The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2-time Olympic gold medalist Ruthie Bolton

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Ruthie Bolton about winning a pair of gold medals. Today marks the 24th anniversary of Ruthie having 15 PTS/5 STL in a 111-87 win over Brazil to clinch her 1st gold medal.

You had 19 siblings, 1 of whom was your older sister Mae: how close were you 2, and what was it like to be teammates with her at Auburn? We are pretty close and it was a beautiful thing to play together in college. She was always bossing me around but in a good way because she felt the need to take care of me. Our relationship grew from there and she has always been overprotective of me: she was even my agent at 1 time and still helps me out with some management things.

Take me through the 1988 Final 4:
In the semifinal you had a Final 4-record 10 STL in a win over Long Beach State: what is the secret to playing great defense? I think the girl who I stole the ball from the most (Penny Taylor) still has never forgiven me! I did not have the prettiest game back then but I loved proving myself so I wanted my team to know that they could depend on me. I got better down the stretch and was known for my aggressiveness on the national team. I still tell people that if you can lock down someone on defense then your coach will notice it.

In the title game you scored 16 PTS in the 1st half of a 2-PT loss to Louisiana Tech: how tough was it to go against fellow future Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon in the 2nd half (as you went scoreless)? When I think about that it just reminds me that Teresa was such a tough player and a great defender as well. I did not have a scorer’s mentality so if I was not open then I did not force the issue. I think they were not expecting me to score so much in the 1st half and they just made some adjustments at halftime. Even though we did not win we still made history: I respect her highly and if anyone ended up beating me then I am glad it was her.

Take me through the 1989 Final 4:
In the semifinal your team set a Final 4 record by only committing 6 turnovers in a 5-PT win over Louisiana Tech: was your team out for revenge against the defending champs, and how sweet was it to beat them? We were big on defense, which helped us win 119 games during my 4 years. I was clueless but just played with a lot of heart. I tried to create my identity and prove myself to my coach: I was a late-bloomer who just needed time to develop my game. I often think about how my resilience helped me succeed: I am probably in the 1% of players who took a Greyhound bus to show up to college and prove themselves! My dad taught me that having a tough mindset and being confident were very important. ESPN did a documentary on my life story: I was not an All-American but got better every year and never took “no” for an answer. That is also a major theme of my book called “The Ride of a Lifetime” (www.amazon.com/Ride-Lifetime-Ruthie-Bolton/dp/0977728005).

In the title game you lost to Tennessee: what was it like to face a conference rival with a national title on the line, and how did you prepare to face a team coached by Pat Summitt? Tennessee was just amazing: they were our Achilles heel and always gave us the biggest challenge. It was so sad to see a coach who had such a huge impact on her sport pass away before her time a few years ago. They came out of a timeout and the game turned completely around: her players were motivated and just flipped the switch. I remember Coach Summitt talking to us during the Olympics: she fired us up so much that we were ready to play!

After graduation you spent about a decade as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Reserves: what impact did your service have on you either on or off the court? Teamwork is what I learned the most about: even when you are part of a team you still have individual responsibilities. It was a springboard for my professional career and helped me build my mental toughness. We would get out on the obstacle course and by the end of the day I had done something that I did not think I could have done. I encourage kids to join the military if they need time to grow and learn about themselves.

At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta you led team USA with 23 STL in 8 games to win the gold medal (then won another gold medal 4 years later in Sydney): where do you think that 1996 team that went 60-0 ranks among the greatest in the history of the sport? We really made history that year after making a ton of sacrifices. I am still living it and those memories remain a huge part of my life. We spent a lot of time away from our families and had some intense training, but it made it so worth it because we were so determined to see the process come alive. The only thing we cared about was winning a gold: there was no Plan B and anything else would have been a failure. I appreciate that our entire coaching staff and our teammates were committed to a common goal: there was beauty in our struggle. When we stepped onto the court against the Brazilians Coach Tara VanDerveer told me that I had to play the best defense of my life, and I told her that I would. I was in the zone and there was no stopping me. Coach did a great job of preparing us: we were ready to show the world what we could do.

