Butch Lee memory

[mug644]

Interesting story, and interesting that it was put up on a Duke site.

Anyway, cool to players recall Butch almost single-handedly leading Puerto Rico to victory over the US in the 1976 Olympics.

https://www.dukebasketballreport.com/2019/9/30/20889427/you-tube-gold-butch-lee-marquette-olympics-puerto-rico-dean-smith

[Skatastrophy]

I appreciate you sharing this. Great & quick read.

[oldwarrior81]

Lee's parents were from the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Flying to New York, his mother went into labor, the plane landed in Puerto Rico, and Alfred Jr was born.

The Puerto Rican team was coached by NBA coach Tom Nissalke, who passed away last month.  He was an assistant with the early Bucks teams with Lew and Oscar.

Nissalke joked that he built the Puerto Rican Olympic team by starting at 110th in Manhattan and walking north.  Every playground he passed he would yell out "Any of you guys Puerto Rican?"

[Herman Cain]

Butch Lee would still be a great player and first team All American in this era.

[tower912]

I enjoyed hearing the commentary from players from that particular game talking about how a PG on his game can control play.    It made me think of last March. 

[WarriorHal]

"At Marquette he won a national championship as a senior and left a major legacy."

Minor point but Butch was a junior in the 1976-1977 season.

The following season: Naismith College Player of the Year (1978) AP Player of the Year (1978) Adolph Rupp Trophy (1978) UPI Player of the Year (1978) Consensus first-team All-American (1978)

[DoggyDaddy]

Butch was truly great and so beautifully smooth in action. 
When Coach Al said it's Butch Lee time (BLT) no matter how many minutes remained in a tight game, the ball went to Butch's steady hands and the game was over.
He deserves to be a face on Marquette's Mt. Rushmore: Meminger, Lee, Wade, Howard. The latter of course, is still being chiseled.   

[Skatastrophy]

Butch was truly great and so beautifully smooth in action. 
When Coach Al said it's Butch Lee time (BLT) no matter how many minutes remained in a tight game, the ball went to Butch's steady hands and the game was over.
He deserves to be a face on Marquette's Mt. Rushmore: Meminger, Lee, Wade, Howard. The latter of course, is still being chiseled.   

If Howard never makes an NCAA run, I don't think he belongs.

[4everwarriors]

Haven't won game #uno yet, hey? #MMGA

[Goose]

Butch could flat out deliver the goods.

[JWags85]

If Howard never makes an NCAA run, I don't think he belongs.

Agreed.  Another season like last (team performance wise) and he's rich man's Tony Smith (and I say that as a huge Markus fan)

[oldwarrior81]

during a Roast of Butch, Al said his most difficult time in coaching was teaching Butch how to run without a toaster under his arm.

That's just dated in so many ways. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

I am always looking for that game on YouTube. As a kid, I remember being amazed at that performance...to the point I started to cheer for the USA to lose. I think that was the start of my love affair with MUBB.

[oldwarrior81]

A nice feature on Butch.  from playgrounds, to Marquette and Olympics, to the NBA and back to Puerto Rico.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsSajNZJeQc

[Herman Cain]

Haven't won game #uno yet, hey? #MMGA

Mt. Rushmore status goes to guys who took us deep in the tournament.
Meminger ( won NIT when it actually mattered)
Lee (Natty)
Ellis( Two Championship Games , One Natty)
Wade( Final Four)
Honorable Mention
Earl Tatum
Maurice Lucas

[harryp]

I have a copy of the SI after the title game with Butch Lee on the cover.
If interested send me an email at hfpeck@gmail.com. Tell me how interested
you are.

[Herman Cain]

I have a copy of the SI after the title game with Butch Lee on the cover.
If interested send me an email at hfpeck@gmail.com. Tell me how interested
you are.

Harry you sound like one of those ads they used to have in the Village Voice in the 70s. SWF seeking Mature WM for mutually beneficially relationship.

[warriorjoe]

Butch was recruited by then-Duke coach Bill Foster.
Foster told the higher-ups at Duke that he could get Butch to come to Durham.

During his recruitment of Butch, Foster made the mistake of telling that to Butch.

After Butch heard that, he wanted not part of Bill Foster or Duke.

Dean Smith was criticized for not inviting Butch to the U.S. Olympic Trials. Smith's response was that the players chosen had to be born in the United States and seniors the following fall. Butch would be a junior that fall, but there were players chosen who would be underclassmen that fall, one of whom was Phil Hubbard. The other was one of Smith's players, Phil Ford, who would also be an underclassmen in the fall.

Even with his one vote, four of Smith's Tar Heels were chosen for the U.S. squad, in addition to three other ACC players.

Smith also stated that he wanted Bo Ellis on the Olympic team. Bo was invited to try out. He went down to the tryouts with Al. Both Al and Deano watched as the players were required to run the mile. After the second lap, Bo ran into the locker room and that ended his shot at the Olympics.

But Al, Butch and Bo did get the last laugh.

Go Warriors!

Smith stated that he was just one vote in the selection process

[Lennys Tap]

Butch was truly great and so beautifully smooth in action. 
When Coach Al said it's Butch Lee time (BLT) no matter how many minutes remained in a tight game, the ball went to Butch's steady hands and the game was over.
He deserves to be a face on Marquette's Mt. Rushmore: Meminger, Lee, Wade, Howard. The latter of course, is still being chiseled.   

Markus isn't done yet, and he is a great player, but (for now at least), not even close. Thompson, Ellis and Lucas are miles ahead of him. He's also quite a way behind Chones and Tatum.

[harryp]

Herman -- I'll have to take your word for it, I never read those ads.

[MUHoopsFan2]

Markus isn't done yet, and he is a great player, but (for now at least), not even close. Thompson, Ellis and Lucas are miles ahead of him. He's also quite a way behind Chones and Tatum.

Great take Lenny....I would concur

[MUHoopsFan2]

Harry you sound like one of those ads they used to have in the Village Voice in the 70s. SWF seeking Mature WM for mutually beneficially relationship.

LMAO!

HEEHEEHEE....so true. Hilarious.

[WarriorDad]

Thank you for sharing this with everyone.

[Shooter McGavin]

Markus isn't done yet, and he is a great player, but (for now at least), not even close. Thompson, Ellis and Lucas are miles ahead of him. He's also quite a way behind Chones and Tatum.

Agreed Lenny.  Nice to have a program with tradition to root for that has had a laundry list of great college players.   Markus and the team need to do something special this season for him to comfortably take his place among the top Warriors.  I don't doubt that he can do it.   

[4everwarriors]

In the summer prior to Butch's sophomore year, I remember seeing him run daily to and from the Old Gym uphill to 16th and Wisconsin. Some days it had to be in the upper 80's with humidity. It seemed he did this endlessly and always while wearing a rubberized windbreaker. Small wonder Butch got better every year, was an All-American, and a first round draft choice, hey?