Call For Rupp Arena To Be Renamed
- Thread starter jerseyshorejohnny
- Start date
The Coach who told St. John’s he would not allow them to play on Kentuckys home court if the late great Solly Walker, May he Rest In Peace, came with the team to play against the Wildcats. What a piece of g......
his name should be stricken from the campus and all potential UK recruits should know the ugly history behind Rupp the man and coach.
his name should be stricken from the campus and all potential UK recruits should know the ugly history behind Rupp the man and coach.
No school has a prouder heritage of supporting minority athletes than St. John’s University.
St. John’s should advance that fact by honoring the heroics of former basketball Solly Walker by having Solly’s initials and number (“SW#20”) appear on the jersey of each men’s basketball player this season.
Here is a quick summary of Solly’s courage when playing against the racists at the University of Kentucky.
In 1951 at a time when most US colleges did not even allow African American students to enroll in school, and even fewer US colleges allowed African American athletes to compete on their athletic teams St. John's did.
In 1951 St. John's played at the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky attempted to renege on its agreement to play St. John's because Mr. Walker was black. Before the game at Kentucky the St. John's team was refused a place to eat dinner because no restaurant that would serve a "colored" man. The St. John's version of events is a bit different from those included in the below linked NY Times article. The entire St. John's team refused to eat dinner without their teammate Mr. Walker. It has been alleged that the injury that literally knocked Mr. Walker from the game was the result of a cheap shot purposely delivered by a Kentucky player. The hallway that the St. John's players were required to walk to and from the basketball court was under the bleachers of Kentucky fans and when Mr. Walker and the St. John's team entered and exited the court the Kentucky fans spat down on them. (The allegation of spitting on black players by Kentucky fans during that era has been reported as the norm by other sources.)
[URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2017/0...ker-died-broke-race-barriers-at-st-johns.html[/URL]
The actions by the University of Kentucky and its fans were disgusting, however the grace and courage exhibited by Mr. Walker, his teammates, coaches and St. John's University was meritorious and should never be forgotten or trivalized.
The courage of Mr. Walker and his teammates and St. John's trailblazing actions of providing opportunities to athletes and non athletes alike without regard to race should be embraced and celebrated by the men's basketball team and the entire athletic department.
Potential recruits and their parents/ advisors should be informed of St. John's proud heritage of promoting and protecting the rights of all students and athletes.
This 2020- 2021 basketball season is the 70th anniversary of the Solly Walker/ Kentucky incidents. Solly’s courage and St.John's leadership in promoting equal rights should be commemorated with a patch on the St. John's mens basketball uniforms (SW#20). The patch would both serve as a reminder to the current players and recruits of Solly’s courage and underscore St. John’s pioneering efforts for civil rights. Most importantly the patch on the player’s uniforms would cause the TV announcers to explain to national audiences who Solly Walker was and St. John’s leadership efforts during telecasts of St. John's basketball games.
Please drop an email to the StJ’s administration to support putting a uniform patch “SW#20” on the men’s basketball uniforms to honor Mr. Walker and highlight St. John’s commitment to equal rights.
.
St. John’s should advance that fact by honoring the heroics of former basketball Solly Walker by having Solly’s initials and number (“SW#20”) appear on the jersey of each men’s basketball player this season.
Here is a quick summary of Solly’s courage when playing against the racists at the University of Kentucky.
In 1951 at a time when most US colleges did not even allow African American students to enroll in school, and even fewer US colleges allowed African American athletes to compete on their athletic teams St. John's did.
In 1951 St. John's played at the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky attempted to renege on its agreement to play St. John's because Mr. Walker was black. Before the game at Kentucky the St. John's team was refused a place to eat dinner because no restaurant that would serve a "colored" man. The St. John's version of events is a bit different from those included in the below linked NY Times article. The entire St. John's team refused to eat dinner without their teammate Mr. Walker. It has been alleged that the injury that literally knocked Mr. Walker from the game was the result of a cheap shot purposely delivered by a Kentucky player. The hallway that the St. John's players were required to walk to and from the basketball court was under the bleachers of Kentucky fans and when Mr. Walker and the St. John's team entered and exited the court the Kentucky fans spat down on them. (The allegation of spitting on black players by Kentucky fans during that era has been reported as the norm by other sources.)
[URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2017/0...ker-died-broke-race-barriers-at-st-johns.html[/URL]
The actions by the University of Kentucky and its fans were disgusting, however the grace and courage exhibited by Mr. Walker, his teammates, coaches and St. John's University was meritorious and should never be forgotten or trivalized.
The courage of Mr. Walker and his teammates and St. John's trailblazing actions of providing opportunities to athletes and non athletes alike without regard to race should be embraced and celebrated by the men's basketball team and the entire athletic department.
Potential recruits and their parents/ advisors should be informed of St. John's proud heritage of promoting and protecting the rights of all students and athletes.
This 2020- 2021 basketball season is the 70th anniversary of the Solly Walker/ Kentucky incidents. Solly’s courage and St.John's leadership in promoting equal rights should be commemorated with a patch on the St. John's mens basketball uniforms (SW#20). The patch would both serve as a reminder to the current players and recruits of Solly’s courage and underscore St. John’s pioneering efforts for civil rights. Most importantly the patch on the player’s uniforms would cause the TV announcers to explain to national audiences who Solly Walker was and St. John’s leadership efforts during telecasts of St. John's basketball games.
Please drop an email to the StJ’s administration to support putting a uniform patch “SW#20” on the men’s basketball uniforms to honor Mr. Walker and highlight St. John’s commitment to equal rights.
.
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MakingPlays
Well-known member
[quote="otis" post=394149]No school has a prouder heritage of supporting minority athletes than St. John’s University.
St. John’s should proudly advance that fact by honoring the heroics of former basketball Solly Walker by having Solly’s initials and number (“SW#20”) appear on the jersey of each men’s basketball player this season.
Here is a quick summary of Solly’s courage when playing against the racists at the University of Kentucky.
In 1951 at a time when most US colleges did not even allow African American students to enroll in school, and even fewer US colleges allowed African American athletes to compete on their athletic teams St. John's did.
[/quote]
Thanks for sharing that story! I had no idea about any of that. Recruits should all be aware of this and told this story.
St. John’s should proudly advance that fact by honoring the heroics of former basketball Solly Walker by having Solly’s initials and number (“SW#20”) appear on the jersey of each men’s basketball player this season.
Here is a quick summary of Solly’s courage when playing against the racists at the University of Kentucky.
In 1951 at a time when most US colleges did not even allow African American students to enroll in school, and even fewer US colleges allowed African American athletes to compete on their athletic teams St. John's did.
[/quote]
Thanks for sharing that story! I had no idea about any of that. Recruits should all be aware of this and told this story.
beast of the east
Active member
Rupp was a disgusting redneck to begin with. I recalled this anecdote from Bobby Knight's book. Bobby listed 3 NY area coaches as his greatest influencers - Joe Lapchick, Clair Bee and one other that will come to me soon.
Hi – I'm reading "Knight: My Story" by Bob Knight, Bob Hammel and wanted to share this quote with you.
"Coach Bee was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1967. That was my second year as a head coach. I felt honored: he asked me to take him to Springfield for the induction. I accepted, with a condition. At something like that, he had a tendency to drink too much—not often, but on occasion. I made him promise that if I drove, he wouldn’t have a drink there. At the dinner, the two of us sat with Harry Litwack, Frank McGuire, Adolph Rupp, and a couple of other guys, around a table. The waiter taking drink orders came to me first, and I said, “I’ll have a Coke, and so will he.” Coach Bee looked at me and snarled a little bit but he didn’t say anything. After a while, the waiter came back for a second round. Same thing: “I’ll have another Coke and so will he.” Rupp said, “Well, god-damn, Clair, are you gonna let that boy tell you whether you can drink or not?” The Coach rose out of his chair—I thought he was going over the table after Rupp. Frank McGuire reached out with his left hand, put it on Coach Bee’s shoulder, and said, “Now, now, Clair, just sit down and relax.” The Coach was seventy-five at the time. He wasn’t a big fan of Rupp’s to begin with. "
Start reading this book for free:https://a.co/gZCV8ht
Hi – I'm reading "Knight: My Story" by Bob Knight, Bob Hammel and wanted to share this quote with you.
