"It is better to be looked over than overlooked." - Mae West

Which prominent coaches never earned acclaim as national coach of the year by a major award (AP/NABC/Naismith/USBWA)? A year ago, Pete Carril passed away but he isn't the only prominent mentor nationally shunned by the voting class. Maryland named its court after Gary Williams, the school's all-time winningest coach who guided the Terrapins to the 2002 NCAA title during a span when he became the only mentor ever to defeat the nation's top-ranked team in four straight seasons (2000-01 through 2003-04). Surprisingly, Williams never was courted as national coach of the year by one of the major awards, joining other NCAA championship coaches such as Denny Crum, Billy Donovan, Joe B. Hall, Don Haskins, Rollie Massimino and Jim Valvano "shorted" by this dubious distinction.

Does this blemish exist because of smug power-league coaches or is the media more of a mess than even its fiercest critics believe? A stunning total of individuals received honor as national COY despite never reaching an NCAA playoff regional final - including Rod Barnes, Perry Clark, Jim Crews, Keno Davis, Matt Doherty, Cliff Ellis, Eddie Fogler, Frank Haith, Marv Harshman, Todd Lickliter, George Raveling, Al Skinner, Charlie Spoonhour and Dick Versace. Unless Steve Harvey announced the "beauty-contest" results, following is an alphabetical list of high-profile retired coaches never receiving one of the five major national coach of the year awards since 1955 despite their significant achievements:

Dave Bliss - Compiled a total of 14 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Dale Brown - Led LSU to 15 consecutive postseason tournaments (1979 through 1993) en route to becoming the second-winningest coach in SEC history at the time (behind Adolph Rupp) in both overall and SEC games.

Vic Bubas - Guided Duke to NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances three times in a four-year span from 1963 through 1966.

Pete Carril - Never incurred a losing record in 29 seasons with Princeton from 1968 through 1996.

Gale Catlett - Went his first 23 seasons without a losing record with Cincinnati and West Virginia; participated in nine consecutive national postseason tournaments in the 1980s.

Denny Crum - Won 15 regular-season conference championships in the Missouri Valley and Metro in his first 23 seasons with Louisville; only coach to twice win conference and NCAA tournaments in the same year (1980 and 1986).

Don DeVoe - Compiled a total of 12 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Don Donoher - One of first 10 coaches to take his first three teams to the NCAA playoffs guided his first seven Dayton clubs to national postseason competition; posted double digits in victories all 25 seasons.

Billy Donovan - Two-time national championship coach (2006 and 2007) became Florida's all-time winningest mentor.

Lefty Driesell - One of only three different coaches to guide four different schools to the NCAA playoffs; captured conference tournament titles in four different leagues; only coach to win more than 100 games for four different schools en route to total of 786 victories; had 14 final Top 20 rankings.

Hugh Durham - One of only three coaches in NCAA history to win at least 225 games for two Division I schools, directing both Florida State and Georgia to the Final Four.

Bill C. Foster - Only six losing records in 25 seasons at the Division I level with UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Miami (FL) and Virginia Tech.

Jack Gardner - Only coach to direct two different schools to the Final Four at least twice apiece.

Pete Gillen - Remarkable run with Xavier (winning five Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament titles in six-year span from 1986 through 1991) before posting 20-win seasons with Providence in the Big East and Virginia in the ACC.

Joe B. Hall - Averaged 23 victories annually in 13 seasons with Kentucky, reaching championship game in either NCAA Tournament or NIT three times in a four-year span from 1975 through 1978.

Don Haskins - Captured four Western Athletic Conference Tournament championships with Texas-El Paso in a seven-year span from 1984 through 1990 while winning more than 20 games each of those seasons; compiled a total of 17 20-win campaigns.

Lou Henson - Compiled only one losing record in his last 22 years with Illinois and New Mexico State; finished in first division of the Big Ten Conference nine straight seasons.

Terry Holland - Averaged 20 victories annually in 21 seasons with Davidson and Virginia.

Lon Kruger - Guided five different schools to the NCAA Tournament - Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV and Oklahoma.

Harry Litwack - Finished third with Temple in three consecutive national postseason tournaments (1956 and 1958 in NCAA and 1957 in NIT). Posted only one losing record in 21 seasons with the Owls through 1973.

Rollie Massimino - Averaged more than 20 victories annually in the 1980s; participated in 14 consecutive national postseason tournaments with Villanova and UNLV before coaching at small-school level in Florida.

Ray Mears - Finished lower than third place in SEC standings with Tennessee just once in his final 14 seasons from 1964 through 1977.

Shelby Metcalf - Averaged 18.6 victories annually with Texas A&M in an 18-year span from 1971-72 through 1988-89.

Eldon Miller - Won more than 20 games with three different DI schools (Western Michigan, Ohio State and Northern Iowa).

Joe Mullaney - Reached the 20-win plateau nine straight seasons from 1958-59 through 1966-67, directing Providence to the NIT semifinals four times in the first five years of that stretch; won more than two-thirds of his games with the Friars decided by fewer than five points.

C.M. Newton - Posted at least 22 victories with Alabama six times in the last seven seasons of the 1970s.

Dave Odom - Won 20 or more games 10 times in a 14-year span from 1992-93 through 2005-06 with Wake Forest and South Carolina.

Ted Owens - Finished first or second in Big Eight Conference standings each of his first seven seasons with Kansas from 1965 through 1971.

Tom Penders - Won at least 20 games with three different schools (Rhode Island, Texas and George Washington) a total of 10 times in a 13-year span from 1987 through 1999 before winning more than 20 games three times in six seasons with Houston.

Jack Ramsay - Worst record in 11 seasons with St. Joseph's was an 18-10 mark.

Bo Ryan - Wisconsin's all-time winningest coach never finished lower than fourth in Big Ten Conference standings in 14 full seasons with the Badgers from 2001-02 through 2014-15.

Wimp Sanderson - Won five SEC Tournament titles with Alabama, including three in a row from 1989 through 1991.

Fred Schaus - Won Southern Conference Tournament championships each of his six seasons with West Virginia from 1955 through 1960 before posting winning records in Big Ten competition all six years with Purdue.

Roy Skinner - Compiled only one losing record in 16 seasons with Vanderbilt.

Billy Tubbs - Directed Oklahoma to 12 consecutive 20-win seasons, a Big Eight Conference best; took the Sooners to national postseason play his last 13 years with them before moving on to TCU and Lamar.

Jim Valvano - Guided Iona to a school-record 29 victories in 1979-80 before winning at least 18 games each of his last nine seasons with North Carolina State from 1982 through 1990.

Gary Williams - All-time winningest coach for Maryland directed 13 teams to Top 20 finishes in final polls, including a couple of them with Boston College.

Ned Wulk - All-time winningest coach for Arizona State finished atop conference standings in six of his first seven seasons with the Sun Devils.

Former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, after returning to The Ville as the Cardinals' football coach and overseeing the program's ACC entrance and Top 20 rankings prior to dismissal several seasons ago, is accustomed to controversy such as subject use of timeout and accepting soap-opera challenges (remember departures from the Atlanta Falcons and Arkansas Razorbacks). If new U of L basketball coach Kenny Payne doesn't pan out for some reason, Petrino boasted a background making him capable of motorcycling back over to fill in for Payne reminiscent of two-sport college coaches in the middle of the 20th Century who wouldn't have been fazed by a virus. Petrino, who scored 1,145 points in four years of basketball for Carroll (Mont.) in the early 1980s, was an All-Frontier Conference first-team hoop selection as a senior.

