Foolish Felons: It is Impossible to Make Up This Reggie Harding Club Spit

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

If this is the new norm to make lives matter, then our nation is in deep doo-doo. Intellectual-lightweight thugs may have thought they were on precipice of free Big Macs and Happy Meals as reparations when vandalizing a Ronald McDonald House in Chicago. Actually, all the criminals did was terrorize sick kids inside undergoing cancer and other hospital treatment. How reprehensible is that "protest"? In an attempt not to "bait" inept Chi-raq Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, it should be pointed out that NCAA coaches, administrators and officials are equally incompetent in dealing with riotous bad actors.

Basketball seems to have more skeletons in its closet than mass murderer John Wayne Gacy. Say what? Well, when incredulity bubbles up, that's how you secure an affiliation with Reggie! Reggie! Reggie! Reggie Harding, a seven-foot "gangster," was the first player drafted into NBA without having played in college (1962). He was shot dead in an argument at a Detroit intersection at the age of 30 in 1972. Local lore has it that, upon a masked Harding robbing the same gas station for the third time in his own neighborhood, the attendant told him he knew who it was. "No, man, it ain't me," Harding was said to have replied. "Shut up and give me the money!" Seems as if public should be responding to athletic social scholars in similar fashion: "Shut up and play!"

With Harding as the state's "stupid" headliner worthy of Will Rogers quotation, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised about repulsive revelations at Michigan State, where Spartans needed Trojans playing miniature hoops strip poke her learning how to conduct themselves with opposite sex in dormitory room at freshman orientation in late August 2010. Let's hope MSU coach Tom Izzo, in his tireless quest "worrying about the survivors," finally knows the identities of chain-reaction scholars he brought to campus in this among other sordid incidents. Scum has risen to the top of pond of moral values that college athletics pretends to represent.

Much of the crazy spit in hoopdom is skool-daze weirder than Davidson grad Stephen Curry's expressed view of moon landings. BSLSD tax cheat Al "Not So" Sharpton probably believes the colossal collection of crazed characters deserve some "R-E-S-P-I-C-T." But whether for money or not, Harding and Shell are mocking worthy of a basketball segment guest hosted by fossilized frauds Reverend Al and "anti-termite" Screwie Louie Farrakhan on "America's Dumbest Criminals" TV show after Queen of Soul Arthea's funeral in Harding's hometown of Detroit. Dumb demonstrations are in their uncivilized DNA. The following alphabetical list of intolerable foolish felons and faulty fellows joined Harding as jerks as disgusting as James Comey's FISA-lies FBI seventh-floor front office in concert with smear-merchant lame-stream #MessMedia and wild-eyed Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib:

A DOLT ENTERTAINMENT: Glendon Alexander (Arkansas/Oklahoma State) was imprisoned at Seagoville (Tex.) Federal Correctional Institution after pleading guilty to bank and wire fraud. Among a variety of con jobs and scams, Alexander's most brazen was transferring nearly $1.5 million from the account of a California adult-entertainment industry executive into his account. Alexander, who averaged 10.1 ppg from 1996-97 through 1999-00 before saying later he seldom attended class at either school, took the money after meeting the nanny of the adult entertainment figure's children in an internet chat room and visiting her in Encinitas, Calif. Alexander, who earned a spot on the 1996-97 SEC All-Freshman team with Arkansas before competing in the NCAA playoffs with Oklahoma State, also admitted to writing checks totaling $46,500 off the commercial account of a Dallas area dentist and $150,000 worth of cash. He averaged 9.4 ppg in 1998-99 when OSU teammate Doug Gottlieb led the nation in assists after assisting himself to credit cards of other students and exiting Notre Dame. Described by Razorbacks coach Nolan Richardson as "a troublesome person; an habitual liar," Alexander was arrested in May 2009 and sentenced to six months in federal prison for failure to make restitution payments. He reportedly attempted to cash with forged signature a scholarship check belonging to an OSU teammate.

TARGETING DOMINO EFFECT: Darrell Allums (UCLA), center for the Bruins' 1980 NCAA Tournament runner-up, was sentenced to nine years in state prison for armed robbery. According to a probation report, Allums became dependent on cocaine and turned to robbing Target stores and Domino's Pizza deliverymen in the South Bay area in 1987 to get cash. If Allums crossed the state line, a unique "game under 30 minutes" of one-on-one could have unfolded if he encountered Jason Petrimoulx (UNLV), who faced a count of forgery as a Domino's delivery driver in mid-September 2007 (accused of making imprint of customer's debit card). Another Final Deplore pizza thief was Lorenzo Charles (North Carolina State), who began the 1982-83 season in the doghouse after pilfering two pizzas from a delivery boy while in summer session before "movin' on up" to penthouse providing decisive dunk in NCAA Tournament championship game against heavily-favored Houston. Craving also must have consumed Tyrone Nelson (Prairie View/New Mexico State), who was charged with robbing a pizza man in late summer 2006.

FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT FOR FIRST FIVE-STAR NCAA BID: Malik Alvin (Texas-El Paso/Binghamton/Shaw NC) was suspended three games by BU in school's first NCAA playoff season (2008-09 when averaging 11.5 ppg, 3 rpg and 3.7 apg) after charged with stealing pack of 36 condoms from a Wal-Mart and knocking an elderly woman to the floor on way out. Larceny charge was dropped and Alvin pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct (customer suffered concussion). In fall of 2009 after a student reported her debit card was stolen and used to make unauthorized purchases, Alvin was among multiple transfers kicked off BU's roster (including ex-Jacksonville player David Fine/son of Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine immersed in scandal a couple of years later). Giving a middle finger to one of its professors, BU fired a lecturer in Human Development amid her accusations the athletic department gave preferential treatment to hoopers and pressured her to change grades. If not discerning it's unwise to submit "free" papers, copying them off the Internet as research classwork, we presume Alvin learned most schools give away free condoms for his "work" off the court. Alvin, a Philly product, previously was dismissed by UTEP (averaged 8 ppg, 2.9 rpg and team-high 4.4 apg in 2006-07) and later transferred to Raleigh, N.C.-based Shaw, where he became CIAA Player of the Year in 2011-12. At least scholarly Andy Robinson (Buffalo) was willing to pay for his bogus schoolwork. Robinson was suspended three games after posting grammatically-challenged ad on Facebook in spring of 2008 offering $30-$40 for fellow student to author a course paper for him.

FATHER'S DAY PARENTING CLASS: Willie Anderson (Georgia), in the fall of 2003, reportedly lost almost all of the $1.75 million he was to receive from a deferred 10-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs to the IRS and three women who said he did not pay child support. The IRS, in a lawsuit, had sought almost $400,000 from what it said were unpaid taxes from a nightclub Anderson co-owned, Strictly Jazz, plus unpaid income taxes. During court hearings in 2000, it was revealed Anderson fathered at least nine children by seven women. Civil warrants were issued twice for his arrest in child-support matters in Georgia state court. The two-time All-SEC selection in late 1980s was jailed in November 1999 for contempt when he didn't show up for another hearing. But Anderson doesn't seem as if he'll medal in the Sperminator Games. Pending audit confirmation of paternity results, Anderson apparently still trails potent philanderers Jason Caffey (Alabama), Shawn Kemp (Kentucky signee), Calvin Murphy (Niagara) and Sedale Threatt Sr. (West Virginia Tech) for most baby mamas in hoops history.

GIVE ME CREDIT: Gilbert Arenas (Arizona) was suspended for most of the 2009-10 NBA season stemming from a felony gun possession in a locker room and subsequent actions appearing to make light of the episode. Pleaded no contest to misdemeanor weapon charges resulting from an incident in San Mateo County (Calif.) in 2003 after being an All-Pacific-10 Conference selection as a sophomore in 2000-01. Arrested in California in late June 2013 for possession of illegal fireworks in the back of his pickup truck. In the spring of 2014, Arenas took a cinder block and smashed a Mercedes his longtime flame had been driving, claiming the incident was revenge for her allegedly breaking numerous windows in his house and ruining his Netflix account by throwing his computer into the pool. In late January 2016, Arenas bragged on social media how he committed credit-card fraud at strip clubs. He probably should have served as a consultant to Warren Jones (Bradley/Green Bay) and Al Miller (UCF). Jones was the Braves' leading scorer midway through the 2014-15 campaign when arrested at a strip club on misdemeanor charges of obstruction of identification and criminal trespass in the wee hours of morning following a home defeat. Miller was charged with pointing a gun in theft of local night club disc jockey in middle of 2002-03 season before ditching in-home monitoring device and failing to arrive in circuit court for trial on armed-robbery charge. Instead of plastic, Arenas could have been like Anthony Jenkins (Clemson), who pleaded guilty to passing five counterfeit $100 bills at a Spartanburg, S.C., nightclub in the fall of 1991. The college cager counterfeiters also included Dustin Thomas (Colorado/Arkansas) and Jacorey Williams (Arkansas/East Tennessee State), who both pleaded guilty to possessing "Monopoly" money in summer of 2015 they knew or should have known was not authentic.

I'M NOT ROLE MODEL: Charles Barkley (Auburn), a three-time All-SEC selection from 1981-82 through 1983-84, was arrested for breaking a man's nose during a fight at 2:30 A.M. just before Christmas in 1991 after a game at Milwaukee and also for throwing a bar patron through a plate-glass window in late October 1997 after being struck with a glass of ice while in Orlando for an exhibition game. In August 1997, a jury rejected a $550,000 lawsuit from a man who claimed Barkley beat him up at a Cleveland nightclub. Charges were dropped against Barkley and fellow NBA player Jayson Williams stemming from an accusation they were in a bar fight in Chicago in 1992. Compulsive gambler said in an ESPN interview in May 2006 that he lost approximately $10 million through gambling, including $2.5 million "in a six-hour period" while playing blackjack. The Wynn Las Vegas resort filed a civil complaint in May 2008 that Barkley failed to repay four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, received the previous October. He took a leave of absence from TNT Sports' broadcast booth in early 2009 after test results showed he was legally drunk (nearly twice the legal limit) on New Year's Eve when Phoenix police arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving. Barkley, who triggered a national debate with his "I am not a role model" proclamation, told police he was in a hurry to go have sex from a female passenger he had just picked up from a popular nightclub. Another "entertainer" unworthy of being a role model was seven-footer Andy Slocum (Texas A&M), who was better known for his time in WWE under the ring name Jackson Andrews before TMZ revelations in late summer 2012 of having two fiancees at the same time.

MOVIN' FROM TIRE IRON TO STOLEN X-RATED VIDEOS: Marvin Barnes (Providence), a unanimous first-team All-American in 1973-74, was arrested for a variety of things - trespassing, being under the influence of narcotics, burglary of a locked vehicle. Homeless in San Diego, he stole X-rated videos to sell for drug money. Barnes claims his cocaine addiction escalated to the point where he snorted the drug on the Boston Celtics' bench during a game. Barnes said he hit rock bottom during one of his drug-related prison stints when he almost killed a fellow inmate. Barnes attended the John Lucas Treatment Center in Houston and worked as a director at a halfway house before encountering liver problems. In mid-May 2007, he was arrested by state police on a felony charge of cocaine possession. In mid-January 2012, Barnes was 59 when arraigned in Rhode Island on a charge of soliciting a 17-year-old minor for sex after they met through his Rebound Foundation for at-risk youths. In 1972, he was charged with assault after allegedly hitting PC teammate Larry Ketvirtis with a tire iron following a scrimmage. Barnes once asked Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds if cocaine kills brain cells before saying: "I must have been a genius when I started out." While incarcerated, Movin' Marvin was moved to tell Reynolds: "Here I am trying to get myself straightened out and they come out with a brand-new drug (crystal meth)."

GOVERNMENT JOBS FOR BIG BLUE BEDFELLOWS: Horny Winston Bennett (Kentucky), an All-SEC second-team selection as a junior in 1985-86, said he "slept with 90 women a month." Only 10 weeks on the job in a state government position, he was fired in fall of 2017 after sending inappropriate emails (including to subordinates). Who conducted a background check on him and did they overlook his termination as a Boston Celtics aide under Rick Pitino by having a sexual relationship with a female student at Brandeis where the NBA team practiced? Previously, Richie Farmer (Kentucky), a shooting guard in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to government corruption in mid-September 2013 following the state attorney general's office and ethics commission charging him with 42 ethics violations. A scathing state audit about Farmer's eight years as state agriculture commissioner alleged he misused state workers and resources for personal gain. He was accused of placing his friends in jobs with no specified duties and asking them to carry out his personal errands plus build a basketball court on his property. Was Farmer wanting to make a hoops comeback and play in Seniors Tournament with his UK coach (Pitino)? Red-blooded Pitino protege Joshua Tinch's employment as high school special education instructor didn't last long, either. Known more for exploits as UK rival Louisville WR, he was terminated after a female student complained he had inappropriate contact with her when she was 16 shortly following his hiring in August 2011. There was no telling what kind of job Derek Willis (Kentucky) warranted upon being found at nearly 5 a.m. passed out drunk with his body and head extending well into middle of the street next to open driver's side door of car in mid-June 2016. As byproduct of defunding police on progressive wish list, left-wing riots in Portland causing more than $2 million in damage to federal buildings might have been averted if Terrence Jones (Kentucky) was hired as community consultant clearing the streets after he reportedly stomped on a homeless man's leg in late July 2013.

WHAT BAND-AID CAN TAKE FROM YOU: Derrick Chievous (Missouri), sporting trademark band-aid, was an All-American as a junior in 1986-87. He was charged with felony stealing in May, 2001, for allegedly taking items from the United Parcel Service terminal in Columbia, Mo., where he had worked for nine months after playing in the NBA and Europe. Chievous, who had been under investigation for months regarding possible theft, allegedly fled from managers while carrying stolen items. In 1997, he was arrested for failure to pay child support. "I'm not the marrying type," said Chievous, who had daughters in his college town plus Philadelphia and Chicago. "I'm not always the greatest dad. But I'm the best dad they've got."

ROOTS OF REMOTE CONTROL: Ricky Clemons (Missouri), after reportedly attending six different high schools, was kicked off the Tigers' squad during the summer of 2003 following a judge determining the North Carolina native violated conditions for serving a sentence in a halfway house and ordered him to jail. The sentence stemmed from two misdemeanors in an assault case involving his former white girlfriend after she didn't want to watch Roots. In subsequent taped jail telephone conversations, Clemons alleged Mizzou assistant coaches gave money to him and other players. The J.C. recruit, who scored 26 points against Iowa and 27 against Syracuse, also crashed an ATV on the school president's lawn at a July 4 party. Believe it or not, the wife of the school's first black president suggested Clemons avoid dating white women. A mid-2001 charge he choked and struck another woman in Idaho was not prosecuted because the woman didn't respond to a request to testify. You've got to exhibit more control of your viewing habits. Wade Jenkins (Tulsa) pleaded no contest to charge of mutilating municipal property for allegedly breaking a door at convention center in spring of 1991 after attending a Toughman boxing contest.

DUMBER THAN DOORKNOB (AT HIS APARTMENT): Sheldon Cooley (East Tennessee State) and teammate Marcus Dubose were dropped from ETSU's roster following DTF charges (subsequently dismissed) in a mid-November 2012 drug investigation. Later, the school's postal services manager was terminated for violating federal law by opening the latest in a series of suspicious express mail packages. Another package earmarked for Dubose containing $10,700 cash was intercepted by drug agents in the days following their arrests. It was Cooley's second arrest that year. He had entered a guilty plea to solicitation to file a false police report, stemming from a robbery probe at his campus apartment, during which he lied to cops about what was taken. Cooley claimed $1,300 in cash was stolen from his room during a theft where a pair of teammates were bound and gagged at gunpoint. Tampa native told police the reason burglars were able to get into the apartment was he left his key/swipe-card in the mailbox. A comparably confusing breaking-and-entering explanation came from Gus Santos (Wichita State) in March 1987 when he was arrested while attempting to kick in a door to an empty hotel room. The Shockers' leading scorer in 1985-86 told local police he was only looking for a quiet place to sleep. As a freshman in late 1980, Steve Stipanovich (Missouri) was shot in the arm. At first, Stipanovich said a masked intruder (donning red-checked flannel shirt and cowboy boots) broke into his apartment, shouted obscenities against hoopers and shot him. Later, the eventual two-time All-American changed the story, admitting he accidentally shot himself with a .22-caliber weapon (facing WHO SHOT STIPO? WHO SHOT STUPO? signs in Big Eight Conference road games). Another player filing false police report was Anton Jenifer (VCU/Morgan State), who claimed he was shot during an attempted robbery while entering his apartment in spring of 2001. After noticing inconsistencies in his story, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the dwelling and seized a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. At least Cooley, Jenifer, Santos and Stipanovich weren't as cruel as Donald Little (Cincinnati), who was charged with kidnapping, beating and burning his roommate in spring of 2002.

"DE" GOLD MEDAL FOR HEALTHY EXCUSE: Olympians DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky), DeMar DeRozan (Southern California) and DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M) were caught going to notorious high-end brothel near the Copacabana beach in Rio in August 2016 before Team USA source offered feeble explanation that "they thought it was a health spa." In "de" spring of 2016, DeShaun Thrower and Stony Brook teammate RayShaun McGrew were charged with third-degree grand larceny and criminal mischief after allegedly breaking the rental car window of a student who had $5,000 in cash in Toyota after cashing tax refund check.

RELIGIOUS CHICKEN LITTLE SKY IS FALLING: Chris Craig (Creighton signee/Texas-El Paso), a guard who averaged 8.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 2.7 apg for UTEP in 2002-03 and 2003-04, was arrested in Utah in early August 2013 on an outstanding warrant for drug possession one month after he was detained at a Walmart in Arizona following alleged threatening statements to people on a junior college campus. Former assistant coach at Northern Colorado, referring to himself as an "Islamic jihadist," was spotted wandering about and warning Catholics and Mormons they "would be destroyed" in the near future. Dealing with mental illness after coaching Eastern Utah to a third-place finish in 2010 NJCAA Tournament, he drove a car covered in spray-painted religious messages. In mid-September 2016, Craig was arrested after allegedly threatening to blow up an elementary school in Utah.

PILFERING PATIENTS' PAIN PILLS: Kevin Criswell (Montana), the Grizzlies' second-leading scorer four straight seasons from 2002-03 through 2005-06, faced two-count indictment in spring of 2014 charging physical therapist with conspiracy and acquiring hydrocodone and oxycodone by forgery, fraud or subterfuge. "Dr. Pill" was sentenced to four years of probation, six months in a residential drug treatment center and paying restitution of $6,400 to one patient suffering severe emotional trauma after pleading guilty to breaking into homes and stealing pain pills from multiple patients. In other Northwest court documents, Craig Ehlo (Washington State) admitted to past problems with substance abuse (prescription painkillers) in receiving a suspended one-year jail sentence following pleading guilty to setting fire to a pile of clothes outside his rural Spokane home. Ehlo was arrested in early August 2013 after firefighters responded around 1 a.m. and encountered family members holding him down near his burning clothes to prevent 14-year NBA player from jumping into the flames. Many Cleveland Cavaliers fans were traumatized by Michael Jordan hitting a game-winning shot over Ehlo in 1989 NBA playoffs, but Larry Bird really stripped him naked. Ehlo held Larry Legend to 1-for-10 FG shooting in first half before trash talking him. Bird replied, "there's two halves." After intermission, Bird burned Ehlo by scoring 20+ straight points and said: "Is your mother watching? Because I want to embarrass you."

PHOTO CONSENT RELEASE: Robbie Dean Dosty (Arizona) was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty in summer of 2007 to theft by extortion stemming from his threat to send photographs of a man having sex with him to the man's employer. Drug charges were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea from Dosty, who averaged 10 ppg and 5 rpg from 1977-78 through 1980-81. In the summer of 2012, a salacious photo-extortion story unfolded when an ex-mistress stripper and co-conspirator were busted for a purported $200,000 plot against Mark Jackson (St. John's), who moonlighted as a minister at a LA suburb-based non-denominational church, for sending compromising nude pics during a 2006 affair. The NCAA assists average leader in 1985-86 and All-American in 1986-87 after participating in 1985 Final Four quoted the Bible, saying "what goes on in the dark, comes out in the light. He "shimmied off" while called a "Bible-pounding phony" by ESPN colleague Bob Ryan before the politically-correct network responded by suspending the venerable ex-Boston Globe columnist for a couple of weeks.

MAY HOLIDAY SEASON BE FILLED WITH POP-A-SHOT: Three Eastern Washington players - Robert Otis, Nate Perkins and John Randa - were arrested for petty larceny the week before Christmas 1985 on charges they stole 153 cans of soda pop from the Holiday Inn they stayed in prior to road game against Idaho State. The soda jerks were headed to court after accused of pilfering pop from a machine inadvertently left unlocked. "Life Tasted Good" for EWU on-court, however, as Otis scored 19 points and Randa scooped up a loose ball before he "popped" a decisive basket with three seconds remaining in 61-59 triumph. Another holiday season failed to unfold any better for walk-on Chris Armstrong (Niagara), who was charged with creating a ruckus in fall of 2009 (disorderly conduct and resisting arrest). Police officers said they saw a highly-intoxicated man in trench coat who appeared to be naked (actually wearing "vulgar" Halloween costume) struggling with bouncer trying to get him out of a bar.

NET DREAM: James Felton (St. John's/Florida State/Saint Peter's/Fairleigh Dickinson), when on a recruiting visit at Kentucky's Midnight Madness the weekend of 1996, fell asleep during a meeting with an academic counselor and coach Rick Pitino sent him home. Kicked off St. John's squad early in freshman season in 1997-98 for repeated violations (missing team flight to Puerto Rico for season-opening tournament, inviting friends to team practice at MSG only to see his "posse" pilfer everything not nailed down in the Knicks' locker room and sitting on the court because "I didn't feel much like practicing today"). Left FSU after money and things were missing from the Seminoles' locker room. Cleared up an arrest warrant against him for trying to sell stolen property at a pawn shop, but wore out his welcome at Saint Peter's before playing a game for the Peacocks. He failed to show up for a summer school final exam in 1999 after actually taking pokes while under the influence at SPC's coaching staff during an unsupervised workout. Suspended for portion of a season attending FDU before scoring 41 points in a game against LIU. Felton, known to binge drink and in alcohol rehab, was found dead in his Jersey City apartment in early November 2006 at the age of 27.

SQUATTERS RIGHTS: Chris Gatling (Pittsburgh/Old Dominion), a three-time All-Sun Belt Conference first-team selection, was sentenced to four years of probation after pleading guilty to theft and forgery charges after accusation of squatting in a Phoenix area home and then trying to list the place for rent on Craigslist. He was charged with breaking into a key box and living in the home for nearly a year. Gatling contacted the owner in the summer of 2010 looking to rent the residence but never finalized a lease agreement because of poor credit. A police report claimed the homeowners lived in California but had left the power on. Gatling reportedly owed $40,000 in child support as of the spring of 2006. He was eventually sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison following arrest in late May 2015 for allegedly running an online fraud scheme using credit cards of people from all across the country. Another player who apparently thought he should be able to hang around was Eli Holman (Indiana), who transferred after freshman season to Detroit following meeting requiring a call to campus police when he became agitated with new Hoosiers coaching staff. At least Holman didn't respond in same way as Roland Griffin (Illinois State/Iona), who was kicked off the Gaels' squad in fall of 2018 after punching an assistant coach multiple times in locker room following an argument about schoolwork.