You played 8 years in the WNBA for Sacramento and were a 2-time All-Star: when you were growing up did you think that there would ever be a women’s pro league in the US, and how excited were you when you learned that it was actually going to happen? I had a lot of options and was prepared to go overseas. When I 1st heard about it I was so excited to play in my home country so it was a dream come true. I never thought that it would happen when I was growing up: I cannot believe that it has been around for 20+ years. I think that our Olympic success was a big factor in the league being founded and I feel like we were the pioneers. My kids are so proud of my success, which makes me so happy, but I want them to create their own identity and do great things themselves. I had to work hard for what I got and I want them to understand that.

After a career-threatening injury in 1998 your knee was repaired by former Olympic speed-skater/orthopedic surgeon Eric Heiden: is he a better athlete or doctor?! He was not supposed to do my surgery but the other doctor was out of town at the time. After he told me that he was a 5-time Olympian I figured that he was a good choice! He said that it would be a hard injury to come back from but I was able to bounce back with my everyday determination to not let circumstances keep me from overcoming my injury. I wanted to show my critics that I could play at that level again.

You remain in the top-35 in WNBA history with 312 3PM: what is the key to making shots from behind the arc? I was a late-bloomer in terms of shooting but I think that the key is repetition. You have to challenge yourself and get into the gym and shoot. Even if I am playing in a charity game I want to compete and play hard: when I go after loose balls my opponent will not believe it. I will never let anyone outwork me: you have to be willing to pay the price.

In 2011 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I was pregnant at the time so I was not able to look like a sexy basketball player but it was still great to be there. I never thought that I would become a Hall of Famer but it reminded me how far I had come after not being recruited. I thanked my high school coach for challenging me to dig deeper: if it was easy then perhaps I would not have worked as hard. They only give you 5 minutes to discuss the past 25 years of your life, which is not easy, but it was beautiful.

You previously worked as head coach for the women’s basketball team at Vacaville Christian High School: how do you like coaching, and what do you hope to do in the future? I coached in the past but then shifted to player development. I am hoping to get a job at the next level but am still doing some speaking on women’s empowerment. Hopefully the big man upstairs has that plan for me and I love coaching. 

To learn more about Ruthie’s amazing career you can purchase the SEC Storied film “Mighty Ruthie” at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1j4dQiLPUg

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2-time Olympic gold medalist David Robinson

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with David Robinson about winning a pair of NBA titles and a pair of gold medals. Yesterday marked the 24th anniversary of David scoring a game-high 28 PTS in a 95-69 win over Yugoslavia to clinch his 2nd gold medal.

You went to college at the Naval Academy and wore #50 in honor of your idol Ralph Sampson: how much of an influence was your dad on your college decision, and what was it like to have a triple-double (27 PTS/13 REB/11 BLK) when you finally got to face Sampson in the NBA in 1990? My dad enlisted/served for 20 years. Ralph was an amazing college player and I was a big fan of his while growing up in Virginia.

In 1986 you set an NCAA record with 14 BLK vs. UNC-Wilmington and finished that season with a D-1 record 207 BLK: what is the secret to blocking shots? Patience/anticipation. You have to be able to read people. Now guys can jump into you and get calls so you have to see where their momentum is going.

In the 1986 FIBA World Championship you scored 20 PTS against Arvydas Sabonis in a 2-PT win over the USSR to win the 1st World Championship gold medal for the USA in 32 years: how good was Sabonis back then, and which of your teammates impressed you the most (Tommy Amaker/Sean Elliott/Steve Kerr/other)? Sabonis was phenomenal: at 7’2” he could run/pass/shoot from distance and was as complete a player as I had ever seen. Sean was 1 of the most impressive guys we had and Derrick McKey was another great guy due to his skill set/length. Sean was a much better shooter than I had ever expected for a guy his size.

What are your memories of the 1987 NCAA tourney (you had a tourney-school-record 50 PTS/22-37 FG and 13 REB in a loss to Michigan in your final college game)? I remember losing the most. Michigan had a nice team and we were never really that close so I was just trying to do my best to help us win. When you score 50 PTS in a loss it is just a footnote. 

You had 19 PTS/12 REB in the 1988 Olympic semifinals (the 1st Olympic matchup against the USSR since the controversial 1972 gold medal game), but Rimas Kurtinaitis scored 28 PTS in a 6-PT win by the eventual gold medalists: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? Pretty high…but the losses help shape you going forward. We were still trying to hold up the honor of the US and had only lost 1 game in our country’s history so I felt personally responsible. We were very close and had the team to do it.

