Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

Cavalier Alumni Game In the Books

Cavalier Basketball Alumni - 2010
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Whew! That sure was a lot of fun!

On the day that John Dzik lost his first game as head coach in over five years, 30 of his former players put on a heck of a show in the annual Cabrini Cavalier Alumni Game at the Nerney Fieldhouse in the Dixon Center.

The House That Dzik Built was busy all day as the women's Alumni Gmae kicked things off at 11am, followed by senior point guard Deana DiAmico leading the women's team to a 70-56 win over Marywood. The men kept things rolling as Kevin Misevicius became the 14th member of the 1,000-point and led the Cavs over Marywood 91-77. The win locked up home court advantage though the CSAC playoffs.

And then the old guys had their moment in the sun. John Mack kept us organized, Coaches Kelly and Keeley called the action from the table and the Blue squad topped Eric Tidwell's Gray squad 83-76 in OT. The game featured a ceremonial tip from Cabrini President Angelella George, some nice outside shooting, a few Laval Pickney dunks and a lot of griping about my 'coaching' from the blue squad.

In the end we all had a good time and I'm thankful that so many guys came out. Special appearances were made by former coaches Rob Rowe, Ken Schiller, Steve Harrow, Matt Alzamora, and Bob McTamney. Super fan Paul Engle was in the house as were the best managers ever, Kelly Gallagher and Phyllis Cohen. The thirty players brought a throng of moms and dads, friends, family wives, girlfriends and children. My son John loved the basketball, the humor, and the fellowship.

I've been involved in Cabrini hoops in one way or another since 1988. This year the folks at Cabrini got it right. The president was there an involved. The game was prime time. No more being ignored by the administration or relegated to a 9 am game. Joe Guinta and his staff, currents Cavs coach Marcus Kahn and the folks from the Mansion treated us well and I am here to say we appreciate it.

Coach Dzik had planned to be here this year, but when he had to take over the Piedmont women's program for the rest of the year, we had to do it without him. He's 6-1 as a women's coach this year and is enjoying things, but looking to turn the reins back over at the end of the year. I spoke to Coach last night as he licked his wounds from his first loss. "I still hate losing," he said. "Some things never change I guess."

He's right. Some things don't change. Coach Marcus Kahn has restored the program to respectability and a spot in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. We all loved seeing each other and telling old stories. Everyone on campus Saturday was a winner and no one go hurt. Now there's a good way to spend a day!

We come back because we enjoyed our time in the gym. We love the guys we played with and it's great to be involved in something that has endured over four decades now. We've got kids and busy lives, too much to do and too little time, but we still find a way to get back each year and keep it going. Because we're part of the chain and we need to honor the guys who play today as well as those who have gone on and can't any more.

Thanks to everyone who made the day great for us. A few photos from the day are up on my Flickr site. See ya next year!

Origins of The Madness

The Madness is upon us.  65 (now 64) teams will spend the next three weeks scratching and clawing their way toward a heavily modified Ford Field in Detroit for the 2009 edition of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Final Four. 

I generally think that today should be a national holiday. Office productivity will be at an annual low. Brackets will be on nearly every desk.  Water cooler conversation will for a brief period be diverted from American Idol.  Guys will slip away for slightly extended lunches.  Women who pick their brackets based on uniform colors will lead the pools by nightfall.

It's a colossus of television, athletics and marketing.  CBS does a masterful job bringing it all to us, and despite their ability to screw nearly everything else up, the NCAA gets this one perfect. First they get us enthralled in the week prior to the games by encouraging prognostications about who will just barely make it and who will be relegated to the NIT. 

Then they give us an orgy of conference championships that culminates in the 6 pm EDT Selection Sunday show featuring exultant invitees and petulant also-rans. That's followed by the pundits going over every detail of every team that made it and every shortcoming of those that didn't.  On Tuesday they feed us a game between the two worst teams in the brackets, allowing us just a taste of action that starts us salivating for the frenzy that will begin at noon today.

It's a monstrous pageant, almost excessive, but still so compelling that every year, regardless of whether my teams are in, I find a place to watch at 12 and tune in as often as I can over the next few weeks.

At its beginning though, the NCAA tournament was a small thing.  Nearly unheard of really, even in Philadelphia, the basketball-crazed town that hosted the first March madness 70 years ago.  Mark Kram had a great article in the Daily News yesterday that shows just how humble the beginnings of this thing really were.

Enjoy the spectacle. 

And GO CATS GO!

Wow! What a Saturday

The windows are open, kids are playing ball in the back yard and it's warmer in Moorestown than it is in San Diego.  I finished a book on the back patio watching boys be boys while discovering that apparently mosquitoes are not just summer insects.  I think it's amazing actually!

