The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1968 Olympic gold medalist Bill Hosket

Posted on July 15, 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 Bill Hosket about winning an NBA title in 1970 and a gold medal in 1968.

In 1964 you were named a Parade All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Lew Alcindor/Don Chaney/Wes Unseld/other)? Looking back on it now I realize that it was a nice honor but I am not sure how much it meant because I do not know how many of the voters actually saw us play.

That spring you won a state title at Belmont High School and were named MVP of the state tourney: what made you choose Ohio State? My father had played there in the 1930s after going to high school in Dayton. He passed away when I was 10 so we never really got to compare notes. When I was growing up a lot of people asked me if I would go to the same school that my father did. Following in his footsteps directed my life a lot of the time.

You led the Buckeyes in PPG/RPG during each of your 3 varsity seasons, were named to the All-Conference Academic 1st-Team 3 times, and became the 1st Academic All-American in school history: how were you able to balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? My mother was always interested in education but never got a chance to go to college due to the Depression. For a city high school we had a great group of teachers so we tried to do as well as we could in the classroom as well as in extracurricular activities. Jerry Lucas was a prominent name who grew up 20 miles south of me and got a lot of notoriety for both athletics/academics so I tried to emulate him. Ohio State coach Fred Taylor said that we would graduate from college and work toward winning: he had 102 players letter for him and 97 of them got their degrees! It was a different era with no 1-and-done players, and by not playing as freshman it helped us get acclimated to class and allowed us to learn how to play.

Take me through the 1968 NCAA tourney:
In the Elite 8 you passed the ball to Dave Sorenson for the game-winning bank shot in a 1-PT win at Kentucky: how much of a home-court advantage did the Wildcats have in Lexington, and did you think that Sorenson’s shot was going in? It was kind of a broken play. Dan Issel was guarding me and lowered his arm so I just threw it to Dave when he popped open. Kentucky had a great year and was definitely the favorite so we were fortunate to upset them. The state police surrounded the baskets and said, “Boys, those nets belong to the university and are not to be touched!” They did not bring out the ladders but we got a pair of scissors and the police broke it up immediately.

After losing to North Carolina in the Final 4 you had 19 PTS/17 REB in a 4-PT win over Houston in the consolation game: where does Elvin Hayes (34 PTS/16 REB) rank among the greatest players that you have ever seen? Elvin was a great talent and was just physically imposing with a fadeaway jump shot. Chaney was on that team as well so they were very talented, along with my future Olympic teammate Ken Spain. I think they made the Final 4 during each of Elvin’s 3 years there and were 31-0 entering the 1968 Final 4 before losing to UCLA in a rematch of the Game of the Century that had occurred 2 months earlier.

In the spring of 1968 you were drafted 10th overall by the Knicks (9 spots behind Hayes): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was interesting because there was no Internet back then so communication was different. We played against Marquette and lost to them in the Rainbow Classic: afterward Coach Al McGuire congratulated me on a great game and said he would call his brother (Knicks coach Dick McGuire) to tell him about me. I really did not know what would happen in the draft because 1 magazine said I was a “can’t miss prospect” while another 1 said that I had a bad knee. I found out that I got drafted while I was at the Olympic Trials in Albuquerque when Knicks GM Eddie Donovan called me. I was happy but knew that I would miss training camp as well as a few regular season games due to the Olympics. We were always encouraged to stay in Columbus during the season but 1 year my roommate and I drove to Cincinnati to see the Knicks play the Royals. I wanted to see how good 1965 national POY Bill Bradley was but he never played that night: he later told me that was the only game of his career that he never played! The Knicks were a talented/deep team with a bunch of good guys.

That fall you played for team USA at the Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It was a great thrill and an honor to have competed. There was some pressure on us: a lot of seniors were encouraged not to attend the trials because those who were drafted into the pro would have to miss training camp, and other players boycotted due to racial reasons. Elvin/Wes Unseld signed NBA deals and Lew Alcindor skipped it so a lot of people thought that we would be the 1st US basketball team to ever lose but Coach Iba did a great job with all of us. He was a taskmaster but trained us really well: he turned Spencer Haywood from an athlete into a basketball player in just 6 weeks. It was the only Olympic sport at the time that was native to the US and we certainly did not want to be the 1st team to lose so we were fortunate to win. It is something I really cherish.

Take me through the magical 1970 NBA Finals:
In Game 3 Jerry West scored 34 PTS including a 60-foot buzzer-beater at the end of regulation but the Lakers ended up losing by 3 PTS in OT: where does that rank among the most clutch shots that you have ever seen? That rates up there but it would have meant more to him had the Lakers won the game. I was sitting on the bench and saw that his shot had a little backspin on it. I said to my teammates that he was going to make it and it found nothing but the bottom of the net. Dave DeBusschere dropped to his knees and I saw Jerry walking to his bench while just shrugging with his palms up. When something like that happens you feel destined to not win.

