece enemies of illumination such as ESPN executives hiding under their desks are in complete denial about their failure to tell the entire story. The gutless wonders in the media, exemplified by ESPN suspending Bill Simmons for pithy-yet-filthy rant against stonewalling NFL commish and Bob Ryan for calling colleague Mark Jackson a Bible-pounding phony, generally aren't combative enough to explore significant issues much beyond being slobbering stenographer sots for lawless schools. Who really believes Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino went directly from normal extracurricular activity for a leader of men to extraordinary bumping and grinding in a public venue? And yet Pitino is so immune from criticism he has no reservation calling a Big Ten school president "a pompous ass" for having the gall to question scholastic shortcomings of Louisville's scholars.

Getting rid of evidence (abortion) isn't confined to morally-bankrupt coaches. In an era of sexual gratification, how did Duke All-American J.J. Redick become so savvy he had an abortion contract with his flame as an NBA rookie? Do we need to wait for TMZ before a sports reporter evaluates how many abortions have been sanctioned by college basketball coaches so female players could remain on the court and male players wouldn't be hampered by becoming deadbeat dads?

The myopic media, responding like the NSA in the "least untruthful manner," caters to a susceptible low-information public. A colossal collection of condescending clowns fail to comprehend the culture they've helped create is completely contemptible such as underwriting professional student Sandra Flukey's birth control into her 30s because she is too lazy to make normal arrangements to secure modestly-priced protection herself. As for college sports, the predictably pathetic press has allowed universities of lower learning to become little more than halfway houses for wayward youth.

The online media, shackled by an amateurish historical perspective, should be detached from the subjects they cover but almost never challenge them with any sort of confrontational style. Regrettably, that is the extent of how thin-skinned coaches such as North Carolina's Roy Williams has no qualms announcing he's "tired of answering questions" about a troubled returning starter or academic fraud tarnishing "The Carolina Way."

The familiar family-atmosphere refrain from father-figure coaches and administrators about "doing all they could to mentor and guide him" is nauseating. Is that distorted definition of "everything" all that gullible fans and a "skeptical" media ask of them? Were the recruits genuine student-athletes in the first place? Wouldn't you love to see the laughable transcripts of the majority of the troublemakers? How many Ray Rice-like pummelings occurred across the country on college campuses involving so-called student-athletes except there wasn't video assaulting our sensibilities?

At some point, the blatantly dishonest coaches and media, collaborating for a "Duck Dynasty" of sorts ducking the difficult questions and issues, need to look in the mirror about accountability. Petrified of being denied access, the hacks fail to yield more than baffling babbling. In a Barney Fife era where a fence-jumping outsider can stroll through the White House's front door unimpeded, the "rules of engagement" battle cry for JV journalistic jewels is basically let's get back to the game so knuckleheads can show support for perpetrator via a standing ovation and donning his uniform number.

Essentially, what happened to pugnacious competition chasing down a story among media outlets? Rather than chronic adoration, shouldn't they be like an acerbic town crier assuring us Kate's baby doesn't have Grandpa's ears? Instead, there should be a stop-and-frisk policy for the delusional press to see if they have any courage or intellect. It goes without saying that ESPN is virtually immune to widespread criticism because most of the flacks aspire to work for the network alongside Jalen "Uncle Tom" Rose. The media complains that the NFL should have secured the inside-the-elevator videotape "from a credible source" but couldn't they have gotten off their less-than-credible butts and done likewise?

The press should always be uncomfortable, not orgasmic, in its pursuits even if they become a trendsetter. This corner designated North Carolina's Michael Jordan as national player of the year in 1982-83 when every other precinct anointed Virginia's Ralph Sampson. Does that mean UNC and iconic Jordan, especially since he can dunk at 50-plus, deserve deference forevermore if his alma mater sports suspect academic credentials, he spends too much time gambling/womanizing, makes inane executive decisions or if one of his kids acts like a derelict? In an era of dumbfounding domestic violence, the same question applies to icon Larry Bird when his son pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness in connection with facing multiple charges after allegedly attempting to run his ex-girlfriend over with a car.

