Weiss -Golden Days of Holiday Festival are History
- Thread starter ctstorm
- Start date
The Garden was almost empty for the first game but Stony Brook fans outnumbered Rutgers fans by a large margin. Very disappointing turnout for Rutgers. There was a better (not great) crowd for the second game. It seemed like an even split between Johnny and Fordham fans. Many of the fans that were there for the first game had left, so the Garden was still rather empty.
I should point out that this game was scheduled for the day after the last day of finals. It was also move out day at St. John's, and students had to pack up and get out of the dorms. Hence the reason why there were so few students at the game. Terrible scheduling, in my opinion. I don't know if the school has any control over that but one would think that there would be better planning.
I should point out that this game was scheduled for the day after the last day of finals. It was also move out day at St. John's, and students had to pack up and get out of the dorms. Hence the reason why there were so few students at the game. Terrible scheduling, in my opinion. I don't know if the school has any control over that but one would think that there would be better planning.
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
Great article by Hoops.
Was at the game vs. IU. Sat in the next to the last row in blue heaven. Still one of the best games I have ever seen. MSG was as loud as it has ever been. Frankie Alagia, John Farmer, Beaver Smith, George Johnson...
Also remember a Billy Schaeffer team that beat South Carolina with Brian Winters and Kevin Joyce in the finals.
I was telling a nephew (who is in his 34 and a PC grad) that in it's prime, the Holiday Festival was a great event.
Now and then, MSG broadcasts the St. John's/ Michigan game. Many people think the final game was Princeton/Michigan, but of course we know better.
Maybe an all Metropolitan tournament is the solution.
Or perhaps, and I realize this will not be popular (because of the newest member of the ACC), inviting Syracuse, a team from the Big 10, and a squad from the SEC every year. A 4-some of St. John's, Orange, Indiana and UK would certainly fill up the world's most famous arena.
Merry Christmas to all !!!!!
Was at the game vs. IU. Sat in the next to the last row in blue heaven. Still one of the best games I have ever seen. MSG was as loud as it has ever been. Frankie Alagia, John Farmer, Beaver Smith, George Johnson...
Also remember a Billy Schaeffer team that beat South Carolina with Brian Winters and Kevin Joyce in the finals.
I was telling a nephew (who is in his 34 and a PC grad) that in it's prime, the Holiday Festival was a great event.
Now and then, MSG broadcasts the St. John's/ Michigan game. Many people think the final game was Princeton/Michigan, but of course we know better.
Maybe an all Metropolitan tournament is the solution.
Or perhaps, and I realize this will not be popular (because of the newest member of the ACC), inviting Syracuse, a team from the Big 10, and a squad from the SEC every year. A 4-some of St. John's, Orange, Indiana and UK would certainly fill up the world's most famous arena.
Merry Christmas to all !!!!!
buckethead
Well-known member
I could live with the last suggestion but I would NOT want 'cuse to benefit after walking out on the BE. A Big Apple Holdiday Festival the week before Christmas would be attractive to many teams...playing in the Garden and having it on National T.V. I would rather see them do an 8 team 3 day program. SJU, another BE team, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12 and at large invite. The at large slot could be used to welcome back the previous champion so that they could invite different representatives from each league every year. Do we get an unfair advantage. Yup. I think the league reps should each be the winners of their league from the previous season.
Will never happen but that would sell out the Garden.
Will never happen but that would sell out the Garden.
JackofVirginia
Active member
It's been a long time but I believe one of my favorite Holiday Festivals was the games between St.John's and Utah and La Salle (Gola ) and Cincinnati (Oscar Robertson). The afternoon game had Utah up by one with possession and seconds remaining on the clock. Gus Alfieri told the refs he lost his contact lense and began looking for it, hence timeout was called by the refs. Utah couldn't get the ball in bounds after five seconds. The Redmen threw the ball into Lou Roeschel (our center) who threw in a hook from the foul line. Result Redmen won by one point; Utah was furious. Truly one of our golden days.
In my opinion the Garden should expand, not reduce the number of teams in the Holiday Festival. It use to be 8 if my memory serves me right. First you get a couple of big name teams anticipating that they will be ranked high. Add a few of the local schools including st johns. You get teams to come by not scheduling so many Garden games for them in Nove and early Dec. How many games has Duke played in the Garden this year.? I believe it is two if not three already. You need to promote the Festival with a carrot. Come this year to the Festival and we (the garden) can schedule next year for a game in late Nov or early Dec. There are enough college teams out there that could fit a nyc trip into the schedule around Christmas and make it to the Garden. Both in the elite and mid major divisions. Also inviting one or more of the future football only BE schools would be a nice additions
tom in salem
Well-known member
Actually it used to be 16 teams.
tom in salem
Well-known member
I'm just a lot older than you.
redmen1969
Active member
Thanks for that, TIS. I didn't know there was 16 teams at one time.. I remember eight with a triple header on the last night -- I'd say that was 1966 or so. I think the Michigan game was in '65. When did they stop inviting 16 teams? -- that must have been awesome!
tom in salem
Well-known member
Can't find anything on line about the older tournaments.
I may well be wrong about a 16 team tournament.
westchesterjoe
Active member
I think when it was 10 teams, during the golden era, it was commonplace to have top 25 ranked teams among the participants. It wasn't uncommon to see Kentucky, NC, Kansas,UCLA, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State,etc along with the Redmen, Providence,BC,ETC
It was a special tourney and the tripleheaders were great.. The BE tourney has tried to capture that character with the 4 games in 1 day format.. Great players back then were not one and done like today.. Oscar Robertson was the top player for 3 years and everyone knew the BIG O..
Today, no one remembers who played for Kentucky 2 years ago.. More tellingly, who cares that John Wall, Dwight Cousins played for the Wildcats, except Calipari and maybe, their Mommas. That's what the nba has done to college BB..
Today many NBA players are faceless, nameless clones of each other. A lament shared years ago by the PGA tour
until Tiger arrived.
I find the NBA nearly unwatchable and, have no interest until the playoffs.
It was a special tourney and the tripleheaders were great.. The BE tourney has tried to capture that character with the 4 games in 1 day format.. Great players back then were not one and done like today.. Oscar Robertson was the top player for 3 years and everyone knew the BIG O..
Today, no one remembers who played for Kentucky 2 years ago.. More tellingly, who cares that John Wall, Dwight Cousins played for the Wildcats, except Calipari and maybe, their Mommas. That's what the nba has done to college BB..
Today many NBA players are faceless, nameless clones of each other. A lament shared years ago by the PGA tour
until Tiger arrived.
I find the NBA nearly unwatchable and, have no interest until the playoffs.
joseph albanese
Member
to jackofvirginia--yes it is my second best game at the garden--and the win over uconn last season ranks number 3 and the win over uconn to win the big east title is number one-- and the look on the faces of the uconn obnoxious dirt bags fans was priceless.