By Paul Casey Gotham
****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you try to decipher the answer.
25 assists in a game. Did I spill the beans? Or, is that one of those records that doesn’t get talked about too much. And to think, I accomplished that in my rookie season. That record has been tied since, but not beaten. Dr. Jack loved me. I was his type of basketball player. As you might guess, I was first-team all-rookie and rookie of the year. I led the league in assists and helpers per game. I also led the league in free throw percentage as a rookie at 90.1 percent. I eclipsed that mark three years later at 94.5 percent. We lost to the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs in my rookie season. Two years later, after beating the 76ers, we fell again to the Green. I guess that was kind of tough because I was a kid from New England and all. Played my college ball there. I helped my college to the Final Four. I was a first-team All-American. I guess you could say I was a comet flashing through the sky. My career didn’t last too long in the pros- just five seasons. I spent most of my career playing for a team that moved across the country.
Who am I?
OK, that last one seems like a clue I can work with…a team that moved across country. And, since you lost to the Celtics twice in the playoffs, we must be talking about an Eastern Conference team. Is there an eastern team that switched to the west? Hmmm…..
OK, we must be talking about the Buffalo Braves/Los Angeles Clippers or New Orleans/Utah Jazz. I honestly can’t remember if the Jazz used to be in the Eastern conference or not.
I’m assuming it’s not the Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors, since I’m pretty sure they didn’t overlap with the 76ers in Philly.
Could be the Rochester Royals. They moved to Kansas City or St. Louis I believe before becoming the Sacramento Kings.
“I was a kid from New England and all. Played my college ball there. I helped my college to the Final Four. I was a first-team Al-American.” To me this is possibly the best clue. How many teams from “New England” have been to the Final Four? I’m thinking UConn and Providence. We’ll come back to this.
Dr Jack Ramsey … coached in the NBA for Buffalo and Portland. Won the title with Walton and the Blazers.
UConn is not known for great point guards and, I don’t know … is that state officially considered part of “New England”?? Great point guards to come out of Providence? And then play for Buffalo and/or Portland in the NBA. Probably Buffalo since they were in the East with Philly and Boston. Gotta hit the showers … will be back.
Ernie DiGregorio comes to mind first, only because of the New England kid comment. Let me mull this one some more.
Is the team Portland? Seattle? Did they move, or were those their original locations? GS Warriors moved from Philly. Still, no matter what team, no other player is coming to mind besides Ernie D. Looks like I’m going to others comments now.
Yes … Ernie DiGregorio! Played for Providence College team that went to F4 and obviously played for the Buffalo Braves. Pete … I second your nomination of Ernie D as this week’s answer to the WAI.
Are those the only two teams that Ramsey coached? I thought there were more…not like Larry Brown, but you know.
Nice job, guys. Yes, Wally, Connecticut is part of New England.
Well, Conn. may be part of New England, but my grandchildren are in South Dakota! Is that part of the lower 48?
I knew Ramsey coached Portland, but I did NOT remember that Buffalo became Portland (or that Ramsey coached Braves for that matter). How memory fades in old age!
On the other hand, I do have this memory. Back in the late 60s, the Albany NY area held a Spring tournament for HS all star teams. Connecticut was one of the teams, along with Massachusetts, Albany, and Western NY I believe. I was able to go see it in Ernie D’s senior year. He dominated the tournament despite his small stature (was he an exaggerated 6″1″?). Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson were my basketball idols at the time, and on that day Ernie earned my 3rd slot. He was magic on that court. I expect the experience I had that day was similar to what people had when they saw Pistol Pete; you just knew you were watching someone who was ahead of their time.
No, Pete … Buffalo did not become Portland. Jack Ramsey just changed jobs … and I believe the Buffalo Braves moved to San Diego and became the Clippers who are now of course in LA. Portland was a pure expansion team along with Seattle.
South Dakota is officially part of the “Upper Lower 48”. 😉
Or “Outer Lower 48”, like Outer Mongolia, or Siberia (or Alaska)! Dang, it’s cold in SD! Thanks for the clarification about Buffalo/Portland. I thought that Portland started in Portland, and I knew Buffalo went elsewhere, but forgot that it was SD/LA Clippers. Reminds me of the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals/Sacramento Kings. Sometimes those moves make you better, but most often they don’t.
Hard to believe that an NBA team couldn’t do well in or around Cincinnati these days. That whole southern Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky region is a hotbed of basketball with great college hoops tradition. And along with the Royals, they used to have the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels. I would think that if Columbus, OH could support an NHL franchise, they could certainly support an NBA team. Maybe the Kings should move back there? Just sayin …
I forgot to include Kansas City in the string of Royals moves. I was thinking – Kansas City Royals; that’s baseball. I forgot that when Royals went to KC that’s when they first took on name of Kings. Roceheter and Cincy were the only places where that franchise ever experienced some modicum of success. maybe they should move back to Cincy, though I understand that there is some debate as to whether the current Kings move at all. They are certainly an example of how moves usually result in decline. They have gotten worse with each move. Maybe if they kicked into reverse with the moves they could reverse the get-worse trend as well. Let’s start a campaign: BACK TO CINCY!
Or better yet; BACK TO ROCHESTER!
With all due respect and heartfelt appreciation for the GREAT people of Rochester … I just don’t think that would work out financially for the Kings. I’m assuming that you were either kidding or wishing, Pete … but if not, tell me why an NBA team would prosper there.
We are the “best minor league sports town” in the US. that’s as good as we get! NO major league sports team would thrive/survive here financially. And if we had an NBA team, I would never go anyway. I was just suggesting a way for the Kings to totally reverse their fortunes; in other words, my usual tongue-in-cheek!
Pete —
Did you notice that Austin Carr was enshrined in ND’s “Ring of Honor” the other day? (Long overdue). You don’t see many college players average 35 pts a game for their career like Carr did, esp before the 3 point basket. And he averaged a record 50 points per game in seven NCAA playoff games. Holy crap! His ND career slightly pre-dates my sports consciousness, so I missed seeing a great one. Thoughts or memories??
I was there the night Carr dumped in 46 and ND became the first bookend on UCLA’s 88 game win streak. The atmosphere was electric that night, and of course Carr was the main reason why. I also had a class with him, reproving to me that ND was and still is home to STUDENT ATHLETES. I can’t believe that it took this long for ND to honor him.
Pete in the wheel house! Ernie D. is the answer. As always, great discussion.