I share Ed's sadness at the passing of the legendary coach and announcer, Al
McGuire. One of my favorite Al McGuire stories, slightly related to running,
was when he told viewers how his PE instructor used to distinguish between
future basketball players and future football players. According to McGuire,
the teacher would take the lads out into a forest and have them run. The
ones who ran INTO the trees would play football, the ones who ran around the
trees he would choose for basketball. Another McGuire story, from his
coaching days: after criticizing a poor-shooting player, saying "he couldn't
throw the ball into Lake Michigan," the player called a press conference the
next day, drove some reporters down to the Lake, where he proceeded to throw
a ball in from the pier.
-Brian McGuire
<Netters:
I was saeened a few minutes ago to head of the death of Al McGuire,
who, while best known for his basketball exploits as player, coach and
commentator, had a onetime connectionm with our sport, of which more later.
I will always remember McGuire for two incidents that occurred
during Marquette's upset win over North Carolina at the NCAA chamapionships
(1976, I believe).
The firest occurred when the issue was very much in doubnt., The
star of North Carolina (can't recall the name, but it wasn't you know
who---he came along a few years later)--drove in for a shot and went
tumbling into the stands. Marquette got the ball and was hurrying it down
the coyurt for an apparent five on four possession when McGuire signalled
from the bench to slow the play down.
The NorthCarolina ace extricated himself from the fans, hurried back
up the court and play continued, five on five.
The second was at the game's end. With seconds to go and vbictory
assured this tough (and he was tough) guy from Brooklyn broke down in tears,
burying his head in his hands. later he said that all he could think of was
"all those CYO games, all those tiny gyms back in Brooklyn." This was a man
who n=[knew where he came from and loved every minute of it.
A lighter story or two from his broadcasting days. Once, he was
going a game at Georgetown (against Missouri, I think). For some reason,
this Sunday TV special was being played at the Hoyas' Mc Donogh gym rather
than the larger arena (pre-Landover) where it would normally have been
scheduled. McGuire commented "This is like playing Georgetown in a
confessional box."
Again during the early days of the 1980 presidential campaign, he
was doing a game, perhaps back at marquette, and there was a sign in the
stands "McGuire for Presiodent." His rejoinder was (remember this was when
Jimmy Carter was President with a brother who got a lot of ink) "I've got
abrother who would make Billy Carter look lile a monk."
Finally, the track connection. It was not well known that in his HS
days, Al had been a successfull cross-country runner. He took advanatage of
that to earn big bucks for a Milwaukee charity. There was a road race and
McGuire got a lot of well-hipped Milwaukee business men to put up money for
each second (or minute) he could run the course under a certain time. He
evidently had kept in good shape, but be beat the time with plenty to spare.
A real sportsman and he will be missed.
Ed Grant
PS: Of course, everyone who answered my earlier trvia question---ad
I am flattered at the number of responses---was absolutely correct. It could
have been no one but Skeets.
Brian McGuire