SLUM OR DUMB LANDLORD?: Will Graves (North Carolina), a starting forward in 2009-10 was arrested on drug charges (involving marijuana) in early December 2013 at a house rented by Carolina's part-time video coordinator from Tar Heels coach Roy Williams. Graves was kicked off UNC's club in the fall of 2010 for violating team rules. At least Graves was linked to his coach instead of convicted felon Haydn "Fats" Thomas like several other prominent Tar Heel players. In similar "high" living arrangements, Kansas teammates Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers were kicked out of NBA rookie transition program in early September 2008 after getting caught with prostitutes in their hotel room where marijuana was smoked (both fined $20,000 and required to attend symposium again the following year). Exhibiting as much intellect as a Farrakhan-loving Jacob Blake Sr. tweet, the Self-less KU tandem refused to allow hotel management in after a smoke alarm went off at about 2 a.m.

TOY STORIES: In the fall of 1987, Artie Green (Marquette) was placed on probation for four years after pleading guilty to armed robbery and burglary charges (service station and apartment building where he lived). His lawyer said the weapon used was a toy gun and that Green turned to crime for money to spend on cocaine. Similarly, Harry Moore (St. Bonaventure) was arrested in 2001 for sticking up ATM patrons with a fake black revolver. Another odd weapon was utilized by seven-footer Dwayne Schintzius (Florida), who wielded a tennis racquet at someone after hearing a rude remark while riding in a car outside a nightclub. Schintzius subsequently quit the Gators in mid-season in 1989-90 because he didn't want to "sail under the authority of Captain Ahab (interim coach Don DeVoe)." While Schintzius "skated" after displaying his power serve outside a club, Archie Goodwin (Kentucky) was arrested in a dispute outside a roller rink in Little Rock in spring of 2014. Elsewhere, night-owl Winthrop teammates Reggie Middleton and Gideon Gamble were arrested on misdemeanor disorderly conduct/fighting charges in late October 2011, requiring police officers to break up fight at a McDonald's with Tasers, stemming from 2:45 a.m. incident before a scheduled 6 a.m. practice.

CRIMINAL CLIMAX: Eddie Griffin (Seton Hall), an All-Big East Conference second-team selection as a freshman in 2000-01, was charged in November 2003 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a woman claiming to be his girlfriend accused him of punching her in the face and shooting a pistol at her car as she drove away. Earlier in the year, he had been arrested for possession of marijuana. He had been expelled before the end of his senior year in high school for fighting with a teammate and punched college teammate Ty Shine in the locker room after a mid-season defeat his lone campaign with the Pirates. Checked into Betty Ford Center in 2004 to get six weeks of treatment for alcohol abuse. Pleaded guilty to inattentive driving early in the 2005-06 season (drunk and watching pornography in DVD player mounted on dashboard when crashing his Cadillac Escalade while masturbating in parking lot of grocery store) before being suspended by the NBA for violating the anti-drug program in mid-January 2007. Killed in Houston in mid-August, 2007, when his Nissan SUV collided with a Union Pacific freight train in a fiery crash. It took four days for authorities to identify his body from dental records.

JERSEY WORE: Bob Hall (Louisiana State), averaging 4.7 ppg and 4.7 rpg, was dismissed from team in late February 1997 following second suspension and "apparel" snafu of season. He could not enter a game when Dale Brown, in final of 25 seasons as Tigers coach, tried to send him in but couldn't because the center was not wearing his jersey under warm-up jacket. Earlier in the campaign, Hall left a contest after he was found to have his jersey on backwards. Whether or not it was due to them failing to comprehend one leg or arm at a time, more than half of LSU's roster was suspended at some point during 1996-97. Hopefully, current coach Will Wade wouldn't have found it necessary to make "strong-ass" offer to Hall for his intellect to elevate roster GPA.

ALL-STAR PIMPS: Jason Henry (Arkansas) was sentenced to six years in prison after his conviction on prostitution charges. According to a police report, pimp known as "Allstar" was booked in late March 2015 on multiple sex crimes, including the possible rape of a 14-year-old girl. West Memphis product started twice as a freshman but was suspended three times by the Hogs during the 2008-09 campaign and dismissed from the program prior to sophomore season. Elsewhere on the streets, backup point guard Venoy Overton (Washington) didn't have a pimpin' nickname resembling Henry but his real first name made him sound like a cool cat en route to pleading guilty to second-degree promoting prostitution following an arrest in mid-June 2011. Was Overton trying to establish credentials to become Seattle's Street Czar? Periphery "players" also sought to get in on the action as North Texas' team manager received probation after pleading to two charges of promoting prostitution, asking an assault accuser in spring of 2017 to join an escort service they ran for "professional individuals."

VIDEO VOYEURISM: Jonathan Holton (Rhode Island), an Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie team member as URI's leading rebounder, was arrested in late March 2012 following complaints of video voyeurism by two female students that he took video of two separate consensual sexual encounters with them and posted the videos to Facebook. Just days later, he was charged with possession of stolen goods (laptop computer) resulting from a search of his dorm room. Holton was already on probation stemming from a 2009 strong-arm robbery in his hometown of Miami. Elsewhere among semen-ly authentic student-athletes, three Minnesota players were suspended near the end of 2015-16 campaign following an explicit group sex-tape video surfaced on one of their Twitter accounts. At least the porn-star tryout wasn't conducted after closing time in an upscale Italian bistro like their coach's father. Voyeuristic venues also impacted Jalen McDaniels (San Diego State), who was sued for allegedly filming two different women performing sexual acts and distributing them with his phone in 2016 while in high school. Predators included Brandon Lampley (Ball State), who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to felony sexual battery as teaching assistant. He engaged in sexual activity with a female student skipping class in a secured, usually locked, portion of high school's athletic training area in February 2014. Cell phones of the teen and Lampley determined they exchanged 769 text messages in a month. Investigators also found video on Lampley's cell phone of encounters with 10 consenting adults. Another individual apparently having difficulty keeping snake in his pants was Ryan Ayers (Notre Dame), who was charged with three counts of voyeurism after leaving the Fighting Irish program as assistant coach at start of 2020-21 school year.

SKINNY-DIPPING DUFUS: Dommanic Ingerson (Michigan/San Francisco) was taken by Oakland police to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation in mid-February 2010 after allegedly stealing a woman's purse and attempting to elude cops by swimming across a 50-degree lake and emerging naked. Ingerson averaged 8.1 ppg for UM as a freshman in 2001-02 before averaging 6.2 ppg in three seasons with USF. Additional nudist colony/psychiatric ward possibilities were Mel Montgomery (Canisius), who disrobed twice while under custody in late January 1981, and Gavin Ludgood (Southern Illinois signee/Florida Atlantic/Northern Kentucky), who was arrested on several charges including public indecency in spring of 2006 after banging on a car and an apartment door while naked just before 8 a.m.

RETURN TO SCENE OF PURSE CRIME: John C. Johnson (Creighton), an All-Missouri Valley Conference second-team selection as a senior in 1978-79, was arrested in early December 2003 on suspicion of theft by unlawful taking and criminal possession of a financial transaction device at a Lincoln, Neb., racquet club. Johnson was arrested in spring of 1992 for breaking into cars supporting a drug habit in Omaha, Harrison County (Iowa) and downtown Lincoln, including the aforementioned racquet club. He was sentenced to one to three years in prison on the theft and forgery charges in Lincoln. In spring of 1993, Johnson was sentenced to one year of probation for breaking into cars at a national wildlife refuge in Iowa. He was a Boys and Girls Club staffer and juvenile probation officer for nine years until his arrests. Johnson was arrested again for purse snatching in mid-November 2011. In 1995, police apprehended him when reportedly in possession of 77 stolen wallets and purses. Omaha also was the hometown for repeat offender Benny "B.J." Valentine (Texas Tech/Eastern Washington), who violated probation sanctioning him the previous week by traveling to Texas and participating in a mid-November 2012 break-in resulting in death of an accomplice.

DANCING WITH THE STARS: Shaq Johnson (Auburn/Longwood), a part-time starter known for dunking prowess, was dismissed from the Tigers' squad in summer of 2013 after freshman season upon jailing in wee hours of morning following a charge of possession of marijuana. In fall of 2014, he was charged with a felony for malicious wounding after knocking teeth out of dance-off competitor. In fall of 2015, Johnson was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana before 10-game suspension by Longwood and agreeing to drug counseling in order to have charge reduced to entering property with intent to damage. It's unknown whether Johnson feels he should have patented his dance routine. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit in spring of 2020 in which former Maryland players Jaylen Brantley and Jared Nickens accused makers of the "Fortnite" video game of misappropriating a celebratory dance move ("Running Man Challenge") the Terps' twosome popularized.

FAMILY GUYS: Sidiki Johnson (Arizona/Providence), estranged half-brother of Texas' celebrated center Mohamed Bamba, received a four-year sentence for second-degree attempted robbery and third-degree robbery. Sidiki appeared in only three games for UA in 2011-12 before suspension for violating team rules and played in only 11 games with PC prior to leaving program for personal reasons. Another brother from dysfunctional Harlem family, Ibrahim Johnson (Montevallo AL), accused Bamba in a rambling, profanity-laced FaceBook poolside video in spring of 2017 of accepting cash and gifts from a financial advisor in Michigan. Snitch Ibrahim was himself in the throes of a series of charges in single month (hit-and-run, forgery, falsification, petty theft and possession of drugs). In mid-October 2020, juco recruit Ibrahim died from shotgun wounds to his chest at a Fort Worth apartment complex.

SAMURAI SWORD SCHOLAR: Avondre Jones (Southern California/Fresno State) was convicted in December 1998 of threatening a man with a Samurai sword in his apartment just hours after a FSU game in the NIT. Gangsta rapper wannabee also was convicted on a felony charge of having a gun while on probation (for gun possession) and a misdemeanor marijuana charge. Jones, sentenced to six months in jail, was acquitted on six charges, including theft, extortion and assault with a deadly weapon. While a sword wasn't utilized, Lafester Rhodes (Iowa State) reportedly slashed an ex-girlfriend's bed during a domestic dispute in her apartment. Johnny Orr told Rhodes' CBA coach that his All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection in 1987-88 "couldn't read past a sixth-grade level." Rhodes must have been unable to comprehend instructions on how to modify water level.

JIGGLE JOINT JACKPOT: Jason Keep (Oklahoma State/San Diego), after seven-footer and All-WCC selection was fired from his job at a Phoenix strip club, hatched a plot to rob the jiggle joint on New Year's Eve 2013 before plan to pilfer up to $500,000 he believed was stored in the business' safe unraveled because there were too many potential witnesses. But two accomplices went ahead and followed the club's manager to a local IHOP and, in brazen midday robbery, stole duffel bag filled with about $18,000 in cash, leading to the shooting of a police officer following vehicle pursuit. Keep was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the case. USD's leading scorer and WCC's top rebounder in 2002-03 in his lone season with the Toreros after transferring from OSU, where he was a teammate of Doug Gottlieb ("credited" with checkered past at Notre Dame) following one season in junior college. Keep entered a plea of not guilty on drunken driving charge midway through the 2000-01 campaign.

WHAT'S YOURS IS MINE: Shawn Kemp (Kentucky signee) had a troubling pattern of drug use leading to multiple NBA suspensions coupled with a proclivity for fathering children out of wedlock. Ended his first season with the Portland "Jail Blazers" in spring of 2001 by checking into a drug rehab center for cocaine abuse. He was arrested in 2005 for possession of cocaine and marijuana and was again charged with possession of pot in 2006. Left UK as an academic non-qualifier in November 1988 after getting caught but not charged for selling stolen gold jewelry belonging to the coach's son. Elsewhere, Jesus Rodriguez (Virginia Tech) was arrested in spring of 1998 and pleaded guilty to nine counts of stealing property from students (including $2,000 necklace in teammate Shawn Browne's locker). At least Kemp and Rodriguez acquired the bling without an overnight package mailed to them popping open. By contrast, Richard Hurd (Baylor), foiled in an attempt to enrich himself, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after found guilty stemming from his arrest in mid-June 2012 in connection with an alleged $1 million extortion from Heisman Trophy-winning QB Robert Griffin III. Hurd, the ex-boyfriend of Griffin's fiancee, threatened to release damaging information on RG3. Another "jewel" was Karel Rosario (Florida International), a 6-10 Miami-Dade police detective in late 2015 when pleading guilty to dealing in stolen property. Rosario was sentenced to 366 days in prison for trying to sell luxury jewelry valued well over $100,000 stolen from a suspect's home.

KING OF APPEARING IN COURT: Four was a magic number for Bernard King (Tennessee), an All-American in 1976-77 despite brief suspension at start of season following four arrests in the fall for possession of marijuana and driving infractions. He subsequently was recognized as youngest NBA player (23) arrested four times. At least King didn't generate a scene similar to Clinton Smith (Ohio State/Cleveland State), who was on probation for passing bad checks in the spring of 2010 when fleeing a courthouse, pushing a sheriff's deputy down a flight of stairs (breaking officer's leg), after learning he was going to be arrested. King also didn't quite measure up to antics of Big East Conference MVP Derrick Coleman (Syracuse). NBA Crime Library, which tracks police blotters, claims Coleman's seven arrests while an active pro player is a record for the league.

FISHY AUCTION: Brad Lohaus (Iowa), an All-Big Ten Conference selection in 1986-87, received two years of probation in mid-January 2006 for not delivering fishing rods that he auctioned on eBay. He was charged with theft in 2004 after receiving more than $1,700 from auction bidders seeking rods and other unspecified merchandise. In regard to "multiplying" fishy acquisition, leading scorer Deon Tresvant (Cal State Northridge) was arrested with his coach's son and teammate who is offspring of pastor across street of theft in early 2009 for being involved with stealing more than $6,600 in merchandise on New Year's Day from a Best Buy where the coach's son worked. The pilfering was discovered when store officials discovered a discrepancy at cash register after the coach's son allegedly logged onto register using the password of an employee who was off that day.

A HORSE IS A HORSE OF COURSE: Art Long (Cincinnati) was found not guilty of an infamous "Blazing Saddles" incident assaulting (punching four times) a police horse. Brought to UC after selling drugs to a decoy cop, the Bearcats' leader in rebounding and blocked shots in 1994-95 was involved in multiple domestic violence incidents. In mid-December 2015, the J.C. vagabond was sentenced to 81 months in prison for drugs and guns crimes. He probably should have been spending Long-er time playing "H-O-R-S-E" based on his "blazing" free-throw accuracy (55.6%) and three-point marksmanship (11.1%). Speaking of guns and "horses," massive Oliver Miller (Arkansas) was accused of assaulting his girlfriend's brother during cookout in spring of 2011. No word if relative triggered pistol-whipping altercation by taking grub off plate of textbook Beast of the Baseline.

MACK TRUCKS ALONG WITH FOOTBALL ACCOMPLICES: Sam Mack (Iowa State/Arizona State/Houston) was charged with unlawful use of a weapon in 1988. While at Iowa State (where he averaged 11.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg in 1988-89), he was acquitted of all charges after being arrested for kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism following a theft at a Burger King. Mack and his football player accomplice, whom he claimed forced him at gunpoint to tag along, would not have been able to enjoy their combo meals for long. During the course of the robbery, Mack stood right beside an ISU poster with his picture on it albeit without clueless clown donning promotional crown. After transferring to Arizona State, he was accused of raping a student on campus and also stealing an American Express card, with yet another football player, to purchase $1,400 in gold jewelry. Moving on to Houston (where he averaged team-high 17.5 ppg in 1991-92), Mack was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. Also arrested in the summer of 2000 after police officers found crack cocaine and 20 bags of marijuana in his Range Rover following a high-speed chase in a Chicago suburb.

STALKING BIG BAD JOHN: Kevin Millen (Georgetown), a backup for the Hoyas in mid-1990s, was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to return to his Memphis hometown and stay away from Washington after arrested twice in fall of 1998 stemming from accusations of stalking and making threatening phone calls to coach John Thompson Jr. Millen was charged with unlawful entry after being detained by campus security for allegedly trying to reach the office of the university president. In the wake of several dozen alleged menacing phone calls to the school's athletic office earlier in the year, he was apprehended the previous week and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Court records indicated Millen was upset over job opportunities arranged by Thompson that didn't pan out. Millen had an unsuccessful primary run for Congress in 2010. What a shame! He could have provided Congressional entertainment much like Anthony Weiner (a/k/a Carlos Danger), married a Clinton confidant and had #SickWillie conduct the marriage ceremony between ex-President's flights on "Lolita Express." Speaking of stalking, Florida A&M coach Mike Gillespie Sr. (DePaul) was fired after arrest in spring of 2007 on a misdemeanor charge of stalking woman at her workplace. A police report said Gillespie, subject to GPS monitoring after guiding the Rattlers to their first 20-win campaign in 18 seasons, was investigated several times on stalking complaints in a two-year span.

BAD CELL SERVICE: Sam Miller (Dayton/College of Charleston) pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after arrest for underage drinking in early August 2017. Becoming insubordinate in back of cruiser, he made matters worse by getting into a fight in jail. A bartender at Caddy's Taphouse said Miller responded to being cut off from additional beverages by knocking down all the glasses on bar table to the floor and shoving her. A security officer subdued the profane Miller before police arrived and apprehended him. That's when things got worse for him. After urinating on the floor in the corner of a jail cell and taking off his pants, Miller was caught on camera getting into a tussle with a fellow inmate who, understandably so, said he did not want to be in same holding cell where Miller relieved himself. Miller was kayoed by multiple punches before bloodied prisoner was escorted out of the cell. Speaking of odd circumstances for fisticuffs, Maine's miserable 2016-17 season took a darker turn late in the campaign when the Black Bears' leading scorer reportedly broke a teammate's jaw in a dispute over music played in the locker room. Team members tried to cover up the fight by saying the injury incurred from falling in the shower.

ANOTHER REASON NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE: Greg Monroe (Georgetown), an All-Big East Conference first-team selection in 2009-10, pleaded guilty to impaired driving in spring of 2014, urinating on himself during the booking process. Since he was a member of the Detroit Pistons at the time, he should be grateful the franchise nickname wasn't Pooptons. Not long before whizzing away by Monroe, freshman guard Stevie Clark (Oklahoma State) was dismissed from Pokes squad following arrest for "publicly urinating out of a vehicle window" at 12:45 a.m. Another OSU product incapable of controlling himself was JamesOn Curry, who was charged with urinating in an alley outside of his hotel at 2:30 a.m. in mid-January 2008. Late in the 2009-10 campaign, starting swingman Corey Stokes (Villanova) was cited for public urination following a game (between two cars while surrounded by teammates). In late summer 2010, Joe Mazzulla and West Virginia teammate Dalton Pepper were cited for allegedly urinating in public. In late 2006, Trevon Charles (Quinnipiac) was suspended after urinating on a female student's leg in dormitory bathroom. Chicago product Darrell Williams (Oklahoma State) was arrested in February 2014 for public urination outside a friend's home. D.J. Cooper (Ohio University) joined the list of hoop piss-ants by receiving a two-year suspension from FIBA in 2018 following revelation he used his pregnant girlfriend's urine instead of his own to try and pass a drug test. All of these "Free Willy" mental midgets probably should hold tight, move to San Franfreakshow and become founding members of the Pea Party. Harsher treatment would be dispatching them to Greene County (MO), where corrections officers were charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault for standing on a jail roof in summer of 2001 and spraying pee on inmates as they played basketball.

OJ PAYBACK BEFORE NO-PAY BACK: Tyrone Nesby (UNLV), was arrested in late January, 2008, on a charge of contempt of court. In mid-June 2011, the Cairo, Ill., native was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution for unpaid child-support obligations. In April, 2001, he spent the night in jail after arrest in his locker room on a battery charge that was later dropped. While in junior college at Vincennes (Ind.) in 1995, the last of 14 children was accused of hitting a fellow student in the face in an argument over the O.J. Simpson verdict. Speaking of payback, four Providence players were charged with assault in spring of 2000 in fight believed to be retribution after bouncer helped remove teammate David Murray from a bar days earlier because the center lacked proper identification.

STIFF PENALTIES: Lamar Odom (UNLV/Rhode Island), an All-Atlantic 10 Conference first-team selection in 1998-99, was found unconscious at a Nevada brothel in mid-October 2015 before he was transported in critical condition to a hospital. Owner of the Love Ranch South said "it looks like he might have taken too much herbal Viagra." In 2013, he apparently was holed up at a L.A. hotel room where friends were involved in an intervention trying to get him help for an undisclosed drug abuse problem. In his memoir, Odom said he used a fake penis to cheat on a drug test for the 2004 Olympics. Faced drug accusations in 2001 when violating the NBA policy twice in an eight-month span. Also running afoul of the law multiple times for being unable to control himself was Kerry "Stephen" Thomas (Boise State), the first person in Idaho convicted of knowingly spreading the HIV-AIDS virus. In other words, Thomas was a poor man's Magic Johnson (Michigan State).

STRIP KARAOKE AT SATAN'S DISCO: Frank Peters (Oregon State), the third-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer for fourth-place team in 1963 NCAA playoffs, served 2 1/2 years in prison of a 10-year sentence following a 1989 conviction for statutory rape and drug offenses (busted for possession of 800 marijuana plants worth a reported $1 million). Affiliated for more than 20 years with a bar/dance hall in Southeast Portland, where he served everything from reindeer to rodent while presiding over events such as strip karaoke and lesbian dance party. He played a supporting role in a Netflix film The Battered Bastards of Baseball, which is purportedly about a minor-league baseball franchise that thrived in the 1970s during a time when it was the nation's only professional club not owned by MLB team. While managing the Mavericks, Peters was also the maestro of several of Portland's most notorious nightspots, including Satan's Disco. Booby bars have a tendency to spawn some weird situations. Jeff Moe (Iowa), the owner of an Indianapolis strip club, reportedly retaliated over opposition to the bar's liquor license by roughing up a councilman. Moe, a part-time starting guard for the Hawkeyes the last half of 1980s, said the councilman with same first name should not be able to criticize his character while facing child molestation charges himself. "I gave him my version of Ride the Wild Jeff Beast," Moe said, referring to the designation stemming from piggyback rides the councilor gave girls in his home, according to court documents.

POLICE ACADEMY WANNABEE: Olden Polynice (Virginia), an All-ACC second-team selection in 1985-86, was charged during the summer of 2001 with hitting and spitting on a golfer after being accidentally struck by a golf ball in Salt Lake City. The previous fall, he was involved in two road-rage episodes that led to Bubba Smith wannabee pleading guilty (accused of impersonating police officer by flashing fake badge). In mid-October 1996, Polynice was arrested at his home in Sacramento on domestic assault charges after his live-in girlfriend complained he threw her against a wall. After facing honor-code violation of plagiarism in 1984, Duke's creative Crazies printed copies of a sheet with the title page "Hamlet: An Original Play by Olden Polynice" and handed them out before a contest at Cameron that the Haitian center chose not to attend. Another fake law enforcement representative was Robert Swain (Connecticut/College of Charleston), a Georgia native among four civilians dressed as Fulton County Sheriff's office employees arrested in alleged drug scandal orchestrated by a deputy and detention officers seeking cocaine deliveries outside of the jail in early June 2011. The raid came just over a week after an inmate was shot by another inmate. Polynice and Swain weren't nearly as "playful" as Ryan Knight (James Madison), who was booked into jail in early February 2010 for pelting responding police unmarked vehicle with snowballs after first targeting a city plow.

