Prayers for Tom Konchalski
- Thread starter jerseyshorejohnny
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beast of the east
Active member
This is all amazing stuff, and basketball was honored and enriched to have Tom dedicating his life to it.
I am certain I was in the same places at the same times but never met him personally.
Listening to him speak, I've never heard someone quite so eloquently describe his own role as a ministry and an expression of his faith. Amateur athletics certainly has many pariahs and it is gratifying to know that Tom was not one of them and lived his life humbly and gracefully, and in service of the hundreds of thousands of kids and their families who pursued athletic scholarships in basketball. Despite the odds, for many it was the only way to secure a fully paid college education playing basketball.
I did work every minute of the 1977 US Open Tennis tournament as a student employed by Burns security. Tom may have been bullied by McEntroe that year, but I was in the locker room when a 17 year old McEnroe tried the same against Frank Hammond, a surly referee. Hammond got out of his chair and with rage in his eyes, started walking towards McEnroe, who ran for cover. "What are we doing now, hiring thugs to umpire games?", McEnroe, in full brat form, said afterwards. My introduction to him was at the 1976 US Open threatened to piss on my leg if I didn't let him use the player's only locker room restroom where I worked as a security guard. I let him in.
Thanks for sharing his induction speech at St. Thomas Aquinas College, where SJU alum and friend of mine, Dennis O'Donnell coached mens basketball for over 20 seasons. Brilliant speech and not a word from prepared notes. Thanks to Zags for a terrific tribute to Tom.
I wished I had shaken that hand.
I am certain I was in the same places at the same times but never met him personally.
Listening to him speak, I've never heard someone quite so eloquently describe his own role as a ministry and an expression of his faith. Amateur athletics certainly has many pariahs and it is gratifying to know that Tom was not one of them and lived his life humbly and gracefully, and in service of the hundreds of thousands of kids and their families who pursued athletic scholarships in basketball. Despite the odds, for many it was the only way to secure a fully paid college education playing basketball.
I did work every minute of the 1977 US Open Tennis tournament as a student employed by Burns security. Tom may have been bullied by McEntroe that year, but I was in the locker room when a 17 year old McEnroe tried the same against Frank Hammond, a surly referee. Hammond got out of his chair and with rage in his eyes, started walking towards McEnroe, who ran for cover. "What are we doing now, hiring thugs to umpire games?", McEnroe, in full brat form, said afterwards. My introduction to him was at the 1976 US Open threatened to piss on my leg if I didn't let him use the player's only locker room restroom where I worked as a security guard. I let him in.
Thanks for sharing his induction speech at St. Thomas Aquinas College, where SJU alum and friend of mine, Dennis O'Donnell coached mens basketball for over 20 seasons. Brilliant speech and not a word from prepared notes. Thanks to Zags for a terrific tribute to Tom.
I wished I had shaken that hand.
fan since 65
Well-known member
Tom grew up on the same street in Elmhurst (55th Avenue) as my wife did before we were married and he also lived in Forest Hills where we live now. Would see him on Queens Boulevard every so often, and also at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. And interestingly enough, legendary ref Mickey Crowley lived on 55th Avenue also.
Nice touch at yesterday's Fordham - Saint Louis game.
[URL][URL]https://www.instagram.com/p/CLPSDEmswBx/?utm_source[/URL]=ig_embed[/url]
[URL][URL]https://www.instagram.com/p/CLPSDEmswBx/?utm_source[/URL]=ig_embed[/url]
Coaster1955
Member
And still no article/feature on Mr. Konchalski in the NYTimes. Kinda' telling.
The obits desk at the Times is one of the busiest journalism entYou enterprises in the world. You'll see obits weeks sometimes after someone dies.
And it's silly to prescribe any ulterior motives.
The Times published two of the best Tom K profiles ever:
[URL][URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2...open-tom-konchalski.html?searchResultPosition[/URL]=1[/url]
[URL][URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2...he-court-as-a-scout.html?searchResultPosition[/URL]=2[/url]
And it's silly to prescribe any ulterior motives.
The Times published two of the best Tom K profiles ever:
[URL][URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2...open-tom-konchalski.html?searchResultPosition[/URL]=1[/url]
[URL][URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2...he-court-as-a-scout.html?searchResultPosition[/URL]=2[/url]
I can see George Vescey coming out of retirement to write a piece on Tom in the NYT.
beast of the east
Active member
I also believe it was the Time who wrote about Tom's 10 years as an umpire at the US Open.MainMan" post=419506 said:
Coaster1955
Member
Moose" post=419494 said:
Coaster1955
Member
L J S A" post=419609 said:
Coaster1955
Member
Finally recognizing greatness.
[URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/21/obituaries/tom-konchalski-dead.html[/URL]
[URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/21/obituaries/tom-konchalski-dead.html[/URL]
Moose
Well-known member