After being drafted 1st overall by San Antonio in the summer of 1987 you spent 2 years fulfilling your service requirement with the Navy before joining the Spurs in 1989, where you were named ROY after leading the team to the greatest 1-year turnaround in NBA history (from 21–61 to 56–26): how were you able to make such a smooth transition to the NBA after being away from the sport for 2 years? I do not think that I had a magic bullet. The Spurs changed their roster around and brought in some veteran players, which helped change our team’s mentality. A 21-win team does not expect to win but when you bring in veteran guys like Terry Cummings/Maurice Cheeks who have had previous success it helps a lot.

In the 1992 Olympics you were part of the “Dream Team” that won a gold medal in Barcelona, and in the 1996 Olympics you scored 28 PTS/9-11 FG in the final against Yugoslavia in front of an Olympic basketball record crowd of 34,600 in Atlanta: do you think that we will ever see another team as good as that 1992 team, and was it extra-special to win the 1996 gold medal in front of the home-country crowd? There will be other teams as good as the Dream Team in terms of talented guys on the floor but how do you compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan? That Dream Team will remain special for so many different reasons. In terms of charisma and changing the sport that team is unmatched. Everywhere I go around the world I see generations of people who grew up with that. The players today are super-talented and the past couple of Olympic teams would have been competitive against us because we were not all at our peak. 1996 was phenomenal: I was not 100% at the time but we had guys like Shaquille O’Neal/Patrick Ewing so I got to provide some leadership. It was phenomenal to win it in the US.

In February of 1994 against Detroit you became 1 of 4 players (Nate Thurmond/Alvin Robertson/Hakeem Olajuwon) to ever record a quadruple-double (34 PTS/10 REB/10 AST/10 BLK): where does this rank among the best all-around games of your career? I do remember that game against my former teammate Sean Elliott. When you look back historically it is very significant but it was hard to appreciate it at the time because I was just doing my thing. Looking back on it is very cool…especially when my kids notice stuff like that!

In the final game of the 1994 season you scored a franchise-record 71 PTS (including 47 in the 2nd half and 28 in the 4th quarter) against the Clippers to beat out your Olympic teammate Shaq for the league’s scoring title: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I definitely felt like I was in the zone but it was more intentional. I always prided myself on being an efficient player so scoring a lot of PTS did not often make our team better. Our coach John Lucas wanted me to go out and be the best I could be on 1 given night so I was reluctant but once I started it became such a fun thing to do. It was a very cool accomplishment even though all I usually cared about was winning. I am really glad that it happened because I would never had tried to do it on my own. I am so glad that Lucas pushed me to do it because you never know what you can do until you try.

In Game 5 of the 1999 Finals you had 15 PTS/12 REB in a 1-PT win on the road over the Knicks to clinch your 1st title, and in Game 6 of the 2003 Finals you had 13 PTS/17 REB to beat the Nets and win your 2nd title: what did it mean to you to win your 1st title, and was it harder/easier to win the 2nd title? No title is easy! You are always fighting and there are always 1-2 teams who are in your way. They were both incredibly difficult and very rewarding but I was very fortunate to win them both.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Jack Herron about 2-time Olympic gold medalist Bob Kurland

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with former Oklahoma State player Jack Herron about Bob Kurland winning back-to-back NCAA titles in 1945/1946 and a pair of gold medals in 1948/1952. Today marks the 68th anniversary of Bob scoring 8 PTS in a 36-25 win over the Soviet Union to clinch his 2nd gold medal.

 

(photo credit: usab.com)

Kurland was born/raised in Missouri: what made him choose Oklahoma A&M? They had a good engineering school and a great coach in Hank Iba who squeezed every ounce of ability out of each of his players. The reason they won games was the character of his players. Mr. Iba was from Missouri and had really good teams at Northwest Missouri State with several players who later became coaches themselves.

What made Iba such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that Bob ever learned from him? My dad played with Bob and said that he worked with Coach Iba for hours after practice on big-man drills (such as put-back dunks when a shot went off the backboard).

As a 7’ center he was the 1st player to dunk during a game (at Temple in 1944) and also known to leap above the rim to grab opponents’ shots (which led to the NCAA banning defensive goaltending in 1945): was his success based more on size or skill or athleticism or a little of everything? Kurland might not have been the strongest guy but he had great agility. He knew what he was doing so he could sweep the boards and guard opposing big men.