In Game 7 an injured Willis Reed walked onto the court during warmups and scored 4 PTS to help clinch the title: did you think that he would be able to play, and what did it mean to you to win a title? Willis had such strength of character as well as physical strength. We roomed together on the road and he said that he would play even though he could not walk while in the locker room before the game. We did not know for sure but when he came out it was incredible: there are few scenes like that in sports. It was like the fans and our team became 1: it was bedlam and even the Lakers stopped warming up to watch what was going on! It shows you how strong-willed he was to risk personal injury for the good of the team. We really played well the year before as well but could not get by Boston.

After retiring as a player you served 3 terms on the US Olympic Basketball Committee: how did you get the job, and how did you select the players? I think that I was just invited because they liked to have a former player fill a slot on the Committee. In 1972/1976 there were budget concerns over how many players could be invited to the Trials and what location would offer the cheapest airfare. We had territories/subcommittees that we covered: I remember that Bob Knight really wanted to coach the team in 1980 because the Olympics were in Russia but they chose Dave Gavitt before President Carter said that the US would not participate. That could have been Magic Johnson/Larry Bird’s last chance to be in the Olympics as amateurs but they later had the opportunity to play with the Dream Team.

Your father Bill Sr. won 3 state titles at Stivers High School from 1928-1930 and was later inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, and your son Brad also played basketball at Ohio State: who is the best athlete in the family? My dad was ambidextrous and played in a different era. He was 6’5” and was almost considered a giant back then. He could throw a football with either hand equally well. After college he formed a pro team and won the state tourney 2 years in a row: they were the original “Hoosiers”. He helped the players get jobs in the Dayton area and then play games on Sunday: they were a big deal in Ohio. He had a pretty illustrious playing career and later became an official. Brad was 6’3” but could really get up in the air so I will let others decide.

You currently are a principal at Hosket Ulen Insurance Solutions: how do you like the job, and how long do you plan to keep doing it for? I was in the paper business for a long time and then decided to switch industries about 14 years ago. Brad is now the managing partner here and 1 of my other sons is in sales so it has been good to see it grow. It has been a fun experience and I am just glad that they have not fired me yet! We are struggling like all companies during the pandemic: it is frustrating to not get out there and meet with customers but I cannot imagine being in the retail/restaurant business. We are all in it together but it has gone beyond temporary and is a trying time for a lot of people. I attend the high school state tourney every year but it got canceled last spring, as did the 50th reunion of our 1970 NBA championship team. I had great coaches/tremendous teammates but if the virus had hit back then it could have been very different due to timing. It makes me appreciate what I had and I feel bad for those who have missed out on opportunities due to something that is beyond their control. If you cannot sell your product then you cannot make any money but somehow we have been able to keep all of our people employed.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Cindy Heckelsberg about 1952 Olympic gold medalist Clyde Lovellette

Posted on July 14, 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 Cindy Heckelsberg about her father Clyde Lovellette winning an NCAA title AND an Olympic gold medal in 1952. Today marks the 68th anniversary of Clyde scoring 7 PTS vs. Hungary in Olympic round-robin pool play.

(photo credit: teamusa.org)

(photo credit: heckelsberghomes.com)

Your father was born/raised in Indiana and originally enrolled at Indiana for college: what made him switch to Kansas? Coach Phog Allen! I do not know if he was actually enrolled at IU but he was certainly planning to go there. Phog worked on my grandmother quite a bit while my dad stayed at the other end of the house. Phog said that Kansas would be a better situation for my dad’s asthma and promised to get him to the Olympics. I went to the same high school as my dad and there was a life-size photo of him on the wall. There was also a photo of Terry Dischinger, who went to the same school as my dad and won an Olympic medal of his own in 1960. Terry’s father grew up down the street from us and was actually an assistant for my dad’s team!

What made Allen such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that your dad ever learned from him? My dad really revered him due to the discipline that he instilled in his players. He told me stories of throwing the ball away…followed by Phog making him take the ball home with him: he learned his lesson. Phog asked him to focus on his coordination and my dad thought that he was the greatest guy ever.

In the 1952 NCAA title game he had 33 PTS/17 REB in a win over St. John’s en route to being named tourney MOP: how was he able to play his best when it mattered the most, and what did it mean to him to win a title? He was a determined person who never did anything half-assed. He liked to win and always did his best, which he tried to instill that in us as well.

As a senior he led the nation in scoring with 28.4 PPG and was named national POY: what made him such a great scorer, and what did it mean to him to receive such an outstanding honor? Lots and lots of practice. He was very proud of all his achievements but was also very humble. He had the innate ability to know where things would fly. Even fooling around it seemed like he could pick up a ball and swish it from wherever he was standing. All of the accolades kind of roll into 1.