Last night Another Delco Guy headed back to his roots and got a chance to catch Widener's first-round win over Virginia Wesleyan in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball tournament.  Widener used a number of different press defenses en route to the 74-66 win.  Charles Jones carried the Pride with 28 points, showing us all why he's the MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year. 

It's been a while since I was back on Widener's campus.  I worked there for 8 years in the 90s and spent a ton of time in the Schwartz Athletic Center.  Everything they've done to transform that facility makes it a true top-notch D3 venue.  traditionally the locker rooms were pretty gritty, and I didn't make it down to that level, but if they have been upgraded anything like the weight room, I am sure it's pretty plush.

Thanks to AD Jack Shaeffer, Coach Chris Carideo and assistants Bill Leahy and Ian Simon for their help last night.  They made me feel very much at home after all these years.  It was a lot of fun to do color analysis for the game along side a true pro, Pat Cummings.  I'm just sorry that the only reason I was on the air was Gordon Mann's family emergency. 

The Pride will take on Salem State tonight at Schwartz at 7 pm.  Salem State came off a rough loss last week to shut down Rochester Tech in the second half, loping to an 83-71 win to move to the second round. 

Tonight I'll be helping out Dave McHugh on the call as Richard Stockton College hosts Gwynedd Mercy College down in Pomona, NJ.  Stockton powered past RPI 79-65 last night as GMC stunned last year's national runner-up Amherst, 68-62, to set up the second round matchup.

Get out and enjoy the great weather.  I'll see you at the game!

D3 National Champs

  Confetti Rains Down 
  Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

I've uploaded a batch of photos from my recent trip to Salem, Virginia to call the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship weekend.

The photos are here.  And some reflections on what it's like to be a former coach returning to the site of a national Championship with out a team should be posted a bit later tonight.

Wash U Rocks Amherst

As Sweet Caroline plays over the sound system at the Salem Civic Center, The Washington University Bears celebrate their first Men's Basketball National Championship. They downed the Amherst Lord Jeffs 90-68 in a game they dominated from the tip.

Tournament MVP Troy Ruths had 33 points in the victory while Fletcher Walters had 17 for the losers.

Wash U Storms Out

It's been all Wash U so far in the NcAA Division III Men's basketball Championship here in Salem as the Bears  lead  16-8 with 14:36 left in the first half.

From the Hotel Roanoke

It's a beautiful morning in the Roanoke Valley of Southwest Virginia. I'm relaxing with a bit of room service in my beautifully renovated room at the Hotel Roanoke.  Ran into some good folks from Philly last night including the McGarveys from Ursinus and former St. Joe's coach John Griffin.  We watched Villanova storm back and stun Clemson (and me) last night.

Coach Griffin will be on the call for CSTV for today's Division III Men's Basketball Championship game.  we exchanged noted on the Amherst-Wash U matchup and reminisced a bit about his days leading the Hawks.  Thanks to Coach Paige Moir and all the great folks at Roanoke College for the great post-game spread last night.

I'll be over at th Salem Civic Center most of the day.  Catch all the action at D3hoops.com!

Amherst in A Romp

It was close for a half, but Amherst College used size and speed to dominate the Ursinus Bears and move on to the Divison III MEN'S BASKETBALL National Championship game 84-58 here in Salem.

The Lord Jeffs were led by Andrew Olson who scored a triple double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The Bears were led by John Noonan with 18 points.

Live From The Final Four

-----Original Message----- From: Chris Pesotski

Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 2:57 PM To: Typepad

Subject: Live From The Final Four

I am here on the floor of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Final Four The pre game show is bout to get under way and then it's Amherst vs. Ursinus followed by Hope against Washington U in the nightcap.

It's been a good day so far since landing where in Dixie. I stopped in Martinsville on the way up and actually got to walk on the track as they set up for next week's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Here in Salem I helped the folks at D3hoops.com finalize the All-American teams and now we're ready for some live action!

Bobby Knight Retires

  Bobby Knight 
  Originally uploaded by dearth85

It came as a shock to me tonight when my brother Matt texted me simply, "Bobby Knight Resigned." 

The ESPN story says a lot, but it doesn't say it all.  He won more games (902) than anyone else, but he did it in a way that created controversy as well as excellence.  He was the best X and O coach ever, but often had to do it without the top level player.

His legendary temper may have driven some of the best players away, but he had the ability to raise the level of everyone around him by simply demanding more that anyone ever had or ever would again.  His mouth got him run out of Indiana.  He ended his career in Lubbock, Texas, having put Texas Tech on the basketball map.

Tonight he walks away from all of that, handing his legacy over to his son and long-time assistant Pat.  The younger generation Knight is a softer rendition of his legendary father.  He coaches in a quieter way, hardly causes a stir in the press room, won't ever throw a chair or take a swing at a cop.