"Coach Bee was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1967. That was my second year as a head coach. I felt honored: he asked me to take him to Springfield for the induction. I accepted, with a condition. At something like that, he had a tendency to drink too much—not often, but on occasion. I made him promise that if I drove, he wouldn’t have a drink there. At the dinner, the two of us sat with Harry Litwack, Frank McGuire, Adolph Rupp, and a couple of other guys, around a table. The waiter taking drink orders came to me first, and I said, “I’ll have a Coke, and so will he.” Coach Bee looked at me and snarled a little bit but he didn’t say anything. After a while, the waiter came back for a second round. Same thing: “I’ll have another Coke and so will he.” Rupp said, “Well, god-damn, Clair, are you gonna let that boy tell you whether you can drink or not?” The Coach rose out of his chair—I thought he was going over the table after Rupp. Frank McGuire reached out with his left hand, put it on Coach Bee’s shoulder, and said, “Now, now, Clair, just sit down and relax.” The Coach was seventy-five at the time. He wasn’t a big fan of Rupp’s to begin with. "
Start reading this book for free:https://a.co/gZCV8ht
[quote="Beast of the East" post=394255]Rupp was a disgusting redneck to begin with. I recalled this anecdote from Bobby Knight's book. Bobby listed 3 NY area coaches as his greatest influencers - Joe Lapchick, Clair Bee and one other that will come to me soon.
Hi – I'm reading "Knight: My Story" by Bob Knight, Bob Hammel and wanted to share this quote with you.
"Coach Bee was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1967. That was my second year as a head coach. I felt honored: he asked me to take him to Springfield for the induction. I accepted, with a condition. At something like that, he had a tendency to drink too much—not often, but on occasion. I made him promise that if I drove, he wouldn’t have a drink there. At the dinner, the two of us sat with Harry Litwack, Frank McGuire, Adolph Rupp, and a couple of other guys, around a table. The waiter taking drink orders came to me first, and I said, “I’ll have a Coke, and so will he.” Coach Bee looked at me and snarled a little bit but he didn’t say anything. After a while, the waiter came back for a second round. Same thing: “I’ll have another Coke and so will he.” Rupp said, “Well, god-damn, Clair, are you gonna let that boy tell you whether you can drink or not?” The Coach rose out of his chair—I thought he was going over the table after Rupp. Frank McGuire reached out with his left hand, put it on Coach Bee’s shoulder, and said, “Now, now, Clair, just sit down and relax.” The Coach was seventy-five at the time. He wasn’t a big fan of Rupp’s to begin with. "
Start reading this book for free:https://a.co/gZCV8ht[/quote]
Was the 3rd Red Sarachek or Nat Holman?
Hi – I'm reading "Knight: My Story" by Bob Knight, Bob Hammel and wanted to share this quote with you.
"Coach Bee was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1967. That was my second year as a head coach. I felt honored: he asked me to take him to Springfield for the induction. I accepted, with a condition. At something like that, he had a tendency to drink too much—not often, but on occasion. I made him promise that if I drove, he wouldn’t have a drink there. At the dinner, the two of us sat with Harry Litwack, Frank McGuire, Adolph Rupp, and a couple of other guys, around a table. The waiter taking drink orders came to me first, and I said, “I’ll have a Coke, and so will he.” Coach Bee looked at me and snarled a little bit but he didn’t say anything. After a while, the waiter came back for a second round. Same thing: “I’ll have another Coke and so will he.” Rupp said, “Well, god-damn, Clair, are you gonna let that boy tell you whether you can drink or not?” The Coach rose out of his chair—I thought he was going over the table after Rupp. Frank McGuire reached out with his left hand, put it on Coach Bee’s shoulder, and said, “Now, now, Clair, just sit down and relax.” The Coach was seventy-five at the time. He wasn’t a big fan of Rupp’s to begin with. "
Start reading this book for free:https://a.co/gZCV8ht[/quote]
Was the 3rd Red Sarachek or Nat Holman?
beast of the east
Active member
Rupp was a creep, and a racist, no question. I have no problem whatsoever for the public discrediting him for his racist attitude and behavior.
Here's what bothers me about the hypocritical nature of the shape of the BLM movements and protests.
This movement should not be about revisiting historical notions about race. It should be about the here and now.