That April he was drafted 9th overall by Minneapolis but wanted to play in the Olympics so badly that he turned down an $80,000 contract to play AAU ball for the Phillips 66ers for 1 year, then that summer he was 1 of 7 Jayhawks (with Allen serving as assistant coach) who won a gold medal at the 1952 Olympics: what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? He would tell me about flying across the ocean to win a gold medal for his country, which was his greatest achievement. I remember him taking the medal out of the lockbox when I was a kid to show it to me. I did not realize that he turned down such a big contract. I remember seeing photos of my mom helping him pack for the Olympics. The other half of team USA was comprised of players from an AAU team in Peoria. I was with my dad in Lawrence when the school held a celebration for the 1952 team. I overheard a group of men talking about a Caterpillar strike and I asked my dad who they were: he said they were his Olympic teammates. The only reason that Phog was the assistant rather than the head coach is because Peoria beat KU in a scrimmage. My former babysitter brought me a catalog that the school sold to raise funds to help send the team to the Olympics: I still have it.

After Minneapolis beat Syracuse in Game 7 of the 1954 NBA Finals he became the 1st basketball player to ever win an NCAA title/Olympic gold medal/NBA title: how was he able to pull off such an amazing feat in the span of about 24 months? It was a huge deal but the times were different back then: pro basketball was new at the time.

After losing 2 NBA Finals with St. Louis in 1959/1961 he was traded to Boston in the summer of 1962 and won back-to-back NBA titles with Boston in 1963/1964: did it reach a point where the family just expected him to be busy every spring in the Finals?! It was hard for me as a little kid to understand when my dad got traded. We were in Missouri for a few years and 1 day I asked my dad to saddle my horse for me. I went to the kitchen and was tugging on my dad’s shirt sleeve and my parents told me to be quiet. I asked my mom who he was talking to and she said, “Red Auerbach!” My parents were talking back and forth about whether they wanted to sell the house and move to Boston: we went back to Terre Haute, IN, to live there every summer. He agreed to go to Boston for 1 year and commuted from St. Louis but it ended up becoming 2 years: my mom was not very happy living in the snow. He thought that he was a farmer and loved his tractor/cows. I remember hearing my dad talking about John Havlicek all the time and after an exhibition 1 day John came by our house to spend the night. I went downstairs, introduced myself to him (after waking him up), and asked him for an autograph. Many year later I went with my dad to the Hall of Fame and got stuck in a sea of tall men and could not find my dad. When I finally found him he was talking to Havlicek…who remembered me!

After retiring he served as a county sheriff and a basketball coach: how did he like working in law enforcement, and how did he like being a coach? He liked being sheriff and thought that he was John Wayne, literally! He closed down all of the whorehouses in Terre Haute after deciding to clean up the town by staging a raid: it was known as “Sin City USA” for a time because that is where the gangsters from Chicago would come to cool off. I remember my dad’s campaign signs: “Lovellette for Sheriff: A Big Man for a Big Job”. I did an awful lot of campaigning for him as a kid. He got called before the grand jury a couple of times. I do not believe that he ever graduated from KU: he took some criminal justice classes at Indiana State but actually got his degree from Eastern Illinois, which is right across the border from Terre Haute. He actually lived with me for a while after applying for some teacher positions but eventually got a job coaching in Wabash, IN. He worked with some kids in a group home and would sometimes lift them off the ground so they could see him eye to eye. He was always interested in lowering the juvenile delinquency rate and trying to put kids on the straight and narrow. We played cards with him toward the end of his life but still could not beat him: we were no match for him. I remember Coach Bill Self calling him once to talk to him.

He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012: where did those rank among the highlights of his career? He really liked the recognition and enjoyed going to Springfield: I would often get the call to join him on trips there. I went with him in 1988 and went another time with my son who drove all night from Norfolk, VA, to join us. He was just “dad” to me: I never realized how famous he was when I was a kid. 1 year I booked a flight for me and my oldest son to go to Lawrence and surprise my dad: he was there to receive an honor from Sigma Chi and was also introduced at halftime of a Jayhawk basketball game. I found out where he was staying and we ended up staying in the room right next to him at the Holiday Inn. We checked in, got settled in our room, and eventually heard my dad coming down the hallway. We popped out of our room to surprise him and he was so stunned. I got to meet a lot of his teammates and their wives and had a great conversation with all of them. When he walked onto the court I have never heard a roar like that. Both my dad and I were crying: that was my epiphany when I learned how famous he truly was. I brought my kids to the Hall of Fame once: 1 of them walked around with my dad and another just hung out and talked to Dean Smith the entire time!

