By Paul Gotham
I was taken in the seventh round of the N.B.A. draft. You read that right. The draft used to be more than two rounds. My rookie year I had teammates who played in the Pac-8 and Big Ten. Some might have suggested I did not belong because I spent my college days playing in the SUNYAC.
Actually, I could have also played professional soccer. I scored 40 goals during the three years of my college career. I was a three-sport All-American athlete. I ran track along with playing basketball and soccer. I set an NCAA record in the triple jump at 52′ 1 1/4″.
My professional basketball home was not far from where I played college. I proved to be ‘The Brave’ as I became the NBA’s original ‘Iron Man’. During my 12-year career I scored over 16,000 points and grabbed more than 3,500 rebounds. I still rank in the top 50 for steals per game. I was an all-star game MVP one year. Who am I?
Ernie DiGregorio ??
A good guess, but…there is a better answer.
Randy Smith ?
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Randy Smith it is. Smith played college ball at D3 Buffalo State and established the consecutive game streak when played 906 in a row. A,C. Green broke the record in 1997.
I had Randy Smith honest !!!!
Without looking at anyone else I am going to say Randy Smith, a college teammate of my friend and colleague for years at Spencerport schools, John Berardicurti.
I see I got it right, just waaay toooo late!
Joe – welcome to the Pine!
Pete – you are never late when you share your wisdom.
Wisdom?? Well at least let me share some stories.
First: Randy Smith. My friend was teammates with him in soccer. He told me that one day in practice Smith beat the entire team in a 40 yard dash. Soooo? Smith ran it BACKWARDS!
And Wally, thanks for the name Ernie DiGregorio. Just a memory from long ago. Back in the ’60s the NY Capital District (Albany area) ran a post-season boys BB tourney. Four all-star teams played, Capital District, WNY, Western PA, and New England. The year I went to watch, Ernie D was on the NE team. It was amazing how he dominated the tournament. What was he? 6″0, 6″1? But he was “head and shoulders above all other players”. WNY had an almost-7 footer named Bill Smith (Henrietta) and Ernie just dwarfed hin and everyone else. Since it was the “best of the best”, I was clearly impressed. I don’t think Ernie was the “athlete” that Randy Smith was, but on that court on that day he was a giant!
Okay – so maybe wisdom was not the correct word. History? Knowledge? Whatever it is thank you and keep it coming.
🙂