AT LEAST TAKE SHOWER BEFORE POLICE LINEUP: Kenny Pratt (Iowa State), a two-time All-Big Eight Conference forward, was involved in a late December 1996 incident stemming from two-car accident at an intersection, triggering holding cell "don't you know who I am" videotape showing him yelling, swearing and spitting at police officer. The arrest, where his driver's license was suspended while manning a rental car he was unauthorized to drive, occurred just weeks after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. Obviously, Floyd took the altercation very seriously by suspending Pratt for one game. In mid-February 1998, J.C. recruit from Chicago was still wearing his uniform following an IBA playoff game when arrested for contempt of court after a police chase. Officers commiserated with Pratt and his minor-league coach before the contest and they agreed to allow him to compete if he surrendered after the fray. Instead, Pratt chose to flee. Perhaps Pratt could have eluded police if he had left during game similar to what Willie Cutts (Arkansas) did as sophomore in 1981-82. Cutts was dismissed from Razorbacks program by coach Eddie Sutton for leaving the floor, throwing his jersey into garbage can on way to locker room, dressing and exiting arena in first half of a game against East Tennessee State after being quickly pulled from lineup for what Sutton deemed a poor shot. Cutts, a former McDonald's Game MVP, subsequently spent time in prison and halfway houses. The state also supplied in-game defector Steven Moore (UALR). He was dismissed from the Trojans' squad in mid-February 2009 for his actions during a contest against Western Kentucky, including walking off the court midway through first half. Another McDonald's All-American trying out for clown consideration was Jelan Kendrick (Mississippi), who ditched the Rebels' team during warm-ups against Alabama late in 2011-12 season before materializing mid-game in the student section to whisk his girlfriend away.

REGULAR CUSTOMERS: Lloyd Price (Xavier/Fairleigh Dickinson), the most highly-rated recruit in Xavier history at the time before transferring, was charged with FDU teammate Douglas Whittler in the armed robbery of a New Jersey convenience store in mid-November 2001. Price, who allegedly wore a hood around his face when he went into the store where he was a regular customer, was drunk as he showed the clerk a "starter's" pistol but dropped it and exposed his face when he went to pick gun up. Later, Price dropped out of Kentucky Wesleyan. Elsewhere, Walmart employees suspected Rico Gathers (Baylor) of pilfering items during previous visits before the Bears' all-time leading rebounder was arrested in mid-June 2015 for allegedly stealing household goods from the store.

ALVIN!!!!!: Alvin Robertson (Arkansas), an All-SWC first-team selection in 1983-84, was sentenced to a year in jail in August, 1997, after pleading no contest to four misdemeanor charges stemming from confrontations with his ex-girlfriend. He previously agreed to undergo therapy for spousal abuse. Robertson was sentenced to three years in prison in 2002 for a probation violation involving a rape accusation. In San Antonio in late February 2010, Robertson faced sexual assault of a child and sex trafficking charges alleging he was among seven people kidnapping a 14-year-old girl who was forced into prostitution and made to dance at a strip club (underage sex ring charges dismissed nearly six years later). In mid-June 2014, he was arrested on a charge of violating terms of a bond involving his GPS ankle monitor. Seven months later, Robertson was apprehended after being on the run for a week upon reportedly cutting off his GPS monitor. In late March 2015, court documents revealed he had accumulated 10 bond violations, including testing positive for methamphetamine.

MARSHALL PLAN SLAP IN FACE: Marshall Rogers (Kansas/Pan American), the nation's leading scorer in 1975-76 with Pan Am, was arrested in his hometown of St. Louis in late June 1987 and charged with assault and petty theft in connection with a shoplifting incident (bottle of Mennen Skin Bracer, stick deodorant, a pair of white sunglasses and three Baby Ruth candy bars worth a total of $13) at a downtown Walgreens drug store. Police said Rogers fought with two store managers, a security guard and three police officers before he was subdued after being struck in the head three times with a nightstick. Rogers, who was living with his mother and told arresting officers he had been out of work the previous three years, was confronted by store personnel and allegedly told them: "Here, you can have the Skin Bracer but that's all." After his diabetes worsened, he had both of his legs amputated below the knees before being checked into a nursing home in 2006. Rogers, who frequently clutched scrapbooks he kept of his playing exploits, died in mid-June 2011 at the age of 57 after refusing to undergo the kidney dialysis treatment doctors said he needed. What a drag for Walgreens that one of its stores in Miami was also robbed in mid-January 2017 by seven-footer Zach Brown (Connecticut commitment/St. John's signee), who reportedly was subsequently imprisoned for violating parole.

SIDNEY BEAMS IN STANDS: Renardo Sidney (Mississippi State), a Mississippi product, was ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA in 2009-10 amid requesting tax documents and income statements to verify his family's income while they lived in relatively posh arrangements in Southern California. Upon securing his eligibility, the summer circuit prima donna was suspended twice for off-the-court issues (including highly-publicized altercation with teammate in stands during tourney in Hawaii). "I was getting money," Sidney told NBC Sports. "I don't know how much. They were giving it to my mom." After ballooning to more than 300 pounds, he did not accompany the Bulldogs on a summer exhibition tour of Europe. "I was getting all kinds of gear and clothes and shoes and I was No. 1 (prep prospect) in the country," Sidney told Rob Dauster of NBC Sports after going undrafted by NBA. "The internet and TV kind of got to me and, as a young kid at that age, you just feel like you've made it already. I stopped working."

LEFT TEAMMATE FOR DEAD: Jamar Smith (Illinois/Southern Indiana), a Big Ten Conference All-Freshman team selection in 2005-06, was charged in middle of sophomore season with drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident (apparently believing unconscious Illini teammate Brian Carlwell died after Lexus struck tree in heavy snow rather than suffering severe concussion). Entered a plea of guilty to DUI with grievous bodily harm, resulting in leaving the scene charge dropped as part of a plea agreement. In fall of 2008, Smith was sentenced to 18 months of probation for violating a court order (continuing to get alcohol-abuse treatment and wearing ankle bracelet alerting authorities if he drank) after spotted outside a campus bar about 2:30 a.m. In the fall of 1999, accident protocol was exactly adhered to when Eldridge Recasner (Washington) was hospitalized with a fractured right shoulder and partially collapsed lung after SUV driven by NBA teammate Derrick Coleman (Syracuse) collided with a tractor trailer. Coleman, eventually acquitted of drunk driving charges but found guilty of "unsafe movement," didn't move in timely fashion to hospital for visit. Recasner was annoyed with him for failing to check in on whether he was OK for more than a week after the accident. Another Midwest player with last name of Smith who had difficulty uncovering the truth was Sammy Smith (Dayton). After a polygraph test did not support his story, Smith admitted fabricating tale about being abducted by a gunman in fall of 2002. Another tall tale came from Aaric Murray (La Salle/West Virginia/Texas Southern) in spring of 2020 when law enforcement searched him during investigation on another charge and found $6,415 in U.S. currency. Murray said he won money from gambling at a local establishment, but had no vouchers to prove claim and police report noted "none of the hotspots in town are open due to the (COVID) pandemic."

INDIAN FIGHTING COLUMBUS: Leon Smith (Fresno State commitment) was a Chicago product and ward of the state due to neglect from his parents. Committed to a psychiatric ward in Dallas for a month in late 1999 following a suicidal incident when the Mavericks' first-round draft choice out of high school threw a large rock through a house guest's SUV window and swallowed approximately 250 aspirin tablets before telling police officers, "I am an Indian fighting Columbus." After returning to Windy City, he was arrested twice within two days for threatening his ex-girlfriend and damaging her mother's automobile. Speaking of windows in 1999, charges were dropped after All-American Lee Nailon (TCU) was arrested for suspicion of drug possession and evading arrest (through back window of Comfort Inn motel room). Another potential window washer/salesman was Yuri Demetris (Pittsburgh), who was booted from the Panthers' team in mid-January 2005 following an altercation at his ex-girlfriend's apartment where he twice climbed through her window.

BEAT AROUND THE BUSH: Korey Spates (Purdue/Kent State), after beginning his college career with a six-day suspension, averaged 10.1 ppg in 15 games before off-the-court issues triggered his dismissal from Boilermakers in mid-January 2006. Cleveland native was supposed to transfer to Kent State, but his scholarship was rescinded reportedly after a conflict with the Golden Flashes' coach. In spring of 2017, the Palm Beach County state attorney's office chose not to press charges against him for lewd and lascivious behavior inside the children's department at a Macy's store at the Boynton Beach Mall. When store security approached him, he ran away and was found hiding behind bushes. Failing to capitalize on foliage was Doug Overton (La Salle), a three-time All-MAAC first-team selection from 1988-89 through 1990-91 who pleaded guilty to three counts of disorderly conduct. Overton was sentenced to one year of probation following arrest in late April 2017 after Lincoln PA coach exposed himself to both men and women on a public trail. Midwest exhibitionists included Teddy Grubbs (DePaul), who was charged with public indecency multiple times in the 1980s; J.P. Macura (Xavier), who dropped his pants in bar in spring of 2016 after allegedly providing police a fake ID, and Terrence Phillips (Missouri), who reportedly sent woman a photo of his genitals after voted chair of the SEC Men's Basketball Leadership Council. The most brazen "ball-handler" might have been Stanley Pringle (Penn State), who was charged with public lewdness and disorderly conduct in spring of 2008 in connection to a reported library masturbation incident. According to the criminal complaint, Pringle asked a victim while sitting down on top of desk behind her if she wanted to purchase hand lotion the J.C. recruit was selling for the Nittany Lions' team. "This is how I chill ma'am," Pringle explained to a female officer, placing his lotion-smooth hand down front of his sweatpants.

STANDING HARD TO LIVE UP TO CHRISTIAN LAST NAME: On the same day La Salle announced transfer of Christian Standhardinger (Nebraska/Hawaii) in mid-January 2011, the Explorers later issued a statement saying he would not be "coming" after cited on suspicion of public indecency (criminal charges subsequently dismissed). Didn't seem like "Christian" thing to do, but the 6-8, 220-pounder bearing a resemblance to Wacko-Jacko Michael Jackson was found shirtless with his pants down while cramped in the passenger seat of a parked car at 3:40 a.m. (after hours inside a park). Filipino-German was accompanied by a female also reportedly shirtless. Get a room but stand hard, Christian! Perhaps Standhardinger, suspended at Nebraska for academic reasons after previously suspended 15 games stemming from NCAA amateurism rules violation, was eventually found studying anatomy at a nude beach in Hawaii. The two-time All-Big West Conference selection averaged 16.9 ppg and 8.1 rpg for the Rainbows in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Speaking of getting caught in compromising position on the Plains, Kansas assists leader Tyshawn Taylor and a KU woman's hooper were suspended for one game late in the 2010-11 season after reportedly getting frisky playing unauthorized one-on-one "Rocks-Off Jayhawk" causing hot-and-heavy "Phog" on windows inside Allen Fieldhouse. What exactly is going on in cornfield mazes of the Midlands? Roburt Sallie (Nebraska signee before attending Memphis) sued the Spanish Basketball Federation for slander, libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. Sallie said he wasn't cut from his Spanish professional team for taking the penis enlargement pill ExtenZe, but was using a male sexual enhancement pill called Black Ant. As far as the portion of a report he wasn't showering with his team, Sallie said it was because he was uncomfortable with Spanish bathing culture socializing while naked. Ole!

TRUE CLAIMS OF PRISON-MADE GRANOLA BARS: Seth Sundberg (Hawaii) was a mortgage executive, also going by name of Franco Metcalf, convicted in 2009 of tax fraud, mail fraud and false claims against the U.S. over a $5 million tax refund received after filing fraudulent return. Seven-footer served a five-year prison sentence before founding Prison Bars, a company featuring "criminally delicious" snack bars inspired while toiling in kitchen during his incarceration and creating nutritious handmade granola bars sold to other prisoners.

NOT SO SWIFT NEEDING POOPER SCOOPER: Robert Swift (Southern California commitment), a part of the final wave of high school seniors jumping straight to the NBA in 2004, before the league introduced age-limit rules, was charged with unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun in mid-November 2014 after police raided the house where he was living. Swift, who had a grenade launcher among 26 firearms discovered on the property, told law enforcement that he was a heroin user but not a dealer. Swift's $1.35 million house outside Seattle was foreclosed on the previous year after leaving residence littered in feces, maggots in sink, more than 100 pizza boxes, more than 1,000 liquor bottles and bullet holes in walls, according to the family purchasing the filthy property. In early January 2015, he was arrested on armed robbery charges and eventually accepted a plea deal ($600 fine).

LUNCH LADY LEECHES: Donnell Thomas (Northern Illinois) was arrested in spring of 1990 for allegedly battering a school cafeteria worker. Perhaps the normal lunch lady wasn't there to give him extra yum-yums for being the Huskies' scoring and rebounding leader that season. Ditto Isaiah Rusher (New Mexico academic redshirt), who played only two games for Elizabeth City State NC in 2012-13 before leaving following an incident where the Houston native was accused of attacking a campus cafeteria worker (charge subsequently dropped). Dining dummies included Florida's Cody Larson and Erick Murphy as they plotted in back seat of police cruiser how to get out of a burglary arrest in spring of 2011 following a failed attempt to shake down an employee who was closing out a restaurant & bar. There must be something in the water in The Sunshine State as Rokas Ulvydas (UCF), irked after a roommate failed to acknowledge him at a tailgating party in the fall of 2018, allegedly threatened roommate at their apartment and became violent. Another roommate rumble involved Gerald Riley (Georgetown), who was charged in spring of 2004 with hitting teammate Amadou Kilkinny-Diaw at their home in Northwestern Washington in a dispute over money.

FROM BOGUS BILLS TO RAP CRAP: Dustin Thomas (Colorado/Arkansas), a part-time starting forward, was cited on drug possession charge shortly before 2 a.m. weeks before dismissal from Razorbacks squad just prior to start of 2018 NCAA playoffs. It wasn't long before he supplied a rap about exit from the Hogs' roster. Thomas was suspended from competition in the preseason and for first three games of season for an unspecified rules violation. After transferring from CU, he was arrested with a couple of new teammates on first-degree forgery charges in mid-July 2015 in the aftermath of a string of alleged transactions passing counterfeit cash at multiple businesses.

100-HOUR WORK WEEKS ALL YEAR: Vandale Thomas (Mississippi State/Southern LA), SWAC Newcomer of the Year and all-league second-team selection in 1995-96, was charged in a 12-count indictment alleging corruption during his tenure with New Orleans' Traffic Court, claiming he embezzled and over-billed the municipality more than $680,000 between 2009 and 2011. Money-laundering counts alleged Thomas bought thousands of dollars' worth of casino chips and made a down payment on an $80,000 Bentley GT Coupe. The politically-connected accountant, receiving three-year prison sentence for bilking court, submitted inordinate city invoices that were reviewed by the city's Inspector General for mismanagement ($1.3 million in less than three years). Even deducting the hours Thomas said he subcontracted, in 2010 alone he reportedly billed public entities at an outrageous pace of about 100-hour work weeks the entire year. This workload straining credulity would have required him to labor super-human 16-hour days, six days a week during the entire year. Many of the payments were authorized by a judge who was the traffic court's chief administrator. Thomas, who was political campaign treasurer for the judge and played on his softball team, said he never over-billed and that he gave no kickbacks. Meanwhile, court employees said they had never seen the accounting contractor, who is not a certified public accountant, with any staff or assistants.

CUSTOM JEWELRY: Whithworth "Junior" Treasure (Houston commitment/Texas Southern), a J.C. recruit dismissed from the Tigers' team before senior season despite averaging 14.6 ppg and team-high 2.9 apg in 2009-10, reportedly ransacked his SWAC coach's Houston residence along with TSU women's hooper in mid-February 2012. They were charged with stealing more than $530,000 of expensive jewelry and other items. Coach Tony Harvey said he alerted some local jewelers who make custom pieces such as the bling stolen from him. One of them called him back to say a couple seen on security video tried to sell him four pieces valued at $94,000 for $3,600. The difference between a HBCU and blue-blood program dealing in jewelry is reflected by starting forward Lance Thomas (Duke), who made a $30,000 down payment for five pieces he purchased for $97,800 similar to normal college student midway through the Blue Devils' NCAA championship campaign in 2009-10.

NEVER GET IN CAR, GOLF CART, TAXI, BUS OR AMBULANCE WITH STRANGER LET ALONE DUMB DAD: Jeremy Vague (Pepperdine/Utah State), a starting seven-foot center for 2002 Big West Conference regular-season champion, was sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation in late 2016 after admitting he exposed himself to one female passenger and groping another while on the job as an Uber ride-share driver. Vague pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of vehicle burglary in Utah stemming from a July 2002 incident involving the theft of golf clubs. Another misguided Uber driver was Addison Spruill (UNC Wilmington), who was cited for speeding and simple possession of marijuana upon being pulled over. You also might not want to get in vehicle with Felton Spencer (Louisville) if you want to get anywhere. Spencer was arrested around 2:30 a.m. in early January 2019 while asleep in Ford Expedition at a gas station and charged with DUI. Ditto Bernard Randolph (DePaul), who was arrested multiple times first third of 1988 (including stealing taxicab in Rockford, Ill., while driver got out at fast-food restaurant and left vehicle idling). Elsewhere, Dwayne Morgan (UNLV) was arrested at about 6:40 a.m. and faced disorderly conduct charge in spring of 2017 after trying to get into a police car, "thinking he could use it to drive home." It's difficult to comprehend what Tony Byers (Wake Forest) was thinking, if at all, as a 63-year-old bus driver in 2015 when the two-time All-ACC second-team selection was accused of having sex with a mentally handicapped woman although Byers' attorney said his client wasn't aware of the accuser's disability (IQ in 40s). Tanner Shell, who averaged 7 ppg and 2.8 rpg as an Arizona State freshman in 1999-00, was arrested in late July 2018 on suspicion of stealing an ambulance from a hospital and leading Mesa, Ariz., police on a brief pursuit. Shell, released from the facility for a heat-related issue, told officers he used the vehicle, running in a bay while crew dropped off another patient, because temperatures were too scorching to walk home (116 degrees). Shell told police he wanted to purchase a sandwich but needed to go home and get some money first. In regard to dunce drivers, Jason Richardson (Michigan State), fresh off a DUI arrest, was pulled over for going 90 mph in a 35-mph zone with his three-year-old son in the vehicle (although not in car seat).

TACO 'BOUT STUPID: Erving Walker (Florida), the Gators' all-time leader in assists when finishing his career in 2011-12, was arrested in spring of 2012 at 1 a.m. in connection to a $3 taco heist from a street vendor. Walker was ordered to pay $301 as punishment after pleading no contest to misdemeanor petit theft charges (resisting arrest charge was dropped). No word on whether the expensive taco was beef, chicken or fish. For the record, Walker led UF in steals as a sophomore and junior. There are other hoopers who deserve you're-a-real-bozo slaps in the face. In an equally stupid theft, walk-on guard Andrew Zehnder (Colorado) was arrested in early February 2009 on suspicion of breaking into plastic bins filled with CU merchandise (replica jerseys, T-shirts and stuffed animals) at the Coors Events Center. The petty crimes don't begin to stop there. Two-time All-American Tom Burleson (North Carolina State) was greeted with chorus of "Pinball Wizard" from Duke's pep band the first half of 1970s after admitting to taking $117 in change from three pinball machines in dormitory lobby; Domonic Tilford (Cincinnati/South Alabama) led Alabama police on a high-speed chase in early November 2014 after a pair of early-morning burglaries at cell-phone stores; James "Tyler" Ptacek (Evansville) was arrested by police who followed a trail of blood to his dorm room in spring of 2014 after injuring himself during break-in trying to take snack food at concessions stand; Holt Dunlap (UC Santa Barbara) was charged with trespassing and vandalism in late September 2012 (plants strewn around property amid 80-pound concrete planter in shape of goose removed from its spot in yard); Talen Horton-Tucker (Iowa State) pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor theft of about $16 worth of goods at Walmart in middle of 2018-19 campaign; Pape Sow (Cal State Fullerton) was suspended 11 games after he was caught stealing a $17 knit cap from the student bookstore, and Kendal "Tiny" Pinder plus a North Carolina State teammate were caught switching price tags on underwear in late 1970s (naturally, Duke's Crazies mockingly showered them with undies). By the way, Burleson was benched for the controversial 1972 Olympic gold-medal game after violating U.S. coach Hank Iba's rules by getting caught with his fiancee on the balcony of his dorm room.

WEED EATERS: Samaki Walker (Louisville), the Cardinals' leading rebounder in 1994-95 and 1995-96, was booked in Kingman, Ariz., in late July 2011 on drug charges. Officials said about 10 grams of marijuana Walker tried to eat (tampering with physical evidence) was seized from his Mercedes-Benz along with some prescription drugs and eight bottles of liquid steroids. Police said Walker indicated that he used the steroids to enhance his athletic ability as he still played professionally overseas. Charges were dropped, but other weed eaters were Cinmeon Bowers (Florida State signee/Auburn), the nation's #1 juco prospect when suspended from team at Chipola (Fla.) in middle of 2013-14 campaign after he and teammate Torian Graham (Buffalo/Arizona State) were arrested for allegedly tampering with evidence by consuming marijuana during a traffic stop in an attempt to conceal the drugs from police. Obviously, Terrance Joyner (Arkansas commitment/New Mexico State) didn't practice prompt weed consumption in middle of 2008-09 season when he was arrested after authorities discovered marijuana inside his luggage as NMSU departed on a road trip.

CHANGE OF CLOTHES: Chris Washburn (North Carolina State), an All-ACC second-team selection as a sophomore in 1985-86 under coach Jim Valvano, spent two years behind bars in the early 1990s, the second coming after a parole violation. "I was staying in the same clothes for weeks, maybe months at a time to a point where the (drug dealers) I was buying my stuff from would even pay me to go and change clothes," said Washburn, who was shepherded into more than a dozen rehab centers, none of which seemed to help. Hygienic Washburn said his "dad's last visions of him were of a dope fiend sliding along the floor stealing money from his wallet." He averaged only 3.1 ppg in two NBA seasons and was named one of the biggest 25 flops by ESPN in the first 25 years of the cable network. Washburn, who somehow secured entrance to college with an anemic 470 SAT score, was convicted of stealing an $800 stereo on-campus. He apparently should have swiped a TV stuck on the Grooming Channel to at least learn the merits of first syllable of his last name.

GUILE HIGH CLUB: Erwin Washington (Air Force), a four-year starting guard who averaged 8.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2.3 apg from 1979-80 through 1982-83, pleaded guilty to being (three times) above the alcohol limit for flying a plane after United Airlines pilot was arrested and failed a breathalyzer test in November 2009 shortly before flight was due to take off from London for Chicago. He allegedly barricaded himself in the cockpit for more than an hour before Scotland Yard talked him out. Bet you Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson could have extracted Washington from his hideout in less than a half hour. In regard to odd places for an arrest, Adrian Hayes (Northern Arizona) was apprehended while attending his criminal justice class in connection to an assault of former NAU football player in front of a downtown bar in the summer of 2003.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: Gordon Watt (Boston College/Purdue/Houston Baptist) was dismissed from Purdue's program in fall of 2007 before his junior season after second alcohol-related arrest in less than a year. A court upheld the seizure of $63,800 in cash from Watt subsequently ruled a forfeiture after deputies in western Iowa stopped his speeding rental car in 2013. The money was packaged in bundles and discovered with items investigators said was pointed to drug dealing (including a baggie of marijuana, digital scale and stolen/loaded Beretta handgun). Watt was believed to be driving to Colorado to purchase marijuana to resell in home state of Illinois despite claiming he was headed West to practice in the high altitude and didn't trust banks. Also flying high was Dion Waters (Syracuse), who was suspended without pay for 10 games early in 2019-20 NBA season for conduct detrimental to the team (Miami Heat) after an incident on a charter flight. Waiters reportedly experienced a "panic attack" following consumption of THC-infused edible ("gummies"). In 2013, a summer pool party with Waiters listed as host raged so wildly, with accusations of unapproved drinking, drug use and over-crowding at a public facility, that police were called and the Philly suburban community reviewed its rental policies.