He was an “A” student who served as president of the student council in 1945/1946: how was he able to balance his work on the court with his work in the classroom/on campus? His roommate was Sam Aubrey, who later became head coach after Mr. Iba. Everyone had part-time jobs back then so Bob must have done a good job of balancing everything. Several of the players on those championship teams were war veterans and many of them ended up playing pro basketball after graduating.

He led the NCAA in scoring as a senior including 58 PTS in his final regular season game vs. St. Louis: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot he put up seemed to go in because he was “in the zone”? He had taken a lot of flak for not scoring more and I think that Coach Iba wanted to show everyone what Kurland could do so he just turned him loose. St. Louis was a good team back then including guys like future Hall of Famer Ed Macauley. Bob was just a darn good player and may have shot every single time that he touched the ball that night. He was picked by the press as 1 of the best players from the 1st half of the 20th century along with other legends like John Wooden.

He was a 3-time 1st-team All-American, won back-to-back NCAA titles at Oklahoma A&M in 1945/1946, and was named tourney MOP both years: where do you think that he ranks among the greatest college basketball players ever? He led the team in scoring both years so you would have to pick him as tourney MOP. We felt that we had the best 6’3”-6’5” guards in the country and after adding Kurland to that lineup we felt that we could beat anyone. I do not think there is any doubt: you have to list him among the best players ever.

He won a pair of gold medals with team USA at the 1948/1952 Olympics (becoming the 1st basketball player to ever win multiple gold medals) and got to carry the US flag in the 1952 closing ceremonies in Finland: what did it mean to him to carry the flag, and what did it mean to him to win a pair of gold medals? He had enough pride that he would have wanted to carry the flag and win the gold medal: he was a man of great character.

He led the AAU Phillips Oilers to 3 national titles in a 4-year stretch from 1947-1950 and was an AAU All-American for 6 straight years from 1947-1952: did it reach a point where he was considered the best basketball player in the country? There was no doubt that he was the best in the country. I have 2 photos of him playing against George Mikan in the mid-1940s: I think they split all of their battles against each other but the main difference is that Mikan chose to go pro. Phillips gave Bob a good job and paid him well so he stayed with them.

He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1961 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006: where do these rank among the highlights of his career? If there were any other Halls of Fame then Bob would be in those as well!

He passed away in 2013: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? I stayed in touch with him and his wife until he passed away. Mr. Iba sized him up and recognized that he had the ability to succeed. Great coaches just have an eye for talent and then make something out of you. For a guy who was a superstar I will mainly remember him for treating me as well as he did.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1984 Olympic gold medalist Sam Perkins

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Sam Perkins about winning an NCAA title in 1982 and a gold medal in 1984. Today marks the 36th anniversary of Sam having 14 PTS/3 BLK in a 104-68 win over Uruguay in Olympic round-robin pool play.

In the 1982 NCAA title game you scored 10 PTS in a 1-PT win over Georgetown: did you think that Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot was going in, and what did it mean to you to win a title? We were so into the game that his shot had to go in: we had no other option besides James Worthy. Jimmy Black found Michael wide-open after the Hoyas’ defense had shifted so much to the strong side. It looked dead-center to me so I felt glad when it went in.

In April of 1984 you showed up for the Olympic trials at Indiana University with 73 other players, and after cutting the squad to 20 by the end of week 1 you saw Charles Barkley/John Stockton/Terry Porter get cut in May and Johnny Dawkins/Chuck Person get cut in June: how difficult was it to impress Coach Bob Knight, and did you think that you would make the final cut after seeing so many other great players being sent home? I was kind of surprised because everyone I had heard about in college was there. We were all on different courts so after seeing those great guys get cut I realized it was a real tryout. I remember CM Newton telling me that I had to pick it up even though I thought that I was playing well so I was fortunate to make that team.

You were 1 of 4 consensus 1st-team All-Americans from that season who made the final roster (along with Jordan/Patrick Ewing/Wayman Tisdale) and you even had another future Hall of Famer as a teammate (Chris Mullin): what was your reaction when you walked into the 1st day of practice and just looked around at all of that talent? It was surreal at the time to be a part of something that I never thought I would. To see so many other great players was a great compliment to our college careers. When Coach Knight showed up he had great applause for all of us so I thought that I was on the right track.

