Like many Queens kids in an era of one car households, when your big brother gets his license and his own car, it opens up a world of opportunities for you.
In my case, the only basketball I really knew as a young teenager was the NBA and the Knicks. St. John's? Sometimes on television, not often, but I kind of knew it was somewhat big time.
My brother asked if I wanted to go to a game, and I thought that was great, venturing out a whole 6 or 7 miles by car to the Jamaica campus to see St. John's battle Army. I still remember exactly where we sat, in the upper level on the Grand Central Pkway side of the arena.
Army in those days had a few talented players, and if I'm not mistaken at least one forward who was a tackle on the football team who was a monster.
It was my first college game, and I loved every minute. We lost on a very late turnover by our point guard, and I remember commenting to my brother about how his career would be over. (It wasn't of course).
I saw 3 Hall of fame coaches that day on the court who have totalled almost 2500 wins, and had no idea that it would never be seen again.
Even more importantly, I had no clue that just a few short years later I'd be a student at this great school, something I wouldn't have dreamed of as a high school kid.