He passed away in 2016: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? He was the 1st to win titles in the NCAA/NBA/Olympics: there are not too many others who have done that so his record stands on its own. He loved playing basketball and was amazed that people would pay him to do what he loved. He tried to pass along his expertise to others and liked to give back. He never stopped thinking and liked to keep busy so he did so many things after retiring from basketball: he did not want to just sit around in a rocking chair. He would watch every sport known to man on TV: I did not appreciate golf until watching it with my dad.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Jerry Shipp’s family about their 1964 Olympic gold medalist

Posted on July 13, 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 Jerry Shipp’s wife Novaline Shipp and daughters Shannon Cooper/Sherra Aguilar about Jerry winning a gold medal in 1964.

Jerry was born prematurely to a hitchhiking mom suffering from tuberculosis in Louisiana and later spent 11 years in an orphanage in Oklahoma: how rough was his childhood, and how did Ed/Ozella Shipp change his life by adopting him at age 16? His birth family lived in Fort Worth, TX: his father was a traveling musician who moved around a lot with his mother, who gave birth to Jerry when she was 18. His mother had an older friend who took care of her and she instructed him to call a preacher to take him to the Tipton Home Orphanage after she died so he could have an education. The preacher was a lifelong friend of the Shipps who lived in Arkansas but would come by to visit. This was during the Depression so she was worried about him not going to school if he had remained with his relatives. They went to the orphanage around Christmas to meet him and decided to adopt him. He had 1 old man watch him play basketball all the time who was very special to him. He asked the old man if he should go live with the Shipps and the man advised him to do so. He had a little tin suitcase but no clothes: he was worried about Ozella making fun of him but she never did because she was such a good woman. He was born prematurely in a ditch and they wrapped him in whatever they had. His 1st bed was a shoebox and his family did not expect him to make it through the 1st night. The Shipps supported the orphanage and adopted him at age 16. Ozella was a 1st grade teacher for 50 years who did not have any kids of her own. Jerry was making F’s at 1st but eventually made A’s and B’s after he focused on his education. He was actually a better baseball player and even got drafted by the Yankees as a pitcher who threw 98 MPH! He asked the Shipps what to do and they suggested he get his college degree. Getting adopted definitely changed his life: he was going down the wrong road but it all changed for the better.

His graduating class at Blue High School was comprised of 13 students: what made him choose Southeastern Oklahoma State? The Shipps wanted him to stay nearby. Coach Bloomer Sullivan was an icon who became a father-figure to him.

As a member of the Savage Storm he led the conference in scoring twice and set a conference record by scoring 54 PTS in a game vs. Phillips University in 1957: what was his secret to being a great scorer? When he was little all of the kids in the orphanage were placed in a room to have a snack. He would draw an imaginary circle on the ceiling, roll some biscuits up into little balls, and then throw them at the circle. As a high school freshman he had a basketball that was flat but would stuff it with rags, crawl through the window of the gym, and practice shooting for 2-3 hours at night. That scoring record still stands today even after the implementation of the 3-PT line. Dennis Rodman almost broke the record 1 night but fell 1 PT short. He said that if you were a true shooter then you could shoot with any kind of ball.

He also set a conference record by making 19-19 FTs in a game vs. East Central in 1958: what made him such a great FT shooter? 1 year he played in Egypt with his AAU team and they brought out a heavier soccer ball but he was always able to shoot once he got used to it due to his rotation/follow-through. I have worked with shooters all of my life as a coach and some people are just born with it. I have been told by many people who watched him that he was the best shooter they had ever seen.

In the summer of 1959 he was drafted 64th overall by the Knicks: did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? His lifelong dream was to go to the Olympics, even after not making the team in 1960 as the 1st alternate. He had to compete against great players in the 1964 Olympic Trials such as Rick Barry. Making the NBA was not his main goal. We had our 1st child in 1964 after the Olympics when he was around age 30 and he decided to stay with AAU basketball. He was very appreciative of being drafted but going to New York was not very appealing.

Instead of going pro he joined the Phillips 66ers where he was a 3-time AAU All-American and won a pair of national titles in 1962/1963: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors, and what did it mean to him to win a pair of titles? The CEO of Phillips (Boots Adams) was close to him and wanted him to stay there for as long as possible. Every award meant a lot to him because he worked so hard for it. He told me that he got to see the world, drink tea with kings, and see the Pyramids in Egypt. He loved the camaraderie of the team and still remains friends with his teammates: they would have reunions every 5 years and were almost like brothers. He always knew that he would become a coach/educator someday so he could show kids that you did not need to come from a big city or have the best shoes to accomplish your goals. You can come from any background and end up doing anything.