Petrino, now offensive coordinator with Texas A&M after departing Missouri State, isn't the first ex-Louisville football coach with a link to college hoops. Frank Camp Jr., the school's all-time winningest coach (118-95-2), was captain of the Transylvania (Ky.) basketball squad before coaching such standouts as Johnny Unitas, Lenny Lyles and Doug Buffone. Petrino is far from being the first marquee college football coach with a college hoops connection. It might not be delivered to you on a "Hog" motorcycle with statuesque blond hanging on tight as college gridiron campaign commences this weekend, but he is among the following alphabetical list of versatile ex-college hoopers who guided major universities to multiple major bowl games:

EARL "RED" BLAIK, Miami (Ohio)/Army
College Football Hall of Fame coach, boasting six undefeated teams, compiled a 121-33-10 record at Dartmouth (1934 through 1940) and Army (1941 through 1958). . . . After graduating from Miami, he enrolled at Army and became the first Cadet to compete against Navy in three sports in one season (football, basketball and baseball).

FRANK BROYLES, Georgia Tech
Retired Arkansas athletic director compiled a 149-62-6 record in 20 seasons as head football coach at Missouri (1957) and Arkansas (1958 through 1976). Guided 10 teams to bowl games, winning the AP and UPI national title in 1964. Quarterback was SEC Player of the Year in 1944. Third-round selection by the Chicago Bears in 1946 NFL draft (19th pick overall). He threw for a career-high 304 yards against Tulsa in the 1945 Orange Bowl. . . . Four-year starting guard in basketball for Georgia Tech. Three-time second-five selection on SEC All-Tournament team. Second-leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets with a 10.4-point average as a senior in 1946-47.

HERBERT "FRITZ" CRISLER, University of Chicago
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 116-32-9 record in 18 seasons as football coach at Minnesota (1930 and 1931), Princeton (1932 through 1937) and Michigan (1938 through 1947). The only team he coached with a losing record was in his first year. His last seven Michigan teams finished in the top 10 in the final Associated Press Poll. The 1947 Wolverines had a 10-0 record, defeated Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl (49-0) and finished second in the final AP poll behind Notre Dame. . . . Named to third five on All-Big Ten Conference basketball team in 1919-20 when the University of Chicago was a member of the league.

DAN DEVINE, Minnesota-Duluth
College Football Hall of Famer coached Notre Dame to a national champinship in 1977 after directing the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Central Division title five years earlier. Guided the Fighting Irish to a 53-16-1 mark in six seasons from 1975 through 1980. Also coached Missouri to six bowl games in the 1960s (92-38-7 record in 13 years from 1958 through 1970). . . . Played guard for Duluth's basketball squad in 1942-43 and 1945-46. Captained the Bulldogs as a senior and paced the club in scoring that season. He was a quarterback for the school's football team.

BOBBY DODD, Tennessee
Compiled a 165-64-8 coaching record with Georgia Tech in 22 years from 1945 through 1966. Won his first eight of 13 bowl games with the Yellow Jackets. . . . All-SEC second-team selection in basketball as a junior in 1929-30. He was captain of the team as a senior.

VINCE DOOLEY, Auburn
Auburn MVP in 1954 Gator Bowl. Coached Georgia to the 1980 national championship and six SEC titles. Compiled a 201-66-10 record as 20 teams played in bowl games in his 25 seasons from 1964 through 1988. . . . Averaged 6.3 ppg as a starting guard in 1951-52 in his only season of varsity basketball with Auburn before concentrating on football.

PETE "BUMP" ELLIOTT, Michigan
Executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame earned All-American honors as a quarterback for the Wolverines' 1948 national champion. Big Ten Conference MVP led Michigan to a 49-0 victory over USC in the 1948 Rose Bowl. Former head coach at Nebraska (4-6 record in 1956), California (10-21 from 1957 through 1959) and Illinois (1960 through 1966) led Cal and the Illini to Rose Bowl berths. . . . A four-year starter as a 6-0, 190-pound guard on Michigan teams from 1945-46 through 1948-49. Captain of squad as a sophomore and member of Big Ten Conference championship team in 1947-48. First-team all-conference choice as a junior and second-team selection as a senior. Second-team pick on Helms All-American team in 1947-48 when he scored a team-high 15 points in the Wolverines' first NCAA Tournament victory, a 66-49 decision over Columbia in Eastern Regional third-place game. Excerpt from school guide: "At times his defensive work was almost uncanny as he held high-scoring opposition practically scoreless in several games. Outstanding at recovering rebounds."

DON FAUROT, Missouri
Hall of Famer spent 19 years as head football coach (100-80-10 record from 1935 through 1956) and 30 years as athletic director for Mizzou. Alma mater's all-time winningest coach guided the Tigers to four bowl games in the 1940s. Faurot is best known as the inventor of the Split T formation. In 1972, the Tigers' football stadium was named in his honor (Faurot Field). . . . Captained the Tigers' basketball team as an undergraduate.

WAYNE HARDIN, Pacific
Head football coach at U.S. Naval Academy (38-22-2 record from 1959 through 1964) and Temple (80-50-3 from 1970 through 1982) directed both schools to bowl games. Coached Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in 1963 when Navy finished second in the nation in the final AP poll with a 9-2 record. . . . Letterman on four Pacific basketball teams scored a total of 78 points in his last two seasons in 1947-48 and 1948-49.

RALPH "SHUG" JORDAN, Auburn
Compiled a 176-83-6 record as head football coach for his alma mater from 1951-75. Led Auburn to berths in 12 bowl games and an AP national title in 1957 with a 10-0 record. . . . Three-year basketball letterman was captain of the team his junior season (1930-31). Coached Auburn basketball squad to a 95-75 record (.559) in 10 years from 1933-34 through 1941-42 and 1945-46 before assuming the same post at Georgia and compiling a 41-28 mark (.594) in four campaigns from 1946-47 to 1949-50.

ELMER LAYDEN, Notre Dame
Member of College Football Hall of Fame was a fullback in the famed Four Horseman backfield of the 1920s. The 5-11, 180-pounder was a consensus All-American selection in 1924. Head football coach of the Irish from 1934 through 1940, compiling a 47-12-2 record. His 1938 Notre Dame team was named national champion by the Dickinson System. NFL commissioner from 1941 to 1946. . . . Scored seven points in 10 games for the 1922-23 Notre Dame basketball squad.

EDWIN "JIM" LOOKABAUGH, Oklahoma A&M
Compiled a 58-41-6 record coaching his alma mater for 11 years from 1939 through 1949. Guided the Aggies to victories in Cotton Bowl (following 1944 season) and Sugar Bowl (#5 AP ranking with perfect season in 1945) plus appearance in Delta Bowl (following 1948 campaign). . . . All-SWC hooper in 1925.

HOMER HILL NORTON, Birmingham-Southern
Compiled a 143-75-18 coaching record in 25 seasons from 1919 through 1947 with Centenary (11) and Texas A&M (14). Won the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl with the Aggies in back-to-back years (1939 and 1940). . . . Played four sports in college, including basketball. Also coached basketball for Centenary in the early 1920s.

