Category — Blasts From The Past

Writer Danny O’Neil searched in vain for Brian Bosworth, but he failed to find him. My how times have changed. It used to be Bosworth was everywhere.
Despite it, O’Neil writes a lengthy piece and rehashes how Bosworth created one of the more popular sports personas in the ’80s, then it started to crumble when Bo Jackson ran through him on an unforgettable touchdown run on Monday Night Football in 1987. Less than 3 years later, Bosworth would be out of the NFL.
O’Neil writes an excellent piece, but allow me to expand on some of it. For starters, O’Neil mentions many of the legal problems Bosworth has incurred recently, but he misses the DUI Bosworth got in L.A. in March 2009, when he got popped riding his Harley down Hollywood Boulevard.
There also is a classic story about Bosworth, who was then an All-American at OU, admitting to Sports Illustrated about his negligent work habits during his employment at the now-closed General Motors plant in Oklahoma City. People would have killed for those jobs, so you wonder how he got one. Right, right.
And of course he had a Corvette to boot.
No wonder Barry Switzer said here’s your hat when Bosworth decided to leave OU early. The list of transgressions were even more than the normally laid-back Switzer could tolerate. And there would be more idiots with similar and worst behavior at OU that would eventually lead to Switzer’s demise as coach.
But don’t mind me. I just couldn’t resist throwing in my 2 cents. It’s the copy editor in me and someone who enjoys retelling Sooner stories, especially the ones about the more colorful characters.
Regardless, O’Neil writes an outstanding piece even without Bosworth cooperating.
Seattle Times

Imagine the stories those 2 could tell.
I can still hear Whitey Herzog holding court in the cafeteria just off the press box at the Big A. “(Chuck) Finley ain’t going to win 20, (Mark) Langston ain’t going to win 20, your wife ain’t going to win 20,” Herzog told Gene Autry, the legendary owner of the Angels, one night about 20 years ago.
You could have fried bacon and eggs on the head of the simmering Jackie Autry, but the Cowboy just laughed and laughed as Herzog continued his standup routine. I laughed too. Though I tried to hold it, Herzog overheard me and looked over with a grin. “Like that young fella?”
On Sunday, Herzog will be inducted to the Hall of Fame. What took so long is beyond us, but even today, Herzog is still remembered as one of the best managers ever.
Post-Dispatch

I was there and it remains one of those sports moments frozen in my mind. Just freaking awesome.
Anaheim. ’89 All-Star Game. Bo Jackson is the lead-off hitter for the AL. I’m standing in Aisle 10 (with no ticket of course) on the Terrace Level chatting with friends and bragging how I slipped in free, sucking a cold one and keeping an eye on Bo. Bo was one of those rare athletes you never took your eye off for long because you knew he could do something special in the blink of an eye. On this day, he cranked one of the most memorable home runs in All-Star history.
When he launched it, everything stopped. Mouths dropped.
Two things struck me: One was watching the height of the home run because it carried as high in the air as the distance it traveled to straight-away center. The second thing was the buzz of the crowd in Angel Stadium after it happened. And the buzz continued for a good inning or so.
If you were there, you knew you had just seen something incredibly special. But that was Bo. Special delivery.
O.C. Register

Remember him? He became the light-heavyweight champion of the world by knocking out Marvin Johnson in 1979 before Dwight Braxton (who also converted to Islam and became Dwight Muhammad Qawi) took his title 2 years later.
Saad Muhammad is homeless now in Philly. It’s another sad tale of leeches taking advantage of a boxer during his heyday, whe he has money to burn, only to wind up broke and no where to go after his career.
Philly.com

He took Wimbledon by storm 25 years ago, when at 17, he won his 1st title at the tournament. He would went 2 more at Wimbledon and earn a page in the tourney’s storied history. But nothing was better than stunning the field and winning the title in 1985
N.Y. Times

One of the most memorable championships of the 15 the Lakers have won came in 1985, when for the first time in franchise history they beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. They also beat the Celtics for the title in 1987, but none was sweeter than the ’85 victory. Making it much more sweeter for L.A. fans was the Lakers winning the title on Boston’s famed parquet floor in the old Garden. Eight Hall of Famers played in the series and 2 more (Pat Riley and K.C. Jones) served as coaches.
O.C. Register

In the ’80s and ’90s, the former Arkansas coach was one of the best in college basketball. He led the Razorbacks to a national championship in ’94 and to the title game in ’95, when they were beaten by UCLA. Only once during the decade did Richardson’s teams fail to reach the Tournament. Three times the Razorbacks advanced to the Final 4.
It wasn’t like Richardson had great players either. Joe Johnson and journeyman Carlton Williamson are the only 2 to have any impact in the NBA.
But the nasty fallout in 2002 between Richardson, a member of the college basketball Hall of Fame, and then Arkansas AD Frank Broyles cost Richardson more than his job. Only 2 schools approached him after that, Richardson says, and neither were major powers.
He was blackballed. Blackballed for speaking out on issues regarding race and the NCAA double standards. But that’s just one of the double standards African American coaches put up with in college sports. Even Richardson, who compiled a 508-206 mark during his college career.
Richardson though surfaced this season as head coach of the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA. And it’s more than a coincidence that it was Richardson who gave Marion Jones a second chance.
Yahoo Sports

Though he isn’t ranked among the Top 50 NBA players, Bob McAdoo was one of the league’s best.
As far as scorers and shooters go, McAdoo was one of the league’s greatest. He averaged 22.1 points and 9.4 rebounds (and shot more than 50% during his career) in 14 seasons in the NBA. Equally impressive is that McAdoo is the last NBA player to average 30 points and 15 rebounds in a season. Image that. He accomplished that feat in his second year with the Buffalo Braves (now the Clippers) during the 73-74 season.
The 6-9 McAdoo, a first-round draft choice of the Braves in 1972 out of North Carolina, earned 3 scoring titles in his career. He won 2 rings with the Showtime Lakers in ’82 and 85. A Hall of Famer, McAdoo is an assistant coach with the Miami Heat.
Michael Tillery catches up with the NBA legend.
The Starting Five

Twenty-five years ago, George Plimpton wrote an April Fool’s Day feature for Sports Illustrated that had the sports world buzzing. Sidd Finch, who could throw a fastball almost 170 mph, according to legend, was the focus of Plimpton’s piece. Imagine what the outrageous reaction would be today, with all of the blogs and sports websites available.
Even now, the story remains a great read.
SI.com

There’s a reason the best point guards have come out of the John Calipari camp. Think about it: Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and now John Wall.
Rose was the NBA Rookie of the Year last year and Evans will get the honor this season. Wall, college basketball’s top point guard, is expected by many to be the top pick in the NBA draft later this year.
Though all three have played under Calipari, Rod Strickland is the one who teaches them the finer points of the position.
At one time, Strickland was one of the best point guards in basketball. He could shake and bake with the best of them. He also could be a head case. But that’s all behind the Kentucky assistant coach, who has been mentioned as a candidate for the DePaul job. Experience is the best teacher.
N.Y. Times