Oso planning to go pro
Some thoughts about Al's recruiting:1) Winning begets winners. Win consistently and the best players find you. That's why in the 1960s and 1970s, the best teams were UCLA, Marquette, North Carolina and even Kentucky. Al was winning and he was colorful about it. Guys would put up with Milwaukee in the winter because they knew Marquette would win and whatever exposure went to college in the 1970s, they'd get it. That's why Duke, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky and Michigan State draw 'em in today.2) I don't know if Al "cheated" or not. I somehow don't think he had to. Again, he won. The track record spoke for itself. Yeah, a coach at Jacksonville, Western Kentucky, East Carolina or Dayton might have to, but I don't think Marquette was one of these small majors, even then.3) Al was colorful. He was akin that nutty, disorganized professor everyone on campus wanted at least once. We all had them and we all for some reason were drawn to them.4) Our guys went to the NBA. Chones, Thompson, Lucas, Ellis, Lee, Tatum. Great track record.
No...and after reading many many psosts from people on this board that do...I have to say I'm MUCH better off, if this is the type of "intelligence" a degree from MU gets you. It sure is on full display I will say that.
Marquette was NOT winning when Al arrived. That's why he was hired. Al used his contacts - who would now a days be called street agents - to start a gusher of talent from the New York City area. Illegal now, but a gray area then.
This may be your funniest post ever. The guy who pines for the 50s, the back of the bus and loves him some redskins telling me to turn the calendar. LOL.Things change, usually for the good - and in most cases (and all of those concerning human rights/dignity) I'm all in. Want to know something that hasn't changed? The overdog, hypocritical NCAA that you so love (and Al hated). Your thoughts on traditionals, Jucos and the alleged devaluation of your precious Marquette degree would have turned Al's stomach. Adolph Rupp would have been more simpatico with your world view.
"Xs and O's are sometimes overrated. I still vividly remember sitting in Market Square arena after we lost to Miami of Ohio with an incredible line up of players and our coach who was supposedly the X and O king. I realized then it would not ever be the same.That game and the Ohio St. game, are the 2 lowest moments with great teams, both got screwed by the refs. Even the ref in the Ohio St. admitted years later he hated Al and fouled Dean out, with 3 charging calls.i am still in therapy because of that game. it didn't help that whitehead got thrown out for coming down with a rebound and used his elbows to keep the others at bay. i don't think he even hit anyone. phantom flagrant foul?? talk about getting no respect-didn't the ref know that al retired the prior year?
I enjoyed immensely working with Al for several years as the Executive producer of the tv and radio network. Al was great to me, my wife, etc.Different times, I'm glad the NCAA put a lot of regs and rules in place as a result of what was going on at many places...UCLA, Louisville, Kentucky, Long Beach State, etc....and yes...MU, too.Back in those days the rules weren't laid out well, way too many loopholes, low education and enforcement. That isn't the case today.
Correct - Marquette was a dumpster fire, even worse than what KO inherited. He did hit a gusher in New York (Thompson, Meminger, Ric Cobb, Larry McNeil, Earl Tatum, Butch Lee and Bernard Toone) he also struck oil in Illinois (Bob Lackey, Bo Ellis, Marcus Washington, Lloyd Walton, Jerome Whitehead and Robert Byrd), Wisconsin (Jim Chones, Gary Brell, Allie McGuire, Jeff Sewell, Brian Brunkhorst and Gary Rosenberg) and random other spots for Mo Lucas, Jimmy Boylan, Joe Thomas and Ulice Payne. And one more thing - "street agents" aren't illegal now, they just changed their name to "AAU coaches". Tom Crean saved his gig in Bloomington by cutting a deal with one.
Marquette was NOT winning when Al arrived.
i don't care what anyone says, i am facking jealous and truely in facking awe that you got to hang with al, bobby, et. al. al spoke at my high school athletic banquet and i remember it like it was yesterday. to me, he was a rock star. rick spoke at our dental white coat ceremony and being a student of al, was 2nd most cool event of my life. gotta put my marriage and birth of my kids as a really close 3rd -good thing my wife doesn't read these. i met hank at one of my kids grade school games in brookfield. those guys were and still are my heroes as i lived/died warrior hoops from grade school up.
Fat Jack Rusnov, RIP
Enjoyhttp://www.si.com/vault/1971/01/25/542222/crazy-cat-and-his-curious-warriors
I've read this before. Two things. If the players showed this much personality and independent thought today, they would be trashed on message boards. Second, every time I read Al quotes from the 70's, I realize what a spiritual successor to him that Buzz truly was.
Y'all gotta read dis. I 'member runnin' to da Walgreens on 16th da day it came out. Didn't buy SI. Just read the article in da aisle. Kilpatrick captured da Warrior culture beautifully. And who can disagree with mugoose? Al had da best tongue ya ever herd, ai na?
If the players showed this much personality and independent thought today, they would be trashed on message boards.