Lapchick statue initiative

Are any of you planning to attend this event?

JSJ is working very hard on this event. Should be a great evening
Click to expand...

I would have gone but we are going to the last weekend of Jazzfest and will be in New Orleans that week
Click to expand...

I was just in New Orleans a few weeks ago, and Jazzfest is on my bucket list for sure. I had just asked Kevin today if you were going to attend. I have a conflict myself, but am trying to work it out. I reserved anyways, though.

Have fun. I'm a little jealous. I love NOLA, especially the French Quarter. If you have a car, try Elizabeths, a really great local restaurant just outside of town.
 
Are any of you planning to attend this event?

JSJ is working very hard on this event. Should be a great evening
Click to expand...

I would have gone but we are going to the last weekend of Jazzfest and will be in New Orleans that week
Click to expand...

I was just in New Orleans a few weeks ago, and Jazzfest is on my bucket list for sure. I had just asked Kevin today if you were going to attend. I have a conflict myself, but am trying to work it out. I reserved anyways, though.

Have fun. I'm a little jealous. I love NOLA, especially the French Quarter. If you have a car, try Elizabeths, a really great local restaurant just outside of town.
Click to expand...
We did Jazzfest 2 years ago and had the best time. We are staying in the french quarter. Once you get off the bourbon street madness it's so nice walking around there.

I'll make you a copy of a cd from an awesome jazz band we came across last time at jazzfest who were ironically not playing at the fest but we caught them playing on the street just off bourbon. I'll give it to you next time I see you

LOVE the Roasted Oysters at Felix's across the street from Acme Oyster House. Best I've ever had

Havent decided if we are doing a car yet ( we did last time but the whole parking thing is such a big pain in the butt ) but if we do we will definitely try your restaurant suggestion
 
Are any of you planning to attend this event?

JSJ is working very hard on this event. Should be a great evening
Click to expand...

I would have gone but we are going to the last weekend of Jazzfest and will be in New Orleans that week
Click to expand...

I was just in New Orleans a few weeks ago, and Jazzfest is on my bucket list for sure. I had just asked Kevin today if you were going to attend. I have a conflict myself, but am trying to work it out. I reserved anyways, though.

Have fun. I'm a little jealous. I love NOLA, especially the French Quarter. If you have a car, try Elizabeths, a really great local restaurant just outside of town.
Click to expand...
We did Jazzfest 2 years ago and had the best time. We are staying in the french quarter. Once you get off the bourbon street madness it's so nice walking around there.

I'll make you a copy of a cd from an awesome jazz band we came across last time at jazzfest who were ironically not playing at the fest but we caught them playing on the street just off bourbon. I'll give it to you next time I see you

LOVE the Roasted Oysters at Felix's across the street from Acme Oyster House. Best I've ever had

Havent decided if we are doing a car yet ( we did last time but the whole parking thing is such a big pain in the butt ) but if we do we will definitely try your restaurant suggestion
Click to expand...

I've been to NOLA about a dozen times so far. Last month, hotels were so booked we had to stayed in the Quarter on North Rampart, across from Louis Armstrong Park. Be very careful. The side streets jsut steps from Bourbon can be the most dangerous for tourists late at night, as gun toting criminals are known to ambush tourists by lurking in recessed doorways or with drivebys. Sounds overly extreme, but on this past trip I met a guy who had been robbed at gunpoint on his previous visit to the Quarter.

Thanks for the offer of the CD. Have a great time - it's one of my favorite cities in the US.
 
Just a quick reminder for all those attending this Thursday's Coach Lapchick event at The 21 Club:

Cocktails start at 6pm, dinner follows at 7:30pm.

Jackets and ties are required.

Thanks in advance for your out-sized generosity, time and consideration.

It is greatly, greatly appreciated !!!!!
 
IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!!

Coach John Thompson Jr. will be unable to attend our event on Thursday. May 9, due to a death in his extended family. We are certainly sorry for his loss.

That said, we are delighted to announce that former Knicks: Bernard King, Walt "Clyde" Frazier and John Starks will be at our event.

We still have some openings if you have an interest.
 
IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!!

Coach John Thompson Jr. will be unable to attend our event on Thursday. May 9, due to a death in his extended family. We are certainly sorry for his loss.