THREE-WHEELING ARSENAL: Delonte West (Temple), an All-American guard in 2003-04, was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2010-11 NBA season after pleading guilty to weapons charges in Maryland. Authorities said he was carrying two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife while speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle (complete with sidecar) on the Capital Beltway the previous September. Battling bipolar disorder, he received home detention, probation and community service. His wife filed a domestic violence against him in the fall of 2009 and he was spotted loitering around a Houston fast-food restaurant parking lot in hospital robe and without his shoes in mid-February 2016. About three years later, multiple videos of West rambling incoherently and apparently homeless in Washington, D.C., surfaced on social media.

SHOVE WHERE SUN DOESN'T SHINE: Robert Whaley (Missouri signee/Cincinnati/Walsh OH), a prize prep prospect from Benton Harbor, Mich., was charged with third- and fourth-degree sexual misconduct in the alleged rape of a 13-year-old friend of his sister on Thanksgiving morning 2000, but his trial in June 2001 ended with a hung jury. He had numerous brushes with the law, dating back to 1994, when he was charged with unlawful use of an automobile. He pleaded guilty and received probation. The following year, he was charged with breaking into a house. He pleaded guilty to home invasion and was kept on probation. The week after the alleged rape, Whaley checked himself into a detox program and hospital records showed he suffered from chemical dependency and depression. In junior college (Barton County KS), he was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery stemming from a post-dance fight. In 2008, Whaley was placed on probation for a drug charge in his home state of Michigan. Member of the Bearcats' 2004 NCAA playoff team was arrested in March 2010 in the Salt Lake City area about 4:30 a.m. and police found marijuana "between his buttocks," according to a jail document. Since Michigan listed Whaley as a parole violator (for maintaining drug house), Utah extradited him and he began serving a two-year sentence. In the spring of 2015, Whaley was arrested for burglarizing a Marriott Hotel and ordered to serve 60 days in jail. It was also all about "inside" post position for Jon Kreft (Florida State), who spent time in jail following arrest in 2006 on drug charges (hid bag with cocaine in crevice of his lower cheeks). The anal activity didn't dissuade FSU from realigning with seven-footer in 2010 following a juco stint. A disposal dump also wasn't worth a spit for Demetrius Drew of Bruce Pearl-coached Southern Indiana. The former Central Missouri State player was arrested in early September 1999 on felony charges of marijuana possession (85 grams) at an on-campus apartment. Drew locked himself inside a bedroom and then bathroom, but police eventually found a clogged, overflowing toilet filled with weed.

ORANGE YOU MAD AT MASCOT?: DeShaun Williams (Syracuse/Iona), a third-team All-Big East Conference selection as junior in 2001-02, was kicked off Cuse's club because of scholastic problems (also convicted of DWI and cleared of allegedly striking a female student/team mascot Otto the Orange in bar in 2002). "Being a student at Syracuse, I loved every bit of it, and I would not take anything back if I could change it," Williams told OrangeFizz.com. "I just had fun. I did things that dudes do: women. I didn't have a favorite. I just took advantage of everything that came to me." Dismissed from Iona for academic deficiencies late in senior campaign in 2003-04. There was also a similar report involving Henry "Hank" McDaniel (Maine), a Chicago product who allegedly assaulted the school's athletic mascot (Bananas the Bear) in 1995 (charge subsequently dismissed by district court judge). Equally disconcerting was Chris Moss (West Virginia), who left the Mountaineers' squad midway through the 2000-01 season after spitting on a Notre Dame female cheerleader.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: Kaylon Williams (Milwaukee), the Horizon League's assists leader in 2011-12, was arrested in mid-August 2011 in his hometown of Cedar Rapids on suspicion of drunken driving (nearly three times legal limit in Iowa) after Evansville transfer fled a traffic stop and later taken down by a K-9 unit. The stupidity of it all spills over to hanger's-on as a student worker for Texas A&M faced theft and fraud charges in mid-2012 after accusations of stealing personal information from members of the 12th Man Student Foundation and credit cards of two members of coaching staff to buy food and pay for boarding for his dog. In late summer/early fall 2005, Dedrick Finn (Xavier) was accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend's pug dog.

ILLEGAL ALIEN DEADBEAT DAD: Kenny Williams (North Carolina commitment/Barton County Community College KS/Elizabeth City State NC), one of the nation's top five high school recruits in 1988, was sentenced in mid-August 2013 to nine months in prison and ordered to pay more than $661,000 in restitution for failing to pay child support after being a fugitive for more than a decade. He was deported from Israel as an illegal alien. The U.S. Attorney's office said Williams earned a salary playing for the NBA's Indiana Pacers, playing professionally overseas and drove luxury cars while his former wife and three children in U.S. were on welfare. In August 2000, deadbeat dad pleaded guilty to willful failure to pay child support.

CAN'T HE JUST GET ALONG (WITH ANYONE)?: Loren Woods (Wake Forest/Arizona), the nation's third-leading shot blocker in 1999-00, was arrested in spring of 2012 for DUI in Tampa before allegedly attempting to bribe an officer with $2,200 cash. Woods reportedly refused to perform a field sobriety test, saying such exams were biased against black people and that he would only do it if administered by a black officer. Received a six-game suspension as UA senior in 2000-01 for accepting illegal benefits (loan of unspecified amount from his former H.S. coach in St. Louis). Ejected from a Pacific-10 Conference game while restrained from attacking a referee and benched for another contest after ordered to leave practice the previous day. In 1997-98 at Wake, he took a leave of absence from the Demon Deacons for seven outings. He was suspended by the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves midway through 2002-03 campaign for conduct detrimental to the team. But at least Woods didn't trip a referee like Jarmal Reid (Oregon State), who was ejected from a game at Utah in mid-January 2016 with less than three minutes remaining while annoyed about a no-call by the official.

AUTO KNOW BETTER THAN THAT: Bob "Zeke" Zawoluk (St. John's), an All-American in 1950-51 and 1951-52, had a turbulent life including vast emotional instability, an arson rap, crack addiction, grand larceny conviction and prison. After getting fired by one of a series of auto dealers he worked for, he got even in an alcohol-fueled rage in Queens and Nassau County in 1986, dousing two luxury cars with gasoline, torching them, then ramming into 17 other cars, before being apprehended after a high-speed chase. Following another transgression, he was paroled on Christmas Eve, 1993, after serving nearly two years at Clinton Correctional Facility on robbery and grand larceny charges. A subsequent positive drug test violated his parole and sent him to Rikers Island in the mid-1990s. Speaking of using auto as battering ram, Frank Tolbert (Auburn) was arrested in fall of 2007 after one of the Tigers' top three scorers from 2005-06 through 2007-08 allegedly drove through impound lot fence at 3:15 a.m. to retrieve his SUV. An auto lot also wasn't safe from Jahlil Nails (Central Connecticut State), who was arrested in summer of 2018 for allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle from Ford dealership. Another dummy in dire need of driver's education was Zay Jackson (Austin Peay), who pleaded guilty to charges of wanton endangerment following surveillance footage of disturbing incident in a Walmart parking lot (plowing car straight into a couple's vehicle before driving several hundred feet and speeding up with male individual clinging to his hood prior to braking to send person sprawling to asphalt).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 13 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Mississippi State hoops lettermen Boo Ferriss and Buddy Myer supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto former Virginia hoopers Eppa Rixey and Mel Roach plus ex-juco hoopers Bob Oliver (American River CA) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 13 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 13

  • Toronto Blue Jays CF Danny Ainge (three-time Brigham Young basketball All-American and national player of year as senior in 1980-81) went 3-for-3 in a 5-4 setback against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State hoops squad) collected five hits, including two homers, and five RBI in a 20-9 win against the San Francisco Giants in 1959.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) won his sixth decision in a row en route to leading the N.L. in winning percentage in 1979.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's Mr. Basketball) cracked a pinch-hit grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1959 game.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Dave DeBusschere (three-time All-American for Detroit from 1959-60 through 1961-62) tossed a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in 1963.

  • In 1955, Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) committed his first miscue after an A.L.-record 165 errorless games.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) won his eighth straight game for victory No. 20 in 1946.

  • New York Giants INF Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) stroked four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1925 contest.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) hurled a one-hitter to beat the Chicago Cubs, 1-0, in 1966.

  • Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) provided three doubles in a 17-inning contest against the Chicago White Sox in 1933.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1960 outing.

  • In his MLB debut in 1981, Kansas City Royals LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 as sophomore in 1977-78 under ETSU coach Sonny Smith) hurled four innings of shutout relief against the Baltimore Orioles.

  • Cleveland Indians LF Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1979.

  • New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) shut out the Philadelphia Phillies' Whiz Kids in 1950.

  • In the midst of a career-high 17-game hitting streak, Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) contributed three hits and three runs against the New York Mets in a 1972 game.

  • Baltimore Orioles rookie RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) won his first five MLB starts in 1990.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Jimmy Miles (averaged 5.2 ppg and 8.9 rpg for Delta State MS in 1964-65) lost his lone MLB decision (7-3 against Kansas City Royals in 1969).

  • Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1930 game.

  • New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Minnesota Twins in a 1976 contest.

  • Kansas City Royals rookie 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) stroked four safeties in a 7-3 win against the Washington Senators in 1969.

  • C Don Prohovich (member of Holy Cross' 1954 NIT champion) traded with $15,000 by the White Sox to the Cubs for utilityman Earl Averill Jr. in 1960. Deal was first swap of players between the two Chicago franchises.

  • OF Rip Repulski (started several hoops games for St. Cloud State MN) hit a three-run pinch homer for the Philadelphia Phillies but they still lost against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-9, in 1958.

  • Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1911-12 and 1913-14) drove in two runs and blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-0, in 1932.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) went 3-for-3, including a homer, and chipped in with three RBI in a 4-2 win against the San Francisco Giants in 1960.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) whacked two homers in a 2003 game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 12 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Current Big Ten Conference members Illinois (Lou Boudreau), Maryland (Charlie Keller), Michigan State (Robin Roberts), Minnesota (Dave Winfield) and Ohio State (Steve Arlin) boast former hoopers making significant MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 12 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 12

  • San Diego Padres rookie RHP Steve Arlin (played two basketball games for Ohio State in 1964-65 under coach Fred Taylor) tossed his second shutout in less than three weeks in 1971.

  • California Angels RHP Chris Beasley (Arizona State's leading basketball scorer in 1983-84) lost his only MLB decision in 1991 (4-3 against Minnesota Twins).

  • Washington Senators 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) knocked in five runs in a 13-1 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1938.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 4-for-4, including two triples, against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1943 game.

  • Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) smacked two homers against the Atlanta Braves in a 2005 contest.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) contributed four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1931 game.

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) went 3-for-3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, homering in the second of three consecutive contests in 1959.

  • In the midst of a career-high 14-game hitting streak, New York Yankees rookie RF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) collected back-to-back three-safety contests against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1939.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) went 4-for-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1959 game.

  • California Angels 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) opened the game's scoring with a three-run homer in 4-2 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1974.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie RHP Paul Reuschel (averaged 12.1 rpg for Western Illinois in 1966-67 and 1967-68) surrendered his only run in a 13-game relief span through the end of the month in 1975.

  • In 1953, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 15th consecutive time. Roberts reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight season.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) registered back-to-back six-hit shutouts in 1945.

  • Baltimore Orioles OF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection for Eastern Mennonite VA in 1981-82 and 1982-83) and teammate Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) socked back-to-back pinch-hit homers but they weren't enough to prevent an 8-5 setback against the Cleveland Indians in 1985.

  • In 1960, Detroit Tigers RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA playoff team in 1952) supplied his eighth straight relief appearance without yielding an earned run.

  • Arizona Diamondbacks rookie 2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on hoops scholarship before transferring to KS junior college) registered his second five-hit game of the 2001 campaign.

  • Chicago Cubs INF-OF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) knocked in the winning run in the 11th inning of a 3-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1930.

  • Kansas City Athletics 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year Western Michigan hoops letterman averaged 5.6 ppg in 1947-48) posted his fifth straight multiple-hit game in 1959.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 3-for-3 against the New York Yankees in the opener of a 1934 doubleheader en route to 16 multiple-hit games during the month.

  • New York Yankees LF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered two homers and double against the Detroit Tigers in a 1983 outing.

  • San Francisco Giants CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) accounted for the game's only run with a homer at Florida in 2005.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 11 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Jim Wilson made MLB news on this date. Ditto a couple of small-college hoopers from schools in Georgia - Donn Clendenon (Morehouse) and Coot Veal (Mercer). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 11

  • In the midst of a career-high 20-game hitting streak in 1959, Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds, homering in his third straight outing.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) hurled his second shutout in a 10-day span in 1934.

  • New York Giants RHP Curt Barclay (Oregon's third-leading scorer and rebounder as sophomore in 1950-51) hurled a three-hit, 5-0 shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1957 doubleheader. It was Barclay's second straight whitewash.

  • Chicago Cubs OF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) furnished his third consecutive contest with three safeties in 1952.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) banged out three safeties for the second time in a three-game span in 1969.

  • Texas Rangers RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fired his second shutout against the Detroit Tigers during the 1974 campaign.

  • In 1990, Atlanta Braves RHP Marty Clary (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1981-82 and 1982-83) incurred his seventh defeat in as many decisions in a five-week span.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) cracked a grand slam against the Chicago Cubs in a 1962 game.

  • C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) delivered a decisive ninth-inning hit to give the win to RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA player in 1922) in the Philadelphia Athletics' 3-2 decision over the Washington Senators in 1928.

  • Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) caught the entire game for the Cleveland Indians without a putout (no strikeouts) in 1942 when they have a 14-inning scoreless tie with the Detroit Tigers.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 and scored four runs in a 7-6 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in 1987. Two years later, Gwynn went 4-for-4 against the Braves in the nightcap of a 1989 doubleheader en route to a league-high 203 hits.

  • San Francisco Giants LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) fired his final shutout of 12-year MLB career, a five-hitter against the Houston Astros in 1988.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) delivered five hits in a 15-inning game against the Cincinnati Reds in 1968.

  • LF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) capped off back-to-back-to-back homers by the Chicago Cubs but the three straight round-trippers weren't enough to prevent a 7-5 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 5-for-7 with three doubles in a 1938 contest against the Cincinnati Reds.

  • In 1945, Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (hooper for Millsaps MS in late 1920s and early 1930s) restricted the Boston Braves to two hits - both coming with two outs in the eighth inning.

  • In 1987, Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) smacked two homers for the third time in his last five games.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Rob Sperring (averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Pacific from 1968-69 through 1970-71) collected a homer and double in his MLB debut in 1974 (against San Francisco Giants).

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two homers in a 2004 game against the Colorado Rockies.

  • In 1959, Detroit Tigers SS Coot Veal (Auburn's scoring leader as sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) connected for his lone homer in 611 MLB career at-bats (against Chicago White Sox).

  • Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) provided three hits in both ends of a 1953 twinbill sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Detroit Tigers in 1949.

  • New York Giants rookie 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in the nightcap of a 1940 doubleheader.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 10 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read newsall about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Oklahoma hoopers Lindy McDaniel and Ryan Minor supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 10

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) delivered three doubles en route to a N.L.-high 42 in a 5-3 loss against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1934.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) posted his second five-hit game in less than two months in 1922.

  • Boston Braves rookie SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) delivered four safeties for his fifth multiple-hit outing in a row in 1948.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1934 contest.

  • 1B-OF Dick Gernert (hoops letterman with Temple in 1948-49 when he averaged 2.7 ppg) homered in the 10th inning to help catapult the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory against the New York Yankees in 1952.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) secured his seventh relief win in as many decisions covering a little more than five weeks in 1960.

  • Baltimore Orioles 3B Ryan Minor (two-time All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection for Oklahoma was league player of year as junior in 1994-95 when averaging 23.6 ppg and 8.4 rpg) manufactured career-high three hits against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in a 1999 outing.

  • In 1936, INF Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24), the defending A.L. batting champion, was sent home by the Washington Senators to recover from a season-long stomach ailment.

  • C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) purchased from the Cleveland Indians by the Washington Senators in 1963.

  • In the midst of five complete-game victories in less than a month in 1933, New York Giants RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) posted a win against the New York Yankees after notching saves in his previous four outings. Stoddard registered 14 consecutive scoreless relief appearances in September.

  • San Diego Padres RF Clint Venable (two-time All-Ivy League selection averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) contributed three extra-base hits in a 9-5 triumph against the New York Mets in 2011.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) tied a MLB mark by notching two assists in the seventh inning of the nightcap of a 1958 doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds. Twenty-four years later in 1982, Virdon was fired as Houston Astros manager.

  • Milwaukee Braves RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) fired a three-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving him his eighth consecutive win in 1954.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 9 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Louisiana State hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark delivered significant National League hitting performances on this date. Ex-Duke hoopers Chubby Dean and Billy Werber also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 9

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) drilled two homers in an 8-3 setback against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) blasted a grand slam in top of ninth inning to provide cushion in 8-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in opener of 1959 doubleheader.

  • In his first MLB at-bat, Seattle Mariners CF Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) belted a first-inning triple off John Candelaria of the California Angels in 1986.

  • Detroit Tigers C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected four hits and five RBI against the St. Louis Browns in a 1934 game.

  • New York Mets RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) ended his N.L. record-tying 18-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Cubs, 7-3, thanks to OF Jim Hickman's ninth-inning grand slam off RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad). Craig was on the losing end of a shutout nine times in 1963.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) extended his hitting streak to 17 games in 1951.

  • LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) awarded on waivers to the Cleveland Indians from the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Angels in 1962, igniting a personal streak of five straight triumphs.

  • New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) secured three extra-base hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 outing. Nine years later as a Cards 2B, Frisch contributed four hits and four runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1932 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) generated four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1932 game.

  • Cincinnati Reds 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) delivered four hits in a 9-8 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932.

  • Toronto Blue Jays 2B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) provided four hits in a 1983 game against the New York Yankees.

  • Cleveland Indians DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) smacked two homers against the Texas Rangers in the nightcap of a 1997 doubleheader.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) set new MLB record by stealing his 32nd consecutive base without being caught in 1975.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (TCU hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) manufactured four hits in a 3-2 loss against the New York Yankees in 1945.

  • In his MLB debut, Philadelphia Athletics RHP Rinty Monahan (scored 18 points in 10 basketball games for Niagara in 1947-48) retired all three sixth-inning batters he faced (including Detroit Tigers All-Star Harvey Kuenn) in nightcap of a 1953 twinbill.

  • Chicago White Sox SS Ray Morehart (Austin College TX hoops letterman in early 1920s) stroked a RBI double in his first MLB at-bat in opener of 1924 doubleheader against the Washington Senators.

  • RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to the Washington Senators in 1938.

  • Kansas City Athletics LF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) homered in both ends of a 1960 twinbill against the Washington Senators. Siebern stroked four hits and scored four runs the previous day against the Senators.

  • Boston Braves rookie C Ebba St. Claire (Colgate hoops letterman in 1941-42) tied a N.L. backstop standard by participating in three double plays in single game in 1951.

  • Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) hurled a six-hit shutout against the Houston Astros in 1972.

  • Detroit Tigers 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) had his sixth straight multiple-hit outing in the midst of a career-high 15-game hitting streak.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) knocked in five runs in a 1938 contest against the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in a 1936 outing.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew two walks for the eighth time in a nine-game span in 1956 en route to A.L.-leading 151 bases on balls.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News in August 8 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Fordham hoopers Frankie Frisch and Babe Young supplied significant National League hitting performances on this date. Ex-Duke hoopers Chubby Dean and Billy Werber accounted for the winning run in bottom of ninth inning with the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1937 contest. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 8

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) launched two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1956 twinbill.

  • Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) went 5-for-5 in a 9-6 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1929. Two years later, Alexander contributed four hits in a 7-1 victory against the Indians.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Joey Amalfitano (Loyola Marymount hooper in 1952-53) contributed a career-high four hits in a 14-10 triumph against the New York Mets in 1965.

  • Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) had career-high 16-game hitting streak snapped by his original team (the Cincinnati Reds) in the nightcap of a 1951 doubleheader.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) collected seven hits against the San Francisco Giants in a 1971 twinbill split.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians in 1962.

  • Philadelphia Athletics 1B Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) scored the game-winning run on a double by Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) in the bottom of ninth inning of a 5-4 verdict over the St. Louis Browns in 1937. Six years later as a LHP with the Cleveland Indians, Dean allowed only two hits in five innings of scoreless relief before knocking in the winning run in bottom of 14th of a 6-5 triumph against the Browns in opener of 1943 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1931 game.

  • Kansas City Royals RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.

  • Kansas City Royals 2B Bob Hegman (four-year starting point guard for St. Cloud State MN averaged 9.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg from 1976-77 through 1979-80) made his only MLB appearance as a defensive replacement in top of ninth inning in opener of 1985 twinbill against Chicago White Sox. He replaced 3B George Brett in lineup with teammate Greg Pryor shifting from 2B to 3B.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1948 contest.

  • Kansas City Royals 1B Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1971 outing.

  • Atlanta Braves rookie RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the San Diego Padres for the second game in a row in 1990.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) went 4-for-4 with three doubles against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1941 game.

  • SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) stroked a two-out single in the ninth inning to give the New York Yankees a 3-2 victory against the Texas Rangers in 1973.

  • RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) pounded an 11th-inning homer to propel the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) fired a 10-inning shutout against the New York Mets, triggering a streak where he won nine of his final 11 starts of the 1969 campaign.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 in the nightcap of a 1929 twinbill against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) won his eighth straight decision and fourth game in 10 days in 1956.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) socked two homers in each of back-to-back games against the Texas Rangers in 1987.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Rollie Stiles (played hoops for Southeastern State OK in 1926-27) registered his third victory in as many decisions in a six-week span in 1931.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) notched his fourth save in as many relief appearances during a 12-game scoreless stretch in 1980.

  • Detroit Tigers RF-1B Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) knocked in five runs against the Texas Rangers in the opener of a 1979 doubleheader.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and six RBI against the Cleveland Indians in opener of a 1985 twinbill.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered and drew four walks in a 1957 game against the New York Yankees.

  • New York Giants 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1941.

Canton College Cagers: Former Hoopers Comprise 10% of NFL Hall of Fame

College basketball boasts a significant presence during the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio. The event slated for this weekend was postponed for one year. At any rate, following is an alphabetical list of former college hoopers comprising about 10% of the gridiron HOF members:

DOUG ATKINS, Tennessee
Member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eight-time Pro Bowl participant played 17 NFL seasons (1953 through 1969) as a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He was a first-round NFL draft selection (11th pick overall) after competing in two Cotton Bowls and one Sugar Bowl. . . . Atkins originally enrolled on a basketball scholarship at Tennessee, where he played one season of varsity basketball before concentrating on football. The 6-5, 210-pound center averaged 9.9 points per game for the 1950-51 Volunteers, ranking third on the team in scoring. He was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1953 NBA draft.

