By Paul Gotham
****Remember. Try to answer this without research.****
My college basketball career was interrupted two years for the Korean War. Back in those days, that kind of thing happened. When I returned, we went to the NIT Finals. That was when the NIT meant something. For my efforts, I was taken third overall in the NBA Draft. Of course, they always remind me that there was a territorial pick that year.
You would think more people would know the third pick in the draft, but most hoops fans know my sons before they know me. I had three boys that played college ball. Two went on to the NBA. Combined we scored over 17,000 points in the Association. They trumped me pretty good though. I contributed a little more than 1,000 to that total. But I can still hold my draft status over their heads. They were taken a little later. One was the 12th pick, the other 19th.
Back in my time there wasn’t as much money to be made in the NBA. I made more selling insurance.
My one son went to my alma mater. We made that Marianist school proud. Like I said, I helped them to the NIT Finals. The son also helped the school to the NIT. He was part of the team that upset the ‘Louie and Bouie Show’ when they were No. 5 in the nation. He brought the school some recognition that set the foundation for a run to the Elite Eight.
My other son? Well, he went to another catholic university. He’s got enough rings to share with the whole family.
Who am I?
**** I will post the answer later tonight. This will give everyone a chance to work on it and wager a guess.
Three sons? I’ll go out on a limb here and say Fred McMurray.
I know it’s wrong, but I had little sleep, and went for the cheap laugh.
I don’t think he is old enough but Rick Barry?
Never mind Korean War..I’m dumb again..
I’m thinking it’s the Paxson boys from Kettering, OH. Jim played for Dayton, younger John played for Notre Dame (was a senior when I was a frosh) and then he won those rings with the Chicago Bulls during MJ and Scottie’s first of two 3-peats. And I’m pretty sure their Dad played for Dayton. Final answer.
I’m trying not to see anyone else’s answers here. I have to say Paxson.
I see Wally and I agree. And while I couldn’t remember all the specifics, that was my analysis as well. Good job Alaska!
When you are at the home page, the leader reads “A good pass is as good as a shot.” Does that appear in the actual post? It had me thinking Cousy until I read about “my three sons”.
Thanks, Pete. I thought you’d beat me to it but I see I was in under the wire.
Smitty — were you thinkin’ Vietnam War initially? That was good entertainment 🙂
Yes! We got the hand grenade version of being correct today. The elder Paxson’s name was…Jim Paxson Sr.
As an aside the elder Paxson was taken in the 1956 draft – the same draft that we discussed in an earlier WAI. Now we know who was taken before and directly after Bill Russell. What was that guy’s name taken before Russell?
Pete – great catch on the ‘good pass’ quote. I edited this post and forgot to make the change in the excerpt box. I love the quote. Found it while researching in this article: https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1094470/index.htm
Check out the reference to Maurice Stokes in the above article.
Guess I will have to table Cousy for a much later WAI. 🙂
Other things – the Holy Cross order runs Notre Dame. Jesuits run Xavier, Gonzaga, and Georgetown – to name a few, and the Marianists run Dayton. Is this heaven? No, it’s Dayton.
As Wally astutely noted, John Paxson made a living in the NBA spotting up opposite Michael Jordan. How many rings did he get?
I vaguely remember Dayton beating Syracuse back in the 70s. I was an SU fan then. Roosevelt Bouie (from Kendall, New York) was awesome. He had the best hair in New York State.
Great discussion. Wally, thank you for showing us the thought process. Smitty – mentioning Rick Barry and the Barry family is not a bad thing. If this was about Barry, I might have mentioned something about his free throw shooting technique.
Wally? What the heck was that baseball post? The picture had nothing to do with Comiskey, and it distorted the front page. 🙂
Another interesting read about the Paxson family: https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120626/index.htm
Casey —
The picture was an on-field action shot of the big exploding scoreboard … i’m not sure what you’re talking about. Apparently, something must’ve blown up.
Should I try to repost it?
Your question about John Paxson’s rings … I’m gonna say he only got two … in title years 2&3. In title year 1, I believe the Bulls outside bomber was Craig Hodges/BJ Armstrong. In title years 4-6, the trey blaster was Steve Kerr. I could look it up, but that’s no fun.
I looked it up. Paxson played with the Bulls from ’85-’94 – three rings. “He’s got enough rings to share with the whole family” – borders on hyperbole.
That picture came out as something from a horror film.
Was John Paxson part of the Gary Brokaw-led Irish team that ended the 88 game win streak of The Big Redhead and The Wizard of Westwood in 1975? I’m going to look that one up, but I believe he was a freshman that year. If true, his NBA ring and that college accomplishment make him one of the most “accomplished” non-superstars in basketball history. And, like his father before him, he appreciated the good pass.
Paxson was not a frosh until 1979-80. He did help ND upset Mark Aguirre and #1 DePaul (25-0 coming in) that season, but that was his participation in streak breaking. Gee, Wally, you are so darn young (compared to this old man)!