He won a gold medal with team USA at the 1963 Pan American Games while leading the team with 15 PPG, then won another gold medal at the 1964 Olympics while again leading the team in scoring: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a pair of gold medals? Every time his Pam Am Games team would win the crowd in Brazil would get angry and throw stuff onto the court. 1 time he got hit in the mouth with a piece of metal right before halftime: they just sewed him up while he sat on the bench and he finished the game as the team’s leading scorer! Winning the Olympics was his main goal in life so when they put the medal around his neck he had tears in his eyes. He was captain of the team and he felt so humbled by it. He had a teacher as a child named Ms. Maynard: he was not a good student and she told him that he would never amount to a hill of beans. When he got his medal and bent down to accept it he was thinking to himself, “Ms. Maynard, I hope that you are watching!” The players voted him team captain despite the fact that there were guys from more established schools like Bill Bradley at Princeton. Winning a gold medal was his dream come true: even when he watches the Olympics today it still means a lot to him because he is so patriotic.

After retiring from basketball he spent many years working in business for Phillips: how did he enjoy the business world? He loved Phillips. In the early 1970s the US started integrating more schools and would start busing kids to schools. Phillips wanted him to move to Memphis but then his kids would have had to take a bus to school downtown so he decided to go into coaching/teaching instead.

His alma mater retired his #30 jersey: where does that rank among the highlights of his career? He was proud of the jersey retirement but even prouder to dedicate his gold medal to the university. They have it enclosed in bulletproof glass in a special case in their gymnasium so that everyone can see it and enjoy it. That shows you how much his school means to him: he loves Southeastern and was very active with the alumni association for a long time.

He was inducted into many Halls of Fame including the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame/Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame/NAIA Hall of Fame: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? What meant the most to him was for kids to know that you do not need to have a fancy background to succeed. He wanted to give every kid a shot because even a barefoot player might be the best on the team! Bill Bradley was roommates with my dad and took some jabs at him about where he came from but his legacy is that you do not have to come from Princeton to make it: you just need to prove it on the court. He always said to never be in awe of anyone and was not scared of anyone: we are so proud of him. He was the best shooter that I have ever seen even though he was self-taught.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2000 Olympic gold medalist Natalie Williams

Posted on July 12, 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 Natalie Williams about winning a gold medal in 2000. Today marks the 17th anniversary of her final WNBA All-Star Game appearance in 2003.

Your father Nate Williams played in the NBA: how much of an influence was he on your own decision to play basketball, and who is the best athlete in the family? I did not actually meet him until I was 16 but I knew that he was a great athlete. His decision to play basketball did not really have an impact on me but he was very encouraging/helpful. It was mostly just about me striving for greatness: I had a high work ethic and enjoyed it. I was more into volleyball in college: it was my 1st love/passion. I originally went to UCLA on a volleyball scholarship: I just played basketball for fun. I would say that I am the better athlete because I played 2 sports.

You won back-to-back NCAA volleyball titles at UCLA and were named 1992 national POY: what did it mean to you to win a pair of titles, and what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means more now when I look back on it. I worked very hard but at the time you are just in the moment. I only played front row as a freshman but improved my defense during that year.

You were the 1st woman to be named an All-American in basketball and volleyball in the same year: how exhausted were you by the end of the year, and which sport did you enjoy the most? It was an unheard-of feat. I was tired: it is hard enough just to be a college athlete in 1 sport. The nice part of playing volleyball is that I got to miss most of the preseason basketball workouts! I wish that I would have played 1 season of softball: Hall of Fame coach Sue Enquist asked me to play but I was just so tired, although it would have been a fun experience to play 3 different sports. Volleyball was my favorite sport during college: we made the Final 4 during each of my 4 years so it was like a UConn basketball situation.

In the spring of 1998 the ABL’s Portland Power traded you to Long Beach, but after the Stingrays fold you were sent back to the Power: how weird was the whole situation, and how were you able to stay focused enough to be named ABL MVP? It was weird! I was willing to leave Portland because I was from Long Beach and thought that it would be nice to play at home. It was not a let-down to go back to Portland because I got to return to play for Coach Lin Dunn and see all of my old friends/teammates.

You were a 4-time WNBA All-Star and played for the winning West team in the 1st-ever WNBA All-Star Game in 1999: where does that West roster (including fellow Hall of Famers Michelle Timms/Cynthia Cooper/Lisa Leslie/Ruthie Bolton/Jennifer Gillom/Yolanda Griffith) rank among the best that you have ever been a part of? I would hope it goes down as 1 of the best: many of them were my Olympic teammates the following year. To play as well as we did made it hard for our opponents to compete.