How many of us if we were Kentucky fans in 1952 would have similar feelings to Rupp about African Americans being permitted to even attend all white colleges, no less compete in athletics?
How many of us, if raised on plantations powered by slavery, would have stood up and spoken out. How many of us if southern farmers would have tried to succeed without slaves?
How many of us were not really too happy when schools were desegregated in the 60s.
How many of us lived in places where there was an absence of minorities. How many of us fled or would have fled when those neighborhoods became racially diverse?
How many of us live in all white neighborhoods and are just fine with the fact that blacks are less welcome there than even asian or latino families? How many of the protesters are in the very same circumstance today and doing nothing to change that reality for themselves?
How many of us give a second glance at a bi racial couple or family. I know we have at least a few people on Redmen.com, and I imagine they can say better than I if they have ever felt that prolonged stare.
You see, to me, meaningful change isn't discrediting those who lived in the 1700s, perhaps even accomplishing incredibly good things, but who also had a legal and somewhat socially acceptable workforce that was slavery. Yes, we know with sensibilities we are all still working on that was abhorrent. But what is the point to tear down statues, rename colleges and edifices, change team names, all of which attempts sanctify ourselves as progressive evolved people, if we do not address the here and now that exists in the mirror.
It's so much easier to vilify all 675,000 law enforcement officers in the United States, to be more passive about assaults on some of them, even lethal force, burn down police stations, and attempt to defund them, than to address what is really wrong and how we feed into this.
Tens of millions of people, maybe hundreds of millions using social media are posting supportive comments about BLM, or blacking out an entire post as part of a movement. How many of those folks though, are willing to do the heavy lifting of self inspection, of taking actions that will provide a hand up, to be not only intolerant of abuses past and present, but to be a real agent of change?
Being an agent of change. That's the real solution as far as I see it. Not just to be outraged. Not just to be part of a movement. But to really examine first where "I" need to change, work on that, and find some holy volunteer work or other endeavor that will provide true equality, and not just look outwards and backwards to vilify and tear down. Outrage is fine. Jesus turned over a few tables in the Temple. But if we are truly going to move our society forward, we need to be agents of change, or progress, of support.
Here's what bothers me about the hypocritical nature of the shape of the BLM movements and protests.
This movement should not be about revisiting historical notions about race. It should be about the here and now.
How many of us if we were Kentucky fans in 1952 would have similar feelings to Rupp about African Americans being permitted to even attend all white colleges, no less compete in athletics?
How many of us, if raised on plantations powered by slavery, would have stood up and spoken out. How many of us if southern farmers would have tried to succeed without slaves?
How many of us were not really too happy when schools were desegregated in the 60s.
How many of us lived in places where there was an absence of minorities. How many of us fled or would have fled when those neighborhoods became racially diverse?
How many of us live in all white neighborhoods and are just fine with the fact that blacks are less welcome there than even asian or latino families? How many of the protesters are in the very same circumstance today and doing nothing to change that reality for themselves?
How many of us give a second glance at a bi racial couple or family. I know we have at least a few people on Redmen.com, and I imagine they can say better than I if they have ever felt that prolonged stare.
You see, to me, meaningful change isn't discrediting those who lived in the 1700s, perhaps even accomplishing incredibly good things, but who also had a legal and somewhat socially acceptable workforce that was slavery. Yes, we know with sensibilities we are all still working on that was abhorrent. But what is the point to tear down statues, rename colleges and edifices, change team names, all of which attempts sanctify ourselves as progressive evolved people, if we do not address the here and now that exists in the mirror.
It's so much easier to vilify all 675,000 law enforcement officers in the United States, to be more passive about assaults on some of them, even lethal force, burn down police stations, and attempt to defund them, than to address what is really wrong and how we feed into this.
Tens of millions of people, maybe hundreds of millions using social media are posting supportive comments about BLM, or blacking out an entire post as part of a movement. How many of those folks though, are willing to do the heavy lifting of self inspection, of taking actions that will provide a hand up, to be not only intolerant of abuses past and present, but to be a real agent of change?