After the final roster was selected you went out on the road for a coast-to-coast tour of 9 scrimmages against NBA players: how were you able to go 9-0 as a bunch of college kids facing a bunch of pros, and what was it like to play at the Hoosier Dome in front of 67,000 fans? It was crazy at the Hoosier Dome. To string together 9 wins was part luck/part skill but we were hungry/focused while playing for team USA. We knew that the challenges would be great and that we would face great competition in the Olympics. We played hard in those 9 games: the NBA guys were trying to stay in shape and we were just trying to get over the hump after beating each other up in practice.

You were eventually named co-captain of team USA and scored 12 PTS in a 96-65 win over Spain in the gold medal game: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It meant a great deal to me because it complimented my 4 years of college. It was another accolade that I really appreciated. To win a gold medal with guys I had so much respect for was worth the ride. I am glad to have had a hand in that and it was an experience that I will never forget.

On April 12, 1990 you scored a career-high 45 PTS/19-26 FG/13 REB/7 AST for Dallas in a 7-PT win at Golden State: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It was a night where everything seemed to go in. I was ready to play but am not sure what got into me. I almost busted my hand on the rim from slamming the ball in so hard 1 time. I did not realize how many PTS I had until halftime: Coach Dick Motta said he did not realize I was a scoring machine after getting 27 in the 1st half! Nobody would ever dream that I could score that many on that team. Coach told me to just go out and play and not let anyone hold me back. It was all within the flow of the game rather than being a selfish thing.

On January 15, 1997 you scored 26 PTS and tied an NBA record by making all 8 of your 3-PT shots for Seattle in a 44-PT win over Toronto: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? There is a story behind that game. I woke up late that day and only arrived 1 hour before the game so I did not get to practice my pregame shots. I was worried that I did not have a good stretch/routine as I came into the game off the bench: my 1st shot went in and I could not believe it. The game stayed like that all night long: I only took 8 threes but they all went in. My teammate Detlef Schrempf said “Don’t miss” because he wanted me to get the record but after he told me it was on my mind. I heard Raptors coach Darrell Walker say “Do not let Sam get the ball” but my coach tried to get me the ball before he eventually took me out. Going 8-8 was so special that it became my music production company name: “8 for 8”!

You appeared in 3 NBA Finals with 3 different teams during a 10-year span from 1991-2000: did you get sick of seeing Coach Phil Jackson every June (since he beat you each time)!? Yes. The last time we crossed paths coming off the court and he just shrugged his shoulders. There is no reward for finishing 2nd but it was a memorable experience to get to the Finals so often. There are plenty of guys who could have taken my place but I had fun. I wish that I could have won 1 but that is how it goes. I thought the Lakers were my best chance of getting 1 but we did not fare well against the Bulls. Seattle/Indiana also tried to get over the hump but we could just not get past Phil.

You later became a member of the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics: why did you decide to join the board, and which of your former fellow Olympians impressed you the most (Nadia Comaneci/Donna de Varona/Michelle Kwan/other)? I joined the Board after someone saw that I was doing some work through school at UNC and in the NBA. I always took time out to do something for Special Olympics and they invited me to attend some games. I thought the relationship would be great after I advocated for people with intellectual disabilities. I remain an ambassador for them, continue to promote awareness, and am a conduit to other people to generate more interest. I finally met Nadia but was more interested in meeting Maria Shriver (whose mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968): I could not believe it when I showed up 1 time and she was actually sitting next to me! I also got to know Michelle Kwan and we talked a lot: she is really tiny (5’2″) and we often sat together at board meetings.

You remain part of the last amateur US basketball team to win an Olympic gold medal: do you think that we will ever go back to using college players, and do you think that we should? The way things are set up they will probably continue to use pro players. The NBA is getting younger and has a lot of talent. There was 1 year that we had high hopes before Argentina beat us in the 2004 semifinals and it just messed up our progress. I do not think that we will use amateur players again because a lot of college players are 1-and-done or have other options so I do not think USA Basketball would want to rely on them. When the stars leave and the remaining players are not ready to be stars it is not the best option.