MORRIS "RED" BADGRO, Southern California
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was an offensive and defensive end with the New York Yankees (1927 and 1928), New York Giants (1930 through 1935) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1936) in a nine-year NFL career that was interrupted by a stint in major league baseball. Hit .257 in two seasons (1929 and 1930) as an outfielder with the St. Louis Browns after becoming a three-time All-Pro with the Giants. . . . Earned varsity basketball letters for the Trojans in 1924-25 and 1926-27. Named to the first five on the All-Pacific Coast Conference team as a forward in 1926-27 when he was USC's MVP.

CLIFF BATTLES, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Halfback became member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Led the NFL in rushing as a rookie with Boston in 1932 and in his final season with Washington in 1937. First NFL player to rush for 200 yards in a game (215 yards in 16 carries for the Boston Redskins against the New York Giants in 1933). . . . The 6-1, 195-pounder played four seasons of varsity basketball in college.

SAMMY BAUGH, Texas Christian
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame is considered by many as the finest quarterback in history. Consensus All-American in 1936. Passed for 21,886 yards and 186 touchdowns in 16 years (1937 through 1952) with the Washington Redskins. First-round pick led the NFL in passing five times, in punting five times and in pass interceptions once. Five-time All-Pro participant held almost all of the NFL's passing records when he retired. His 44-yard gallop was the longest run from scrimmage in a 3-2 victory over LSU in the 1936 Sugar Bowl before helping the Horned Frogs defeat Marquette, 16-6, in the 1937 Cotton Bowl. . . . Three-year letterman in basketball at TCU was an honorable mention selection on the All-Southwest Conference team as a senior in 1936-37.

BOBBY BELL, Minnesota
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a consensus All-American choice as a tackle and winner of the Outland Award as the nation's outstanding interior lineman in 1962. Selected in the seventh round of the 1963 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. As a linebacker, the nine-time All-Pro selection intercepted 25 passes in his 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Bell played in two Super Bowls (I and IV). . . . He became the first African-American basketball player for Minnesota when appearing in three games in 1960-61 season, collecting four points and four rebounds.

JIM BROWN, Syracuse
Movie actor is member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earned All-American honors in football and lacrosse. Averaged 6.2 yards per carry as a senior in 1956 and scored 43 points in a game against Colgate. Co-MVP in 1957 Cotton Bowl. The first-round draft choice established NFL career records for yards rushing (12,312), rushing attempts (2,359), rushing average (5.2 per carry), touchdowns (126) and years leading league in rushing (eight) in his nine seasons (1957 through 1965) with the Cleveland Browns. Nine-time Pro Bowl selection. . . . Averaged 14 ppg for the Orangemen basketball team as a sophomore and 11.3 as a junior. He is reluctant to specifically say why he quit the team before his senior season when Syracuse participated in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, but indicated it was because of a racial quota. "Well, they basically didn't want to start more than two blacks (Vinnie Cohen and Manny Breland) although nobody could outrun, outjump or outshoot me," said Brown, who was selected in the ninth round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals. "It really was a tragedy the way athletics were handled there at the time," said Cohen, who went on to become a Washington, D.C., lawyer for 40 years. Excerpt from school guide: "Brownie is a powerfully built youth, who helps under the boards, and is an excellent shot as well." His son Jimmy, a two-time All-MEAC first-team selection, played for three NCAA Tournament teams with North Carolina A&T from 1983 through 1985 after transferring from Southern Cal and was the Aggies' leading scorer as a senior with 18.2 ppg.

JUNIOUS "BUCK" BUCHANAN, Grambling
Pro Football Hall of Famer was the first pick overall in the 1962 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. The 6-7, 285-pound defensive tackle missed only one game because of injury in his 13-year pro career, which included a streak of eight consecutive seasons being named to either the AFL All-Star Team or NFL Pro Bowl. Instrumental in the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the heavily-favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. . . . Concentrated solely on football after earning a basketball letter as a freshman in 1958-59. Buchanan and teammate Ernie Ladd both intended on only playing basketball for Grambling before legendary coach Eddie Robinson kept both from transferring by allegedly giving them a key to the cafeteria's kitchen so they could go there and eat whenever they were hungry if the pair would come out for the football squad.

EARL "DUTCH" CLARK, Colorado College
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Halfback and quarterback was named to All-NFL team in six of his seven seasons with Portsmouth (1931 and 1932) and Detroit (1934 through 1938). Led the NFL in scoring in 1932, 1935 and 1936. Player-coach of Detroit in 1937 and 1938) and head coach of Cleveland Rams from 1939 through 1942. First-team QB on the 1928 AP All-American team. Scored at least one touchdown in 21 consecutive college football games. . . . The 6-0, 180-pounder was an All-Rocky Mountain Conference choice in basketball all four seasons (first team as a freshman and senior, second team as a junior and third team as a sophomore). Sketch in Spalding Official Guide: "There isn't a man who could match Clark as a floor guard. The best dribbler ever to bounce a ball in the conference."

GEORGE CONNOR, Holy Cross/Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame was Outland Trophy winner (outstanding interior lineman) as a tackle on Notre Dame's 1946 national championship team. Consensus All-American football choice in 1946 and 1947. Earned All-America honors as a tackle at Holy Cross in 1943 before transferring to Notre Dame. First-round draft choice by the New York Giants in 1946 (5th pick overall). Played offensive/defensive tackle and linebacker with the Chicago Bears for eight years from 1948 through 1955, earning All-NFL first-team honors from 1949 through 1953. . . . Averaged 2.5 points per game as a 6-3, 225-pound center on the Irish's 1946-47 basketball team. Basketball letterman with Holy Cross in 1943 and 1944.

LEN DAWSON, Purdue
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame completed 2,136 passes for 28,731 yards and 239 touchdowns in 19 seasons (1957 through 1975) with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. First-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to become a seven-time All-Pro. Quarterbacked the Chiefs to victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl following 1969 season. . . . Played in two games as a 6-0, 180-pound guard for Purdue's basketball team in the 1956-57 campaign.

MIKE DITKA, Pittsburgh
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. The tight end caught 427 passes for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons (1961 through 1972) with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The first-round draft choice participated in two Super Bowls with Dallas (V and VI) after playing five Pro Bowls with the Bears (1962 through 1966). Coached Super Bowl winner in 1985 season when the Bears compiled an 18-1 overall record. Registered a 112-68 mark in 11 years (1982-92) as coach of the Bears. Coached the New Orleans Saints in the late 1990s between stints as a network analyst. . . . The 6-2, 205-pound forward averaged 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Panthers (1958-59 and 1959-60) after playing in high school under Press Maravich, the father of Pete Maravich, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer. Sketch in school basketball guide: "A natural athlete who never quits. If Pitt wins a few games, there is a good chance he will be in the thick of things."

JOHN "PADDY" DRISCOLL, Northwestern
Five-time first-team All-Pro back/drop-kicker passed for 16 touchdowns, rushed for 25, caught four TD passes and kicked 51 field goals with the Chicago Cardinals and Bears through the entire 1920s. Hall of Famer compiled a 31-17-5 pro coaching record (17-8-4 with Cardinals from 1920 through 1922 and 14-9-1 with Bears in 1956 and 1957), losing to New York Giants in 1956 championship game. He also coached Marquette to a 10-23-1 mark in four years from 1937 through 1940. . . . The 5-11, 160-pounder was a basketball letterman in 1916. He also was an MLB player as an infielder with the Chicago Cubs in 1917.

WILBUR "WEEB" EWBANK, Miami (Ohio)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame is the only head coach to win championships in both the NFL (Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959) and AFL (New York Jets in 1968). . . . Two-year basketball letterman for Miami (1926-27 and 1927-28) compiled a 5-13 record as head basketball coach at his alma mater in 1938-39 and an 8-12 mark as Brown's head basketball coach in 1946-47.

TONY GONZALEZ, California
After catching 53 passes for 768 yards and five touchdowns as a junior in 1996 for Cal's Aloha Bowl squad, the first-team All-America tight end declared for the NFL draft and was selected in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs. Became the Chiefs' all-time leader in pass receptions by a tight end midway through the 2000 season en route to a league-best 1,069 for 12,463 yards and 88 TDs through 2010. In 2006, he became their all-time leader in yards from scrimmage before going to the Atlanta Falcons. Caught 70 or more passes 11 times in 12 years from 1999 through 2010, including a career-high 102 in 2004. . . . Gonzalez, who averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 1994-95 through 1996-97, scored a career-high 29 points vs. Washington State en route to setting school freshman record by shooting 64% from the floor. He averaged 18 points and shot 61% from the floor in the Bears' first two NCAA Tournament games in 1997.

OTTO GRAHAM, Northwestern
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Quarterback earned All-American honors and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior in 1943. First-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1944 (4th pick overall). Played 10 seasons (1946 through 1955) with the Cleveland Browns and quarterbacked team to championship game each year (All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1949 and NFL from 1950 through 1955). Compiled a 105-17-4 playing record in regular-season pro competition, completing 1,464 of 2,626 passes for 23,584 yards and 174 touchdowns. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951 through 1955). Compiled a 17-22-3 record as coach of the Washington Redskins in three years from 1966 through 1968. . . . Played three seasons of varsity basketball, finishing second in the Big Ten Conference in scoring as a sophomore (13.1 ppg) and as a junior (15.8). The 6-0 forward earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1941-42 and first five honors in 1942-43. Also played for Colgate as a senior. NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 1944 and second-team All-American in 1943. Left Northwestern with the highest scoring total in school history with more than 600 points. Played one season with the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League, averaging 5.2 points per game for the 1945-46 squad that won the NBL title.

HARRY "BUD" GRANT, Minnesota
Former NFL and CFL end and coach. First-round choice by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1950 NFL draft. Played with Philadelphia in 1951 and 1952 and Winnipeg of the CFL from 1953 through 1956. Caught 272 passes for 4,197 yards and 20 touchdowns in six pro seasons, leading the CFL in pass receptions in 1953 (with 68), 1954 (49) and 1956 (63). Coached Winnipeg in the CFL (1957-66) and Minnesota in the NFL (1967-85). Coach of four CFL champions and four NFL Super Bowl teams. . . . Third-leading scorer for the Gophers' basketball squad in 1948-49 (8.5 ppg) after being named team MVP the previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre. Finished 13th in the Big Ten Conference in scoring in 1946-47 with a 9.3 average. Played two seasons in the NBA, including a rookie year when he was a member of the Lakers' 1950 championship team.

GEORGE HALAS, Illinois
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame compiled a 324-151-31 record as an NFL coach, guiding the Chicago Bears to seven NFL titles. His 40-year NFL coaching career also included stints with the Decatur/Chicago Staleys. MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl as an end for Great Lakes. . . . The 6-0, 175-pound Halas, known for his gritty defense, was a starting guard for the Illini team that won the Big Ten Conference basketball title in 1916-17 with a 10-2 record. He was captain of the squad the next season before entering the armed forces in mid-January. He was also an outfielder in 12 games for the New York Yankees in 1919.

MEL HEIN, Washington State
Hall of Fame charter member played with the New York Giants for 15 years from 1931 through 1945. In 1994, Hein was named to the NFL's all-time 75-year anniversary team. Eight-time All-NFL center scored a touchdown in 1938 when he was named the league's MVP. In college, he intercepted eight passes in a game against Idaho. . . . The 6-2, 220-pounder was a basketball letterman in 1930 after leading WSU to a Rose Bowl bid. He was supervisor of officials for the American Football Conference of the NFL until his retirement.

ELROY "CRAZY LEGS" HIRSCH, Wisconsin/Michigan
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. First-round draft choice by Cleveland in 1945 (5th pick overall). Played halfback, defensive back and offensive end as a pro with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1948 and Los Angeles Rams of the NFL from 1949 through 1957. Caught 387 passes and scored 66 touchdowns as a pro. Played in four NFL championship games. Held the Rams' team record for most touchdown receptions for almost 40 years until it was broken by Isaac Bruce in 2001. . . . Starting center for the Wolverines' basketball team in 1944 while undergoing military training there. Sketch in Michigan guide: "Naval transfer from Wisconsin was a big aid, chiefly through his flaming competitive spirit."

PAUL HORNUNG, Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame earned All-American honors as a quarterback in 1955 and 1956. Only Heisman Trophy winner to play for a losing team (2-8 as a senior). First pick overall in the NFL draft as a bonus selection. Played nine seasons as a halfback/placekicker with the Green Bay Packers, leading the NFL in scoring in 1959, 1960 and 1961. He rushed for 3,711 yards and 50 touchdowns and caught 130 passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns. Played in five NFL championship games and two Pro Bowls (1960 and 1961). . . . Played varsity basketball for the Irish as a sophomore, averaging 6.1 points per game in 10 contests. Wrote Hornung in his autobiography Golden Boy: "(Coach Johnny) Jordan liked to tip a few, and sometimes, on the road, he'd take me out drinking with him. He could do that because I wasn't on basketball scholarship."

MARV LEVY, Coe (Iowa)
Hall of Famer (elected in 2001) compiled a 143-112 record as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (1978-82) and Buffalo Bills (1986-97). He had a 17-5 mark against Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. Posted an 11-8 postseason mark with the Bills en route to becoming the only NFL coach to win four consecutive league or conference championships. But he lost four straight Super Bowls. He was special teams coach of the Washington Redskins' 1972 Super Bowl entrant. Also served as head coach for three colleges--New Mexico (14-6 record in two years in 1958 and 1959), California (8-29-3 record in four years from 1960 through 1963) and William & Mary (23-25-2 in five years from 1964 through 1968). . . . Coached basketball one season for his alma mater in 1955-56. The team compiled a 20-5 record, won the Midwest Collegiate Conference with a 14-2 mark and lost to Stephen F. Austin, 74-62, in the first round of the NAIA Tournament. Levy earned a basketball letter with the 1949-50 Coe squad that posted a 3-14 mark.

RONNIE LOTT, Southern California
Unanimous All-American defensive back played 15 seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs (1981 through 1995). Intercepted 14 passes for the Trojans (two for touchdowns) before intercepting 63 passes in regular-season NFL competition and nine in the postseason. First-round draft choice played in 10 Pro Bowl games and four Super Bowls. . . . Collected nine assists, four points and three rebounds in six games for the Trojans' basketball squad as a junior in 1979-80.

JOHN MACKEY, Syracuse
Three-time All-Pro tight end became an NFL Hall of Famer after being a second-round draft choice by the Baltimore Colts in 1963. The 6-2, 220-pounder caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns in 10 seasons. Six of his nine TD catches in 1966 came on plays of more than 50 yards. He grabbed a deflected pass from Johnny Unitas for a 75-yard TD in Super Bowl V after having three pass receptions in Super Bowl III. . . . Mackey collected 28 points and 28 rebounds in six basketball games with the Orangemen in 1960-61.

GEORGE MUSSO, Millikin (Ill.)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played for seven divisional winners and four NFL title teams. The 6-2, 270-pound guard and tackle played for 12 seasons (1933 through 1944) with the Chicago Bears. As a collegian, he played against future President Ronald Reagan, who attended Eureka. As a member of the Bears in 1935, Musso played against future President Gerald Ford in the Bears-College All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman in college.

EARLE "GREASY" NEALE, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Pro Football Hall of Famer compiled a 63-43 record as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 10 years from 1941 through 1950, winning back-to-back NFL titles by shutting out their opponents in championship games in 1948 and 1949. Guided Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) to the 1922 Rose Bowl before coaching Virginia and West Virginia. He starred as an end on Jim Thorpe's pre-World War I Canton Bulldogs. Also played as a major league outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds for eight years from 1916 to 1924, hitting .357 in the infamous "Black Sox" 1919 World Series. . . . Class of 1915 at WVWC.

ERNIE NEVERS, Stanford
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He was a consensus All-American selection as a senior fullback in 1925 before rushing for 37 touchdowns in five NFL seasons with the Duluth Eskimos (1926 and 1927) and Chicago Cardinals (1929 through 1931). Set NFL record with a 40-point game against the Chicago Bears in 1929. Co-MVP of the 1925 Rose Bowl. . . . Compiled a 6-12 pitching record in three seasons (1926 through 1928) with the St. Louis Browns. He yielded two of Babe Ruth's record-tying 60 home runs in 1927. . . . Lettered in basketball for Stanford as a sophomore and junior. Named to the All-Pacific Coast Conference second five as a junior in 1924-25. Historians say he was a fine shooter, an excellent dribbler, tough on defense, and generally a terrifying figure for the opposition. The Spalding Basketball Guide said: "He is almost as good a basketball player as he is a football star. With his speed, weight and general all-around ability, he was a stellar performer."

TERRELL OWENS, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Caught 592 passes for 8,572 yards and 81 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers after being their third-round draft choice in 1996. Heir apparent to Hall of Fame-bound Jerry Rice as the 49ers' go-to wide receiver after catching 15 touchdown passes in 1998, including at least one in each of the last eight regular-season games. Owens' dramatic 25-yard touchdown catch from Steve Young with three seconds remaining lifted the 49ers to a 30-27 victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild-card game following the 1998 season. Owens set an NFL single-game record with 20 receptions against the Chicago Bears in 2000, the first of three consecutive years when he caught more than 90 passes. His first year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 resulted in him participating in the Super Bowl. Later, he set a Cowboys single-game record with four TD catches against the Washington Redskins. Including one-year stints with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, the six-time Pro Bowler amassed 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 TDs (all-time runner-up to Rice) through 2010, leading the league in TD receptions three times (2001, 2002 and 2006). Played in the Senior Bowl after becoming UTC's all-time leading receiver (143 catches for 2,320 yards and 19 TDs). . . . Collected 57 points and 49 rebounds in 38 games (five starts) for UTC's basketball squad in three seasons from 1993-94 through 1995-96. In his only NCAA playoff game, he was scoreless in one minute against No. 2 seed Connecticut in 1995 West Regional after hitting 11 of 17 field-goal attempts during the regular season.

CLARENCE "ACE" PARKER, Duke
College Hall of Famer led the Blue Devils to a three-year record of 24-5 in the mid-1930s, serving as team captain in his final season in 1936 when they went 9-1. After playing a variety of positions (quarterback, tailback, defensive back and punter), was a second-round choice in the 1937 NFL draft (13th overall). Passed for 3,935 yards and 22 touchdowns, rushed for 1,108 yards and 10 TDs and punted for a 39.5-yard average with the Brooklyn Dodgers/Boston Yanks in six years from 1937 through 1941 and 1945. Three-time consensus All-Pro led the NFL in passing yards in 1938 with 865. He paced the league with six interceptions in 1940 when he was named NFL Most Valuable Player. . . . Basketball letterman for the Blue Devils in 1935-36. Also played major league baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics.

DAVE ROBINSON, Penn State
Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker had 27 interceptions with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins in 12 seasons from 1963 through 1974. First-round selection (14th pick overall) participated in first two Super Bowls. He caught 23 passes for 305 yards as wide receiver with the Nittany Lions from 1960 through 1962. . . . The 6-3 Robinson made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games with the Nittany Lions in 1960-61.

ART SHELL, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders for six years from 1989 through 1994. Offensive tackle for the Raiders from 1968 through 1982 played in eight Pro Bowls (1973 through 1979 and 1981) after being picked in the third round. Participated in Super Bowls XI and XV. . . . Two-year basketball letterman as a 6-5, 265-pound center at school that was then known as Maryland State College. Sketch from school guide: "Pure muscle. Amazing agility. Uncompromising under the boards, nobody pushes big Art without a battle."

ROGER STAUBACH, Navy
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame won Heisman Trophy in 1963. Passed for 3,571 yards and rushed for 682 in his career at Navy (1962 through 1964). Quarterback in four Super Bowls during his 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Six-time Pro Bowl selection passed for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns after being a 10th-round draft choice in 1964. . . . Averaged 9.3 ppg for the 1961-62 Navy plebe (freshman) basketball team. The 6-2, 190-pound forward scored five points in four games for Midshipmen varsity squad the next season.

JOE STYDAHAR, West Virginia
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Earned All-American honors as a 6-4, 230-pound tackle in 1935. Played nine seasons (1936 through 1942, 1945, and 1946) with the Chicago Bears after being their first-round pick in the first NFL draft. Named to All-NFL team four times from 1937 through 1940. Coached Los Angeles Rams (1950-51) and Chicago Cardinals (1953-54), leading Rams to 1951 NFL title. In 1934, he he set a school record with seven blocked punts, including three for touchdowns. Participated in both the East-West Shrine Game and College Football All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman was captain of the Mountaineers' 1934-35 team compiling a 16-6 record. Selected as a center to the first five on West Virginia's Pre-World War II team that was named as part of university's all-time basketball squad.

JASON TAYLOR, Akron
All-Pro defensive end was a third-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1997 (73rd pick overall) after the first-team All-Mid-American Conference linebacker was named North Defensive MVP at the Senior Bowl. He managed more sacks than anyone in a six-year span from 2000 through 2007, including a league-high 18.5 in 2002. His five fumble returns for touchdowns is a Dolphins' team record. Also returned three interceptions for TDs. Also played with the Washington Redskins and New York Jets. Through 2010, he had 132.5 sacks and 387 individual tackles. . . . The 6-6, 250-pounder played 22 basketball games for the Zips in 1994-95, averaging 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg while shooting 46.8% percent from the floor.

EMLEN TUNNELL, Toledo
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played in nine Pro Bowl games (1951 through 1958 and 1960). Defensive back established career records for interceptions (79), yards gained on interceptions (1,282) and yards gained on punt returns (2,209) in 14 seasons (1948 through 1961) with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. . . . The 6-1, 180-pound forward was a top reserve for 1942-43 Toledo basketball team compiling 22-4 record and finishing runner-up in NIT.

DOAK WALKER, Southern Methodist
Member of both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame. SMU legend was a three-time All-American halfback and the school's only Heisman Trophy winner (as a junior in 1948). Finished third in Heisman voting in 1947 and 1949. Scored 38 touchdowns in his four-year SMU career, including two kickoff returns in 1947. Walker rushed for 1,928 yards in college, passed for 1,654, caught passes for 454 and returned eight interceptions for 176. He was also a punter and placekicker for the Mustangs. Co-MVP in back-to-back Cotton Bowls (1948 and 1949). First-round choice by the New York Bulldogs in the 1949 NFL draft (3rd pick overall). Walker rushed for 1,520 yards and 12 touchdowns in six years with the Detroit Lions (1950 through 1955), leading the NFL in scoring as a rookie (128 points) and in his final season (96). Member of NFL championship teams in 1952 and 1953 scored on a 62-yard run in the '52 title game. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951-52-54-55-56). . . . Walker was a basketball letterman in 1945-46 with SMU as a freshman.

LARRY RAYFIELD WRIGHT, Fort Valley State (Ga.)
Seventh-round draft choice played with the Dallas Cowboys for 13 years from 1967 through 1979. All-Pro offensive tackle six straight seasons from 1971 through 1976. Caught a touchdown pass as a tight end in 1968. Played in five Super Bowls (following 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977 and 1978 campaigns). . . . The 6-6, 245-pounder, an All-SIAC basketball player, averaged 17 ppg and 15 rpg as a junior and 21 ppg and 17.4 rpg as a senior.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 7 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Joe Ferguson (Pacific), David Justice (Thomas More KY) and Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) each hit two homers in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 7

  • Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) amassed three extra-base hits and six RBI in a 14-4 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1929.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) collected two homers and six RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1940 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RF Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) drilled two triples against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1976 contest. Three years later with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ferguson whacked two homers against the Houston Astros in a 1979 outing.

  • Brooklyn Robins LF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1938 doubleheader.