Being an agent of change. That's the real solution as far as I see it. Not just to be outraged. Not just to be part of a movement. But to really examine first where "I" need to change, work on that, and find some holy volunteer work or other endeavor that will provide true equality, and not just look outwards and backwards to vilify and tear down. Outrage is fine. Jesus turned over a few tables in the Temple. But if we are truly going to move our society forward, we need to be agents of change, or progress, of support.
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beast of the east
Active member
[quote="SJU85" post=394273][quote="Beast of the East" post=394255]Rupp was a disgusting redneck to begin with. I recalled this anecdote from Bobby Knight's book. Bobby listed 3 NY area coaches as his greatest influencers - Joe Lapchick, Clair Bee and one other that will come to me soon.
Hi – I'm reading "Knight: My Story" by Bob Knight, Bob Hammel and wanted to share this quote with you.
"Coach Bee was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1967. That was my second year as a head coach. I felt honored: he asked me to take him to Springfield for the induction. I accepted, with a condition. At something like that, he had a tendency to drink too much—not often, but on occasion. I made him promise that if I drove, he wouldn’t have a drink there. At the dinner, the two of us sat with Harry Litwack, Frank McGuire, Adolph Rupp, and a couple of other guys, around a table. The waiter taking drink orders came to me first, and I said, “I’ll have a Coke, and so will he.” Coach Bee looked at me and snarled a little bit but he didn’t say anything. After a while, the waiter came back for a second round. Same thing: “I’ll have another Coke and so will he.” Rupp said, “Well, god-damn, Clair, are you gonna let that boy tell you whether you can drink or not?” The Coach rose out of his chair—I thought he was going over the table after Rupp. Frank McGuire reached out with his left hand, put it on Coach Bee’s shoulder, and said, “Now, now, Clair, just sit down and relax.” The Coach was seventy-five at the time. He wasn’t a big fan of Rupp’s to begin with. "
Start reading this book for free:https://a.co/gZCV8ht[/quote]
Was the 3rd Red Sarachek or Nat Holman?[/quote]
I'm going to guess Holman, but I can check.
Hi – I'm reading "Knight: My Story" by Bob Knight, Bob Hammel and wanted to share this quote with you.
"Coach Bee was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1967. That was my second year as a head coach. I felt honored: he asked me to take him to Springfield for the induction. I accepted, with a condition. At something like that, he had a tendency to drink too much—not often, but on occasion. I made him promise that if I drove, he wouldn’t have a drink there. At the dinner, the two of us sat with Harry Litwack, Frank McGuire, Adolph Rupp, and a couple of other guys, around a table. The waiter taking drink orders came to me first, and I said, “I’ll have a Coke, and so will he.” Coach Bee looked at me and snarled a little bit but he didn’t say anything. After a while, the waiter came back for a second round. Same thing: “I’ll have another Coke and so will he.” Rupp said, “Well, god-damn, Clair, are you gonna let that boy tell you whether you can drink or not?” The Coach rose out of his chair—I thought he was going over the table after Rupp. Frank McGuire reached out with his left hand, put it on Coach Bee’s shoulder, and said, “Now, now, Clair, just sit down and relax.” The Coach was seventy-five at the time. He wasn’t a big fan of Rupp’s to begin with. "
Start reading this book for free:https://a.co/gZCV8ht[/quote]
Was the 3rd Red Sarachek or Nat Holman?[/quote]
I'm going to guess Holman, but I can check.
beast of the east
Active member
[quote="redmannorth" post=394026]The Coach who told St. John’s he would not allow them to play on Kentuckys home court if the late great Solly Walker, May he Rest In Peace, came with the team to play against the Wildcats. What a piece of g......
his name should be stricken from the campus and all potential UK recruits should know the ugly history behind Rupp the man and coach.[/quote]
To our school's credit, we had the coach who told Rupp, that should Walker not be allowed to play, then neither would St. John's, and we would take the forfeit. Sometimes there are bigger wins than what the scoreboard shows, and Frank McGuire was that man who won big that day.
his name should be stricken from the campus and all potential UK recruits should know the ugly history behind Rupp the man and coach.[/quote]
To our school's credit, we had the coach who told Rupp, that should Walker not be allowed to play, then neither would St. John's, and we would take the forfeit. Sometimes there are bigger wins than what the scoreboard shows, and Frank McGuire was that man who won big that day.
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