Blasts from the past

[PlayerRep]

Shooting gophers from an airplane? Now that's pretty funny. Has G1 ever seen or shot a gopher--or been in an airplane? You couldn't even see a gopher from an airplane, let alone shoot one. That is a truly dumb comment.

Yeah, about as dumb as 90% of your statements. Like, "Stockton shoots better when he starts".

No attorneys are allowed in this thread anyway. Please refrain from posting in my threads.

Stockton does shoot better when he starts. All you have to do is look at the stats to confirm that. We can tell you didn't grow up in Montana, with statements about shooting gophers from an airplane. Even my Army Ranger son, who headed a sniper unit during two deployments in Iraq, got a chuckle out of that comment.

I was talking to some of the bartenders at the Mo Club recently, and they were laughing atbout you. Thought it was pretty funny that you would talk as if you were buddies with them.

 

[grizpack]

People have a lot of theories about the downturn in Grizzly basketball, from the renovation, coaches, etc. But one that is never mentioned is that Fat Dad quit announcing the games. He was a classic, and did as much as anyone to get the crowd into a game. He helped make it an "event".

 

[elverno]

I too remember watching Lee Johnson play as breifly as that was however. That team had the potential of being one of the best ever Big Sky teams. Thanks to Rich Juarez, MSU coach at the time, things came to a crashing halt and I'm afraid I have yet to see them reach those heights since. Great atmosphere with 9,000+ attendance back in those days. I was a student back then and you'd have to get there early for the prime court-side seats. I'll never forget the game with MSU, maybe Lee Johnson's last, when the Cat's came out on the floor with the GRIZ band playing "Home On The Range!" It was absolutely hilarious! Lee Johnson was spectacular that game rejecting everything the Kitties tried to put up, and with some awesome dunks off feeds from MJR. Those two were really something to watch. I beleive we were 11-1 at the time we had to forfeit all our games. I think the only loss came on the road in MN to a very good Kevin Mchale led Gofer team. Lots of fun back in those days for sure. Go GRIZ!

 

[elverno]

I meant MRR although MJR was on the team also.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

People have a lot of theories about the downturn in Grizzly basketball, from the renovation, coaches, etc. But one that is never mentioned is that Fat Dad quit announcing the games. He was a classic, and did as much as anyone to get the crowd into a game. He helped make it an "event".

So true. I remember one opposing coach (I think it was Neil McCarthy) was quoted as saying: "Whatever you're paying him [Lee Curtiss/"Fat Dad"], it's not enough."

Speaking of which: What's the deal with the sound system? Half the time, I can't even hear what Denny Bedard is saying. Never had that problem with Fat Dad!

 

[Mousegriz]

Answers to growler 1's questions.

1) McKenzie, Hayes, Peck, DeMers and Smedley

2) PF off the bench Tim Stanbaugh

3) JIm Molloy was the non-scholly who played when Ruben Bailey left....but my source says Ben Demers and Micheal Ray were the starters in 1976 and Molloy started the next year.

 

[GrizPony]

I don't think I have ever seen a better vertical than Herb Jones had. Real tragedy. Good kid.

 

[Umista]

Not to out date old "growsalot" but I remember watching Bobby O'billovich paly guard way back when I was in High School. He also was the UM quarterback. Small guy around 5' 8" Or 5' 10". Most may remember him coaching football in Canada. Butte/Anaconda kid, hell of a player.

 

[pyroguy]

What about Gary Kane from Butte America?

 

['68griz]

Oh, I'd totally forgotten about Gary Kane. He was one of the most cold-blooded shooters I've ever seen.

 

[ilovethecats]

Stockton does shoot better when he starts.

i don't know why this is so hard to believe. some kids are better suited in different roles, and despite what some people think....the best 5 players on the team are not always the first five to start the game. some kids are so used to starting that NOT starting messes with their head a little and affects their play. these aren't robots out here! also, i have run into several players that are certainly good enough to start, but prefer to come off the bench to ease the nerves a little and get used to the flow of the game. many times just having the right pace to a game is the difference between a player having a great game or a very poor one.

 

[LittletonGriz]

I remember Lee Johnson and Micheal Ray the year they had to forfit their games. They beat Boston College in the Pillsbury Classic then lost to a great Minnesota team in the championship that included Micheal Thompson, Ray Williams and a very young Kevin McCale. Lee Johnson moved on to a NAIA team and was a first round draft pick. He didn't last long in the NBA but an amazing college player. If Johnson would have been elgible, he and MR could have been the best 1, 2 punch in Big Sky history. I remember back in the 70s and 80s when the place was packed out every game (9,000 +) except for the Christmas break games that brought down their averages into the 7,500 to 8,500 range for the year. It is sad that interest declined.

 

[elverno]

I always wondered what happened to Lee Johnson after he left the Griz. Thanks for the info LittletonGriz! I never knew he was a 1st rouner. That's cool! So was the Pillsbury Classic played in the Twin Cities? I just remember listening to that game with the Gophers on the radio and how the Griz were in it most of the way. Those were good times for sure!