  • Washington Senators rookie RHP Bucky Jacobs (member of undefeated hoops team in 1935 was among Richmond's top two scorers each of next two seasons) earned his lone MLB victory (against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1937 twinbill).

  • Atlanta Braves rookie RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) went 4-for-4 with two homers against the San Diego Padres in the nightcap of a 1990 twinbill. Ten years later as a LF with the New York Yankees, Justice smacked two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 2000 game.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1993 contest.

  • 2B Dutch Meyer (TCU hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) traded by the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1940.

  • St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) went 5-for-5 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1956 game.

  • RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) awarded off waivers from the Detroit Tigers to the Atlanta Braves in 1973.

  • RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) shipped by the Detroit Tigers to the Montreal Expos as part of a conditional deal in 1974.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) capped off a career-long 13-game hitting streak by homering twice in a 1994 outing against the Toronto Blue Jays.

  • In 1987, Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as its No. 9 all-time scorer) blanked the New York Yankees, 8-0, retiring the last 24 batters in a row.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma won seventh straight start, improving his record to 13-2 in 1961.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1924 contest.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Rollie Stiles (played hoops for Southeastern State OK in 1926-27) hurled his lone MLB shutout (against the Chicago White Sox in 1933).

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) collected four hits and four RBI in a 1999 game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

  • In 1990, California Angels RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered his 2,500th career hit.

Henson Among All-Time Winningest Coaches for Two Different DI Schools

Recently-deceased Lou Henson fell just short of becoming one of 10 major-college coaches to compile 800 victories. But Henson is the only individual to post more than 300 victories for two different NCAA Division I schools as their all-time winningest pilot (Illinois and New Mexico State). He is one of the following six bench bosses to be the all-time winningest mentor for two different DI schools:

Coach First DI School (W-L Record/Pct.) Second DI School (W-L Record/Pct.)
Dana Altman* Creighton (327-176 from 1994-95 through 2009-10/.650) Oregon (259-103 from 2010-11 through 2019-20/.715)
Jim Calhoun Northeastern (250-137 from 1972-73 through 1985-86/.646) Connecticut (627-244 from 1986-87 through 2011-12)/.720)
Lou Henson New Mexico State (309-176 from 1966-67 through 1974-75 and 1997-98 through 2004-05/.637) Illinois (421-226 from 1975-76 through 1995-96/.651)
Ron Hunter* IUPUI (293-219 from 1994-95 through 2010-11/.572) Georgia State (171-95 from 2011-12 through 2018-19/.643)
Gregg Marshall* Winthrop (194-83 from 1998-99 through 2006-07/.700) Wichita State (331-121 from 2007-08 through 2019-20/.732)
Willis Wilson* Rice (218-247 from 1992-93 through 2007-08/.469) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (138-151 from 2011-12 through 2019-20/.478)

*Active at DI level.
NOTE: Bill Coen needs only 10 victories to surpass Calhoun's victory total at Northeastern.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 6 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former hoopers from several Deep South small colleges beginning with letter "M" - Dale Alexander (Milligan TN), Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA) and Harry Craft (Mississippi College) - made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 6

  • In a 1932 game, 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) provided a single for the Boston Red Sox' lone safety off Wes Ferrell of the Cleveland Indians.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1966 contest.

  • Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) fired as Detroit Tigers manager in 1938.

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) cracked a grand slam in an 11-6 triumph against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) whacked two homers in a 1954 game against the Milwaukee Braves.

  • New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) provided four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1923 twinbill. Thirteen years later as a St. Louis Cardinals 2B, Frisch collected four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1936 outing.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-5 in a 12-10 win against the Montreal Expos in 1999, posting the 3,000th hit of his MLB career.

  • LHP Mark Hendrickson (two time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) delivered three extra-base hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1961 game.

  • INF Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1978.

  • San Francisco Giants 1B-OF Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV hoops team in 1975-76) suspended for 60 days in 1990 following a positive drug test.

  • New York Yankees RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) posted his eighth save in last 10 relief appearances en route to 12 straight scoreless games in 1970.

  • Cleveland Indians RF Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) raised his batting average to .372 with back-to-back three-hit games.

  • Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) contributed three doubles among his four hits in a 13-11 victory against the New York Yankees in the opener of 1929 doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers CF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1972 twinbill.

  • 1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for 14-1 Clarkson NY in 1942-43) purchased from the New York Yankees by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1949.

  • New York Mets OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) banged out four hits in a 1998 contest against the San Francisco Giants.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) knocked in five runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1959 game.

  • San Francisco Giants RF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) went 4-for-4 against the Atlanta Braves in a 2008 contest.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 5 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Morehead State hoopers Denny Doyle and Steve Hamilton supplied significant MLB career games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 5

  • San Diego Padres RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) scored upon for the only time in a span of 19 relief appearances in 2008.

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) collected two homers and five RBI for the third time in a 15-game span in 1962.

  • In addition to winning five relief appearances in a two-week span, Brooklyn Dodgers rookie RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) toiled eight innings in relief when they lost against the New York Giants, 7-6, in 15 frames in 1952.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) contributed three safeties in both ends of a 1936 doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) provided four hits for the second time in a five-game span in 1945.

  • Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as a freshman in 1964-65) belted his second leadoff homer in two days in 1982.

  • OF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA hoops playoff team) traded by the New York Mets to the Milwaukee Braves in 1965.

  • Boston Red Sox 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) went hitless, snapping his career-high 22-game hitting streak in 1975. The next day, Doyle started a seven-game hitting skein.

  • RHP Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) purchased from the Oakland Athletics by the Chicago Cubs in 1977.

  • New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) secured the lone MLB shutout in his 12-year career (five-hitter against Cleveland Indians in nightcap of 1966 doubleheader).

  • Posting one of his N.L.-leading five shutouts in 1950, New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) yielded a leadoff single before throttling the Pittsburgh Pirates the remainder of the way in a 5-0 whitewash.

  • New York Mets 1B Rick Herrscher (SMU's leading scorer in 1957-58 as All-SWC first-team selection) hammered his lone MLB homer (three-run blast against Cincinnati Reds in opener of 1962 doubleheader).

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) supplied four hits against the Washington Senators in a 1969 game.

  • CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) scored the winning run in the 11th inning in 2001 when the Cleveland Indians erased a 14-2 deficit in the seventh to prevail, 15-14, against the Seattle Mariners. Five years earlier, Lofton finished a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles in 1996 going 11-for-20 with three homers.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference Tournament MVP after finishing runner-up in scoring previous season for Furman) whacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1980 contest.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1994.

  • Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and seven RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1929 game.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates after homering in three previous games in 1944.

  • Detroit Tigers OF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in 1973, capping off a six-game spurt raising his batting average from .268 to .310.

  • Seattle Mariners RF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) contributed multiple hits in his sixth consecutive contest in 1978.

  • OF Richie Scheinblum (averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 1962-63 and 1963-64 with LIU-C.W. Post) purchased from the Kansas City Royals by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) won opener and saved nightcap of 1979 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two homers in a 2001 game against the Seattle Mariners. Eight years later as Chicago White Sox DH, he whacked a pair of round-trippers in 2009 contest against the Los Angeles Angels.

  • LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) awarded on waivers from the New York Yankees to the Washington Nationals in 2014.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10), who went on to lead the N.L. in homers in 1927, hit for the cycle and knocked in six runs in a 9-7 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 4 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If you're not a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Minnesota hoopers Jerry Kindall and Dave Winfield made news in American League games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 4

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 7-for-9 in a 1928 doubleheader against the New York Giants.

  • In 1961, Chicago Cubs OF George Altman (hooper appearing in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) became the first player ever to hit two homers in a single game off Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54).

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) banged out five hits against the Houston Astros in a 1969 game.

  • California Angels LF Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70 averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) collected four hits and four runs in a 9-6 win against the Texas Rangers in 1976.

  • Washington Senators 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) collected four hits (including three extra-base safeties) and four RBI for the first of two times in a four-game span in 1938.

  • Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) went 4-for-4 in a 1980 game against the Oakland Athletics.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) went the distance in a 16-inning duel against the Chicago White Sox ending in a scoreless tie.

  • Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA hoops club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1975.

  • In 1971, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) posted his 200th career victory.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81), securing at least five hits in a game for the fourth time in the 1993 season, stroked six safeties in an 11-10 triumph against the San Francisco Giants.

  • Brooklyn Robins 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) delivered four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1937 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) scored four runs in a 1969 outing against the Houston Astros.

  • A pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the ninth inning by INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) tied the score for the Minnesota Twins en route to a 4-3 win against the Washington Senators in 1965.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he became All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) stole four bases against the Houston Astros in a 1974 game.

  • In a stunning relief performance, New York Yankees RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) permitted only one run in 13 innings to earn a 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers. It was one of five triumphs for McDaniel in less than three weeks in 1973.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1961 contest.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Ernie Nevers (All-PCC second-five choice in 1924-25 for Stanford) hurled his first complete game, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics, 3-1, in 1926.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1979 game.

  • New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) went 5-for-5, including three extra-base hits, against the Washington Senators in a 1935 outing.

  • New York Mets 3B Ted Schreiber (played hoops briefly for St. John's in 1957-58 under coach Joe Lapchick) supplied a career-high two hits when he singled in both at-bats against the Milwaukee Braves in 1963 before giving way to pinch-hitter Duke Snider.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader when named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) fired a four-hit shutout against the Houston Colt .45s in 1962.

  • While warming up prior to the fifth inning in a 1983 game at Toronto, New York Yankees CF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) accidentally killed a seagull with a thrown ball.

  • New York Yankees LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) notched his seventh straight win with a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.

Master Builders: Lou Henson Among Mentors Invigorating Lifeless Programs

Recently-deceased coach Lou Henson wasn't the only master builder who specialized in invigorating lifeless basketball programs (New Mexico State and Illinois). Following is a summary of super salesmen reviving at least two NCAA Division I programs:

Celebrated Coach Summary of Multiple Schools Revived By Mentor
Rick Barnes Took two different schools (Providence in 1989 and Texas in 1999) to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first year with them although they compiled a losing record the previous season.
Bobby Cremins Inherited an Appalachian State program that compiled an average record of 6-19 the five previous seasons from 1970-71 through 1974-75. The Mountaineers posted an average mark of 17-12 in his six seasons with them, including a school-best 23 victories in 1978-79 when they made their first NCAA Tournament appearance. Then, Cremins inherited a Georgia Tech program that won just one ACC game in its first two seasons in the conference in 1979-80 and 1980-81. He went on to become the school's all-time winningest coach, including a school-best 28-7 mark in 1989-90 when the Yellow Jackets advanced to the Final Four.
Charles "Lefty" Driesell Although Lefty never reached the Final Four, he might go down as the best reconstructionist in modern college basketball history. Driesell inherited a Davidson program shackled by 11 consecutive losing records from 1949-50 through 1959-60 with an average mark of 8-17. The Wildcats reached the 20-win plateau in six of his last seven seasons with them from 1962-63 through 1968-69, including a school-record 27-3 worksheet in his final campaign. Then, Lefty moved to a Maryland program hampered by six losing records in the eight years prior to his arrival. He had an average mark of 20-9 in his 17 seasons with the Terrapins through 1985-86, including a five-year stretch from 1971-72 through 1975-76 when their average record was 24-6. Driesell directed James Madison to five consecutive national postseason tournament appearances from 1990 through 1994 before struggling with the Dukes. Then he promoted Georgia State's previously moribund program encumbered with the worst winning percentage in the country over the previous four decades.
Boyd Grant Inherited a Fresno State program that posted an average record of 12-14 the previous six seasons from 1971-72 through 1976-77. The Bulldogs notched a 21-6 mark in his initial year at their helm, made their only NCAA Tournament appearances (1981-82-84), won a school-record 27 games in 1981-82 and captured 1983 NIT. Then, Grant inherited a Colorado State program compiling losing records seven of the nine previous seasons from 1978-79 through 1986-87. He guided the Rams to more than 20 victories in his first three of four campaigns with them, including a school-best 23 triumphs in 1988-89.
Lou Henson Inherited a New Mexico State program coming off five consecutive losing records with an average mark of 7-17 from 1961-62 through 1965-66. He directed the Aggies to at least 19 victories in six of his nine seasons at their helm, including a school-best 27-3 mark in 1969-70 when they made their only Final Four appearance. Then, Henson inherited an Illinois program that went 13-36 the two previous seasons (1973-74 and 1974-75). He guided the Illini to the 1989 Final Four en route to becoming its all-time winningest coach. Henson subsequently returned to NMSU.
Bob Huggins Inherited an Akron program coming off seven consecutive losing records from 1977-78 through 1983-84. He directed the Zips to more than 20 victories in four of his five years with them. Then, Huggins inherited a Cincinnati program posting an average record of 13-16 over the previous 11 seasons from 1978-79 through 1988-89. The Bearcats reached the 20-win plateau in his initial season at their helm, advanced to the 1992 Final Four and had an average mark of 25-8 in his 16 years at their helm.
Jim Killingsworth Inherited an Idaho State program producing only winning record in its nine previous seasons from 1962-63 through 1970-71. He directed the Bengals to winning marks all six campaigns with them, including an all-time school-best 25-5 worksheet in 1976-77. Then, Killingsworth inherited a TCU program coming off seven straight losing seasons from 1972-73 through 1978-79. He climaxed an eight-year stint with the Horned Frogs by claiming back-to-back Southwest Conference championships in 1986 and 1987.
Frank McGuire Inherited a North Carolina program coming off its two losingest seasons in school history at the time (15 defeats in 1950-51 and 1951-52). By the middle of decade, he had guided the Tar Heels to an ACC regular-season title and posted an average record of 21-5 his last six years with them from 1955-56 through 1960-61, including an undefeated campaign in 1956-57 (32-0). Then, McGuire inherited a South Carolina program notching 10 losing records in the previous 12 seasons from 1952-53 through 1963-64. He won more than 20 games in six consecutive campaigns from 1968-69 through 1973-74 en route to becoming the Gamecocks' all-time winningest coach.
Ralph Miller Inherited a Wichita program coming off five consecutive losing seasons from 1946-47 through 1950-51. He directed the Shockers to a school-best 27-4 record in 1953-54 on his way to becoming their all-time winningest coach (subsequently surpassed by Gregg Marshall). Then, Miller inherited an Oregon State program saddled with won-loss record nine games under .500 covering the previous four seasons from 1966-67 through 1969-70. He had an average record of 19-10 in 19 years with the Beavers, including a three-year span from 1979-80 through 1981-82 when they won at least 25 games each season.
Jim Molinari Inherited a Northern Illinois program coming off six losing records in the seven previous seasons from 1982-83 through 1988-89. He directed the Huskies to a school-record 25 victories in 1990-91. Then, Molinari inherited a Bradley program coming off back-to-back 20-defeat seasons for the first time in school history (1989-90 and 1990-91). He guided the Braves to three consecutive 20-win seasons from 1993-94 through 1995-96.
Rick Pitino Inherited a Boston University program coming off five consecutive losing records and seven of eight from 1970-71 through 1977-78. He guided the Terriers to their first 20-win season in 21 years in 1979-80 and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 24 years in 1983. Then, Pitino inherited a Providence program that was 41 games below .500 over the previous seven seasons from 1978-79 through 1984-85. He directed the Friars to 1987 Final Four.
Eddie Sutton Inherited a Creighton program that was five games below .500 over the previous five seasons from 1964-65 through 1968-69. He guided the Bluejays to winning records each of his five seasons with them, including a 23-7 mark in 1973-74. Then, Sutton inherited an Arkansas program assembling nine losing records in the previous 11 seasons. Sutton never was below eight games above .500 in his 11 years with the Razorbacks, compiling an average mark of 24-7 from 1974-75 through 1984-85 and directing them to the 1978 Final Four. Later, Sutton inherited an Oklahoma State program that was 11 games below .500 over the previous seven seasons from 1983-84 through 1989-90. He promptly directed his alma mater to five consecutive 20-win campaigns and 13 in his first 15 years, including Final Four trips in 1995 and 2004.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 3 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Several former small-college hoopers from Pennsylvania - Charlie Gelbert (Lebanon Valley), Paul Hartzell (Lehigh), Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg) and Christy Mathewson (Bucknell) - made National League news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 3

  • In the midst of homering in three consecutive contests, New York Mets 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC basketball games in 1991-92) amassed two round-trippers and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 2003 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) hurled two innings of hitless relief for the National League in a 5-3 setback against the American League in second 1959 All-Star Game.

  • SS Dick Culler (hoops Little All-American in 1935 and 1936 with High Point) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Giants in 1948.

  • Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) fired as manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1967.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) garnered three hits for the third consecutive contest in 1930.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) hammered three homers against the New York Giants in a 1947 doubleheader.

  • San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (Illinois backup forward in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers against the New York Mets in a 1966 contest.

  • California Angels rookie RHP Paul Hartzell (averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Lehigh in 1972-73) hurled his second shutout in 11-day span in 1976.

  • Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1940 game.

  • Chicago Cubs LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) posted his fifth save of 1958 season, lowering ERA to 1.38 through 23 relief appearances.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) collected two homers and six RBI against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1955 contest.

  • Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) homered in both ends of doubleheader split against the Minnesota Twins in 1965.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) contributed two homers and five RBI against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1943 twinbill.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Jack Kubiszyn (All-SEC first-team guard as senior averaged 18.3 ppg for Alabama from 1955-56 through 1957-58) connected for his lone MLB homer, accounting for the game's only run against the Kansas City Athletics in 1962.

  • St. Louis Cardinals LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) delivered four hits and six RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1944 game.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) supplied three extra-base hits against the New York Yankees in a 1992 outing. The next year, Lofton logged four runs and three stolen bases against the Detroit Tigers in a 1993 contest.

  • RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) surrendered 15 hits in 10 innings but the New York Giants still defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 7-6, in 1909.

  • Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) dismissed as New York Yankees manager in 1982 after losing a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) smacked two triples against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1939 contest.

  • Minnesota Twins RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) suspended for 10 games by American League President Bobby Brown after he was caught with a file on the mound and ejected during the fourth inning of a game against the California Angels in 1987.

  • New York Yankees LF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) notched four hits for the second time in a six-game span in 1953.

  • Detroit Tigers OF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) drilled a game-winning, pinch homer in the bottom of the ninth inning against Chicago White Sox reliever Hoyt Wilhelm in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) registered a save, victory or hold in eight straight relief appearances in 1982.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) homered twice in a 1930 game against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Seattle Mariners LF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) accounted for the game's lone run with a homer in 1-0 decision against the Oakland Athletics in 1979.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) homered in both ends of a 1952 twinbill sweep of the Chicago Cubs.

  • Montreal Expos RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) supplied his 10th straight scoreless relief appearance covering 12 2/3 innings in 1992.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Webb Schultz (Wisconsin-La Crosse two-year hoops letterman) made his lone MLB appearance (one inning of relief against Philadelphia Athletics in 1924).

  • Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) secured the only hit off Bill Hands of the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of a 1972 doubleheader.

  • In 1975, Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1967-68 for Morningside IA) retired the last 26 Oakland Athletics batters while throwing one of his two career one-hitters.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) blasted two homers against the New York Giants in a 1955 game.

  • Boston Braves LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1933.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 2 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Fordham hoopers Frankie Frisch and Babe Young delivered dynamic National League doubleheader performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 2

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) went 6-for-8 in a 1936 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox. Bonura supplied four hits in a contest for the third time in 15-game span.

  • New York Yankees LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his basketball career) led off the bottom of 10th inning with a pinch-hit, game-winning homer in 3-2 triumph against the Detroit Tigers in 1960.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) hit for the cycle against the New York Yankees in a 1933 game.

  • Milwaukee Braves RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) fired a four-hit shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957.

  • INF Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Washington Senators for SS Ron Hansen in 1968.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) hammered three homers in an 11-0 victory against the Washington Senators in 1950.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) stroked three hits in both ends of a 1936 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Brooklyn Robins rookie 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader.

  • RHP Cal Koonce (hoops standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets in 1967.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged four hits and four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1994 contest.

  • OF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Boston Braves in 1919.

  • RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) yielded 15 singles but the New York Giants still defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-4, in 1911.

  • New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in both ends of 1983 twinbill against the Toronto Blue Jays.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) collected three hits and three stolen bases in a 3-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) smacked two triples against the Chicago Cubs in a 1986 game.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) ripped homer in back-to-back games against the San Francisco Giants in 1958.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) notched a save in his seventh straight relief appearance in 1990, capping off 16 consecutive contests covering 24 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run.

  • Minnesota Twins RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics in 1986.

  • Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) fired as manager of the New York Yankees and succeeded by Billy Martin in 1975.

  • New York Giants rookie 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) belted two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1940 twinbill.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on August 1 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark and Graig Nettles generated American League headlines on this date. Ex-Michigan college hoopers Don Eaddy (Michigan), Jim Northrup (Alma) and Robin Roberts (Michigan State) also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 1

  • Chicago Cubs RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first basketball player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1953 game.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league competition in 1930-31) provided four hits, including three doubles, against the Chicago White Sox in a 1935 contest.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) incurred his only defeat (1-0 against San Diego Padres) in 11 decisions from early June to mid-August en route to leading the N.L. in winning percentage in 1980.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) went 3-for-4 in both ends of a 1965 twinbill sweep of the San Francisco Giants.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) clobbered two homers for the second time in a six-game span in 1998.

  • Boston Red Sox 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered four hits in a 1976 game against the New York Yankees.

  • Chicago Cubs INF Don Eaddy (averaged team-high 13.8 in Big Ten Conference competition as Michigan sophomore in 1952-53) fanned in his lone MLB plate appearance in 1959.

  • Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered for the fourth straight day in 1973.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) jacked a game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 2-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie 2B Gene Handley (Bradley hoops letterman in 1932-33 and 1933-34) manufactured four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1946 outing.

  • In 1957, 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hit his 13th career grand slam to set a new N.L. record. It was the final grand slam in the history of the Brooklyn franchise before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.

  • Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) drilled two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1973 game.

  • In his 11th straight scoreless relief appearance, Boston Red Sox LHP Vic Johnson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire hoops letterman in 1942-43) allowed only one hit over six innings to earn a 7-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1945.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 4-for-4 with three doubles against the Brooklyn Robins in a 1921 outing.

  • In 1913, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) reached the 20-win plateau for the 11th consecutive season.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) had his 19-game hitting streak snapped by the Oakland Athletics in 1971.

  • Hitless in his first six at-bats, RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) homered in the 16th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 victory against the California Angels in 1971.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) posted his 200th triumph with a three-hit, 3-1 success at Chicago in 1958.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma saved both ends of a 1965 doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs with three innings of scoreless relief in each contest.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) tossed nine innings of four-hit, scoreless relief to secure a 4-2 win against the New York Mets in 1968.

  • Boston Braves rookie RF Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five hoops selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1943 twinbill.