Are there any thoughts you would like to share about everything that has been going on in our country recently (George Floyd/protests/police/other)? In recent months we have seen surmountable change in everyone’s attitude. The thing that stands out to me was people of many races witnessing such a heinous crime to an innocent Black man. Prior to that we saw a young man get shot while jogging and another woman killed while sitting in her own apartment. It has generated rage in so many people of all nationalities because they took it personally. You see the outpouring of support from state to state and even from some foreign countries. It showed that the paradigm has changed just slightly and the energy is focused on legislative reform. We see so much hate from people who resist but we have no reason not to get along. When you cannot find an answer for why some White people hate Black people, you realize that we have had deluded information for too long and we should just stop and think. We must reflect on our actions and what is about to happen. We have a person in office who is trying to preach hate/separatism and everyone’s soul has been hurt. We have to take a stand and not let it happen over and over again. There is a lot of good will/desire to get along and it will turn around eventually.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1996 Olympic gold medalist Carla McGhee

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Carla McGhee about winning a pair of NCAA titles at Tennessee and a gold medal in 1996. Today marks the 24th anniversary of Carla scoring 2 PTS in a 108-93 win over Japan in the Olympic quarterfinals.

You played for Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee: what made Pat such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from her? Her knowledge/dedication to detail/ability to hold everyone accountable (including herself). She was always prepared and always followed the rules. She had an “it” factor so we were scared to disappoint her and wanted to make her proud. The most important thing I learned was accountability: it makes you behave a certain way whether people are looking at you or not. She was big on character and taught me to be mentally tough: there is nothing that can break me.

In the 1987 NCAA title game you beat Louisiana Tech to clinch the 1st title in school history: how were you able to dominate a Louisiana Tech team that had beaten the Volunteers in 11 of their last 12 meetings, and what did it mean to you to win a title? Our staff had us prepared and Pat willed us to win. Even though we were not ranked high she had us believing that it was us against the world. Nobody worked harder than us and we felt like a tribe: we were so pumped both mentally/physically. We ran more than our track team and were in the weight room more than our football team. Pat’s big thing was that if you played defense you would be in the right place to win a championship and we bought into it. People talk about the “stare” in her eyes: it was a window into her soul and she was a winner. We would just not be denied.

Later that year you were in a car accident that broke almost every bone in your face and left you in a coma for almost 48 hours, and after waking up your doctors told you that you would never play basketball again: how scared were you, and how were you able to eventually make it back onto the court? I do not know if “scared” is the right word because I did not know how bad it was. I did not look at myself in a mirror until about 2 months after the accident. 1992 Olympian Daedra Charles would jog 5 miles from campus each way to visit me every day and Pat promised me that I would get my degree even I never played basketball again. My doctors said that I might never run/speak again so I just prayed to God to help me become a better person. Before the accident I was gifted athletically so I was a little cocky/lazy and had some attitude issues. God held up his end of the bargain so I held up mine. It was 1 of the best things that ever happened to me because I learned how to be a better teammate/sorority sister/person. Pat’s belief in me made me feel like more than a basketball player: before the accident I was just a player.

In the 1989 NCAA title game you beat SEC rival Auburn to win your 2nd title: how did title #2 compare to title #1? Title #1 was probably the best because Tennessee had been to a lot of Final 4s but had always come up short. I came from Peoria and joked that the Lady Vols needed some Midwestern flavor to get over the hump! It was a huge monkey on our back and was similar to how LeBron felt when he won an NBA title for Cleveland. We were not ranked as high so nobody really expected the 1st 1 but we were supposed to be in the ballpark for title #2: we were ranked in the top-5 of the polls all season long and felt that we were supposed to win. We did not just want to make the NCAA tourney: we wanted to win a title. The 1st 1 made us hungry for the 2nd 1 even though we had a target on our back. We were the new chicks that were going to take over women’s basketball.

