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Post by Rogobob77 on May 11, 2022 6:35:06 GMT -5
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Post by Commissioner on May 11, 2022 7:26:48 GMT -5
From "100 Great Titan Wins" thread: That was Lanier's junior season. The year before, 5th ranked St. Bonaventure beat the Titans 103-74 in Olean; in 1970 (Lanier's senior year) back in Olean, the #20 Bonnies whipped our post-Spencer team 97-68 (Frank Russell led the Titans with 19 points).
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Post by ptctitan on May 11, 2022 7:57:48 GMT -5
Way back in the previous century when Lanier was on the Pistons, I was playing golf at the old Redford Golf Course, a city of Detroit muni at 7 Mile and Berg Roads. Ahead of my group on the course was a group of 4 golfers. One was a very tall left-handed player in all red - even his huge shoes. It turned out to be Bob Lanier with Don Adams and two other friends.
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Post by titansforever on May 11, 2022 9:09:42 GMT -5
Bennett High School in Buffalo. He wanted to go to Canisius (just down Main Street from Bennett) but they didn't think he'd handle it academically and would not admit him, so he chose St. Bonaventure and did just fine.
I always wonder what would have happened had he decided to play at Niagara, where he would have been teammates with Calvin Murphy. They had some epic battles, Murphy even jumped center against Lanier once; Little Three basketball drew huge crowds to the Aud in that era. Had he gone to Canisius he would have played with Tony Masiello, a pretty darn good player and the future mayor of Buffalo.
I truly believe St. Bonaventure would have won the 1970 NCAA championship had Lanier not been injured by an out-of-control Chris Ford in the regional finals. With Lanier's range and mobility, Artis Gilmore would not have been able to guard him in the semifinals and Bonas had the guards to break UCLA's press had they met in the finals.
He tried to come back too soon after that knee injury, I think he was playing by October or November, obviously the Pistons paid a lot of money for him and wanted him on the court ASAP. Another guy (like Mantle) whose career arc might have changed dramatically with modern-day surgery and rehab, instead of the Civil War-surgery (by comparison) available in their eras.
My great aunt worked at the cafeteria at St. Bona's and said he was the nicest guy in the world. RIP. He was truly an athletic giant and a hero if you grew up a sports fan in WNY in the late 1960s-early 1970s, as I did.
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Post by Rogobob77 on May 11, 2022 10:27:55 GMT -5
From Dick Vitale:
“At about 1:30 am I received a call from Howie Schwab notifying me that a dear friend BOB LANIER had passed. I was so saddened to hear that as Bob & had a fantastic relationship both personally & professionally. For a number of years we had a basketball camp together for youngsters between the ages of 10-18 which we held in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The camp was called the BOB LANIER - DICK VITALE ALL STAR CAMP. Also though only for a short time I had the opportunity to coach Bob with the Detroit Pistons in the late 70’s. He was a super talent and that was obvious by his induction in 1992 into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a super Solid Gold All American at St Bonaventure University as he led them to the Final 4.
“Despite the many knee injuries in his career he was super successful when healthy. Unfortunately for me as a coach he missed about 35 games my 1st year due to knee problems and it hurt us big time.
“My last time with Bob was several years ago when he spent a weekend at my house and attended my Gala. We had so much fun as he had a great sense of humor & I always teased him that he was a gentle giant. After his playing career he was hired by David Stern to be an Ambassador for the NBA and traveled all over the world promoting the NBA while inspiring & motivating young people to get an education.
“I will miss him but never ever forget the great memories we shared together over the years.
“My heart & prayers go out to his family , friends & teammates . Please GOD let BOB RIP — Loved YOU GENTLE GIANT!”
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Post by motorcitysam on May 11, 2022 13:09:12 GMT -5
Bennett High School in Buffalo. He wanted to go to Canisius (just down Main Street from Bennett) but they didn't think he'd handle it academically and would not admit him, so he chose St. Bonaventure and did just fine. I always wonder what would have happened had he decided to play at Niagara, where he would have been teammates with Calvin Murphy. They had some epic battles, Murphy even jumped center against Lanier once; Little Three basketball drew huge crowds to the Aud in that era. Had he gone to Canisius he would have played with Tony Masiello, a pretty darn good player and the future mayor of Buffalo. I truly believe St. Bonaventure would have won the 1970 NCAA championship had Lanier not been injured by an out-of-control Chris Ford in the regional finals. With Lanier's range and mobility, Artis Gilmore would not have been able to guard him in the semifinals and Bonas had the guards to break UCLA's press had they met in the finals. He tried to come back too soon after that knee injury, I think he was playing by October or November, obviously the Pistons paid a lot of money for him and wanted him on the court ASAP. Another guy (like Mantle) whose career arc might have changed dramatically with modern-day surgery and rehab, instead of the Civil War-surgery (by comparison) available in their eras. My great aunt worked at the cafeteria at St. Bona's and said he was the nicest guy in the world. RIP. He was truly an athletic giant and a hero if you grew up a sports fan in WNY in the late 1960s-early 1970s, as I did. Thanks for sharing that. Lanier was one of my sports heroes.
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Post by Bernard Buxton on May 11, 2022 21:03:59 GMT -5
My favorite Piston. I remember going to see play against the Bulls in the old Chicago Stadium. They beat the Norm Van Lear, Jerry Sloan Bulls that night. Which made me feel a little better after a Lions 5 to 0 loss to the Cowboys.
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Post by motorcitysam on May 13, 2022 0:23:20 GMT -5
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Post by uofdfan1983 on May 13, 2022 8:03:53 GMT -5
From Lanier's speech when they named the court at St Bonnie after him in 2007:
“We get to the tournament and we were just rolling through people. And then the worst thing in the world that could happen (vs. Villanova) – Billy’s (Kalbaugh) going down on a break, I turn around, and boom, a guy falls into my knee. I didn’t even know at the time I tore my knee up. But when I ran back down the court and tried to pivot, my leg collapsed. I didn’t know at the time I had torn my MCL.
“It hurt me to my heart that my guys were going (to the tourney) without me,” Lanier said, wiping tears from his cheek. “It’s just that you’re not there to help them. I was in a hospital bed and I watched them bust their butts against Artis (Gilmore) and Pembrook (Burrows) and I know that I could have helped them overcome that. They made me so proud.
“I think about the lasting memories and the lasting friendships I have to this day because of those guys I was in a trench with for so long.”
(old fogie alert): This is why I fell in love with college hoops and, with the help of my father and Dickie V, U-D hoops. I truly hope that some day AD comes back for a ceremony and tells a similar story (minus the injury).
On that point: it's time for PW to come back for his ceremony. He has a long line of players and former coaches/supporters who will be there for his day. Let's do it before we lose another one like Brian Alexander or Tony Tolbert.
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