Happy Birthday! August Celebration Dates for All-Americans and HOF Coaches

August 8 and August 29 are the days to celebrate the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans. St. John's (16th), Kentucky (18th), Indiana (31st) and Villanova (31st) each had two All-Americans born on the same day this month. UK (seven) and Duke (six) combined for 13 A-As born in August. Following are birth dates in August for All-American players and Hall of Fame coaches:

AUGUST

1: All-Americans Stacey Augmon (born in 1968/UNLV), Bob Gerber (1916/Toledo) and Austin Rivers (1992/Duke) plus Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams (1950/Kansas and North Carolina).
2: All-Americans Carl Cain (1934/Iowa), Bob Calihan (1918/Detroit) and Devon Dotson (1999/Kansas).
3: All-Americans Bob Carney (1932/Bradley), Mike Gminski (1959/Duke) and Joe Ruklick (1938/Northwestern).
4: All-Americans Jerry Harper (1934/Alabama) and Mike Pratt (1948/Kentucky).
5: All-American Patrick Ewing (1962/Georgetown).
6: All-Americans Dale Ellis (1960/Tennessee), Ron Feiereisel (1931/DePaul), Jack Harvey (1918/Colorado), David Robinson (1965/Navy) and Jim Thompson (1912/Duke) plus Hall of Fame coach Hank Iba (1904/Colorado and Oklahoma A&M).
7: All-Americans Fred Brown (1948/Iowa), Fulvio Chester "Chet" Forte Jr. (1935/Columbia) and Josh Grant (1967/Utah) plus Hall of Fame coach Lenny Sachs (1897/Loyola of Chicago).
8: All-Americans John Barr (1918/Penn State), Louis Dunbar (1953/Houston), Maurice "Bo" Ellis (1954/Marquette), Frank Howard (1936/Ohio State), Earl Keth (1913/Central Missouri), Togo Palazzi (1932/Holy Cross) and Joe Schaaf (1908/Penn) plus Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian (1930/Long Beach State, UNLV and Fresno State).
9: All-Americans Bob Cousy (1928/Holy Cross), Dick Knostman (1931/Kansas State) and Herbert "Bud" Koper (1942/Oklahoma City).
10: All-Americans Bob Doll (1919/Colorado), Marcus Fizer (1978/Iowa State), William "Red" Holzman (1920/CCNY), Gene Melchiorre (1927/Bradley), Ja Morant (1999/Murray State) and Ralph Simpson (1949/Michigan State).
11: All-Americans Bobby Anet (1917/Oregon), Paul Ebert (1932/Ohio State), Kyle Guy (1997/Virginia), Clem Haskins (1943/Western Kentucky) and Ennis Whatley (1962/Alabama).
12: All-Americans George McGinnis (1950/Indiana) and Antoine Walker (1976/Kentucky).
13: All-Americans DeMarcus Cousins (1990/Kentucky), Claire Cribbs (1912/Pittsburgh) and Henry Wilmore (1950/Michigan).
14: All-Americans Earvin "Magic" Johnson (1959/Michigan State) and Ed O'Bannon (1972/UCLA).
15: All-Americans Kenny Carr (1955/North Carolina State) and Merv Jackson (1946/Utah).
16: All-Americans Lloyd "Sonny" Dove (1945/St. John's), Hyman "Hy" Gotkin (1922/St. John's) and Charlie Tyra (1935/Louisville).
17: All-Americans Michael Brooks (1958/La Salle), Dee Brown (1984/Illinois), Dallas Comegys (1964/DePaul), Rudy Gay (1986/Connecticut), Christian Laettner (1969/Duke) and Ken Sears (1933/Santa Clara).
18: All-Americans Willie Cauley-Stein (1993/Kentucky), Bob Elliott (1955/Arizona), Rickey Green (1954/Michigan), Lafayette "Fat" Lever (1960/Arizona State) and Kenny Walker (1964/Kentucky) plus Hall of Fame coach Gene Bartow (1930/Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA and UAB).
19: All-Americans Kendall Marshall (1991/North Carolina), twins Keegan and Kris Murray (2000/Iowa) and Ricky Pierce (1959/Rice).
20: All-Americans Melvin Booker (1972/Missouri), Quinn Buckner (1954/Indiana), Shan Foster (1986/Vanderbilt), Sihugo Green (1933/Duquesne) and John Hargis (1920/Texas).
21: All-Americans Jim Burns (1945/Northwestern), Wilt Chamberlain (1936/Kansas), Terrell "Tu" Holloway (1989/Xavier) and Jodie Meeks (1987/Kentucky).
23: All-Americans Darren Collison (1987/UCLA), Keenan Evans (1996/Texas Tech), Pat Garrity (1976/Notre Dame), Forrest "Frosty" Sprowl (1919/Purdue) and Paul Jamaine "P.J." Washington (1998/Kentucky).
24: All-Americans Reggie Miller (1965/UCLA), Michael Redd (1979/Ohio State) and Jon Scheyer (1987/Duke).
25: All-Americans Jared Butler (2000/Baylor) and Kevin Jones (1989/West Virginia).
26: All-Americans Leon Douglas (1954/Alabama), James Harden (1989/Arizona State), Tommy Heinsohn (1934/Holy Cross), Morris Peterson (1977/Michigan State), Shea Seals (1975/Tulsa) and Dale Solomon (1958/Virginia Tech).
27: All-Americans Ernie Barrett (1929/Kansas State), Andre Emmett (1982/Texas Tech), Don Grate (1923/Ohio State) and Marshall Rogers (1953/Pan American).
28: All-American Jeff Green (1986/Georgetown).
29: All-Americans Lewis "Pick" Dehner (1914/Illinois), Ned "Dickie" Hemric (1933/Wake Forest), Rodney McCray (1961/Louisville), Will Perdue (1965/Vanderbilt), Ben Selzer (1912/Iowa), Deshaun Thomas (1991/Ohio State) and David West (1980/Xavier).
30: All-Americans Mikal Bridges (1996/Villanova), Tal Brody (1943/Illinois) and Robert Parish (1953/Centenary) plus Hall of Fame coach Stan Watts (1911/Brigham Young).
31: All-Americans John Austin (1944/Boston College), Jalen Brunson (1996/Villanova), Chris Duhon (1982/Duke), Howard Porter (1948/Villanova), Lou Watson (1924/Indiana) and Dewayne "D.J." White Jr. (1986/Indiana) plus Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell Sr. (1915/San Francisco, Michigan State and California).

Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 31 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former LSU hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark supplied outstanding National League offensive outputs on this date. Adcock's extra-base bonanza is one of the most impressive in history. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 31

  • RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Texas Rangers in 2011.

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) belted four homers off four different pitchers plus a double against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, setting MLB record for most total bases in a single game (18) standing until broken by RF Shawn Green in 2002.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed seven hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1970 twinbill sweep.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) banged out four hits against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1917 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Alvin Dark (Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana hoops letterman in mid-1940s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1957 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) collected five hits and scored four runs in an 18-5 pounding of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1928.

  • In the midst of eight straight scoreless relief appearances, Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) notched the final of his 167 MLB wins. Earlier in the 1991 campaign, Flanagan amassed 10 consecutive contests where he failed to yield an earned run.

  • Houston Astros INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) stroked a pinch single against the Cincinnati Reds in 1966 before going 0-for-21 during the last two months of his 12-year MLB career.

  • LHP Johnny Gee (captain of Michigan's 16-4 hoops team in 1936-37) absorbed his first defeat since returning to the New York Giants in 1946 after a year's retirement.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Bob Greenwood (St. Mary's hoops letterman second half of 1940s) posted his lone MLB victory by hurling eight innings as starter against the St. Louis Cardinals in nightcap of 1954 doubleheader.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) scored five runs in a 16-11 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) manufactured four hits and five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1956 game.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each season) closed out the month with five consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1970.

  • INF-OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Mets in 1998.

  • San Diego Padres LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) yielded more than three runs for the only time in his last 15 starts of the 1988 campaign.

  • Chicago White Sox LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) registered two hits in his fifth consecutive contest in 1987.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection as sophomore in 1956-57 when leading Oklahoma in rebounding) hurled the middle three innings for the A.L., yielding the only run, in a 1-1 tie in the second of two All-Star Games in 1961. St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s) of the N.L. and Detroit Tigers RF Al Kaline of the A.L. were the only All-Stars with two safeties. Five years later with the Philadelphia Phillies, White went 5-for-5, including four extra-base hits, and chipped in with five RBI in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Securing his fifth victory of the month, Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter at California in 1970.

  • Washington Senators rookie RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) secured his eighth victory of the month in 1932.

  • Chicago Cubs OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) clobbered a three-run homer to chase New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) in the opener of a 1915 doubleheader.

  • San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 5-for-5 with four RBI and scored four runs in a 1979 outing against the Atlanta Braves.

  • Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (All-MIAA first-five hoops selection for Central Missouri State as sophomore and junior in mid-1930s) blasted two homers against the New York Giants in the nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.

  • Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1924.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 30 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If you're not a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Several former non-DI hoopers from Alabama colleges - Frank Bolling (Spring Hill), Marv Breeding (Samford) and Gary Redus (Athens J.C.) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto five small-school hoopers from Pennsylvania colleges - Glenn Beckert (Allegheny), Monte Irvin (Lincoln), Christy Mathewson (Bucknell), Red Murray (Lock Haven) and Gary Peters (Grove City). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 30

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny PA) provided four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1967 twinbill.

  • Texas Rangers RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fanned 13 batters while hurling a no-hitter against the first-place Oakland A's in 1973.

  • Texas Rangers 1B Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1966-67 for Buena Vista IA) went 4-for-4 in a 2-1 victory against the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a 1972 doubleheader.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) belted a double off Hank Aguirre for the N.L. in the second 1962 All-Star Game. Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) contributed two hits and two RBI for the N.L. and Washington Senators RHP Dave Stenhouse (three-time All-Yankee Conference selection for Rhode Island from 1952-53 through 1954-55) started for the A.L.

  • 2B Marv Breeding (Samford hooper in mid-1950s) traded by the Washington Senators to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963.

  • Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits, including game-winning double in bottom of 10th inning off reliever Goose Gossage, in 2-1 victory against the New York Yankees in 1980.

  • In the midst of a career-high 12-game hitting streak, Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) manufactured four safeties against the Atlanta Braves in a 1968 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 with two homers and six RBI in an 8-5 win against the St. Louis Browns in 1931.

  • Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and USL during World War II) fired as manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1971.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1971 outing, triggering a nine-game hitting streak.

  • Detroit Tigers CF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) accumulated three hits and four runs against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1948 contest.

  • New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) collected five hits and four runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1923 twinbill.

  • In his initial MLB start, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) posted his first of 251 career victories with #1 of 56 shutouts (1-0 against Cincinnati Reds in 1959).

  • In the midst of a career-high 13-game hitting streak, Oakland Athletics 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) whacked two homers in an 11-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.

  • New York Giants OF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) tied a N.L. record by grounding into three double plays against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1953 game.

  • Cleveland Indians DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 1998 contest.

  • In 1991, Seattle Mariners LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage as freshman en route to averaging 5.1 ppg for Portland from 1975-76 through 1979-80) collected his eighth triumph in nine decisions over a two-month span.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) had his 13-game winning streak snapped by the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1, in 1909.

  • Washington Senators RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) homered and provided four RBI in both ends of a 1950 doubleheader sweep against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Cleveland Indians RF Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) contributed four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1929 outing.

  • New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) registered multiple hits in his seventh consecutive contest in 1909.

  • San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1986 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals C Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) provided four hits against the Boston Braves in a 1940 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) faced only 29 batters in a 75-pitch, 6-0 shutout of the New York Yankees in 1966. Two years earlier, Peters hurled his third three-hit complete game this month en route to leading the A.L. with 20 victories in 1964.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) registered two doubles among his four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1986 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) spun his third shutout in a row en route to a N.L.-high five whitewashes in 1950.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers in 1942-43 and 1943-44 for Drury MO) collected five RBI, including a decisive two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning, in a 7-6 triumph against the New York Giants in 1951.

  • Los Angeles Angels RHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) secured victory, triggering streak of 13 straight relief appearances without allowing an earned run.

  • San Diego Padres CF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) contributed four safeties against the Cincinnati Reds in a 2009 game. Venable belted a homer for the first of three consecutive contests.

  • OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) traded by the Seattle Mariners to the San Francisco Giants in 2005. Two years earlier, Winn amassed two homers and six RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 2003 game.

  • Boston Braves LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) won his fifth game of the month in 1932.

One Shining Moment: Evansville Could Have Set NCAA Tournament History

As #BasementJoe might say, "Come on, man!" If Kentucky had captured the 2020 NCAA Tournament title, Evansville (0-18 in Missouri Valley) would have become the first team in history to go winless in league competition but defeat the national champion during the regular season. The Purple Aces prevailed at UK, 67-64, before finishing the campaign with a 9-23 overall record.

All-time great Wilt Chamberlain's final season at Kansas in 1958 included one of the most amazing turnarounds in NCAA history. Nebraska, in the midst of 15 consecutive losing campaigns, was clobbered at Kansas by 56 points (102-46) before upsetting the Jayhawks (43-41) four games later in Omaha. In the Huskers' next outing, they defeated top-ranked Kansas State (55-48) after the Wildcats overwhelmed them by a total of 46 points in two previous match-ups. Nebraska never has won an NCAA Tournament game, making the Huskers treasure the moment even more when their second-division squad upended NCAA champion-to-be Kansas in the regular season in 1988.

Cincinnati, compiling only one winning record in Metro Conference competition (8-6 in 1985) in a 12-year span from 1978 through 1989, was the lone school registering a losing mark in a season it won a road game against a league rival later becoming NCAA kingpin until St. John's duplicated the feat in 2017-18. The 12-16 Bearcats, notching a 5-7 Metro worksheet, won at Louisville (84-82) midway through 1985-86 when guard Roger McClendon poured in 24 of his 35 points in the second half. The Cardinals recovered from their only home-court loss that year and the embarrassment of squandering a 13-point, second-half lead against Cincy to wind up capturing the NCAA title.

Michigan State dominated the 1979 NCAA tourney, handing all five playoff opponents, a quintet averaging 25.6 victories, their worst defeat of the year - Lamar (31-point margin), LSU (16), Notre Dame (12), Penn (34) and Indiana State (11). Consequently, most observers don't remember the glaring defect of the Magic Johnson-led Spartans earlier in the season when they succumbed to four Big Ten Conference second-division members (including three finishing at least four games below .500 in league play). One of MSU's setbacks was by 18 points against perennial cellar dweller Northwestern.

Florida '98 is the only school at least four games below .500 in league play to win on the road against a conference opponent (Kentucky) finishing season with an NCAA playoff crown. Following is a chronological list of the 11 schools at least four games under .500 in conference competition to defeat a league foe ending the season as NCAA titlist:

Second-Division Team League League Mark Overall Mark Upset Against Eventual NCAA Champion
Oregon State '39 PCC 6-10 13-11 Beavers defeated Oregon, 50-31
Oregon '59 PCC 3-13 9-16 Ducks defeated California, 59-57
Illinois '79 Big Ten 7-11 19-11 Illini defeated Michigan State, 57-55
Northwestern '79 Big Ten 2-16 6-21 Wildcats defeated Michigan State, 83-65
Wisconsin '79 Big Ten 6-12 12-15 Badgers defeated Michigan State, 83-81
Nebraska '88 Big Eight 4-10 13-18 Huskers defeated Kansas, 70-68
Florida '98 SEC 6-10 14-15 Gators won at Kentucky, 86-78
Rutgers '03 Big East 4-12 12-16 Scarlet Knights defeated Syracuse, 68-65
South Carolina '06 SEC 6-10 23-15 Gamecocks defeated Florida, 68-62
Louisiana State '07 SEC 5-11 17-15 Tigers defeated Florida, 66-56
North Carolina State '10 ACC 5-11 20-16 Wolfpack defeated Duke, 88-74
St. John's '18 Big East 4-14 16-17 Red Storm defeated Villanova, 79-75

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 29 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Sam Mele made MLB news on this date. Ditto a pair of ex-small college hoopers from Washington - Billy North (Central Washington) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 29

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1931. It was his first of four complete-game victories in a three-week span.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers in a 16-15 setback against the Detroit Tigers in 1934.

  • Minnesota Twins 2B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits, including decisive homer in bottom of eighth inning, in 4-3 win against the Seattle Mariners in 1983.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting basketball center for Colby ME) posted his 10th victory of the month in 1910.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) secured his second shutout in a nine-day span in 1959. Three years later with the New York Mets, Craig lost his sixth straight decision during the month in 1962.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) homered twice in the opener en route to knocking in eight runs in a 1956 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox.

  • OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) awarded on waivers from the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1954.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1959.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) banged out four hits against the New York Yankees in 1937. the next year, Greenberg blasted two homers for the third time in a four-game span in 1938.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) stroked three doubles against the New York Mets in a 1998 game.

  • New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) notched a hold against the California Angels as he went unscored upon two months in a row covering 12 relief appearances in 1970.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) homered twice against the Seattle Mariners in a 1980 contest.

  • Brooklyn Robins rookie 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan team winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) collected four runs, two triples and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) homered in all five games of series against the San Francisco Giants closing out the month in 1962.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1954 twinbill.

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1988 game.

  • Cincinnati Reds RF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) went 4-for-4 for the second time in an eight-game span in 1948.

  • Chicago White Sox P Joel Horlen, flirting with a no-hitter entering the ninth inning, wound up losing the game, 2-1, when OF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) socked a homer for the Washington Senators in 1963. LF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC) broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out single in the ninth. The next year, Lock knocked in all of the Senators' runs with two homers in a 4-1 win against the Cleveland Indians.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) posted his third three-hit game in a row in series against the Chicago Cubs in 1974.

  • OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) awarded on waivers from the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox in 1954.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) went 5-for-5 and chipped in with five RBI in a 14-7 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1929.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) collected four RBI in an 11-9 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

  • RHP Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois' leading rebounder in 1966-67 with 15.2 per game) posted the save when the Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to seven games with a 9-6 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1979.

  • In 1963, Minnesota Twins rookie LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton's leading scorer three straight seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity game) didn't allow an earned run in his first eight relief appearances of the month until the Red Sox tallied one earned run 4 2/3 innings against him.

  • Philadelphia Phillies SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with his second of two triples against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1956 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer as All-Evergreen Conference pick in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won his seventh straight decision in 1968 with fifth victory of the month while compiling a 0.90 ERA over those last five starts.

  • Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 in a 1959 contest against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame hoops forward in 1909-10) homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 outing.

  • In 2005, LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) manufactured four hits in his final game with the Seattle Mariners.

Jailhouse Jocks: Hall of Shame Activity Still Doesn't Ruin College Basketball

Beneath its glitz and glamour, college basketball has a description-defying unruly rap sheet of human viruses including Tulane's Teshaun Hightower, who was denied bond after Georgia transfer's arrest and charge of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and battery following an investigation in a fatal shooting this past spring. In February of 2021, the hoop wickedness extended to Logan Kelley, a Rutgers walk-on in 2012-13 arrested in Tijuana, Mexico, for allegedly killing a strip club employee. Kelley was accused of walking up behind the victim and fatally slicing her neck with a knife while she was speaking with another man in a hallway. Nightclubs and bars not serving food were supposed to be closed amid coronavirus restrictions, but the business apparently was operating anyway. In late summer of 2020, Romero Collier, a freshman with Niagara in 2015-16, was arrested and charged with one count each of first- and second-degree murder, first- and third-degree robbery and first-degree criminal use of a firearm.

Entering dangerous terrain when comparing cancerous athletes to the public-at-large segment of our population, there is a seemingly congested intersection populating hot hoop prospects who become prime suspects. Rarely exposed to the rigid word "no," some of the hero worshiped think the world revolves around them and develop a sordid sense of "out-of-bounds" entitlement. Many of the misguided go from the brink of the pros to the clink with striped clothes.

"When you are among the high-flying adored, your view of the world becomes blurred," wrote psychologist Stanley Teitelbaum of the flouting-of-the-law behavior in the book "Sports Heroes, Fallen Idols: How Star Athletes Pursue Self-Destructive Paths and Jeopardize Their Careers."

"Off the field, some act as if they are above the rules of society; hubris and an attitude of entitlement become central to the psyche of many athletes. They may deny that they are vulnerable to reprisals and feel omnipotent and grandiose as well as entitled."

Far too many depraved derelicts can't resist and make the toxic transition from game-breakers to lawbreakers when seduced by the dark side such as "looting reparations." There have been a striking number of heart-breaking stories rocking the world of sports, derailing dreams and creating miscreants who are poster boys for bad behavior. In order to try to comprehend the absence of a moral compass in some communities, Billy Moore, who participated in killing the nation's No. 1 prep prospect (Chicago's Ben Wilson) in late 1984, said "I'm not a criminal" after serving nearly 20 years in prison.

Idaho professor Sharon Stoll was not surprised when sports pages occasionally read like a police blotter focusing on 15 minutes of shame such as former Minnesota guard Daquein McNeil charged with arson in Baltimore in the summer of 2017 in connection with the homicide of a man who happened to be staying at the vacant house.

"In sport, we have moved away from honorable behavior," said Stoll, who operated the Center for Ethical Theory and Honor in Competitive Sports and conducted a 17-year study during which 72,000 athletes filled out questionnaires. "The environment of athletics has not been supportive of teaching and modeling moral knowing, moral valuing and moral action. Many of these young people have no sense of what is acceptable behavior."

It's unnerving when active or former narcissistic players go from the big time breaking ankles to the big house donning ankle bracelets. Infinitely more disconcerting is when deaths are involved amid the life and crimes. Despite some of the repulsive garbage, college hoops is too great a game to be ruined by moral malfeasance including a seven-footer from Duluth, Ga., reportedly recruited by Florida Gulf Coast, North Florida and Winthrop facing serious charges (robbery and assault with intent to commit a crime) in connection to the murder of a man several years ago and a Pitt-Greensburg letterman charged with criminal homicide involving his ex-girlfriend.

The accompanying "Thugs R Us" hoop-horror summaries aren't designed to defile hoopdom. Actually, if college basketball can survive such unsavory incidents and classless ambassadors, it must be a helluva sport. It's nearly the equivalent of our country surviving #Dimorat dolts pulling respective leech-like heads out of butts and "reclaiming their time" in judicial hearing with AG Bill Barr. At any rate, how many schools wouldn't be tainted if they had just embraced modest academic standards rather than drooling over eliminating emphasis on ACT and SAT results? What went awry for the following alphabetical list of slam dunkers who wound up in the slammer after murder/manslaughter probes?:

Richie Adams, UNLV (coached by Jerry Tarkanian) - A 1989 conviction for larceny and armed robbery led to a five-year prison term for the two-time Big West Conference Tournament MVP. Following his parole, Adams was convicted of manslaughter in September 1998 after being accused of stalking and killing a 14-year-old Bronx girl in a housing project where both lived. The girl's family said Adams attacked her because she rejected his advances. Adams, nicknamed "The Animal" because of his intense playing style, was considered a defensive whiz and led the Rebels in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots for their PCAA champions in 1983-84 and 1984-85. "I used drugs occasionally, when I wanted to do it," Adams said. "When I went to play basketball, if I needed a pain reliever, I would sniff some cocaine." His trouble with the law escalated in 1985, a day after he was drafted in the fourth round by the Washington Bullets, when the two-time All-PCAA first-team selection was arrested for stealing a car. In high school, Adams and several teammates allegedly stole their own coach's auto.

Clifford Allen, UNLV (Jerry Tarkanian) - November 1985 J.C. signee by the Rebels was sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree murder as part of a plea bargain in the 1989 death of a man in Milton, Fla. Allen, a native of Los Angeles, said in a recorded statement that he used a steak knife to kill a 64-year-old guidance counselor after the man allegedly made sexual advances in the counselor's trailer. Allen, driving the victim's auto when he was arrested, enrolled at several jucos and also reportedly considered an offer to play for Tim Floyd at New Orleans.