HOUSTON NUTT, Arkansas/Oklahoma State
Arkansas football coach for 10 years from 1998 through 2007 (75-48 record) after serving in a similar capacity at Murray State (31-16 from 1993 through 1996) and Boise State (5-6 in 1997). Aligned with Ole Miss in 2008, taking the Rebels to a bowl game in his first year with them (only team to defeat national champ Florida). Quarterback at Arkansas under Frank Broyles and Lou Holtz before transferring to Oklahoma State under Jimmy Johnson. . . . Collected six points and three rebounds in 1976-77 as a freshman under coach Eddie Sutton on Arkansas team featuring Sidney Moncrief and Ron Brewer before playing a couple of years with OSU under Paul Hansen.

BENNIE OOSTERBAAN, Michigan
Member of College Football Hall of Fame coached Michigan's football team to a 63-33-4 record in 11 seasons (1948 through 1958). His first team finished with a 9-0 record and was voted national champion in the AP poll. He won Big Ten Conference titles in 1948, 1949 and 1950. . . . In 1943, the Helms Athletic Foundation named him to its 10-man All-American basketball teams it selected for the 1926-27 and 1927-28 seasons. Finished third in Western Conference (forerunner of Big Ten) scoring in 1926-27 (9.3 ppg) and led league as a senior the next year (10.8 ppg).

TOM OSBORNE, Hastings (Neb.)
Compiled a 255-49-2 record as Nebraska coach while winning 13 conference crown in 25 years from 1973 through 1997. Lost seven straight bowl games prior to having undefeated clubs capture national championships in three of his final four campaigns (1994-95-97). Selected in 19th round of 1959 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers before catching 29 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns for the Washington Redskins in 1960 and 1961. . . . Attending college in his hometown, he scored 1,291 points for Hastings during the last half of 1950s, leading the team in scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg) as a sophomore in 1956-57.

ARA PARSEGHIAN, Miami (Ohio)
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 170-58-6 record as coach at Miami of Ohio (1951 through 1955), Northwestern (1956 through 1963) and Notre Dame (1964 through 1974). Guided Notre Dame to three national football titles (1964, 1966 and 1973). Directed the Fighting Irish to five bowl games during the first half of the 1970s. Rookie halfback on Cleveland Browns team that won All-America Football Conference title in 1948. Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 13th round of 1947 NFL draft. . . . Played for Miami basketball squads in 1946-47 and 1947-48 (34 points, 31.3 FG%, 44.4 FT%). Teammate of future Tennessee coach Ray Mears.

JOE PATERNO, Brown
Penn State's head coach from 1966 to 2011 guided the Nittany Lions to national championships in 1982 and 1986, five undefeated/untied seasons (1968-69-73-86-94) and 29 finishes in Top 10 national rankings. Only major-college coach ever to reach the 400-win plateau (409-136-3 record) was 24-12-1 in bowl games. Paterno was fired by school trustees in mid-season 2011 after the arrest of his long-time assistant, Jerry Sandusky, on child sexual abuse charges. . . . Paterno earned varsity basketball letters at Brown in 1947-48 and 1948-49. His 7.3-points-per-game scoring average in 1947-48 was second highest on the team.

DAVID SHAW, Stanford
Alma mater's all-time winningest coach compiled an 86-34 record while guiding school to a bowl game each year in his first eight seasons from 2011 through 2018 before posting losing mark in 2019, finishing his career there last year with a 96-54 mark. Wide receiver caught 57 passes for 664 yards and five touchdowns from 1991 through 1994 under coaches Dennis Green and Bill Walsh. . . . Roommate of Cardinal hoops starter Brent Williams grabbed one rebound in 1 1/2 minutes of playing time in only game against Oregon State in 1993-94.

BOB ZUPPKE, Wisconsin
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 131-81-13 record as head football coach at Illinois from 1913 through 1941. Directed the Illini to four national titles (1914, 1919, 1923 and 1927) and seven Big Ten championships. . . . Two-year letterman on Wisconsin's basketball team. The seven-man 1904-05 squad was called the "Western intercollegiate champions" by Spalding's Official Basketball Guide.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why soft-on-crime #Dimorats and woke businesses shun best and brightest while focusing on the least whitest other than deity Dr. Fraudci and Plagiarist Biledumb, you can read news 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 SEC hoopers Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Don Kessinger (Mississippi) and Jim Tabor (Alabama) delivered 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 23 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 23

• Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) provided four hits against the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1953 twinbill.

• At the Polo Grounds in 1962, San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) belted his lone MLB homer. Five frames later, he banged out the game-winning single in extra innings to give the Giants a 2-1 win against the expansion New York Mets.

• In 1989, Atlanta Braves RHP Marty Clary (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1981-82 and 1982-83) notched his lone MLB shutout (3-0 against St. Louis Cardinals).

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) manufactured two homers among his four hits and chipped with five RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1932 game.

• In the midst of a career-high 10-game hitting streak, Cincinnati Reds 2B Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) stroked an inside-the-park homer in nightcap of 1930 doubleheader against the Brooklyn Robins.

• Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered his third consecutive three-hit outing against the Atlanta Braves in 1972.

• Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his fourth contest of a five-game span in 1974.

• 3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Chicago White Sox in 1965.

• In the midst of a career-high 23-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished nine consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1931.

• 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) knocked in the winning run in the 11th inning of the nightcap of a 1959 doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers to give reliever Elroy Face his 16th victory without a loss.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied four hits and three RBI in a 1984 game against the Houston Astros.

• In 1958, Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered his 14th career grand slam to set a new N.L. record. It was the first grand slam in the history of the franchise after relocating from Brooklyn to the West Coast.

• 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) supplied a multiple-safety outing for the seventh time in eight-game span in 1972.

• Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 5-for-5 against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1959 contest.

• Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) lashed his fourth homer of season in a 2 1/2-month span in 1938.

• New York Yankees rookie RF Jim Lyttle (Florida State free-throw shooting leader in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) went 4-for-4 with three RBI in a 7-5 win against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1970 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Phillies CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) amassed three hits and three stolen bases against the Atlanta Braves in a 1977 game.

• Cleveland Indians rookie RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a three-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1959.

• Utilityman Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference hoops selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) slugged a three-run, pinch-hit homer off Hall of Famer Tom Seaver to spark the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 triumph against the New York Mets in 1970.

• Chicago Cubs rookie OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) smacked his first MLB homer, a pinch grand slam, against the Houston Astros in 1975.

• Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) went 4-for-4 in a 1939 game against the St. Louis Browns.

• Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) went 7-for-8 in a 1959 doubleheader sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Colt .45s in a 1963 contest.

• LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) awarded on waivers from the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees in 1928.

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating soccer player deserving respect (Chrissy Teigen self-absorbed wannabe Megan Rapinoe bullying teammates into anthem kneeling or deceased Afghani Mohammad Zaki Anwari trapped in landing gear of C-17 transport plane aspiring to board evacuation flight stemming from dumpster fire ignited by Rapinoe-endorsed Plagiarist "The Muck Starts Here" Biledumb), you can read news 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 hoopers from Illinois colleges - Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Floyd Newkirk (Illinois College) and Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois) - made MLB news on this date. Boudreau is joined by fellow Hall of Famers Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA), Ted Lyons (Baylor) and Eppa Rixey (Virginia) as ex-college hoopers generating MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 21 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 21

• Boston Red Sox INF Jack Barry (basketball letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) tied a MLB single-game record with four sacrifices at Cleveland in 1916.