In the 2000 Olympic gold medal basketball game you had 15 PTS/9 REB for team USA in a win over Australia: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal, and was it extra-gratifying after being 1 of the last players cut from the 1996 Olympic volleyball team? All things happen for a reason: being cut from the Olympic volleyball team after coming back from a devastating ACL injury during my senior year made me feel like I had let down my UCLA team. I moved to San Diego to train for the Olympic volleyball team where I lived by myself and practiced several hours/day. Making the basketball team showed me how important perseverance is and that good things will happen if you continue to work hard. My college coach got me a tryout for the Jones Cup team despite not having played for a couple of years: the coaches said that I was a little rusty but still a great rebounder. I was not a starter for team USA: I played behind Lisa/Yolanda/Teresa Edwards/Sheryl Swoopes/Nikki McCray. I was not leaving without a gold medal and it was great to feel super-human…if only for 1 game.

In 2005 you retired as the leading rebounder in US women’s basketball history: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? The 1st thing is desire: for whatever reason I just loved to rebound. I had a good vertical jump/timing, which I developed during my time playing volleyball. My strength to out-muscle people and hold my position also helped a lot. You have to know angles and how the ball will come off the rim depending on where it is shot from. Hopefully my own kids will have that trait, otherwise I will have to teach them. Some people do not care about rebounding but I tried to get my hands on every missed shot.

In 2006/2008 you won a pair of state titles as an assistant basketball coach at Skyline High School: how do you like being a coach, and what do you hope to do in the future? I have been coaching for almost 15 years now and I run my own club program with about 150 kids from 3rd grade through high school. I love it even though it is kind of backwards: I think that coaching is what I was meant to do and is a result of all my success as a player. Traveling with my team each summer is the best thing ever and I love seeing them excel/grow. My kids are good players and I enjoy watching them continue to improve and get some scholarship offers at age 7 (my daughter Nation)!

In 2016 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team: where do these rank among the highlights of your career? It would have to be right up there at the top, along with winning a gold medal. It is an incredible honor and a tribute to all of the hard work I put in during my career. It is hard to grasp and crazy to look back and try to realize what you have done.

You have a Basketball Academy (www.nataliewilliamsbasketballacademy.com) whose mission is “to empower young athletes of all ages through positive and fun training”: how is your academy different from other organizations, and what have you been able to accomplish so far? I do not know how different we are from other clubs but this is my passion. I love seeing the joy of the kids when they learn a skill or trick of the trade. I love teaching them the importance of respecting themselves, their opponents, the refs, the scorekeepers, etc. They need to be good teammates by encouraging their teammates. I have some of the best players in the state and it is fun to finally put Utah on the map as having great recruitable athletes with some of the best club kids in the country. It is also neat to befriend all of the college coaches who are recruiting my kids and then watch my kids end up at schools like Utah State/BYU/etc. My goal is to eventually get some kids into the Pac-12.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Mary O’Hara about 1948 Olympic gold medalist Ray Lumpp

Posted on July 11, 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 Mary O’Hara about her father Ray Lumpp winning a gold medal in 1948. Today would have been his 97th birthday so we are proud to honor his memory.



Your father was born in Brooklyn/raised in Queens: what made him choose NYU? He choose NYU because he wanted to play for Coach Howard Cann, who he admired so much. Playing college basketball in those days was completely different from the sophisticated game of today. Cann was a simplistic coach: no scouting reports or hours spent reviewing film/videotape. His theory on defense, which I strongly agree with, was this: if you play against an opponent for just a few minutes then you should know how to stop him.

What made Hall of Famer Cann such a great coach? Coach Howard Cann recruited all of the local New York players and they all had a special relationship with each other. They all loved Coach Cann,

His time at NYU was sandwiched around 3 years that he spent in the Army Air Force during WWII: what impact did his service have on him either on or off the court? He was able to play basketball for the Air Force…and most importantly he met his future wife (our mother!) in Lincoln Air Force base at a USO dance.

In the 1948 NIT he made the title game before losing to St. Louis: how close did he come to winning a title? They came very close to winning the NIT in 1948. St. Louis star Ed McCauley had an exceptional game (24 PTS) as the Billikens bested the Violets 65-52.

He played for team USA at the 1948 Olympics and tied a game-high with 11 PTS in the gold medal game vs. France: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? The highlight of his career was bringing home the gold medal for team USA in 1948. It meant so much to him to represent his country. It took 2 weeks by boat just to get from the US to London. My dad said when they arrived London was still bombed out from the war against Germany and the London citizens were waiting on breadlines. They needed the Olympic Games to boost their morale.

He scored 12.7 PPG as a rookie in the BAA with Indianapolis/New York: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? He made that smooth transition from college to the pros due to Howard Cann’s coaching/advice.

He lost each of the 1st 2 Game 7s in NBA Finals history as a player for the Knicks (1951/1952): where do those rank among the most devastating losses of his career? Losing a pair of Game 7s were the most devastating losses of his career.