That said, we are delighted to announce that former Knicks: Bernard King, Walt "Clyde" Frazier and John Starks will be at our event.

We still have some openings if you have an interest.
Click to expand...

I am able to go after all. Anyone else here going to be there?
 
Here is an article from last night's event. It was great to finally meet some fellow Redmen.comers. Great job by all those involved in putting the event together.

http://www.rumbleinthegarden.com/st...chick-statue-st-johns-campus-carnesecca-arena
Click to expand...

Thanks for the article. I regret that I couldn't make last night's event, but it's great to see the movement to honor Coach Lapchick with an on-campus statue getting traction and some attention. Here's hoping the momentum and media attention will continue to build. And, I've stated in earlier posts, special thanks to JSJ for his role in getting the ball rolling on this long-overdue tribute to a great man who was the face of St. John's basketball for so long. I eagerly look forward to the statue's unveiling in the not-too-distant future.
 
Here is an article from last night's event. It was great to finally meet some fellow Redmen.comers. Great job by all those involved in putting the event together.

http://www.rumbleinthegarden.com/st...chick-statue-st-johns-campus-carnesecca-arena
Click to expand...

The article missed that Satch Sanders, of Manhattan, NYU (I believe), and the great Celtic Championship teams, as well as Rory Sparrow (Knicks) were also in attendance.

I also noticed John Farmer (SJU circa 1976) at the event. Lou Roethel and Jerry Houston, who both played at SJU for Lapchick, were also there.

It was a great event, which I do not believed would have happened without the inertia and considerable efforts of JSJ.

Redmen.com was well represented. Good to see and meet you all.
 
Hopefully I am not opening up a can of worms, but does anyone know why the University has not acknowledged the event from last week on either the athletic site or the university site? It would seem that doing so would provide greater awareness for us to reach our goal. Is Monasch not in favor of this? He was at the event but he did not speak and as someone pointed out to me, he sat in the back looking like a "beaten man".
 
Hopefully I am not opening up a can of worms, but does anyone know why the University has not acknowledged the event from last week on either the athletic site or the university site? It would seem that doing so would provide greater awareness for us to reach our goal. Is Monasch not in favor of this? He was at the event but he did not speak and as someone pointed out to me, he sat in the back looking like a "beaten man".
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing, NYCRedmen. Seems that with enough publicity raising the necessasry funds for the statue would be a lot less difficult. Hope I didn't step on anyone's toes, but yesterday I emailed the editor of the alumni quarterly magazine, bringing this movement to her attention, including the link for the web piece that covered last week's dinner. I also emailed a couple of local sportswriters as well as the sports desk at New York 1. Haven't heard back from anyone so far, but you never know. But like you, I don't understand why the university isn't doing more ... including making a hefty contribution.
 
Hopefully I am not opening up a can of worms, but does anyone know why the University has not acknowledged the event from last week on either the athletic site or the university site? It would seem that doing so would provide greater awareness for us to reach our goal. Is Monasch not in favor of this? He was at the event but he did not speak and as someone pointed out to me, he sat in the back looking like a "beaten man".
Click to expand...

I don't understand why the university isn't doing more ... including making a hefty contribution.
Click to expand...

Universities TAKE contributions, they don't MAKE them. That being said, I thought Lavin would have added a few words about being the latest in a lineage of great coaches at St. John's, or that Monasch would have introduced Jack Kaiser as someone who left him a great legacy. Lou Carnesecca who was schooled by Lapchick wasn't there either. I will say that with Walt Fraizer, Earl Monroe, John Starks, Kiki Vandeweghe, Rory Sparrow, and Satch Sanders, the NBA and especially the Knicks were well represented. I understand Mel Davis did a terrific job lining up Knicks once John Thompson cancelled due to a family issues, but Mel also wasn't present. Bill Schaeffer was, though.

All in all a great event, and JSJ is really the torchbearer on this.
 