Pat Knight now steps out of his legendary father's shadow.  I only hope his father can live without the glare of the lights and the roar of the crowd.

A Good Time Had By All

Over 100 Cabrini College Cavaliers, family,friends and faithful gathered yesterday at the Nerney Fieldhouse in The Dixon Center on the beautiful campus of Cabrini College for the annual Cavalier Alumni Basketball Game.  More then 35 former Cavs participated in the game, as Coach Keeley's Blue Squad stormed back for a 68-66 victory over my White Squad.

Current Cavalier coach Greg Herenda welcomed everyone to the game and served as a gracious host all day long.  Coach Kelly read a letter from Coach Dzik, who was supervising the festivities as the Peidmont Lions took on Maryville in Demorest, GA.  Also missing was one of the original Cavaliers and great Cabrini benefactor, Tom Nerney, who was down with pneumonia.  Doctor Romano made a surprise appearance and was warmly received.  Doc Girard also made a pre-retirement appearance.

Our thoughts were especially with the Dailey family who lost their son Jeff tragically this year.  Jeff was remembered by his former teammates with a special on our alumni game shirts.   We're also thinking about former Cabrini great Tim Anderlonis as he ships out to Iraq with his Marine unit.  We missed you guys!

Despite the important absences, the game was spirited and played at a good pace, despite several players claiming "colds" and sporting red faces.  Cavs came from far and near, and both experience and youth were well-served.  Beef and Sticks were standouts in the "plus 40" crowd, while point guards Kris Pittman and Coach Saleem Brown distributed the ball well to the shooters all afternoon.

After the alumni dragged their tired butts to the buffet, Coach Bobbi Morgan's women's version of the Cavaliers pounded the Immaculata College Mighty Macs 69-41.  In a well-played game, junior Brittany McLeod led the team with 16 points and 5 rebounds.

The women's game was a harbinger of things to come as Coach Herenda's men's squad came back from an early deficit to stun PAC Conference leader Immaculata, 69-59.  Senior leadership was a key to the Cavs' intensity as Randy Reid and Bruce MacClelland both tallied double figures in points and rebounds.

The Cavs faithful made a quick stop at Christopher's on North Wayne before heading to the Official After-Party at J.D. McGillicuddy's in Ardmore.   Nearly 200 Blue and White faithful packed the second floor party room, feasting on excellent roast beef, mannicotti and not-so-hot wings.  The beer and wine were flowing and I didn't see a sad face all night.  Among the party-only people were Jim (I gave you a parking ticket??) Iacavino, Tim Feeney, Jimmy Welde, Tom Egan, Rob Uff and about 100 others.

It was great to see everyone out for both the game and the party.  Special thanks go out to Coach John Mack, who ran the show so well.  Also to everyone at Cabrini, especially Coaches Herenda and Morgan, who welcomed us back and really "get" what it means to be part of the winning tradition that IS Cabrini Cavalier Basketball.  Thanks also to everyone, especially superfan Paul "WolfPAC" Engle, who tolerated my very excited son John who really loved everyone's welcome to the Cavalier family.

Photos from the game are up HERE.  Enjoy!

The First Basket

Today the NBA, and basically all of basketball, is dominated by black athletes.  For anyone younger than say 35, it has always been this way in their memory.  So it's pretty hard to imagine that the dawn of the NBA was dominated by short Jewish guys.  In fact, much of the history of basketball until roughly the mid-1950s was centered on Jewish players and coaches.

Did you know that Red Auerbach was Jewish?  That there are dozens of Jewish players and coaches in the Basketball Hall of Fame?  That a largely-Jewish series of teams at CCNY and LIU were a major college basketball powers of the 40s and 50s?

I might have known some of this in the vaguest of senses, as I hail from the town that spawned the greatest Jewish basketball team of all time, the South Philadelphia Hebrew All Stars (SPAHS), but it had been pushed to the back recesses of my mind by the high-flying acrobatics of today's NBA, and even college and high school game.

And then I had the chance to go to the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival's presentation of filmmaker David Vyorst's 86 minute documentary "The First Basket" on Monday night.   Vyorst did a wonderful job weaving together vintage black and white footage of mid-20th century hoops games, modern day interviews of many of the major Jewish players of the 40s and 50s, as well as contextual material on basketball, the Settlement House movement and Jewish-American history.  The film is richly narrated by actor Peter Reigert, who lends his nasal Bronx accent to the images.

The title of the film derives from the fact that the first basket in NBA history was scored by a Jewish player, Ossie Schectman on November 1, 1946 as the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Huskies 68-66 at Maple Leaf Garden in Toronto.   Yup, the first NBA game ever played was played before  7,090 confused Canadians in a hockey arena.    

