db
Manager
Posts: 7 
Likes: 4
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Post by db on Jan 26, 2014 19:07:11 GMT -5
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Post by durenduren on Jan 26, 2014 19:11:35 GMT -5
Just caught wind. Such a shame. Makes last year that much more important, despite his health being shakey then.
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Post by olneyman on Jan 26, 2014 19:27:12 GMT -5
Mr. La Salle. Put us on the map and lived his life with dignity and class. A shame that his final years were so tough. Condolences to the Gola family.
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Post by jellybean on Jan 26, 2014 19:29:24 GMT -5
#15 had quite a struggle the last few years. Sad news. Jerardi wrote a column last year about how much Tom enjoyed the Sweet 16 run. He meant so much to the University and vice versa.
One of the all time greats both on and after the court.
RIP Tom
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Post by lasallerules1978 on Jan 26, 2014 19:58:39 GMT -5
Condolences to the Gola family, RIP.
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Post by durenduren on Jan 26, 2014 20:06:24 GMT -5
Yogi Berra described Gola as “the Joe DiMaggio of basketball." It's pretty unreal that it all started at little La Salle.
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Post by calsufan on Jan 26, 2014 20:56:04 GMT -5
What a real shame. He was one of the greatest college basketball players of all time (picked #17 by ESPN). He helped La Salle recover from a dark period in La Salle history. A great player and a great guy. He will be missed. RIP Tom and my prayers go out to his family.
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jetstorm
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 183
Likes: 97
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Post by jetstorm on Jan 26, 2014 21:14:10 GMT -5
What a fine man!
RIP
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Post by lwc4591 on Jan 26, 2014 21:15:39 GMT -5
What a great player and even better man. Hurts to see him pass but he is with Kenny now and will have plenty to talk about. Very happy last season that Tom got to witness the Sweet Sixteen run. Prayers go out to his family and extended family at LaSalle.
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Post by belfieldhappyhour on Jan 26, 2014 21:39:07 GMT -5
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Post by stlexplorer on Jan 26, 2014 21:52:51 GMT -5
Unbelievable man, unbelievable career, La Salle was lucky to have had him apart of the University
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angryal
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 155
Likes: 11
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Post by angryal on Jan 26, 2014 21:55:48 GMT -5
I'm glad that Tom Gola has such a distinguished legacy that he'll always be remembered by the school, the alumni, and both current and future students.
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Post by ltrain38 on Jan 26, 2014 22:04:32 GMT -5
Very sad day for our university and our community. Condolences to his family.
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Post by fvp47 on Jan 26, 2014 22:11:42 GMT -5
He was something special to LaSalle and to those of us who where there during the 68-69 season when he came back to get us a number two ranking he was very special.
Condolences to his family.
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Post by thehawkisdead on Jan 26, 2014 22:18:41 GMT -5
We're on the college basketball map because of Tom Gola. None of the success we've seen in the last 60+ years happens without him.
A terrible loss, though not completely unexpected. He really struggled since that fall in 2003.
Rest in peace, #15.
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Post by Kovy on Jan 26, 2014 22:35:39 GMT -5
I don't think I can add anything better than what's already been said. Rest in peace Mr. Gola
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Post by Gnocchi on Jan 26, 2014 23:53:06 GMT -5
The original Magic Johnson, plus defense. And an all-around class act.
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Post by SICguy84 on Jan 27, 2014 0:13:16 GMT -5
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Post by durenduren on Jan 27, 2014 9:10:50 GMT -5
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Post by Gnocchi on Jan 27, 2014 11:49:25 GMT -5
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Post by glorydays on Jan 27, 2014 12:19:15 GMT -5
Great article. I saw Gola play as a Warrior at Convention Hall a few times with my father. My father's favorite basketball player of all time. A couple of non sequiturs: Based on the box score Gola did not play in Wilt's 100 point game. I don't know why he missed that game. Also, back in the mid 1960's I loved that Tom Gola Vitalis (hair tonic)Commercial. |
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Post by expfan95 on Jan 27, 2014 12:52:37 GMT -5
glorydays -- apparently Gola was injured that night and didn't even make the trip to Hershey: : He missed the game with strained back and was home in Philadelphia listening on the radio and drinking beer. source: blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/03/01/night-it-all-came-together-50th-anniversary-of-wilt%E2%80%99s-100-point-game/I was never fortunate enough to meet Tom Gola. he was one of the first names you heard when you walked into the High School. I loved looking at the trophy case and seeing the game balls from city title games when he was there. And of course, the same thing at the Hayman Center. Perhaps a man as modest as Gola doesn't mind his name attached to the gym at Hayman. A new arena would be a nice tribute to his legacy.
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Post by Gnocchi on Jan 27, 2014 13:02:26 GMT -5
"...his absence on March 2, 1962, likely aided in the 100-point night ... Gola averaged 13.7 points and 9.8 rebounds in 60 games that season." Sounds like without even playing the night Wilt scored 100, Gola chimed in with a big assist. |
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Post by coachd on Jan 27, 2014 15:53:07 GMT -5
Mr. All-Around was one of only 2 men to have ever won an NIT, NCAA and NBA championship. He is probably the only player to have won a championship for his elementary and high school teams in addition to the college and pro achievements. He was a devout Catholic and never sought publicity. He coached the greatest Big 5 team of all-time and led them to a Number 2 ranking behind only UCLA. He fought for the people of Philadelphia in his years as a politician. God bless Mr. Gola. www.lasalle-explorers.com/ |
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Post by SICguy84 on Jan 27, 2014 17:14:39 GMT -5
FYI..Sonny Hill remembers Tom Gola at 5:15pm today on CSNPhilly.
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Post by theneumann64 on Jan 27, 2014 18:11:56 GMT -5
Very nice of the Sixers to write the release they did, but not for nothing, the Golden State Warriors could sent out one tweet about it. I know it was 50 years ago and a continent away, but he was an instrumental player in 1 of their 2 NBA championships. Plus these teams usually never miss a chance to look noble.
I guess I could direct this at the Knicks too, but he did play most of his career with the Warriors.
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Post by thehawkisdead on Jan 27, 2014 19:15:07 GMT -5
The Knicks posted a few tweets about him through their PR department's feed last night.
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Post by theneumann64 on Jan 27, 2014 19:31:02 GMT -5
OK, my fault. Perhaps I missed it with Golden State too.
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top25
Manager
Posts: 3
Likes: 5
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Post by top25 on Jan 27, 2014 19:35:25 GMT -5
I'll always remember my encounter with Tom Gola. Year ago, while working downtown, I left work at the end of the day and went over to the Reading Terminal train station to catch the Fox Chase train home. When I boarded the train, I noticed Tom Gola on the train sitting by himself. I sat next to him and we talked all the way home to Fox Chase. Lots of stories. He could have easily brushed me off and read a newspaper but he was very gracious and the two of us spent the entire train ride talking to each other. It was certainly a memorable ride home. He was a very nice and humble man.
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Post by SICguy84 on Jan 27, 2014 19:46:19 GMT -5
Thoughts on a memorial patch for the rest of the season on the La Salle uniforms. Is there a precedence for that at the collegiate level?
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