As a member of team USA at the 1994 World Championships you had a 3-PT loss to Brazil in semifinals: where does Hortencia Marcari (32 PTS) rank among the greatest players that you have ever seen? She and Paula were 2 of the best. She could come down and take a regular jump shot from halfcourt. She was like a female John Paxson with more flair/athleticism. She had incredible vision/superior ball-handling and was just so tough. You never knew what you would get with Brazil: it was pick your poison…and they could be a little dirty on defense. I missed a big portion of that game after getting elbowed and we were devastated after that loss. After we lost, which was a huge letdown, we shifted to the “Dream Team” model of using professional players in international competition. We lived/trained together in Colorado and traveled the world as sponsors poured in money to help pay us. Rebecca Lobo was the only 1 coming out of college: the other 11 of us were pros, and 6 of us from that 1994 team made the Olympic team in 1996. Moving forward the teams would just train together at minicamps because they all played in the WNBA. People viewed us as trailblazers but looking back I never knew what kind of impact we would have.

You played in the ABL/WNBA as well as several years in Germany/Italy/Spain: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in overseas? Basketball overseas was hard: you would not get any calls and would be traveling to games by bus/car. The fans would be smoking/drinking in the stands and the cops would have plastic shields just in case. There were club teams and the diehards would pack the gyms. It was very physical and we would be there for 7-8 months each year. The money was great but you would have to adapt to different kinds of weather and language barriers. It gave me a chance to embrace different cultures and when you are the foreigner the expectations are high: when your team lost the blame was on you so it made me a tougher athlete.

You played for team USA at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal, and why did you later decide to donate your medal to a community center in your hometown of Peoria, IL? Winning a gold medal was everything. We trained for a year and a lot of us took huge pay-cuts because we wanted to restore our country’s faith in our team after losing in 1994. What better time to win when the Games are in your home country?! It was great to play in front of family/friends and was an awesome feeling. We had fun parties and hard practices: all of the memories still flood through me. We went through a war together and won and then went our separate ways: it was huge and we felt so much pride. People had put so much money into that team: housing, 1st-class travel, cars, etc. We had worked our butts off and would not be denied.

After retiring as a player you became an assistant to your Olympic teammate Dawn Staley at Temple/South Carolina: how happy were you when she won the 2017 NCAA title, and how did you like working for the 2020 national COY? Dawn and I go WAY back: we played on every team possible with USA Basketball and she denied me a title in double-OT as a senior. We are more than teammates: we are sisters. We were at a Final 4 in a VIP box several years ago and she said, “Big Red, I want to be down there coaching for a national title”. I said, “Little Bit, if you have good resources and a supportive administration then it will happen”. She told me to try it for 1 year and I liked it. I met back up with her in South Carolina and loved working for her: she is a little Pat Summitt! They might lose some games but she does it the right way: her will is contagious and her kids believe in her. It is hard to explain what she means to women’s basketball: she eats/sleeps/drinks basketball just like Pat and they are both so selfless. Dawn is the epitome of a winner: determined, passionate, etc. I learned a lot working for her, especially the importance of paying attention to details, but she is a little more laid back now. I feel that she deserved every bit of being national COY. I expected it from her because she went out and got it… and I expect her to win it a couple more times before she is done. She is not that funny in general but is hilarious on Twitter!

You currently work for Up With Kids Sports in Georgia: what has the organization been able to accomplish, and what do you hope to do in the future? I did that for a year and then started my own business called More To Hoopz. I do grassroots athletics in Alpharetta, GA, and do AAU/personal training. I used to do a lot of camps before COVID-19 showed up but I still have that hunger to keep it going in the future. I just want to be a vessel to help the kids understand that sports can help pay for your education or just allow you to meet some great mentors. Sports has a way of teaching you discipline. Some of my kids have received scholarships to great schools like Notre Dame/Stanford/Tennessee. I want to continue to develop my little babies and help the older ones take their skills to another level. I will also go to colleges with new staffs and help them mentor the kids they have. I am blessed to share my expertise as a player/coach/businesswoman in this sport and help people become better. When the parents tell me that their children have become more confident that is my greatest reward: I just try to be the best person that I can be.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? She was a hard worker and a teammate that you could depend on. I had a tenacity that oozed into every aspect of my life: sometimes I came up short but I would always give you the shirt off my back. I was not perfect but would try to make it right. I want to make sure the sport is in great hands and as long as Dawn is at South Carolina I am not worried about it. I was a kid from Peoria with a terrible work ethic but am thankful to all of the people who helped me become a better person.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Mark Boryla about 1948 Olympic gold medalist Vince Boryla

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Mark Boryla about his father Vince winning a gold medal in 1948 and an ABA title in 1971. Today marks the 72nd anniversary of team USA’s opening game at the 1948 Olympics, an 86-21 win over Switzerland.