Vyorst covers the men who made the NBA a force in American athletics, guys like south Philly's Eddie Gottlieb, who owned the SPAHS, the Philadelphia Warriors and ran the NBA into the 1960s.  He interviews Auerbach at length, who tells giant stories of little men though clouds of cigar smoke.  Vyorst spends a great deal of time detailing the accomplishments of Nat Holman, the Hall of fame coach of the CCNY Beavers at their heyday.  He also talks to about a dozen Jewish superstars of the 50s, many who animated re-tell the best stories of the glory days of their youth.  Their stories really carry the film and it was sad to note that several of them passed on before the film was completed. 

The film is a touch New York-centric, though it covers Philly ball a good bit.  There is an inexplicable 15 minutes devoted to basketball in Isreal, which seems a late appendage rather far from the core of the movie.  The Jewish-dominated points shaving scandals of the early 1950s are covered, though briefly.  The later scandal involving Jack Molinas is ignored completely.  David Stern appears, but with little context and one is left to wonder  who he is and why he is there.

All in all it's a very good film, but one is left wondering if Vyorst was making a feel-good film about the heyday of Jewish athletics in America or a true documentary.  It ends up feeling a lot more like the former.   It's a good film that deserves wider attention, and should be seen in the context of the contributions that the profiled pioneers made to today's game, and also a commentary on how much has changed.  Today there isn't a single Jew in the NBA, CCNY is a mediocre team competing among the worst of the Division III teams and LIU is an is a shadow of its former self on the D1 scene.

I'd like to thank my good friend Bob Arrow, the coordinator of the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival for the opportunity to see the screening of "The First Basket."  Bob recently announced that he will shortly retire from his posting at the PJFF of the last six years.  I wish him all the best!

Friday Fantastic Four

To celebrate the beginning of the football season, we have a sport-related list today. 

What are your four favorite sports events? 

For example – in 1983 when I hit a home run off Suzy Sample to win the Kidde Kup World Series or the 2003 Daytona 500 or whatever.

1. Taking the kids and GF to Yankee Stadium in 2006.  Yanks lost, but John was enthralled
2. Game 5, 1993 World Series - Schilling beats the Blow Jays 2-0.  Bryen O'Boyle and I sit in the 700 Level and drink lots of beer, later falling asleep in the parking lot.
3. 1997 1998 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Baskeball Championship - Cabrini beats Allentown Alvernia to cut the nets down in the last game ever at Sacred Heart Hall.
4. 1985 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship - Villanova plays the perfect game and downs the vaunted Hoyas 66-64 on April Fool's Day.

Ditto

I was about halfway through writing a diatribe about the Phillies shitting the bed yesterday afternoon and how happy I am that football season is starting tonight before I noticed my brother's post over at the700level.com.

He said it all and better than me, so I will shut up now.

Except to say that I'm taking my fantasy QB Drew Brees and the Saints to win outright tonight over the Colts. 

A Sad Passing

  Steve Nash and Eddie Griffin 
  Originally uploaded by Fashionable Male

Somehow we all knew that it would eventually end like this for Eddie Griffin.  Maybe the details of his death were not set in stone, but somehow you knew that his life would be tragically short, and that we would read of his violent passing in the paper one day.

Griffin was a wonder on the basketball court at Roman Catholic.  6'10" with explosive speed and a nice outside jumpshot.  He wasn't afraid to mix it up inside either and was capable of domination against high schoolers as well as playground foes.

I remember seeing him steal the ball from an opponent going up for a shot in a summer league game, go around a defender, take it coast to coast and slam it home behind his back.  It was pure virtuosity.

All I could say was "Jesus!"  Coach Dzik sat beside me and just laughed.

But all was not well with Griffin.  Teammates didn't have much good to say about him.  There were rumors out of Roman of dark moments, a horrible temper.  His one season at Seton Hall was marred by an ugly locker room fight.

His NBA career never lived up to the potential.  There were car wrecks, problems with teammates and stays at Betty Ford and mental hospitals.  The Twolves cut him this year after finally deciding that it wasn't going to get any better.

The lights appeared to be going out on Eddie Griffin's life.  I remember thinking that maybe he would get it together this summer and play again, but it was not meant to be.

After medical examiners had to use dental records to identify his remains following the train wreck that ended his life, his lawyer spoke with uncharacteristic bluntness for an attorney:

"Eddie was a wonderful, gentle soul, but he was an alcoholic," Rusty Hardin, Griffin's attorney, told the Houston Chronicle. "Alcohol always got in the way. The one thing the Rockets didn't know and none of us knew was the extent of the problem. It's really tragic."

Alcohol and depression are a tragic combination.  They rob the world of great people every day.  My heart goes out to those who knew Eddie Griffin well and I hope they remember him as I do, smiling and laughing, giving teammates high fives after a summer league game.