• Philadelphia Athletics RHP Bill Beckmann (hooper in late 1920s for Washington MO) tossed a shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1940 for his fifth victory in as many decisions in a 3 1/2-week span.

• Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out four hits against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1949 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Ron Diorio (New Haven CT runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1968-69) yielded the only run in his first 17 relief appearances in the 1973 campaign (0.60 ERA in that span).

• Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Dave Giusti (made 6-of-10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) twirled a shutout and knocked in six runs with a pair of bases-loaded doubles in an 11-0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds in 1966.

• Cincinnati Reds rookie LHP Don Gross (Michigan State freshman hooper in 1949-50) hurled his lone MLB shutout by blanking the St. Louis Cardinals on four hits in 1955.

• Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) named special assistant to Commissioner William Eckert in 1968.

• Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Clyde King (started two basketball games for North Carolina in December 1944 under coach Ben Carnevale didn't allow an earned run in his eighth straight appearance covering 28 1/3 innings in 1947.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) hurled a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in 1926. Lyons required only 67 minutes and 81 pitches.

• Philadelphia Athletics RHP Bill McCahan (three-year Duke letterman named to All-Southern Conference Tournament team in 1942) earned his fourth consecutive complete-game victory in 1947.

• Atlanta Braves RHP Gary Neibauer (collected 13 points and 9 rebounds in 16 games for Nebraska in 1964-65 under coach Joe Cipriano) earned his second relief victory of the month in 1973.

• 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) accounted for both of the New York Yankees' runs via a homer and double in a 2-1 triumph against the Texas Rangers in 1977.

• RHP Floyd Newkirk (Hall of Fame selection at Illinois College) made his lone MLB appearance with the New York Yankees in 1934.

• Pitchers Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois' leading rebounder in 1966-67 with 15.2 per game) and Rick Reuschel collaborated on a 7-0 victory for the Chicago Cubs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975 - the first time brothers combined on a shutout. Paul relieved in the seventh inning after Rick was forced to leave because of a blister on his finger.

• Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) was 41 in 1932 when he tossed the second of back-to-back shutouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri hoop squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) homered twice against the Boston Red Sox in a 1962 game.

• 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) amassed four hits in a 7-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012.

• Seattle Mariners CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) supplied five hits and four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 2004 contest.

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking debacle where wokeness weakens U.S. via indefensible institutional-elite Big Tech policy decision allowing "over-the-rainbow" Taliban savages on Twitter but not meanie #TheDonald and callous contrary conservatives, you can read news 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 Southwest Missouri State hoopers Mark Bailey, Jerry Lumpe and Preston Ward provided significant MLB performances on this date. Ex-college hoopers Bob Cerv (Nebraska) and Davey Lopes (Iowa Wesleyan/Washburn KS) each hit three homers in a game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 20

• Boston Red Sox INF Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) went 3-for-3 in opener and jacked decisive homer in nightcap of 1967 twinbill sweep of the California Angels.

• Houston Astros C Mark Bailey (led Southwest Missouri State basketball team in rebounding and field-goal percentage in 1980-81) collected three hits, four runs and four RBI in a 17-2 romp over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.

• Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) collected two homers and five RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1959 game.

• In the midst of a career-high 17-game hitting streak, Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing hoop career) collected three homers and six RBI in an 11-10 defeat against the Boston Red Sox in 1959.

• RHP Bill Connors (averaged 6 ppg and 2.3 rpg for Syracuse in 1960-61) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets in 1967.

• Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman hoops squad in 1971-72) fired his fifth shutout of the 1979 campaign - a three-hitter against the Texas Rangers - in the midst of him winning eight straight starts en route to an A.L.-high 23 triumphs.

• Brooklyn Dodgers SS Jake Flowers (member of Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad in 1923) contributed four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43), utilizing a new slow delivery, hurled a 6-0 no-hitter against the Washington Senators in 1957.

• 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) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago White Sox in 1977.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Ralph LaPointe (Vermont hoops letterman during WWII) went 7-for-12 at conclusion of three-game series against the Chicago Cubs in 1947.

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged two homers and six RBI against the Seattle Mariners in a 2000 contest.

• 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he was All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) set a Los Angeles Dodgers record with 15 total bases in an 18-8 rout of the Chicago Cubs in 1974 (three homers, double and single).

• Kansas City Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops club) went 7-for-10 in a 1963 doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) belted two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1975 game.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie 2B Moon Mullen (backup guard for Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team winning inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939) stroked four singles in a 4-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1944 outing.

• Texas Rangers RF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) ripped two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1993 contest.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1975. Reed yielded fewer than two earned runs in nine of his first 16 starts for the Cards.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) hurled his second of back-to-back three-hit shutouts in 1941.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) had his 15-game winning streak against the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped in 1953.

• In 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers SS Tommy Brown (17 years old) became the youngest player to hit a MLB homer when connecting off Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s).

• Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (hooper for Hofstra freshman team in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1977 game.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) supplied his seventh straight hitless relief appearance in 1988. Smith fanned 15 batters during span covering nine innings.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college player in mid-1970s with Butler County PA) hurled his lone MLB shutout (five-hitter against the Houston Astros in 1983).

• Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) resigned as Cleveland Indians manager in 1966.

• In the midst of winning five straight starts during the month, Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Houston Astros in 1969.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided three extra-base hits in a 1955 game against the New York Giants.

• Pinch two-run single by 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) sparked the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1958.

• In 1986, New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) walloped the milestone 300th of his 465 MLB career homers.

Extra! Extra! Misguided #MessMedia mavens, giving WY carpetbagger Liz Cheney a participation trophy and IL reject Adam Kinzinger a crying towel, are essentially the only constituency for drama queen and king. Instead of wondering if droning landslide loser is still employable by shooting weapon better than anal actor Alec Baldwin or dynasty daddy dearest so Ms. Abe Lincoln's next vocation could be as gun-toting #IRSArmy agent for Plagiarist Biledumb, you can read news 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 Texas Christian hoopers Harry Kinzy and Dutch Meyer delivered significant American League performances on this date. Ditto fellow ex-SWC hoopers Beau Bell (Texas A&M) and Ted Lyons (Baylor). Former juco hooper Jim Thome (Illinois Central) twice jacked a pair of homers in A.L. games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 18

• In the midst of a 21-game hitting streak, St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year basketball letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) went 5-for-5 in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

• RHP Ray Burris (Southwestern Oklahoma State hooper) purchased from the New York Yankees by the New York Mets in 1979.

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1933 game.

• Atlanta Braves 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) launched the final of his 414 MLB career homers.

• St. Louis Browns C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) capped off a career-high 20-game hitting streak with four safeties against the Boston Red Sox in 1932. Four years later, Ferrell supplied three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1936 contest.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1932 twinbill.

• INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of his last three seasons with Lebanon Valley PA in late 1920s) awarded on waivers from the Washington Senators to the Boston Red Sox in 1940.

• Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) fired as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1989.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Harry Kinzy (starting forward for Texas Christian from 1931-32 through 1933-34) lost his lone MLB decision and complete game when walking 10 Washington Senators batters in 1934.