After retiring from basketball he spent 48 years as athletic director of the New York Athletic Club: how did he get the job, and why did he stick with it for a half-century? He got the job at NYAC because he wanted to stay in New York and raise his family on Long Island.

In 2012 Coach Mike Krzyzewski invited him to travel with team USA to London as his guest to serve as an example to the rest of the team: 


what did it mean to him to get to return to England 64 years after playing there as a 25-year old? Getting invited to the 2012 Olympics by Coach K was an honor. He stayed with the team and had several conversations with Kobe Bryant/LeBron James. Kobe asked him how he ever got a basketball court named after him at the NYAC: he answered by saying that he spent 58 years working as the Athletic Director and always promoting the game of basketball at the club by letting teams practice there. He was able to attend practice with the Olympic team and we have some great photos of him with that team. Our whole family went to London with him and got to meet all of the players and their families.

He passed away in 2015: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? My dad will be remembered the most as a great husband and a wonderful father/grandfather. He also was very good at encouraging other athletes who came to the NYAC to become the best that they could be. He was a New York man who was instrumental in helping Freddie Lebow start the NYC Marathon by having the NYAC promote the run. He brought the NCAA trophy dinner to the NYAC and ran a successful day camp at NYAC’s summer place at Travers Island in Pelham. He is truly missed.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1976 Olympic silver medalist Gail Marquis

Posted on July 10, 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 Gail Marquis about winning a silver medal in 1976.

(photo credit: outsports.com)

You were a 2-time All-American at Queens College where you averaged 20+ PPG during your final 2 years: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? I always strived to be the best and to get open. I really was not much of a scorer when I started college but I worked hard to get open and prided myself on scoring later on. When I was coming up those kinds of titles were just starting for women: most of today’s accolades now were not around then.

In 1975 you were part of the 1st women’s basketball team (college or professional) to play at Madison Square Garden: how big a deal was it at the time? It was a really big deal. We played a big game on campus the previous year against Immaculata College. MSG chairman Sonny Werblin wondered why we did not play in his arena. We had a practice session at the Garden on a Thursday which helped get some of the jitters out of the way and helped with our depth perception, as a huge arena is very different from a small gym. My coach was barking out orders when all of a sudden Marquette coach Al McGuire walked into the arena. I followed the men’s game because women were not on TV back then so it was nice to see Al taking an interest in our team: once he showed up we started making sharper cuts during our halfcourt drills. We had about 11,500 fans at our game as the 1st part of a doubleheader. They played Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman” when we came out for pregame drills and the crowd was fierce. I have met so many women who went to that game as little girls: it holds a very special place for me.

You played for team USA at the 1976 Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a silver medal? I could not even believe that we were making history at the time. To put on that uniform and see all of the red/white/blue was amazing. I was 1 of 4 players who had never been on the national team before so we had to play good enough to get the spots of some women who were on the 1975 Pan Am Games gold medal team. We had home and away uniforms and they looked so good. I remember wearing a white jacket at the opening ceremonies: we were under such control the entire time but were so proud to head to the Olympic Stadium and start marching in as a group of 300 athletes. When they announced our country in French we heard the roar of the crowd and I finally realized the impact: it still sticks with me. We were not 1 of the favorites: Russia was expected to win the gold. We played a round-robin and our coach told us that if we beat Czechoslovakia then we would win a silver and if we lost then we would not get anything. The award ceremony was great: we marched in 1st with Russia right behind us. To see our own flag get hoisted up and then put our hands over our hearts made us so proud. We will always be the 1st US women’s basketball team to win a medal.

You later spent a few years playing pro basketball in France while completing your undergrad studies: what was the biggest difference between college basketball and pro basketball, and how much importance do you place on education? I did study French but was still working on my undergrad degree because I still had about 15 credits left before I could graduate: the MBA came later. Coming off the Olympics and using up all of my college eligibility I could not find a competitive team and league to play for. I did not want to just play AAU ball on the weekends so I negotiated a deal to play in France. When I arrived at the airport in Nice, France, I did not understand the language so I signed up for a French class with students from many other countries and a teacher who only spoke French. After 6 months I could understand a lot more and was still eligible for the 1977 World University Games. I always knew that I was going to get my degree even if my father did not understand why it was taking me so long. By 1980 I was able to graduate and receive my degree: education is very important to my entire family. I later got my MBA from the University of Phoenix. When I was playing, college basketball was the pinnacle and was well coached/organized even if there were not a lot of fans in the stands. Now I am just amazed at how the young women are competing at all levels of higher learning institutions. There is such a great discipline about being in sports: men have always had that opportunity and now women do as well. Most women stick around for 4 years so a lot more of them receive their degrees, and pro leagues allow women to keep doing what they love.

