Granted I was all of 8 years old when Al passed away but I'm sure most of you remember exactly where you were. Probably been a quick 15 years at that. RIP Al.
Time goes by way too quickly. MU has lost a lot of great ones since that day.
Drove up from Chicago and met my daughter (a 2000 MU grad who was working in Milwaukee) for the service. Afterwards we went to the Union where they showed the 77 semi final and final wins in the bar. Had a nice reunion with Jackie Burke who I hadn't seen since college. Later George, Majerus and others stopped in. Lots of good "Al" stories were shared that evening.
Al was truly ONE OF A KIND. The refs hated him, the ncaa hated him, the conferences hated him, opposing teams hated him. It was great! His wit, his charisma, how many b-ball coaches have books full of his sayings? I wouldn't recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house, if the waitress's ankles are dirty, the chii has got to be good....what a guy! Probably the last guy to smack(legend has it) one of his own players and get away with it. He left us too soon
Quote from: rocket surgeon on January 26, 2016, 03:30:09 PM
Al was truly ONE OF A KIND. The refs hated him, the ncaa hated him, the conferences hated him, opposing teams hated him. It was great! His wit, his charisma, how many b-ball coaches have books full of his sayings? I wouldn't recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house, if the waitress's ankles are dirty, the chii has got to be good....what a guy! Probably the last guy to smack(legend has it) one of his own players and get away with it. He left us too soon
Know who else would hate him? The guy who calls Lens, Tower, Goose and others the "Just Win Baby" crowd.
Seashells and balloons, Al.
I think i posted this last year but I moved from the East Coast to KC in '96 and after Al's passing i got condolence notes in the mail from 4 or 5 East Coast friends. I honestly didn't comprehend his impact until that day - he left a huge footprint.
The Marquette we have today is in no small measure due to Al.
In my time, we were noticed because of Al and his basketball team. Did people attend MU because of our basketball team? Probably not, but Al's team and his commitment to excellence caused people to take a second look.
Our teams were black and white when in many parts of the country, only white would do. Our ability to destroy teams with strong defense and tough, hard playing basketball ultimately became the catalyst for hundreds of universities to change long-held bigotry.
Al's attitude -- arrogant and obnoxious -- defined us as a university. It really did.
Look around today. The buildings. The campus improvements. The stature of Marquette. In no small part due to McGuire money -- the alumni support that came in the 1970s and 1980s because of Al and his basketball program. Without the basketball program, I can only imagine what Marquette would be.
Al was our's for a lot of years. I never knew the man but I admired what he did for us and he was someone I looked up to from a very young age.
Spent 45 minutes with him in 1978, just him and I. Must admit it was one of the those amazing moments, when you finally walk out and realize you spent 45 minutes
with a basketball genius. Might not have known the x's and o's but understood the mental part of the game. The one thing he admitted is that if he new he was going
to win it all in 1977, he never would have quit. Think of Mark Aquirre, Teddy Cummings, Isiah Thomas and Scooter and Rodney McCray, they would have all gone to MU.
To bad. If the money was like it was today, he would never have left.
Living in Jersey with a lot of relatives and friends in the NYC area, all of them would remark, "Marquette, huh? Gonna go hang out with Al McGuire?" after I told them where I was attending college. While I was there during the O'Neill era, he'd occasionally call the office to tell Kevin he was taking his car out from the 1212 building, and KO would just shake his head. Had the privilege of sitting next to him on press row for a game shortly after graduating and we were breaking down plays as they happened and it got to the point he diagrammed one for me on a napkin when Hutchins was breaking down Cincinnati on a 1-4 set. Truly an original and missed.
Al still would still have left. Could have pulled back on his decision but he was a citizen of Tap City. He was bored and was ready to try his next careers as an executive and broadcaster. He made $$$ at all his careers, btw, including as barkeep.
Bernard "Looney" Toone was his Dunkirk.
#nontraditional
Quote from: HoopsterBC on January 26, 2016, 10:37:47 PM
If the money was like it was today, he would never have left.
People might not realize it but that is why Al left.
When he tried to leave for a better salary from the Bucks the University held him to his contract. He made a comment about how Jesuits took vows of poverty and expected others to live the same way.
Quote from: rocket surgeon on January 26, 2016, 03:30:09 PM
Probably the last guy to smack(legend has it) one of his own players and get away with it. He left us too soon
I'm a big Al fan, but I don't know if this is a reason to applaud him.
