Kudos to the Great Jersey Shore Johnny

A wonderful guy and great St. John's fan. I look forward to seeing him at the Joe Lapchick statue dedication this coming Saturday!
 
I was at the kickoff dinner to the fundraising event some years back. A- list attendees included Walt Frazier, earl Monroe, John Starks, satch sanders. Gene Keady chatted with Frazier at the cocktail hour and told Walt that he knew his college coach at southern Illinois. Richard lapchick spoke about his legendary dad, as much about Joe's role in breaking the color barrier in basketball as his success on the hardwoods.

Kevin deserves a ton of credit for seeing this project through. I can tell you though that this project pales in comparison to the quiet way he has helped many kids over the years.
 
I, too, look forward to meeting Kevin (as well as other posters) at tomorrow's ceremony. I'd been bitching for years about the university's failure to honor Coach Lapchick with a statue, so I couldn't have been happier when Kevin took the bull by the horns and got the ball rolling.

Question: For the first time since I was a frosh (which was Coach's final year) I'll be taking public transportation to St. John's (albeit this time from Manhattan, not the Bronx). Can someone advise me if I'd better off taking the E or F train?

Again, eagerly looking forward to tomorrow's unveiling.

 
Redken, you can take either the E or F and get off at Kew Gardens/Union Tpke. From there you best bet is to take the Q46 bus down Union Tpke and it will leave you right behind Taffner & Carnesecca. Another option is a quick Uber or cab ride when you get off the train.
 
I saw the statue when I stopped by campus today. It is very impressive and done in a tasteful manner. At the base is a picture of Coach Lapchick with I believe Tony Jackson. Much respect for Jersey Shore Johnny. Was fortunate to have had dinner with him earlier this year. He is an outstanding gentleman who is also involved with Catholic High Schools in New York City.
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The man who made it all happen, JSJ, & Lapchick family members

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A wonderful -- albeit long-overdue -- event. As the title of this thread reads, kudos to Kevin Reed, whom I finally had the pleasure of meeting today. Great job, Kevin!

Had a terrific time chatting with former Johnnies, especially two of my favorites from Coach Lapchick's final season (my freshman year) -- Bob McIntyre and Jerry Houston -- a team that beat Cazzie Russell's #1 Michigan squad in the then-huge Holiday Festival and closed the Lapchick Era with an NIT title, beating Villanova. That team -- which included Kenny McIntyre and the great Sonny Dove -- holds a special place in my memories and in my heart ... so to talk and reminisce with Bob and Jerry (who couldn't have been nicer) was something special.

Great to know Coach Lapchick finally has this beautiful tribute to him on campus.
 
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