In 1946 he was named an All-American at Notre Dame, then enlisted in the Army: what impact did his military service have on him either on or off the court? He said the only command that he remembered was to “play ball”! His main duty at the Air Force base in Denver was to be in charge of the gym: he never saw any active duty.

He won a gold medal with team USA at the 1948 Olympics: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? In later years it meant a lot to him but in 1948 there was no TV so it did not seem a big deal back then. He was very proud to play for the US and win a gold medal: I still have a picture in my office of the team walking off the court after winning the title game. He developed lifelong friendships with many of his teammates.

After the Olympics he transferred to Denver and became the school’s 1st and only basketball All-American in 1949: it seems unthinkable for a player in the current era to be an All-American at 2 different schools but how big a deal was it back then? 1 of the questions in Trivial Pursuit is actually about that and my dad is the answer! Growing up I learned a lot about my dad from other people: he did not make a big deal about it when I was a kid. He made his gold medal into a necklace for my mom but did not talk about his accomplishments a lot or think of himself as a big deal.

After graduating he signed with the Knicks and scored 9 PTS for the victorious East squad in the 1st-ever NBA All-Star Game in 1951: could he tell back then that it was going to become 1 of the greatest annual exhibition sporting events in America? He never made a big deal about that either but I think that I found his old uniform lying around somewhere.

In Game 7 of the 1951 NBA Finals (the 1st ever Game 7 in NBA Finals history) he scored 16 PTS in a 4-PT loss at Rochester: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of his career? I never heard him talk about that.

In the 1953 NBA Finals the Knicks won Game 1 before defending champ Minneapolis won the next 4 in a row: was New York considered a success (due to making 3 straight NBA Finals) or a failure (due to losing all 3 of them) or something in between? I did not know that either.

He became President/GM of the Utah Stars in 1970, followed by 13,260 fans celebrating a 10-PT win over the Kentucky Colonels in Game 7 of the 1971 ABA Finals by mobbing the court for 20 minutes and carrying star players Willie Wise/Zelmo Beaty off the floor on their shoulders: where did that game rank among the highlights of his career? I was courtside for that as a teenager. He was very proud/excited to see Utah win the title in his very 1st year. He was a great negotiator when it came to contracts/trades and a great evaluator of players. I think he was disappointed that he could not recreate that with the Nuggets. He did not want Willie to leave town without a contract so he resigned him to a 2 or 3-year deal rather than taking time to enjoy the title.

He became President/GM of the Denver Nuggets in 1984, traded leading scorer Kiki Vandeweghe to Portland for 3 starters who helped improve the team’s win total by 14 games over the previous season, and was named NBA Executive of the Year in his very 1st season: how did he like being a GM, and how pissed was the city of Denver after learning of the trade? I think there was some criticism at the time of the trade: he actually played with Kiki’s dad Ernie when they were teammates together on the Knicks! I remember him telling me how it was going while he was working on the trade: he also got a 1st round pick for the following year. Portland initially offered just 2 players but later increased their offer.

After getting out of basketball he became a successful real estate developer in Colorado and 1 of Denver’s greatest philanthropists: how did he get into real estate, and why did he decide to give away so much of his hard-earned money? After moving to Denver he met an investor named Harry Roberts who took him under his wing. My dad’s highest NBA salary was around $20,000/year so we would move to New York for 6 months with just our clothes and then move back west every summer. My dad was always worried what would happen after retiring from the Knicks so he made an effort to save a lot of money: $50,000. He started investing in real estate deals with Harry, who was very street-smart, and my dad was very successful at working with various city zoning departments. They speculated on land throughout town and almost every deal was a gold mine. He never had to be in the biggest house and was very religious so he felt the need to give back and help people out as much as he could. He worked with Father Woody to do a Christmastime giveaway to help the local homeless population. I did not know about my dad funding it for almost 15 years but we still do it today. A priest gives a sermon and then they get an envelope with $20: my family attends it every December. He also gave some money to Regis University: he did not want any buildings named after him but they named an off-campus apartment building in his honor. He felt that it was God’s money.

He passed away in 2016: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? Due to the fact that he lived until age 89 most people in Denver know him for his career with the Nuggets. The public in general might know him for his philanthropy that went unnoticed while he was alive.

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