• Cleveland Indians RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1960 game.

• Chicago White Sox 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) went 3-for-3, including logging the decisive RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning, in a 7-6 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1984.

• New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) collected a homer, triple and two doubles in an 8-4 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1935.

• Philadelphia Phillies LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) smacked two triples against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1941 doubleheader.

• Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) doubled in his fifth consecutive contest in 1956.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (All-SWC first-team basketball selection with Baylor as sophomore and senior in early 1920s) contributed four hits in a 7-5 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1940.

• Chicago Cubs CF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 7-for-8 in 1916 doubleheader split against the New York Giants.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) went 4-for-4 in a 7-4 victory against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1945.

• Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stroked four hits in a 6-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973.

• RHP Claude Passeau (hooper for Millsaps MS in late 1920s and early 1930s) tossed a three-hit shutout as the Philadelphia Phillies ended a 14-game losing streak with a 7-0 verdict over the Boston Bees in 1936.

• RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Chicago White Sox in 1977.

• Chicago White Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 in a 1930 game against the New York Yankees.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 4-for-4 in opener of 1921 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) went 4-for-4 in a 1940 game against the Chicago White Sox.

• Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) collected two homers and six RBI in a 1996 outing against the Detroit Tigers. Eleven years later as Chicago White Sox DH, he smacked two round-trippers in a 2007 contest against the Seattle Mariners.

• OF 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) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Texas Rangers in 2015.

• Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) knocked in five runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1941 twinbill.

Extra! Extra! If the FBI/DOJ fishing-expedition "panty" raid at Mar-a-lago taught us anything, it's that no one is above the law unless deemed terrorists at school board meetings, crossing the border illegally, reinventing yourself as awesome straw artist such as smartest guy Plagiarist Bile-dumb knows in son hideous Hunter, trying to intimidate conservative-leaning Supreme Court justices, gender grooming impressionable children, deleting 33,000 classified emails or rioting way to $2 billion in damages and 42 deaths at "mostly peaceful" protests. Instead, you can read news 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 college hoopers from small colleges in Pennsylvania - Glenn Beckert (Allegheny) Tom Dettore (Juniata), Lynn Jones (Thiel) and Christy Mathewson (Bucknell) - supplied significant performances in MLB games on this date. Mathewson was joined by ex-hoopers Gil Hodges, Sandy Koufax, Robin Roberts, Jim Thome and Dave Winfield in having big days in MLB on this date before Hall of Fame induction. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 16 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 16

• Minnesota Twins LF Brant Alyea (Hofstra's leading basketball scorer and rebounder in 1960-61 under coach Butch van Breda Kolff) belted a homer against the Boston Red Sox for the third day in a row in 1970.

• Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed four hits against the San Francisco Giants in a 1972 game.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) won his 10th consecutive decision in 1996.

• Cincinnati Reds RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) tossed a complete-game victory against the Chicago Cubs in 1955.

• Chicago Cubs RHP Tom Dettore (averaged team-high 14.1 ppg plus 9 rpg in 1965-66 for Juniata PA) earned his first MLB victory with 6 1/3 innings of shutout relief against the San Diego Padres in 1974.

• Chicago White Sox 1B Kerby Farrell (key hooper for couple of strong Freed-Hardeman TN squads in mid-1930s) collected three hits for the second consecutive contest in 1945.

• Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) launched two homers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the nightcap of a 1961 doubleheader.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) clobbered two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1947 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) registered his seventh consecutive contest with multiple hits.

• Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) amassed two homers and six RBI against the New York Giants in a 1950 game.

• Kansas City Royals CF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) stroked four hits against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1985 contest.

• Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) improved his record to 19-5 with a 3-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals but will miss the remainder of the 1964 season because of an elbow injury incurred while sliding back into second base earlier in the month.

• In 1911, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) defeated the Cincinnati Reds for the 22nd straight time.

• Chicago White Sox RF Lyle Mouton (starter in Louisiana State's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) had his career-high 14-game hitting streak snapped by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1996.

• Detroit Tigers LF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) hit safely in first 10 games of the month, a career high, before he was blanked by the Cleveland Indians in 1996.

• Seattle Mariners RF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) collected two homers and five RBI in 7-5 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1978.

• RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) twirled four-hit shutouts in his first two starts for the Houston Astros in 1965.

• New York Yankees rookie LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in 1939, igniting a streak of seven straight complete-game victories as a starter.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two homers in a 2001 game against the Minnesota Twins.

• Philadelphia Phillies RF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) went 7-for-10 and scored five runs in a 1925 twinbill sweep of the Brooklyn Robins.

• Toronto Blue Jays RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) knocked in five runs against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1992 doubleheader.

Extra! Extra! Instead of contemplating whether SI's woke decision to have a trans pop star on its swimsuit issue cover is a sign of the end of civilization as we know it, you can read news 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 Santa Clara hoopers Bruce Bochte and Randy Winn each registered three extra-base hits at the MLB level on this date. Winn achieved the feat twice (once for the cycle). Ex-juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) both hit two MLB homers on this date while former J.C. product Carl Reynolds (Lon Morris TX) went four-for-four. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 15 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 15

• In final season of his 17-year MLB career, California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) socked two homers off Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame LHP Jim Kaat in a 1966 game.

• Philadelphia Phillies CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) provided four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1935 contest.

• California Angels 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1970 averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) contributed three extra-base hits in an 8-0 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1975.

• 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) knocked in all of the Detroit Tigers' runs in a 12-5 setback against the Kansas City Athletics in 1958.

• Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) secured seven safeties in a 1948 doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox.

• Milwaukee Braves RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as a Washington State sophomore) won his ninth consecutive contest in 1954 (2-1 against Chicago Cubs). Seven years later, Conley was with the Boston Red Sox in 1961 when he tossed a shutout and cracked a homer in an 8-0 shelling of the Cleveland Indians.

• 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first hooper to average 20 points for season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) was hospitalized after beaning in 1950 but the Boston Red Sox began a streak of winning 27 of their next 30 games.

• San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1976 game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• In the midst of 11 consecutive scoreless appearances, 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 win against the Kansas City Athletics with four innings of one-hit relief in the nightcap of a 1965 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 5-for-7 in 1985 twinbill sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• In 1954, Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered milestone 200th of his 370 MLB career homers.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) supplied his 13th consecutive scoreless relief appearance in 1971.

• 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 Minnesota Twins in a 2001 contest.

• Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39 accumulated four hits against the St. Louis Browns for the third time in 1943.

• New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) blanked opponents going into extra innings but wound up losing each contest - against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1910 and Boston Braves in 1914.

• RF Greasy Neale (West Virginia Wesleyan College hooper graduated in 1915) pilfered second, third and home in the ninth inning to help the Cincinnati Reds upend the New York Giants, 4-0, in the nightcap of a 1919 doubleheader.

• Chicago Cubs C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) clubbed go-ahead homer in top of 10th inning off Stu Miller in a 3-1 decision over the San Francisco Giants in 1958.

• Homering in his third and fourth consecutive contests, RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) socked three homers, two doubles and a single but the Chicago Cubs dropped both ends of a 1942 twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) tossed his second of back-to-back shutouts in 1967.

• Boston Red Sox RF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 with four RBI in a 1934 game against the St. Louis Browns.