Justin "Spider" Burns, Cal State Fullerton (Bob Burton) - Two-year starter for the Titans (10.4 ppg and 6.7 rpg in 2005-06 and 2006-07; second-leading rebounder as junior and senior) was arrested in Jackson, Miss., in the spring of 2011 on a murder charge related to the strangulation slaying of his ex-girlfriend the previous fall. Her body was found by target shooters in a valley desert area under a pile of blackened rocks. According to Burns' arrest report, the brother of rapper Jason Douglas Burns (a/k/a WorldWideWebbb) was the last person to be seen with the West Covina, Calif., resident and had argued with her the night before she was killed after coming to Las Vegas to visit him. In the weeks after her burned body was found, his father (former UNLV player Michael "Spiderman" Burns) refused to cooperate with police about his son's whereabouts, the report said.

Ritchie Campbell, Hawaii commitment (Riley Wallace) - Just days after leading scorer in Western New York high school history (for 27 years) left jail following stint there stemming from involvement with alcohol and drugs (weapons charge linked to August 1993 arrest while driving stolen vehicle), he was fiddling with a gun at 3 a.m. in spring of 1994 while drunk at his girlfriend's house. The weapon went off and the bullet struck a woman he didn't know (10 years older than him) in the back of her neck. After the mother of a baby girl died two days following the shooting, J.C. recruit was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and served 17 years in prison. In July 1992, a jury acquitted him of attempted murder and other charges involving a shootout with Buffalo police during the summer of 1991.

Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech (Paul Hewitt) - All-ACC third-team selection as a freshman in 2006-07 was sentenced to 23 years as part of a plea deal stemming from charges of murder and gang activity. Charged in late August 2011 after a woman was a drive-by shooting victim on a Southeast Atlanta street by someone inside a dark-colored SUV. The mother of four wasn't the intended target in what appeared to be retaliation for a $50,000 robbery of jewelry in the spring when Crittenton was a victim. Crittenton, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in late January 2010 and received probation, was suspended 38 games by the NBA after he and teammate Gilbert Arenas acknowledged bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room following an altercation stemming from a card game on a team flight. While out on bond, Crittenton was arrested in mid-January 2014 in drug sting taking down more than a dozen persons accused of selling multiple kilos of cocaine and several hundred pounds of marijuana.

Ke'Vonte Davis and Jamontae Davis, Columbia State Community College TN - Brothers were charged with criminal homicide in connection with fatal shooting outside a Nashville high school in late January 2016 (victim shot four times in torso). The altercation stemmed from a lingering dispute over a girl. At the time of shooting, Jamontae Davis (Tennessee State signee in fall of 2012) attended Odessa College (Tex.) and had been kicked off team following arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman. Kevonte Davis was sentenced to five years' probation with a split confinement sentence (already in jail for 90 days and remained there until completing six months behind bars). Jamontae Davis was sentenced to two years' probation without confinement upon conviction of criminally negligent homicide.

Howell Emanuel "Trai" Donaldson III, St. John's (Steve Lavin) - Ordered held without bond following arrest by Tampa police after four separate shooting murders in six-week period during fall of 2017 involving victims ranging in ages from 22 to 60. A McDonald's manager received $110,000 reward for helping crack the case when coworker contacted police officer doing paperwork in restaurant after Donaldson asked her to hold bag containing loaded .40 Glock firearm while alleged serial killer went to nearby business to arrange a payday loan. Police said AT&T cellphone data put him in area of each killing and a hoodie seen in released surveillance videos was found in his Ford Mustang. Sports management major walked onto St. John's team during 2011-12 season when Lavin missed majority of year recovering from cancer surgery and only had seven scholarship players available. The 6-0 guard never played in a game for the program.

Carlton Dotson, Baylor (Dave Bliss) - Junior college recruit was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering Baylor roommate/teammate Patrick Dennehy with a hand gun in the summer of 2003. Dennehy, shot twice above the right ear, was New Mexico's leading rebounder (7.5 rpg) in 2001-02 under coach Fran Fraschilla before he was dismissed from the squad when Ritchie McKay succeeded Fraschilla. Dotson was arrested upon telling FBI agents he shot Dennehy after the player tried to shoot him. Bliss was fired by Baylor, the world's largest Baptist school, before reports surfaced about his direct involvement in a Hall of Shame cover-up attempting to hide drug use and NCAA violations within his program by encouraging an assistant coach and Bears players to depict the slain Dennehy as a drug dealer.

Parish Hickman, Michigan State (Jud Heathcote)/Liberty (Jeff Meyer) - Spartans regular for three seasons before transferring and becoming Liberty's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1992-93 pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 3-to-15 years in prison for the January 2001 murder of a Detroit man outside a Westside gas station. Acquitted after appearing before a federal judge on cocaine charges in the spring of 1991 following his on-campus arrest at MSU.

Jerome "Lenny" Holly, Texas Tech (James Dickey)/Arizona State (Bill Frieder) - Found guilty in the fatal shooting of a man and the wounding of another outside a New Mexico nightclub in mid-September 2003 during a dispute over drugs (both victims shot in back). SWC freshman of the year in 1992-93 before attending a juco and transferring to ASU, where he was plagued by medical problems (placed on prescription medication after suffering seizure and losing consciousness while driving in Los Angeles).

Baskerville Holmes, Memphis State (Dana Kirk) - A starting forward who averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Tigers' 1985 Final Four team, he was arrested twice for domestic violence. Later, Holmes, an out-of-work truck driver, and his girlfriend were found shot to death March 18, 1997, in an apparent murder-suicide in Memphis. Three children were at home at the time of shootings. He was 32.

LaKeith Humphrey, Kansas State (Lon Kruger)/Central Missouri State (Jim Wooldridge) - Sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in the late November 2006 death of his former girlfriend, who was shot through her bedroom window about 3:40 a.m. in his hometown of Memphis. Humphrey, a J.C. recruit, averaged 12.6 ppg and 3.6 apg for K-State's NCAA playoff team in 1988-89.

Lawrence Ingram, Murray State (Ron Greene) - Juco recruit who played in 17 games for the Racers' 1983 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champion was sentenced to 20 years in prison for first-degree reckless homicide in early November 2017 killing at a squalid homeless encampment under a Milwaukee freeway overpass. Ingram abused cocaine and his criminal record began in 1988 with a conviction for robbery.

Joeviair Kennedy, Western Michigan (Steve Hawkins) - Convicted of armed robbery and a weapons charge but acquitted of murder, he was sentenced to at least 17 years in prison in the fatal shooting of a student at an off-campus apartment in December 2016 theft where he and a co-defendant allegedly got marijuana, a cellphone and about $25. Kennedy, a 6-4 redshirt guard who averaged 3.1 ppg in eight WMU contests, said a former Muskegon high school teammate sentenced to life in prison pulled the trigger.

William Langrum II, McLennan County Community College TX - Starting power forward and H.S. teammate of Georgia Tech/NBA star Chris Bosh on Texas' 4A state championship club in 2002 (declared national champion by USA Today) was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole when a jury found him guilty of capital murder after a 50-year-old woman was stabbed to death with a hunting knife in a purse robbery outside her Dallas-area condominium in the fall of 2011 as she returned from church. In the aftermath of killing her, Langrum and an accomplice went to a different portion of Dallas and began stalking another potential victim before police arrested them. Coincidentally, Bosh's mother was the subject of a drug trafficking probe in December 2017.

Robert Littlejohn, Purdue (Gene Keady) - Junior college recruit who served as starting center for NCAA tourney team in 1984-85 was sentenced to 60 years in prison after conviction of chasing and stabbing a woman to death during fight in fall of 2019 in Fort Wayne, Ind. The 21-year-old female collapsed right in the middle of the street.

Leonel Marquetti, Southern California (Bob Boyd and Stan Morrison)/Hampton (Hank Ford) - Former McDonald's All-American was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of first-degree murder in a March 25, 2010, slaying in Plant City, Fla. Prosecutors portrayed Marquetti as a hoarder who was jealous of a wrongly-assumed relationship with an ex-girlfriend, a German-born dog breeder. Marquetti shot a white handyman four times - once as he faced him and three times as his victim lay face down. Jurors also found him guilty of aggravated battery with a firearm and false imprisonment. The Los Angeles native averaged 4.8 ppg in 1978-79 and 1979-80 with USC before transferring.

Howard McNeil, Seton Hall (Bill Raftery) - Convicted at Norristown, Pa., in early February 1999 of third-degree murder in the stabbing death of a suspected prostitute. Police said the woman's skull was cracked when she was pushed into a wall before being stabbed to death. According to prosecutors, McNeil also stole a safe filled with drugs from the house. McNeil, an All-Big East Conference third-team selection as a junior in 1980-81 before being declared academically ineligible late in senior season, was found guilty of related drug and theft charges, but not convicted on more serious first- and second-degree murder charges. In 1976, he shot a friend in the head with a handgun at a Valentine's Day party, but was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and avoided jail.

Branden Miller, Montana State (Mick Durham) - Sentenced to 120 years in prison (100 for deliberate homicide, 10 for use of a weapon and 10 for tampering with evidence) after he was charged with murder in late June 2006 in the shooting death of a suspected cocaine dealer whose body was found at the school's agronomy farm. Investigators said the murder weapon was one of two .40-caliber handguns Miller bought from a pawn shop two weeks before the incident. He was the Bobcats' third-leading scorer in 2004-05 before becoming academically ineligible.

Mike Niles, Cal State Fullerton (Bobby Dye) - After playing briefly with the Phoenix Suns, the enforcer for the Titans' 1978 West Regional finalist, before booted from the squad due to academic anemia, was convicted in late January 1989 of hiring a man to murder his wife and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. She died of a shotgun blast to the back of her skull from close range. According to the prosecution, Niles arranged to pay $5,000 to kill his wife, a prison guard, to collect $100,000 from a life insurance policy. A witness testified that Niles said he wanted his wife killed because she "messed me out" of money from basketball. The cycle of violence continued when his aspiring rapper son, Brandon, was buried at 17, the victim of a gunshot to the chest by a rival gang.

Stephen O'Reilly, North Florida (Matthew Driscoll) - Virgin Islands product who played briefly for UNF in 2009-10 was charged in the fatal stabbing of a roommate in Gwinnett County (Ga.) in late March 2013. The roommate, suffering from sickle cell anemia, was stabbed more than 18 times.

Terry Pettis, Fresno State (Ray Lopes) - Sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder and armed robbery in the death of a junior college student who was behind the wheel of a car while her boyfriend sold marijuana in the seat next to her. Pettis had been arrested in his hometown of Minneapolis in May 2004 on charges of killing the woman when she tried to drive away during a botched drug robbery the previous month in Fresno, Calif., at a secluded lot near an apartment building. The crime was so grisly that the judge decided jurors couldn't see an autopsy photo showing the bullet's impact on the teenager's head. Pettis, a starting point guard for the Bulldogs in 2002-03 and 2003-04 before he was suspended for not completing a treatment program, pleaded no contest in September 2003 to misdemeanor vandalism and battery charges involving his girlfriend.

Bryan Randall, Dartmouth (Paul Cormier) - Facing a pending divorce, All-Ivy League selection in 1986-87 and 1987-88 dropped his two youngest children in the murky waters of an Orlando-area office park lake in mid-September 2003 (two-year-old girl drowned and four-year-old boy saved only by fate's hand and a passing fisherman) before loading his two older sons into the family's Dodge Durango and intentionally swerving in front of an oncoming semitrailer slicing his SUV nearly in two on the interstate (killing him and the one son bearing his name). In a suicide letter found in the wreckage, jobless-and-despondent Randall, who led Ivy League in assists as a senior, wrote he wanted to kill himself and his children because he disapproved of how his estranged wife cared for them. Randall, slapped with a restraining order hinging on sordid charges of sexual humiliation and blackmail, had discovered her infidelity by tapping their home's phone. In the late 1990s, he filed for bankruptcy and had bank foreclose on his condominium in Silver Spring, Md., prior to accepting a job with WorldCom before the telecom giant collapsed.

Derrick Riley, Fresno State (Boyd Grant)/Fresno Pacific - Part-time starter for FSU in 1984-85 was convicted of second-degree murder of his wife and unborn child and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. He was accused of suffocating his wife, who was 7 1/2 months pregnant with their second child, after her body was found floating in a Bakersfield area aqueduct in early February 1994. Court papers said there had an argument over his using drugs and theft of a church's cash box.

Aaron Smith, Wyoming (Joby Wright) - Junior college recruit who averaged 5.2 ppg in 1994-95 and 1995-96 was found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting a construction worker in back of the head in early August 2005 (victim reportedly owed him about $400 from gambling debt from late 1990s).

Andre Smith, Xavier (Skip Prosser) - Son of Tulsa All-American Bingo Smith was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence as part of a plea deal. Prosecutors say he used a survival tool that included a machete and a saw to kill his Russian teenage friend in May 2004 in his apartment complex. Andre played for the Musketeers in mid-1990s.

Brett Studdard, Wyoming (Benny Dees) - Junior college recruit who averaged 4.3 ppg for the Cowboys in 1991-92 and 1992-93 shot his former girlfriend to death (once in the back and once in head) before committing suicide in the fall of 2003 in Cobb County (Ga.). The altercation occurred two days after a permanent restraining order was issued prohibiting him from contacting the pharmacist.

Shaun Warrick, Maryland-Eastern Shore (Lawrence Lessett Jr.) - Convicted Valentine's Day killer was sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms without parole (plus 16 to 32 years for burglary and firearms charges) in late summer 2015 after a Philadelphia jury deadlocked on whether he should get the death penalty for murdering his ex-girlfriend and her cousin (each shot multiple times). Warrick did not testify in his defense and declined to speak before sentencing. The jury did not hear about Warrick featured in 2007 on America's Most Wanted after accusations of shooting two other students and stabbing a third (acquitted of attempted-murder charges in that case). He had been convicted of a misdemeanor escape charge in summer of 2004 when brought into a police barracks and ended up fleeing. In 2005, he was convicted of illegally possessing a gun on a public street (serial number obliterated) but still competed in 15 games for UMES in 2005-06. In summer of 2008, he was arraigned on charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, receiving a stolen firearm and possession of marijuana.

Decensae White, Texas Tech (Bob Knight)/Santa Clara (Kerry Keating)/San Francisco State (Paul Trevor) - Arrested on a murder charge as part of an elaborate plot, including a Russian mobster, where a Louisiana rapper (Lil Phat) was killed in a revenge drive-by shooting the summer of 2012 in the parking deck of a hospital as his fiancee was preparing to give birth. White, extradited to Georgia in May 2013 before striking a deal with the prosecution, testified he was the one tracking Lil Phat's movements (after stealing 10 pounds of marijuana) via a GPS device installed in a rented white Audi vehicle. The vagabond hooper averaged 4.7 ppg and 2.2 rpg for Texas Tech in 2006-07 and 2007-08, 3.4 ppg and 2.4 rpg in 10 games with Santa Clara in 2008-09 and team highs of 12.5 ppg and 7.1 rpg for San Francisco State in 2012-13.

Jayson Williams, St. John's (Lou Carnesecca) - All-Big East Conference second-team selection in 1988-89 pleaded guilty in January 2010 to aggravated assault and served 18 months in prison for accidentally killing a limousine driver in his bedroom. Williams, boasting 25 stitches above his right eye after being charged with drunken driving when crashing his SUV into a tree the previous week, was awaiting retrial on a reckless manslaughter count before pleading guilty to to the lesser count. He had been cleared by jurors in the spring of 2004 of aggravated manslaughter, the most serious charge against him, but was found guilty of four lesser charges. He faced 55 years in prison if convicted on all counts stemming from a February 14, 2002, shooting with a 12-gauge shotgun of a limo driver at his mansion and an alleged attempt to make the death look like a suicide. Williams was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, but the jury deadlocked on a reckless-manslaughter count. Williams gave the driver's relatives $2.5 million to settle a civil suit. In late April 2009 following his wife filing for divorce claiming he was abusive, adulterous and had a drug problem, Williams was zapped with a stun gun by police in a lower Manhattan hotel suite after the reportedly suicidal athlete resisted attempts by officers to take him to a hospital. The next month, he was charged with assault after allegedly punching a man in the face outside a North Carolina bar, but charges were dropped.

Oscar Williams Jr., Utah State (Dutch Belnap) - The Aggies' assists leader in multiple categories from his mid-1970s exploits was sentenced to two life prison terms without the possibility of parole for the 1982 shooting death of his wife. Prosecutors contended that he murdered her to collect $220,000 worth of life insurance benefits after he failed in an effort to hire a contract killer. Toy Williams, a 24-year-old model, was shot at least five times in an alley near the couple's Las Vegas apartment after returning from her job at a nearby shopping mall.

Roy Williams, Cleveland State (Kevin Mackey and Mike Boyd) - Junior college recruit was suspended while facing a rape charge stemming from an on-campus incident at a fraternity party involving an honor student in early November 1990. He was questioned by California authorities the previous year about the suspicious death of a Compton College female student, whose body was found in the trunk of her gray Toyota car. Williams, the last person seen with her according to police, initially told investigators the student body vice president and peer counselor overdosed at a San Diego crack house the two had visited. In the spring of 1991, he pleaded innocent to charges of killing two young women and raping and attempting to strangle a third female. An attorney defending him threatened to sue over disclosure that his client was convicted of murder in California in 1981 when he was 14 and reportedly served nearly five years in California youth institutions.

Erikk Wright Jr., Coppin State commitment (Ron "Fang" Mitchell) - Junior college wing for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2013-14 was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 16 to 32 years in prison as well as five years of consecutive probation following a shooting in spring of 2016 outside a popular nightclub in Chester, Pa. Video evidence reportedly depicted Wright stepping off a curb to shoot the victim in the back as he crawled away for his life.

Chris Yates, Wisconsin-Green Bay (Dick Bennett) - Forward who averaged 3.2 ppg from 1987-88 through 1991-92 was sentenced to 15 years to life behind bars for the stabbing murder of his mother in spring of 2006. Addicted to crack cocaine, he previously was sentenced to five years in prison after found guilty of armed robbery in 1992. Following release from prison, criminal record for Michigan native reportedly included domestic violence and violating a restraining order.

Mark Yavorsky, San Diego (Phil Woolpert) - Backcourtmate of Bernie Bickerstaff for two seasons averaged 8.4 ppg from 1963-64 through 1965-66. In a neighbor's living room, where his mother had sought refuge, Yavorsky stabbed her to death with a three-foot antique saber in June 1979. Found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, a judge ruled him innocent by reason of insanity. In Yavorsky's disturbed mind, the murder was a reenactment of scene from a Greek tragedy in which he had been cast. After his release from a state hospital, he was in and out of custody, at one juncture escaping from a group home in downtown San Diego, taking off on a cross-country foray. The crime inspired a movie entitled My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 28 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Duke versatile athletes Chubby Dean and Ace Parker join ex-college hoopers Billy North (Central Washington) and Ossie Orwoll (Luther IA) in providing key MLB performances on this date for the Athletics' franchise. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 28

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in a 7-5 win against the Brooklyn Robins in nightcap of 1929 doubleheader.

  • 1B Donn Clendenon (hoops letterman for Morehouse GA) clobbered two homers en route to setting a New York Mets record by knocking in seven runs in 12-2 rout of the San Francisco Giants in 1970.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) fanned 11 Cincinnati Reds batters to post his third MLB victory in as many starts in 1955.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie 1B Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) delivered three hits for the second consecutive contest in 1936, raising his batting average to .345 through 55 games.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (first Connecticut player to average at least 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) walloped two homers off starter Harry Schaeffer (four-year hoops letterman for East Stroudsburg PA second half of 1940s) in a 12-2 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1952. It was Schaeffer's debut and lone MLB decision.

  • Detroit Tigers CF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) contributed four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1948 contest.

  • Kansas City Royals rookie RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76), improving his mark to 12-3, posted his fifth triumph of the month by tossing his third shutout in 1978.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) stroked four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1935 game.

  • Washington Senators rookie OF Gary Holman (USC hoops letterman in 1962-63) delivered career-high three hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1968 outing.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers rookie RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) furnished six RBI in an 8-6 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) cracked three homers against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1940 twinbill. Keller went yard only once more in the remaining 58 games of campaign.

  • Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dave Lemanczyk (averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg from 1969-70 through 1971-72 on couple of NCAA College Division Tournament teams for Hartwick NY) registered his third shutout in 1979, blanking his former team (Detroit Tigers), 3-0.

  • CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the San Francisco Giants in 2002.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) tied a MLB record with two doubles in a 10-run second inning en route to a 14-6 decision over the St. Louis Browns in opener of 1935 doubleheader.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played four basketball games with Central Washington in 1967-68) made an unassisted double play against the Kansas City Royals in a 1973 contest.

  • Kansas City Royals 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) belted two homers, including go-ahead, two-run blast in top of the ninth inning, in a 7-6 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1970.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie 1B Ossie Orwoll (Luther IA hooper in first half of 1920s), raising his batting average to .390, manufactured four hits against the St. Louis Browns in a 1928 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie SS Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1935-36) provided a career-high three hits and four RBI in 11-7 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1937.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went on a 12-for-25 spurt en route to capturing the 1949 N.L. batting title.

  • Boston Red Sox RF Arlie Tarbert (Ohio State hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) collected a career-high two hits in a 3-0 win against the Cleveland Indians in opener of 1927 doubleheader.

  • In the midst of a career-high 20-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) doubled in his fourth consecutive contest in 1964.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 27 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Frankie Frisch (Fordham), Wally Moon (Texas A&M) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA) supplied significant MLB performances on this date for the St. Louis Cardinals. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 27

  • Milwaukee Brewers LHP Rick Austin (member of Washington State's freshman basketball team in 1965-66) didn't allow an earned run in his first nine relief appearances of the month in 1975.

  • RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) awarded off waivers to the Philadelphia Phillies from Boston Bees in 1936.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Ray Burris (basketball standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) capped off a streak of six straight winning starts in 1976 with his second shutout in that span.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) hurled one of his four shutouts in 1959.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) contributed four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1933 contest.

  • In an 8-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) secured five hits in a game for the third time in the 1993 campaign.

  • Los Angeles LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 16 Philadelphia Phillies in 11 innings before the Dodgers prevailed in 16 frames, 2-1, in 1966.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie OF Joe Lahoud (hoops letterman for New Haven CT) hammered a two-run homer in the top of the 20th inning in a 5-3 win at Seattle in 1969.

  • Toronto Blue Jays DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's junior varsity team in 1975-76) singled in the go-ahead run in a 10-8 triumph against the Boston Red Sox in 1987.

  • Washington Senators CF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) launched back-to-back homers and had five RBI in an 8-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers in 1963.

  • CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cleveland Indians in 2007.

  • Cleveland Indians RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) went 4-for-4 against the Kansas City Royals in a 1983 game.

  • In the ninth inning against the California Angels, New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled the hidden-ball trick for the second time in six weeks in 1970.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) manufactured four hits for the third time in a 17-game span in 1954.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Bobby Munoz (scored 35 points for Polk Community College FL in game against Palm Beach in mid-November 1986) hurled a two-hitter in 3-1 win against the Florida Marlins for his seventh victory in eight decisions during stretch of strike-shortened season.

  • LF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1915) supplied three of the Cincinnati Reds' eight stolen bases in a 14-5 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1918 doubleheader.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) incurred a season-ending broken ankle stepping on first base against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1931.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer as All-Evergreen Conference pick in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won for the fifth time in as many starts during the month in 1966.

  • Chicago White Sox 2B Frank Whitman (one of leading scorers with Eureka IL as freshman in 1942-43) stroked a single for his lone MLB hit (against New York Yankees in 1946).

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and five RBI for the second time in a five-game span in 1988.

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