St. John's HOF new inductees - let's discuss
- Thread starter Beasts of the East
- Start date
Yeah, I realized after my post(after a few cocktails) that my non-comment was actually a comment, I decided to leave it anyways because I like to rattle the cage on occasion lol
Not to
Proceeds from the Wheelchair Classic Proceeds went to supporting those who are disabled and wheelchair-bound. All players were required to visit Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island to visit the disabled residents there.
Not to move to far off the topic but this reminded me of other High School All-Star games in the area which included the Wheelchair Tournament which was a two day tournament among teams from Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan (I forgot which borough Staten Island was teamed up with), the Newsday Long Island Classic (I might have the name wrong) which pitted NYC vs Nassau/Suffolk (the 1984 game was the first time I saw Shelton Jones and Matt Burst play).And he is a former graduate, as am I, of the esteemed Mater Christi Diocesan HS in Astoria, now St. John's Prep of course,
Some interesting names here:
Private Schools Win Star Game (Published 1975)
Team of RC and private school basketball all-stars defeats squad from NYC pub schools, 84-83, in City Game benefiting Sports Foundation's Harlem Jr Olympics program, citywide summer program of competition in 10 sports (S)www.nytimes.com
Proceeds from the Wheelchair Classic Proceeds went to supporting those who are disabled and wheelchair-bound. All players were required to visit Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island to visit the disabled residents there.
I am SJP 1988.
Hey,And he is a former graduate, as am I, of the esteemed Mater Christi Diocesan HS in Astoria, now St. John's Prep of course,
Some interesting names here:
Private Schools Win Star Game (Published 1975)
Team of RC and private school basketball all-stars defeats squad from NYC pub schools, 84-83, in City Game benefiting Sports Foundation's Harlem Jr Olympics program, citywide summer program of competition in 10 sports (S)
Always great to see you. Was Rencher (ND) a teammate of Vern Fleming (UGA)?
The top floor of the high school which was the residence for clergy became the home of the Brooklyn Cursillo Center for Christian Renewal, which had weekends for hs and college students, adult men and women, even cops and recovery weekends. Great place, which the Cursillo occupied after leaving 484 Humboldt St.
fan since 65
Well-known member
Rencher overlapped my years there; he graduated in 1975, me 1972. Fleming (who was on the team that beat us in 1983, Sweet Sixteen in Syracuse, horrible, I was there) graduated in 1980. Red Bruin was a teammate of Fleming as well as Tiny Smith and Dwayne Johnson. All coached by the legendary Jim Gatto. And the next MC connection is Taliek Brown, another St. John's Prep grad.
The top floor at MC was forbidden territory for us. It was the site of the non-existent pool at freshmen were told about.
And finally, I will leave this with no comment:
'Before there was a Mater Christi. the Rivercrest Sanitarium operated on what would become the school grounds. The old entrance ramp to Rivercrest is still in place on Ditmars Blvd.
River Crest Sanitarium was a New York State licensed mental hospital River Crest was founded in 1896 by U.S. Rep. John J. Kindred, a Virginia native who moved to Queens and was elected to the House of Representatives, serving from 1911ā13 and 1921-29.'
Rencher graduated in 1980. He was drafted by the Bulls in the 5th round of the NBA draft in 1980.
Terrific recollection and history lesson. Thanks!
fan since 65
Well-known member
Correct, from SJU. I was talking about our time at MC. After transferring from ND, he had to sit out a year, so graduation from SJU was 1980, not 1979 if he didn't transfer.
In this day and age, I donāt see that list changing anytime soon.
Got it.
Tickets On Sale for St. Johnās Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - St. John's University Athletics
Tickets are on sale for the 2023 St. John's Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will be held Saturday, October 28, inside the D'Angelo Center on...
Al Maguire once said of Bernard Rencher " he can take you to the final 4 or take you out of the final 4 " .Rencher formed an impressive backcourt with Reggie Carter after they both transferred in together and in the '79-'80 season led the Redmen to the second round of the NCAA tournament. I liked him as a player but it is interesting that he is going into the SJU hall of fame but in the last media guide he is not listed among the Great Names in SJU History. Guess in the next media guide they will have a chance to correct that
The induction event is Saturday October 28th 7pm in D'Angelo Hall. Always a classy event with a cocktail hour before inductions and a chance to chat with coaches and current/former inductees and others. Definitely a worthwhile ticket where SJU Athletics shines.
How many TDs did you score at Polk High? We know you never scored 3 in one game because Al Bundy holds that record.
Last night was an exceptional
evening where 8 former student athletes were inducted into our Athletic Hall of Fame. This is always a special night where the university sparkles, not only because of our rich tradition in athletics but because its clear that the university transforms the lives of young men and women who have graduated from St. Johns.
Each induction speech was great.
Craig Hansen spoke of the perseverance he learned through baseball, and the painful failures he endured as a young athlete, getting cut from teams he tried out for and working his way into a prominent role in out pitching rotation. He quoted Vince Lombardi, who said, "The only place success comes before work is the dictionary." He gave SJU coaches credit for his personal and professional growth, including a recentlt deceased teammate (Bavaro?) who together pushed each other to work harder.
Boo Harvey was also great, speaking not only of his basketball success here but of his academic struggles. He credited Bernard Rencher, another inductee, who as academic advisor, kept him from giving up and getting back on track scholastically . He became the first in his family to graduate college. His wife of 40 years was beaming, as were his kids, and he gave both his great thanks for their love and support shaping him.
Much more to share but will stop here for now. Below: Gus Alfieri, Rencher, Harvey.
evening where 8 former student athletes were inducted into our Athletic Hall of Fame. This is always a special night where the university sparkles, not only because of our rich tradition in athletics but because its clear that the university transforms the lives of young men and women who have graduated from St. Johns.Each induction speech was great.
Craig Hansen spoke of the perseverance he learned through baseball, and the painful failures he endured as a young athlete, getting cut from teams he tried out for and working his way into a prominent role in out pitching rotation. He quoted Vince Lombardi, who said, "The only place success comes before work is the dictionary." He gave SJU coaches credit for his personal and professional growth, including a recentlt deceased teammate (Bavaro?) who together pushed each other to work harder.
Boo Harvey was also great, speaking not only of his basketball success here but of his academic struggles. He credited Bernard Rencher, another inductee, who as academic advisor, kept him from giving up and getting back on track scholastically . He became the first in his family to graduate college. His wife of 40 years was beaming, as were his kids, and he gave both his great thanks for their love and support shaping him.
Much more to share but will stop here for now. Below: Gus Alfieri, Rencher, Harvey.
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Ben Hickey was also superb. A key member of our 1996 NCAA Championship Soccer team, he spoke of arriving on campus from the UK, alone with $500 in his pocket his parents had given him, wondering if he made a huge mistake foregoing an opportunity to play professionally back home.
Instead, powerfully he spoke of how St. John's changed his life. He spoke of the richness of diversity, rattling off a list of countries around the world his teammates hailed from and how each shared experience made them a stronger team with tighter bonds. 27 years later a number of his teammates were at his induction.
He implored the audience to dream it, believe it, and achieve it as Coach Mazur instilled in one of our greatest teams ever.
Instead, powerfully he spoke of how St. John's changed his life. He spoke of the richness of diversity, rattling off a list of countries around the world his teammates hailed from and how each shared experience made them a stronger team with tighter bonds. 27 years later a number of his teammates were at his induction.
He implored the audience to dream it, believe it, and achieve it as Coach Mazur instilled in one of our greatest teams ever.