• Houston Astros 2B Rob Sperring (averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Pacific from 1968-69 through 1970-71) supplied a career-high four hits in a 15-3 rout of the Atlanta Braves in 1977.

• Minnesota Twins DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) collected two homers and five RBI in 2011 game against the Detroit Tigers. The round-trippers were the 599th and 600th of his MLB career.

• Boston Braves rookie C Luke Urban (player-coach for Boston College's hoops squad from 1918-19 through 1920-21) supplied a career-high three hits in 1927 game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• New York Giants C Wes Westrum (hooper for Bemidji State MN one season before serving in military during WWII) provided the difference with an eighth-inning, two-run homer in a 3-1 decision over the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951.

• Philadelphia Phillies 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) knocked in five runs against the Chicago Cubs in a 1966 contest.

• Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) banged out four hits in second consecutive contest against the New York Yankees in 1959.

• San Francisco Giants CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) hit for the cycle against the Cincinnati Reds in a 2005 game. Three years later as RF, Winn went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 2008 outing.

Extra! Extra! Two years after Plagiarist Biledumb's withdrawal debacle, instead of wondering if demented #Dimorat politicians specializing in bail funds for "righteous" rioters arranged any mechanism for freeing at-risk Afghani translators after goofball government officials in both countries were outfoxed by Taliban thugs, you can read news 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 Creighton hoopers Bob Gibson and Dennis Rasmussen registered personal pitching performance milestones during their MLB careers in National League games on this date. Ex-San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark, Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles supplied noteworthy offensive outputs in MLB games on this date. Joining Gibson and Gwynn as ex-DI college hoopers contributing noteworthy MLB achievements on this date en route to Hall of Fame induction were Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Lee Smith (Northwestern State) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 14

• Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five basketball selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) chipped in with two homers and five RBI while tossing a four-hitter in 16-1 drubbing of the St. Louis Browns in opener of 1937 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State in first half of 1920s) went 4-for-4 at the plate in 1931 outing against the Chicago Cubs.

• Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) went 4-for-5 in opener of a 1959 doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds.

• Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) suffered a broken right ankle in collision at second base in 1945. The next year, Boudreau supplied four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1946 game.

• RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) won his first and only decision with the New York Yankees (3-1 over Boston Red Sox in 1954).

• Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference competition in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1999.

• Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) went 5-for-5 with four extra-base hits in a 1964 doubleheader split against the Chicago Cubs.

• Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) contributed three extra-base hits (double, triple and homer) against the St. Louis Cardinals in opener of a 1938 twinbill.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled a no-hitter at Pittsburgh in 1971.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) went 4-for-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1993 contest.

• Texas Rangers 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) supplied a leadoff homer for the second straight game in 1977.

• Philadelphia Phillies 3B Chuck Harmon (second-leading scorer for Toledo in 1946-47 and 1947-48) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1957 outing.

• RHP Dave Madison (hoops letterman for Louisiana State from 1939-40 through 1942-43) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Detroit Tigers in an eight-player swap in 1952.

• In 1973, New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) whacked milestone 100th of 390 homers in his MLB career.

• San Diego Padres LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) defeated the Houston Astros, 4-1, ending a personal losing streak of nine straight starts in 1991.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) secured a 5-2 victory against the St. Louis Browns in first night game played at Windy City's Comiskey Park in 1939.

• In 1991, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) reached the 30-save plateau for the sixth time en route to leading N.L. in category with 47.

• New York Mets RHP Darrell Sutherland (averaged 8.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg for Stanford from 1960-61 through 1962-63 under coach Howie Dallmar) tripled and hurled four innings of hitless relief in posting his first MLB victory (1-0 in 10 frames against Houston Astros in 1965).

• Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) resigned as Cincinnati Reds manager in 1958.

• Detroit Tigers rookie SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) contributed three safeties against the Cleveland Indians, triggering a 13-game hitting streak in 1958.

• St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) hit for the cycle in opener of a 1960 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• In 1991, California Angels RF-DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) slugged the 400th of 465 homers in his MLB career.

• Tampa Bay Devil Rays rookie CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) stroked two triples in a 1998 contest against the Kansas City Royals.

College basketball fans wish reference was just a conditioning drill ("suicide") involving sprinting different lengths of the court. But we can't be conditioned to walk away from a different reality. It was suicide taking their own life.

In most instances, we'll never truly know why individuals good enough to compete at major-university level stooped to languishing level committing suicide. Naturally, we really don't need to speculate about the seeds of destruction. Following is an alphabetical list of former major-college players, including several this year, tormented by personal demons before dying by their own hand:

Earl Badu, Maryland (coached by Gary Williams) - Walk-on member of 2002 NCAA titlist was in legal and financial trouble in the years preceding his suicide in late September 2012 (booster filed a $300,000 civil lawsuit against him to retrieve investment). All-American Juan Dixon's best friend jumped from an eastern Baltimore overpass after slashing his throat with a kitchen knife.

Ricky Berry, Oregon State (Ralph Miller)/San Jose State (Bill Berry) - Three-time All-Big West Conference first-team selection died just two weeks before his 25th birthday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the right temple at his home in mid-August after his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings in 1988-89. First-round selection in NBA draft (18th pick overall) pulled the trigger less than an hour after heated argument with his wife, who left and spent the night at a friend's house. He had eloped without his parents' blessing.

Lance Blanks, Virginia (Terry Holland)/Texas (Tom Penders) - As reported in a heart-wrenching column shared by his daughter for ESPN, long-time NBA executive died by suicide at the age of 56 in early May 2023. First-round pick in 1990 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons averaged 1.7 ppg for UVa in 1985-86 and 1986-87 before transferring to Texas, where he averaged 20 ppg, 5 rpg, 3.7 apg and 3 spg in 1988-89 and 1989-90 for a pair of NCAA tourney teams.

Justin "Spider" Burns, Cal State Fullerton (Bob Burton) - Committed suicide (suffocation by strangulation) at the age of 39 in June of 2023 in prison where he was serving a sentence for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Las Vegas in 2010 (strangulation before taking her body to desert, setting it on fire and burying under rocks). Juco recruit averaged 7.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg from 2004-05 through 2006-07.

Terrence Butler, Drexel (Zach Spiker) - Died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his on-campus apartment in early August 2023. Forward appeared in eight games in his two seasons with the Dragons while struggling with injuries.

Harry Coe III, Florida (John Mauer) - Circuit judge amassed thousands of dollars in gambling debts and used re-election campaign funds, among money from other outside sources, to pay them off before committing suicide on July 13, 2000, at the age of 68 (shot himself under an expressway). Coe, who played hoops for the Gators in 1951-52 and 1952-53, was an All-SEC baseball pitcher.

Gary Custick, Connecticut (Dee Rowe) - Took his life at the age of 38 in late August 1990 while unattended in a hospital that was overcrowded and understaffed. He averaged 12.7 ppg and 6.8 rpg from 1971-72 through 1973-74, leading the Huskies in scoring as a sophomore.

Matt Derenbecker, Louisiana State (Trent Johnson)/Dayton (Archie Miller)/New Orleans (Mark Slessinger) - Committed suicide in late summer of 2014 after a battle with bipolar disorder. He was found floating in a pool with gunshot wound to the head at his friend's house. Part-time starter as a freshman with LSU in 2010-11 (6.5 ppg and 2.1 rpg) before averaging 4.5 ppg for UD in 2012-13 and 10.5 ppg plus 5.6 rpg with UNO prior to leaving the Privateers' squad in midseason of 2013-14.