Also, it depends upon one's definition of "smack." Bobby Knight choked Neil Reed many, many years later and was not fired. Dean Wormer did put him on double-secret probation, though, and he ended up being fired for a lesser offense -- slamming a non-hoopster up against a wall.
No doubt Bobby should have been canned after the choking -- and there probably should have been charges filed, too. If I were Neil Reed's dad, I would have kicked that bellicose bully's ass -- the only language he understood.
Quote from: MU82 on January 26, 2016, 11:05:36 PM
I'm a big Al fan, but I don't know if this is a reason to applaud him.
Also, it depends upon one's definition of "smack." Bobby Knight choked Neil Reed many, many years later and was not fired. Dean Wormer did put him on double-secret probation, though, and he ended up being fired for a lesser offense -- slamming a non-hoopster up against a wall.
No doubt Bobby should have been canned after the choking -- and there probably should have been charges filed, too. If I were Neil Reed's dad, I would have kicked that bellicose bully's ass -- the only language he understood.
i don't think i brought that incident up as a reason to applaud him, but rather to add an antidote that would more or less describe part of who al was. everyone knows al was not a mean or visious guy. remember, this incident needs to be kept in perspective-1977-what goes on in the locker room, stays in the locker room, i'm the coach, my rules, etc.... that is until it becomes part of the bigger story. the incident, as it has been retold, was far from a choking or chair throwing...this was more in the heat of the battle type of thing, no one was hurt, bernard obviously stuck around, it was a real teaching moment, heyna?
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=716836488428837&id=522393924539762&substory_index=0
and besides, WE WON!! ;D ;D
Quote from: rocket surgeon on January 27, 2016, 07:24:01 AM
i don't think i brought that incident up as a reason to applaud him, but rather to add an antidote that would more or less describe part of who al was. everyone knows al was not a mean or visious guy. remember, this incident needs to be kept in perspective-1977-what goes on in the locker room, stays in the locker room, i'm the coach, my rules, etc.... that is until it becomes part of the bigger story. the incident, as it has been retold, was far from a choking or chair throwing...this was more in the heat of the battle type of thing, no one was hurt, bernard obviously stuck around, it was a real teaching moment, heyna?
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=716836488428837&id=522393924539762&substory_index=0
and besides, WE WON!! ;D ;D
What's wrong with throwing a chair? Al probably threw dozens more than Bobby, yet Bobby gets all the publicity.
Quote from: Benny B on January 27, 2016, 07:36:46 AM
What's wrong with throwing a chair? Al probably threw dozens more than Bobby, yet Bobby gets all the publicity.
i'll go with that and chair throwing probably burns off a lot of extra stress that could have otherwise been directed physically at a player. next time ya see a coach getting all steamed, hand him a chair...here ya go coach-give 'er hell across the gym, say a little more in that direction toward the wall der hey
Quote from: dgies9156 on January 26, 2016, 10:30:10 PM
The Marquette we have today is in no small measure due to Al.
In my time, we were noticed because of Al and his basketball team. Did people attend MU because of our basketball team? Probably not, but Al's team and his commitment to excellence caused people to take a second look.
Our teams were black and white when in many parts of the country, only white would do. Our ability to destroy teams with strong defense and tough, hard playing basketball ultimately became the catalyst for hundreds of universities to change long-held bigotry.
Al's attitude -- arrogant and obnoxious -- defined us as a university. It really did.
Look around today. The buildings. The campus improvements. The stature of Marquette. In no small part due to McGuire money -- the alumni support that came in the 1970s and 1980s because of Al and his basketball program. Without the basketball program, I can only imagine what Marquette would be.
Al was our's for a lot of years. I never knew the man but I admired what he did for us and he was someone I looked up to from a very young age.
Actually, I knew numerous kids that did post-Al. Couldn't agree more on Al's effect.
Marquette basketball is the most significant marketing tool the University has. That cannot be forgotten.
Quote from: dgies9156 on January 26, 2016, 10:30:10 PM
The Marquette we have today is in no small measure due to Al.
In my time, we were noticed because of Al and his basketball team. Did people attend MU because of our basketball team? Probably not, but Al's team and his commitment to excellence caused people to take a second look.
When I was going to the college fairs in CT in 1978 I definitely stopped at the Marquette booth based on recognition of the basketball team. I subsequently met with a recruiter, etc. and eventually matriculated, as did a friend of mine. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have stopped at the booth had I not recognized the school name from basketball. So while I couldn't say exactly that I went to Marquette because of the basketball team, I'm very certain I wouldn't have gone there without it.
