|
Collier paved the Butler Way
 Posted 3/12/2010 8:25:00 AM
The twists of fate in sports are always fascinating. One circumstance here or there can have profound impact and endless ripple effects.
Such is the case for Barry Collier, who renovated Butler’s basketball program as coach and is now remaking the entire athletic department as athletic director. Collier will tell his story in Sunday’s edition of One on One, at 11 a.m.
Through a fluke event or two, Collier wound up with a scholarship to play at Butler out of junior college in Miami, Fla. He had to pay for his own visit, but was drawn by the majesty of Hinkle Fieldhouse and the opportunity for playing time. He was a good player, earning all-conference honors as a senior and teaming with IU football coach Bill Lynch, and then embarked on a coaching journey that took him across the country.
A lot of former athletes want to coach at ...
A fantasy for Purdue fans: Harangody in black and gold
Posted 3/11/2010 2:09:00 AM
Every time I watch Purdue’s basketball team play, my mind wanders to Luke Harangody and wonders “What if?”
Plug Harangody, Notre Dame’s senior forward, into Purdue’s lineup and you have a coma-serious Final Four contender, even without Robbie Hummel. Put Hummel back in the lineup with a healthy ACL, and the Boilermakers might be the best team in the country.
Harangody is presumably happy at Notre Dame and the Irish likely will play in the NCAA tournament, so there’s not much to mourn here. But had he gone to Purdue, as he very nearly did after coming out of Andrean High School four years ago … well, the possibilities are enough to tingle the spines of Purdue fans everywhere.
The Boilermakers have been one big man short of national title contention the past two seasons, and Harangody is the man. He fits both their needs and their culture as a ...
Smits happens again
Posted 3/10/2010 11:34:00 AM
Some shows deserve to be heard a second time, so the Rik Smits episode of One on One will air again tonight at 7 p.m.
Smits has a unique story, coming all the way from Eindhoven, Holland to the NBA, and setting an NBA record for number of seasons played (10) before playing in his first All-Star game. You can find his behind-the-back pass to Jayson Williams on YouTube, along with his game-winning shot against Orlando in the playoffs. “Those two moments define my career,” Smits said.
Smits also spills a secret about his near-comeback attempt after he had retired from the Pacers.
Here’s your second chance to listen to the Dutchman tell his story. Second chances in life are rare, so don’t let it pass you by.
|
|
|
|