Jim Dinwiddie, Kentucky (Adolph Rupp) - Attorney and divorced father of four was found dead at the age of 63 in early February 2012 of a self-inflicted gun shot. Dinwiddie's secretary found him in the bedroom above his law office, which was in a former hotel building he owned. He averaged 3.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg for three UK NCAA tourney teams from 1968-69 through 1970-71.

Bob Doll, Colorado (Frosty Cox) - After vanishing on Labor Day, he was found shot to death at the age of 40 in mid-September 1959 in the Rocky Mountains. A .45 caliber pistol he owned was discovered near his body. NIT Most Valuable Player in 1940 as a sophomore was an All-American two years later.

Lafayette Dorsey Jr., Pacific (Damon Stoudamire) and Nicholls State (Austin Claunch) - Redshirt transfer committed suicide by hanging in garage in first week of August 2020 at the age of 23. Son of former Pepperdine guard averaged 9.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg with UOP in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Dan Ducich, Utah State (Joe Whitesides) - Shot himself to death at the age of 28 in mid-June 1954 with a .22-caliber automatic pistol, leaving a note in room at Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas that he was heavily in debt. Juco recruit had asked his ex-wife of four years (actress Elaine Mahnken) for money after running into gambling trouble and claiming the mob was after him. Mahnken, known as Elaine Devry, was the fourth of actor Mickey Rooney's eight wives. Ducich, after averaging 2.6 ppg for the Aggies in 1949-50, was convicted of armed robbery in Los Angeles and was placed on five years' probation following guilty plea to stealing almost $6,000 in a series of thefts.

Kent Durrant, Brigham Young (Floyd Millet) - Committed suicide in 1957 at the age of 28 via carbon monoxide poisoning by putting hose leading from pipe into truck cab. Averaged 6.2 ppg as a sophomore in 1948-49.

Nathan Eisert, Western Kentucky (Dennis Felton) - Guard was found dead of a single self-inflicted wound in his dormitory room from a .38-caliber handgun in June 2002 following dismissal from WKU's team after playing in 16 games in two seasons.

Tom Emma, Duke (Bill Foster and Mike Krzyzewski) - Plunged from the 12th floor of New York Athletic Club in Manhattan in June 2011 to his death at the age of 49. He was senior captain for the Blue Devils in 1982-83, finishing his careering with 6.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 2.2 apg.

Billy Feeney, Portland State (Joel Sobotka)/New Mexico (Ritchie McKay) - In late August 2003, forward committed suicide by hanging from a light pole in downtown Albuquerque at 5:15 a.m. outside an apartment complex. Redshirt transfer was intoxicated and reportedly despondent about a breakup with his girlfriend. Feeney averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg with PSU in 2001-02.

Dave Fleming, Iowa State (Glen Anderson) - School Superintendent, a focal point of community criticism for advocating concept of outcome based education (OBE), died from carbon monoxide poisoning in late June 1993 at the age of 49. Fleming's body was discovered by two horseback riders near a ski lodge. Senior captain averaged 7.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67.

James "Jed" Frost, Missouri (Norm Stewart - Shot and killed his wife and himself in November 2022 inside the Dallas County medical examiner's office six months after she filed for divorce. Frost was a member of Mizzou's 1994 regional finalist team as a senior.

Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall (Tommy Amaker) - All-Big East Conference second-team selection as a freshman in 2000-01 died at the age of 25 in a fiery car crash about 1:30 a.m. in mid-August 2007. He ignored a railroad warning and his Nissan SUV collided with a moving Union Pacific freight train. It took four days for authorities to identify his body from dental records. Friends and family disputed suicide, but it was not ruled out as there was nothing to indicate an attempt to avoid a collision. Griffin 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 over a card game and punched college teammate Ty Shine in the locker room amid a midseason defeat in his lone season with the Pirates. In spring of 2003, he was arrested on marijuana possession charges. Checked into Betty Ford Center in 2004 to get six weeks of treatment for alcohol abuse. Pounded on the hotel door of a bride and groom whose wedding he crashed at a North Jersey hotel. Pleaded guilty to inattentive driving early in the 2005-06 season (drunk and watching pornography in a 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.

Phil Hankinson, Penn (Dick Harter and Chuck Daly) - Two-time All-Ivy League first-team selection (1971-72 and 1972-73), suffering from depression after his pro basketball career ended because of a knee injury, committed suicide in mid-November 1996 in Shelby County, Ky., with a single shot to the right temple from a semi-automatic handgun.

James Hardy III, Indiana (Mike Davis) - County coroner ruled second-round selection as a wide receiver by the Buffalo Bills in 2008 NFL draft killed himself at the age of 31 in mid-summer 2017 after he was found by a water filtration plant employee conducting his regular rounds in a logjam at a dam along the Maumee River. Hardy was arrested in Los Angeles for resisting arrest in a confrontation with police in 2014, but a judge later ruled he was not mentally competent to stand trial. Hardy averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.8 rpg for IU as a freshman hooper in 2004-05.

Henry Harris, Auburn (Bill Lynn) - All-SEC third-team selection in 1971-72 and the Tigers' first black athlete took his own life in the spring of 1974 by jumping from a dormitory window at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he'd been a JV coach and intramural supervisor. He averaged 11.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 2.5 apg in his three-year varsity career. Standout defensive player was senior captain before becoming an eighth-round choice by the Houston Rockets in the 1972 NBA draft.

Tony Harris, Washington State (Kelvin Sampson) - Harris' body was found just before Thanksgiving, 2007, slumped against a tree in a dense thicket at a sprawling army training ground near the town of Formosa, Brazil. Police said he most likely committed suicide since the shoelace from one of his sneakers was wrapped around his neck. Harris, who averaged 12.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for WSU in the mid-1990s before playing professionally overseas, had a history of paranoid behavior and just lost a job as a counselor at a juvenile rehabilitation facility in Seattle. His wife was pregnant with their first child.

Harvey "Gink" Hendrick, Vanderbilt (Ralph Palmer) - Basketball letterman for the Commodores in 1918 shot himself in his Covington, Tenn., home in late October 1941 at the age of 43. Lefthanded-hitting utilityman notched a .308 batting average with seven different MLB franchises in 11 seasons from 1923 through 1934.

Zach Hollywood, Ball State (James Whitford) - Redshirt freshman forward died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at an off-campus apartment in mid-August 2017 shortly after the one-year anniversary of his mother's death.

Baskerville Holmes, Memphis State (Dana Kirk) - A starting forward who averaged 9.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg 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. He was 32.

Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA (Ben Howland) - All-conference selection in Pac-10 in 2010-11 committed suicide with gunshot to his head at age 27 in mid-July 2017 following a shootout with police lasting about nine hours. His mother told police that, before dying, he had been "sucking laughing gas (nitrous oxide) for six months overseas and I think it scrambled his brain." Honeycutt's mother later sued the LAPD, saying it failed to de-escalate the situation and get him medical care. He averaged 10.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.2 spg in two seasons for the Bruins.