If you were responsible for generating the first significant national publicity for Auburn's Charles "Round Mound of Rebound" Barkley, are you supposed to resemble most of the idolatry-practicing media and virtually ignore his numerous off-the-court transgressions or college hoops analysis as lame as his golf swing? How many college and professional athletes hailed with hosannas by Barkley, ESPN, SI and major networks have done something "turrible" comparable to Rice's whipping? The misfits don't have a God-given or Barkley-given right to compete at the highest levels of athletics. Career change statistics suggest the average person makes a career change approximately five to seven times during a working life. Rice acted as if he majored in video editing and the Baltimore Ravens' front office pretended they earned advanced degrees in ethics. Instead of simplistic focusing on the trite second-chance routine by such keen observers, can't Rice exhibit "courage" and put his fine Rutgers education to good use in another vocation just a little earlier than expected? On the other hand, you can't trust Rutgers' priorities insofar as the new Big Ten Conference "institution" hired Eddie Jordan as coach without a diploma because the former Vitale recruit had more vital credentials - NBA playing and coaching career after helping the Scarlet Knights reach the 1976 Final Four.

A solution for much of the ugliness is really not all that complicated. It's staring the press and schools such as Rutgers in the face as much as the Rice videos. The simple equation: Reduce the academic anemia and there will be a corresponding decrease in rift raft and coaches' graft. But what are the odds that new ESPN analyst Jim Calhoun, who had more than his share of suspect "student-athletes" at Connecticut (Jeff Adrien, Richie Ashmeade, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Tate George, Ben Gordon, Mike Hayes, Eric Hayward, Antonio Kellogg, Nate Miles, A.J. Price, Clifford Robinson, Johnnie Selvie, Toraino Walker, Doug Wiggins, Marcus Williams, Enosch Wolf, Doug Wrenn, etc.) coupled with an abysmal graduation ratio, will address this topic in a forthright fashion in a studio role trying to fill the shoes of certifiable liar Bruce Pearl?

A return to sanity won't happen until Americans receive a skeptical honest media, but most don't have the basketballs or footballs for the job and are as confused as Bruce Jenner and Bradley Manning in who they are plus what they should be (see CNN unraveling). When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. But when you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear. As shamelessly one-sided as conservatives have asserted for years, excessive media malpractice finally discarded the pretense of objectivity. Once and for all, the amateur-hour collection of misguided minions have been unmasked as aggressive advocates; not adversarial journalists. "How could (media) do this to us? THIS IS OUR RIGHT (to know entire story)!" The mess media needs to obtain it in bulk and try Lumosity, which we're told improves brain health and performance.

Double Majors: Long Dry Spell for College Hoop All-Americans Playing in NFL

September 6th, 2014 - 11:08

Appeasing the PC police, the Dallas Cowboys generated ESPN-approved headlines by emphasizing Sam Who I Am warrants a second, third and fourth chance of becoming an NFL player. But shouldn't America's Team be known more for being the last NFL franchise to give versatile college basketball All-Americans (Utah State's Cornell Green and Tennessee's Ron Widby in mid-1970s) an opportunity to labor as authentic NFL players?

Versatile athletes are becoming an endangered species. Right after Labor Day is when college basketball annuals hit the newsstands about the same time the NFL regular season commences. In an era of specialization, the odds are against any of the projected college hoop All-Americans in the magazines enjoying a genuine NFL career such as the following alphabetical list of seven well-rounded athletes including two from Utah State:

All-American College Hoop Pos. (A-A Year) Summary of NFL Career
Otto Graham Northwestern F (1943 and 1944) Five-time All-Pro QB played 10 seasons (1946 through 1955) with the Cleveland Browns and led team to championship game each year (All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1949 and NFL from 1950 through 1955).
Cornell Green Utah State F (1962) Five-time Pro Bowler intercepted 34 passes in 13 years as a DB with the Dallas Cowboys (1962 through 1974).
Vern Huffman Indiana G (1936) QB-DB passed for 484 yards and rushed for 368 yards with the Detroit Lions in 1937 and 1938.
Ron Kramer Michigan C (1957) WR for 10 seasons (1957 and 1959 through 1967) with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. First-round draft choice caught 229 passes for 3,272 yards and 16 TDs.
Banks McFadden Clemson C (1939) Selected by the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first round (third pick overall) of the 1940 NFL draft. Finished fourth in rushing in the NFL in his only pro season, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Kent "Rip" Ryan Utah State F-C (1936) Halfback with the Detroit Lions for three seasons from 1938 through 1940.
Ron Widby Tennessee F (1967) Averaged 42 yards per punt in six seasons (1968 through 1973) with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Punter appeared in the Pro Bowl following the 1971 campaign.

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