Without basketball, Marquette would be John Carroll or Regis.
Both are fine schools, but they aint Marquette.
Quote from: The Sultan of Sunshine on January 27, 2016, 09:20:39 AM
Without basketball, Marquette would be John Carroll or Regis.
Both are fine schools, but they aint Marquette.
Exactly. The "Just Be Somewhat Competitive" crowd doesn't get this.
As a teenager living in Connecticut, I never would have heard of Marquette if not for the basketball team.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on January 27, 2016, 09:32:41 AM
Exactly. The "Just Be Somewhat Competitive" crowd doesn't get this.
Amen. Al was a winner through and through and he put the Warriors on the map. Unfortunately the last few years there seems to be a lot of fans who are content with simply being competitive. I'm not ok with simply competing enough in the Big East to get an NCAA tourney bid. Marquette should be competing for Big East AND national championships. The last few years during this rebuilding phase have been tough for everybody. I sure hope Wojo can get the Warriors back on track to the point where we can do something only Al has done. The DePaul loss last week was Fn brutal, but the program will see brighter days. It starts with tonight.
JUST WIN BABY!
P.s. Maybe Wojo needs to start recruiting kids, like Al, with cracked sidewalks. This team desperately needs some toughness that we're lacking.
Quote from: MU82 on January 27, 2016, 09:44:47 AM
As a teenager living in Connecticut, I never would have heard of Marquette if not for the basketball team.
Ditto.
Lenny
First, Al was the best and we are beyond lucky to have enjoyed that period in time. I really feel blessed. Think it is very cool that you drove up for the service and saw the gang. I just saw Jackie Burke a couple of months at my nephew's wedding. He is also one of a kind.
That period of time created a monster in me. Al made winning look easy and I hate losing more now than ever.
I was pretty clueless when I was graduating from HS and hadn't done anything in terms of thinking about your future, picking a school that matches your goals, etc. But I was enamored with the whole mystique surrounding Al and the greatness of the BBall program. I can honestly say I chose to attend MU based on that alone - I had no idea what programs the school actually offered. Wouldn't trade it for anything though, best 4 years of my life. Thanks, Al.
That said, I must comment on the following:
Quote from: Al Davis on January 27, 2016, 10:10:31 AM
P.s. Maybe Wojo needs to start recruiting kids, like Al, with cracked sidewalks. This team desperately needs some toughness that we're lacking.
I think Al would be very pleased with who Wojo is recruiting because he goes after kids who know how to play, who know how to put the ball in the basket (Al had a few teams that weren't great outside shooters either) as opposed to 'projects with potential'. The NY playgrounds that were Al's recruiting domain aren't what they used to be, with the best players hitting the AAU circuit in the summer or attending these specialized basketball factory boarding schools. And the 'toughness' that Al's team's displayed had as much to do with Al pushing the right buttons and being the incredible motivator he was than anything else. Give Wojo a chance to do the same. I look at his freshman class and I see guys who already know how to play but are just lacking in maturity and D1 game experience. Al was not a big fan of playing freshmen unless they were studs like Butch and Bo were. He was a strong advocate of the "Senior Star System". Let Wojo establish his own system - my gut says we're going to like the results.
Quote from: Al Davis on January 27, 2016, 10:10:31 AM
P.s. Maybe Wojo needs to start recruiting kids, like Al, with cracked sidewalks. This team desperately needs some toughness that we're lacking.
It's lack of experience. Not their background.
Quote from: Al Davis on January 27, 2016, 10:10:31 AM
Unfortunately the last few years there seems to be a lot of fans who are content with simply being competitive. I'm not ok with simply competing enough in the Big East to get an NCAA tourney bid.
You're not OK. Great. What are you gonna do about it? Go root for Notre Dame or Wisconsin?
See ya. It's been real.
Quote from: MU82 on January 27, 2016, 11:21:32 AM
You're not OK. Great. What are you gonna do about it? Go root for Notre Dame or Wisconsin?
See ya. It's been real.
lol why would I go root for them? I hate those schools. I'm saying Marquette should strive for National championships, as every high major program does.
Just win baby.
Al brought a dynamism and genius that could never be replicated . We were truly a blue blood . His star shined so
bright we are still benefitting from it today . We are an elite University today which is truly
a lasting legacy of Al.