Jumoke Horton, Saint Mary's (Ernie Kent) - Sitting in his Chevrolet Silverado extended-cab truck and using his own .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, he killed himself in Oakland in late 2009 at the age of 35. After playing for Alaskan high school with Duke All-American Trajan Langdon, the 6-9 Horton became a two-time All-WCC first-team selection, averaging 9.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg from 1992-93 through 1995-96.

Hugh Jones Jr., Tennessee (Emmett Lowery) - Navy veteran and older brother of Kentucky All-American Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in January 1966. Both brothers were All-SEC selections in 1948-49. Hugh averaged 10.6 ppg from 1947-48 through 1949-50.

Ben Jordan, Kentucky (John Calipari) - Walk-on from baseball squad died in early 2021 at the age of 22. The 6-9 pitcher joined the iconic basketball program in 2019-20 when it faced a shortage of players. The righthander pitched sparingly in 2019 after redshirting his freshman season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Rev. John Kilzer, Memphis State (Wayne Yates) - Committed suicide (by hanging) in mid-March 2019 at the age of 62. Kilzer, a rock singer who struggled with alcohol addiction, served as an associate pastor for recovery ministries at a Methodist church in Memphis until his death. He averaged 3.2 ppg and 2 rpg from 1975-76 through 1978-79.

Billy Knight, UCLA (Steve Lavin) - The Bruins' second-leading scorer as a senior in 2001-02 (14.1 ppg) committed suicide at age 39 one month following arrest in June 2018 on six felony molestation charges reportedly involving the nine-year-old daughter of his ex-girlfriend. Firefighters found him on a roadway near downtown Phoenix after he jumped from a building. He took his own life, leaving a cryptic, six-minute video titled "I am Sorry Lord" in which he acknowledged living "a life of sin."

Fessor Leonard, Furman (Joe Williams) - Three-time All-Southern Conference first-team selection from 1972-73 through 1974-75 was found dead in his Switzerland apartment in mid-February 1978. According to police, the Columbus, Ga., native allegedly was involved in the beating of a 64-year-old woman on Christmas Eve in 1977 although her criminal complaint later was withdrawn. Pilloried in the Swiss press, the 24-year-old seven-footer collected the unflattering stories in a pile with centerfolds of nudes ripped from American magazines, set fire to them and took what proved to be a fatal dose of tranquilizers in conjunction with possible asphyxiation.

Sean Locke, Delaware (Monte Ross) - Suffering from depression, he took his own life in mid-July of 2018 at the age of 23. Guard played 24 games for the Blue Hens from 2013-14 through 2015-16.

Dan Pippin, Missouri (George Edwards and Sparky Stalcup) - Three-time All-Big Seven Conference selection committed suicide in 1965 at the age of 38. Captain of 1952 U.S. Olympic team was found dead in his car at a vacant farmhouse garage where a hose extended from the exhaust pipe through a window.

Bob Presley, California (Rene Herrerias and Jim Padgett) - Juco recruit killed himself at age 29 in 1975 by jumping off bridge into the Willamette River in Portland area and drowning. After Detroit product failed to earn a spot on NBA roster, 11th-round pick in 1969 draft tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists in a marijuana-and-sleeping-pills haze. When sadomasochistic Presley got violent at home, his wife left him. All-conference second-team selection in AAWU as a junior averaged 16.1 ppg and 12.8 rpg in 1967-68 and 1968-69, leading the Bears in rebounding both seasons.

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 conference in assists as a senior, wrote he wanted to kill himself and his children because he didn't approve of how his estranged wife was caring 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.

Anthony Robinson, North Carolina State (Les Robinson) - Committed suicide with a gunshot to the head early in 1992-93 season after frontcourter played in both of the Wolfpack's NCAA playoff games two years earlier as a freshman.

Bill Robinzine, DePaul (Ray Meyer) - In the NBA offseason (fall of 1982), he committed suicide at the age of 29 in a storage place in Kansas City. He died in his car due to carbon monoxide poisoning. In a letter he wrote to his wife the day he died as it appeared his NBA career was ending, he cited financial pressures as a reason for his unhappiness. He was a first-round selection (10th pick overall) by the Kansas City Kings in 1975 NBA draft after averaging 16.6 ppg and 11.4 rpg with the Blue Demons in three seasons.

Carl Shaeffer, Alabama (Hank Crisp and Floyd Burdette) - All-SEC second-team selection in 1945-46 was a tavern owner in Indiana when committing suicide by shooting himself on his 50th birthday in 1974. Army veteran was a German POW during WWII.

Anthony Sherrod, Georgia Tech (Bobby Cremins) - Beset by a manic-depressive illness, he committed suicide with a .357 Magnum revolver in April 1991 in a suburb of Atlanta. Part-time starter as a senior was arrested for driving under the influence in 1988-89 after forward averaged a career-high 7.7 ppg the previous season when he was the Yellow Jackets' top substitute.

Al Smith, Bradley (Joe Stowell) - Died from a self-inflicted gunshot at the age of 75 in late 2022 after shooting his live-in girlfriend in Florida. Smith, a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection who averaged 17.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1970-71, served in the Army during the Vietnam War.

Jimmy Smith, North Carolina (Dean Smith)/Florida State (Hugh Durham) - Ex-Clemson assistant coach, who averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg for FSU from 1975-76 through 1977-78, committed suicide at the age of 29 in the fall of 1984. He ignored the pleas of a friend and jumped to his death from a highway overpass. Smith played in eight games for UNC as a freshman in 1973-74.

Brett Studdard, Wyoming (Benny Dees) - J.C. 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 the head) and then committed 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.

Melvin Turpin, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall) - Security guard died by self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest in mid-summer 2010 at the age of 49. Diabetic was sixth pick overall in 1984 NBA draft. He averaged 12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.8 bpg while shooting 59.1% from the floor with UK from 1980-81 through 1983-84. All-American as a senior when the Wildcats reached the Final Four.

Rudy Waterman, Dayton (Don Donoher) - Following a marriage breakup and drug problem, the third-leading scorer for the Flyers' 1967 NCAA Tournament runner-up shot himself in a suicide attempt, fell into a coma upon developing bacterial meningitis while hospitalized and soon died at 34 in mid-February 1981. He averaged 8.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg from 1965-66 to 1967-68. Late in his senior season, Waterman complained of discrimination at a campus symposium titled "Black Student Views of UD" that he wasn't given a fair opportunity to start. A local media personality filming an episode of his new TV program (The Phil Donahue Show) sought out Waterman to capture some of the discussion about race.

Mike Whitmarsh, San Diego (Jim Brovelli) - The Toreros' leading scorer in 1982-83 (15.3 ppg) and 1983-84 (18.8 ppg) committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 46 in 2009 after inhaling car-exhaust fumes in the garage of a friend's home. Two-time All-WCAC selection scored a team-high 17 points in NCAA playoff defeat against Princeton in 1984 West Regional opener.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if #Dimorat-dominated New York Senate chamber liberally applauds bus arrival of illegal aliens to sanctuary city and victim-blaming Lov Gov Kinky Cuomo's gaslighting departure more than its rousing Standing O for measure supporting butchering innocent babies via late-term abortions by #PlannedMurderhood, you can read news 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 who twice led league in assists) 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.

• Chicago White Sox rookie LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) contributed a game-high three hits, including homer off Frank Lary in bottom of seventh inning to knot the score, in a 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1963.

• 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.