We Find Our Heroes Poolside...

It wasn't a beautiful day when we arrived in Cincinnati, but kids being kids, of course we wanted to be out by the pool. I mean, we were downtown in the big city! (Pictured clockwise from top left: JT Morris, Greg Fields, Mike Reed [note Welcome Back Kotter T-shirt], Dan Gardner, Gay Elmore, Alex Nagy, Bruz Hicks, Boo Diugiud, Joey Bowles, Andy Spradling [I tell my kids I only had one arm then], Michael Calhoun, Randy Risher).

All we thought we had to do that evening was enjoy the opening ceremonies, get a good night's sleep, then attain our goal of becoming the national AAU champions. But there was a plot against us. Rodger and Ron found out at a coaches meeting that a few teams would play that night after the ceremony... they bet one would be us. Needless to say, they were hot... and correct in their assumption. We got the call to get out of the pool and rest. Below is the results of our first two games. Did somebody say something about this group playing defense?

The First Steps in '77

There was some shuffling of players following the above mentioned tournament in Huntington, which was played on nine-foot rims. I remember that because Ron Cobb offered a small prize to anybody who dunked in a game. I didn't get one down, but it wasn't for lack of trying. I had an opportunity on a fast break and some poor little kid stepped in front of me at the foul line. After the contact, he didn't stop until he crumpled into the wall behind the basket.

The shuffling of players was due to age if I remember correctly, presenting the need for the tryouts. Mike Reed, then of Dunbar but who would eventually move to St. Albans to become a Red Dragon, had already joined the team and would be a big part of both title teams. The tryouts, which brought many talented players out, yielded two more players significant to both national titles: Alex Nagy of Logan, and Bruz Hicks of Nitro. Both guards, but different players. Alex would be the starting point guard on both teams and would later go on to have a great career as Cal Bailey's catcher at West Virginia State College, now University. I covered a game of his once where he hit a grand slam in the final inning to overtake the lead and win the game over The University of Charleston.

Bruz Hicks went on to a solid career at UC, playing in 128 games in four years, which has him in the top 10 all-time in games played. He was a part of the 85-86 team that went undefeated in the WVIAC, thumped Marshall at the Civic Center, and advanced to the NAIA semis finals. We were roommates as freshmen at UC, but we were always great friends through high school and had numerous mutual friends. After we'd won the title in Cincy, I spent the night with him at his home in Nitro. A few days later his father, Buck, passed away suddenly. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason for it. At the funeral home, he said as much to me. But he put his faith in God. Bruz was always there for me through my injuries as well. We were to face each other as sophomores at St. Albans and Nitro, in December of '79, but I instead was in St. Francis Hospital following surgery for a severed ACL in my right knee. Bruz and his sweet mother, Greta, came to see me the night before the game. He was also there with me when I dislocated my knee cap playing in a flag football championship, following our first official practice at UC in 1982. In the spring I tore my right ACL again, another eight weeks in a hip-to-toe cast. I came back the next fall after losing 30 pounds during the summer at Myrtle Beach, but I didn't have it strong enough to compete. Frustrated at feeling two steps slow and like a lesser athlete, I gave up the game. It was the worst mistake I ever made.

The Missing Years (25)

Here's a story I wrote five years ago for The Charleston Daily Mail on the 25th anniversary of the '79 Charleston tournament (hopefully in proper progression, click to enlarge). What will follow in the days leading up to the Gathering (July 31) and the Reunion (Aug. 1), are closer looks at the road to the titles, a short memorial of a great foe, other Monk-led teams revisited, and Rodger Monk's final experience with AAU.

In The Beginning… Revisited

When I wrote In The Beginning I recalled a specific incident where two players hit the deck going after a loose basketball during a scrimmage. After helping his team maintain possession, one of them got up, and contributed to the basket at the end of the play. Rodger and Ron stopped practice to point out what hustle can do. The player who received the praise was Gary Orr.

Gary was a good, stocky (strong), guard who always seemed to make his presence felt on the court. He dropped off the radar for me after that first AAU season. Had I been a baseball player I probably would have continued to bump into him as we grew up. I always wondered what had happened to him, because he was a nice guy and a pleasure to be around.

What I didn’t know about Gary was that his parents had divorced about that time – much more rare in the mid-70s than now – and for a time Gary found solace and guidance at Rodger and Ron’s apartment, which was not far from where he was living.

Gary went on to be a switch-hitting, all-field outfielder at the University of Toledo. He became the Rocket’s team captain, and though he said he had to work hard to be in the lineup every day, I’m sure a little research would prove that he was a natural.

Gary’s mother called me after the picture of the ’77 team appeared in The Charleston Daily Mail. Through her call, Gary called me shortly after. Like many of the calls I’ve received, talking with Gary reminded me of the fraternity of athletics. We went on like it had only been days since we’d seen each other, not 30-some-odd years -- married his college sweetheart, has FIVE kids (a boy and four girls).

Most importantly, through that call, Gary then hooked up with Rodger. These are the kind of reunions I had hoped would come from doing all of this. Here’s what Gary wrote:

Remember a long haired raw little guard from the hill that enjoyed your guidance back in the mid 70's'? I received your e-mail from Andy Spradling. It's Gary Orr.

I certainly hope all is well with you. I wanted you to know each day I have the opportunity to coach my son and daughters’ teams not a practice or game goes by that I don’t think about all you did for me on and off the court. I recall it all very well (driving me to evening/night practices and games in the Corvette) and you should know that I am committed to the same beliefs and practices. I think of Rodger Monk as the builder - You built houses by day and men by night!

God bless and talk soon,

Gary