Quote from: Marquette Fan In NY on January 27, 2016, 05:13:00 PM
Al brought a dynamism and genius that could never be replicated . We were truly a blue blood . His star shined so
bright we are still benefitting from it today . We are an elite University today which is truly
a lasting legacy of Al.
What is even more remarkable with all his roots in the New York area, Marquette and Milwaukee was where his heart was and called home.
Quote from: Al Davis on January 27, 2016, 10:10:31 AM
Amen. Al was a winner through and through and he put the Warriors on the map. Unfortunately the last few years there seems to be a lot of fans who are content with simply being competitive. I'm not ok with simply competing enough in the Big East to get an NCAA tourney bid. Marquette should be competing for Big East AND national championships. The last few years during this rebuilding phase have been tough for everybody. I sure hope Wojo can get the Warriors back on track to the point where we can do something only Al has done. The DePaul loss last week was Fn brutal, but the program will see brighter days. It starts with tonight.
JUST WIN BABY!
P.s. Maybe Wojo needs to start recruiting kids, like Al, with cracked sidewalks. This team desperately needs some toughness that we're lacking.
Nicely done!! These are all so damn good!!
http://postmarq.tumblr.com/post/9919648924/al-mcguire-quotes-from-a-to-z
Quote from: dgies9156 on January 26, 2016, 10:30:10 PM
The Marquette we have today is in no small measure due to Al.
In my time, we were noticed because of Al and his basketball team. Did people attend MU because of our basketball team? Probably not, but Al's team and his commitment to excellence caused people to take a second look.
Our teams were black and white when in many parts of the country, only white would do. Our ability to destroy teams with strong defense and tough, hard playing basketball ultimately became the catalyst for hundreds of universities to change long-held bigotry.
Al's attitude -- arrogant and obnoxious -- defined us as a university. It really did.
Here I thought the Marquette we have today was all Tom Crean's doin', ai na?
Look around today. The buildings. The campus improvements. The stature of Marquette. In no small part due to McGuire money -- the alumni support that came in the 1970s and 1980s because of Al and his basketball program. Without the basketball program, I can only imagine what Marquette would be.
Al was our's for a lot of years. I never knew the man but I admired what he did for us and he was someone I looked up to from a very young age.
I went back to this site to read these entries...lots of great stories about Al. I particularly liked this one when I revisited here. Let's Go Warriors!
http://www.marquette.edu/mcguire/jan2001.html
QuoteName: rich terry
E-mail: richterry@mindspring.com
City/State: austin, texas
Date: Monday, April 23, 2001 at 17:55:48
Message:
I know this is coming a little late, but I wanted to express my own sense of loss that came with Coach McGuire's passing. I grew up in north Texas, a far cry from Milwaukee or Marquette, in a football town called Wichita Falls. I was a pudgy kid with not a lot of friends and a dad that was never around much. When I was 12 or 13, I ran across a story about the Warriors and their crazy coach in Sports Illustrated. Something about the man's honesty, integrity and passion for the game and his family struck a chord with me. I started playing basketball because of Al McGuire that year and found I was actually pretty good. I sent away for an old Marquette game jersey (which I still have) and wore it on the playground constantly. I had a Marquette sticker on my first car, a '72 Skylark, when I turned 16. I even made my folks stop off in Milwaukee to see the university during a summer trip to Illinois. I even walked on at TCU and played there for two years in the early 80's and those years are still some of the best memories of my life. All of thisI know sounds eccentic, but what Al gave me was basketball. And the game gave me self-esteem, confidence and friends. It gave me a place in this world to call my own. When Al won the national championship I cried. When Al retired, I cried. When Al passed away this year...at 41 years old...I cried. I never met the man, and he never knew I existed. But even from thousands of miles away what Coach McGuire instilled in me is still a part of me. It always will be. And hopefully I can pass on what I learned from him to my kids. Great men may die. But who they were never does. I'll never forget him.
I was able to work with the man on the Marquette Basketball Television Network, our own 10 game package that we bought time for on channel 18 and 24 back in the day. I'll never forget it. Extremely fortunate at the opportunity and the memories.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 02, 2016, 09:43:04 PM
I was able to work with the man on the Marquette Basketball Television Network, our own 10 game package that we bought time for on channel 18 and 24 back in the day. I'll never forget it. Extremely fortunate at the opportunity and the memories.
Favorite story?