After returning to the US you played for the New York Stars in the Women’s Basketball League where you set a league record for wins and won the League championship: what did it mean to you to win a title? Dean Meminger was my coach at the time. We were world champions…and then the team folded before we had a chance to defend our title! Dean brought a lot of what he learned from McGuire/Red Holzman to our game. We practiced at LaGuardia Community College and then an hour later the Knicks would come by for their own practices. We used a half-court press that came from Red’s playbook. Dean loved to break down techniques and talk about the game. George Karl also came around as well. When I was a commentator for a team in New England I got to spend time around KC Jones. I had already won championships in France so winning a title was something that I just expected. I was not cocky but even if we were down by 10 at halftime we would keep grinding and find a way to win. It is a great lesson to take with you when you enter the real world.

You have worked as a color commentator for many pro/college teams: how does your on-court success aid your analysis from the broadcast booth? I could see the game so well and knew what to look for. If I was watching a Rutgers-UConn game I could see picks coming off the weak-side. As a former official I could break things down and tell people what to look for off the ball. I would never repeat the score because you can see that for yourself but I looked at different coaching techniques: Vivian Stringer would use a zone defense while Geno Auriemma would use screens to help Diana Taurasi get free. I did not have a crystal ball but tried to get some good insight. I learned to think before I spoke and not put my foot in my mouth!

After retiring from basketball you worked in the financial services industry and later launched your own company: how did you get into the business, and what do you think of the current state of the US economy? After the Olympics/pro basketball there was nowhere else for me to play and I was still very competitive so I did not want to just coach 12-year olds who needed a water break! I did not want to be a dumb jock so I got some nice suits and enjoyed the competitive nature of Wall Street. I moved around and worked my way up through several brokerage houses before starting my own firm and educating people about savings/retirement/mortgages. When the Obama administration came in after the banks collapsed in 2008 the economy was in bad shape. I know how much the Treasury Secretary worked to fix things but after the recent drop I decided to wait it out because I thought that it would come back. When it was falling badly I tried to not look at it and just decided to let it ride. Seasoned investors understand the ups and down: if you cannot handle the volatility of the market then you should stick with a conservative money market account and try to make 2%. When you add on the unprecedented pandemic we are all learning how to right the ship. I am worried about the economy but am not too worried about the stock market. 5 years ago there was no “Zoom” and they have filled the void, as did niche markets like e-commerce.

In 2009 you became the 1st woman of color inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2013 you were inducted into the Queens College Athletic Hall of Fame: where do these rank among the highlights of your career? They are very much highlights. Behind Naismith I think that New York City is the #2 Hall of Fame in the country. I learned a lot at college but learned grace/spontaneity from playing in the local parks. I was so glad to be recognized. Queens College is right in the heart of the city so to make it to the Olympics from there made me very proud. That is our community and I stayed home because we had the best basketball team.

In 2011 you married your longtime partner and your subsequent work with the Freedom to Marry organization helped result in the legalization of same-sex marriage after a 2015 US Supreme Court ruling: how do you think that the issue has evolved over the past decade, and what does the future hold for same-sex couples? It evolved from coming out of the closet to hear me roar to more and more acceptance. I do not know if Joe Biden influenced Obama but now we have more allies who recognize the value of the same-sex community. It is similar to sports: good players just want to win regardless of the race of their teammates. It has slowed down but people still love/respect one another so I believe it is in the hands of our young people. There is no reason to be in the shadows so I do not think that it can be put back into the box. We are also in a good spot because a lot of young people are LGBTQ or have friends who are and they will not accept bullying. They will show us the way and while there is still work to do the future is positive.

You currently work as Director of Development for The William J. Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences at New Jersey City University: how do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? My biggest job is to connect with our 70,000 alumni who can give money and do not realize the place they hold. I got this job a year ago and thought that I was close to retirement but now I feel that I have to stick around for 5 more years. I am helping 1st-generation college students who do not have a lot of funds and try to keep them moving forward. There is still room for giving and to help people. It is never about the dollar amount but I am really proud of our alumni during the past few months as our student body has moved to online learning. Some people gave $5 and some gave $5 million, which is huge for a school with a transient student body. If it was just about sending out a letter/email then you would not get anything. At times it is like turning an ocean liner but I was placed here for a reason.

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)? It is also pushed by young people in all 50 states who realize that there are injustices that need to be corrected. When we were going through the pandemic I told my family/friends that we are not coming out the same way on the other side. It is our job to find out what the lessons were that we were supposed to learn and what changes we are supposed to make. We owe it to ourselves and the next generation to figure out how this happened: were we lazy or conceited or something else? Most of these injustices have been around for centuries and thanks to camera phones we now have the proof. People could see what was going on in different communities and fortunately the haves are starting to see what happens when the police meet the have-nots. We have an administration that gassed its own people: we will all rise together and need to put things into place.

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