Sorry I missed you there Beast. Would have enjoyed meeting you! I had a wonderful time and again, I would like to express my deep thanks and regards to Jersey Shore Johnny, who did a sensational job putting the event together. Rich Lapchick and I have been buddies since elementary school, and for me, seeing him, his sister Barbara, and daughter Emily, was terrific. Rich lives in Florida for years now, so we only get to see one another on occasions. Rich delivered the keynote speech at the event and it was moving and loaded with the kind of stories that only a son could tell about his father. Coach Carnesecca wasn't there because he is having a difficult bout with sciatica. Mel Davis recently had leg surgery, so he was also unable to attend. Get well soon, Mel. Anyway, Jersey Shore Johnny....the man behind this initiative also spoke at the event. He clarified that this statue will coast in the area of $ 120,000...and that we are currently about half way there. So if anyone feels like erecting this tribute to the great Joe Lapchick is the right thing to do...please ante up. We still have a ways to go and this is a very worthwhile cause and long overdue! I can't imagine any real fan of our program ignoring this responsibility!
 
Well said DocButler. Not sure if it was mentioned already but it was great seeing Ray Lump there, one of the original Knicks who I think played for Lapchick.
 
Sorry I missed you there Beast. Would have enjoyed meeting you! I had a wonderful time and again, I would like to express my deep thanks and regards to Jersey Shore Johnny, who did a sensational job putting the event together. Rich Lapchick and I have been buddies since elementary school, and for me, seeing him, his sister Barbara, and daughter Emily, was terrific. Rich lives in Florida for years now, so we only get to see one another on occasions. Rich delivered the keynote speech at the event and it was moving and loaded with the kind of stories that only a son could tell about his father. Coach Carnesecca wasn't there because he is having a difficult bout with sciatica. Mel Davis recently had leg surgery, so he was also unable to attend. Get well soon, Mel. Anyway, Jersey Shore Johnny....the man behind this initiative also spoke at the event. He clarified that this statue will coast in the area of $ 120,000...and that we are currently about half way there. So if anyone feels like erecting this tribute to the great Joe Lapchick is the right thing to do...please ante up. We still have a ways to go and this is a very worthwhile cause and long overdue! I can't imagine any real fan of our program ignoring this responsibility!
Click to expand...

Doc, I did see you there. Kevin Barry had pointed you out to me once before. I remember you have a strong relationship with Richard Lapchick. I know Richard is passionate about the issues of racism, and about his father's role in combatting racism in sports. I think it was a revelation to the former NBA players present that Coach Lapchick had an impact in breaking down the barriers that almost comically kept black players out of the league early on. I thought Gus Alfieri did a really nice job speaking with a ton of humility ("I'm a nobody", he repeated several times). After hearing all the speakers, I realized that the former Knicks were there because Lapchick ranks right up there with Holzman (and maybe above Holzman) as among the greatest Knicks coach ever. It made me proud to think that we had a coach whose stature was so great (yet almost forgotten in history).

I will make it a point to say hello the next time I see you at an event.
 
Hopefully I am not opening up a can of worms, but does anyone know why the University has not acknowledged the event from last week on either the athletic site or the university site? It would seem that doing so would provide greater awareness for us to reach our goal. Is Monasch not in favor of this? He was at the event but he did not speak and as someone pointed out to me, he sat in the back looking like a "beaten man".
Click to expand...

Too much sun? LOL.
 
I don't imagine there is any issue at all with the Athletic Dept or the University regarding the statue. I happened to run into Chris Monasch at the Big East Baseball Championships last month and asked him about the Coach Lapchick statue and how I could play a role. He enthusiastically directed me to Kevin, whom he said was in charge of the project from the University, and who was regularly in touch with Gus. No problem what-so-ever.
My donation this year will be directed partially to the memorial statue.
Coach Lapchick and I got along well in the late 50's; everyone got along with the Coach. He was a celebrity but, as a student, I didn't really know that. I suspect he didn't even accept that either. He really a main player in putting the University on the national sports map. He was also one of the most plain speaking, practical men I have ever met. He wasn't at all flashy; he was direct and not complex. You asked a question and got an answer that taught you something. Sometimes the lesson was not to ask stupid questions. He was really a giant in the NYC sports world.
Back to the beginning.....no problems with the athletic director at all.
 
this is great and i hope the statue is put in place. most of the students know who looie is but unfortunately they forgot coach lapchick played a huge role in the basketball program.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top