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Post by jellybean on Apr 28, 2014 11:18:29 GMT -5
Sadly we lost another larger than life person. Dr. Jack Ramsey passed away this morning. My condolences to his family and his SJU family. The City and Big Five lost a treasure.
I never met the man but my uncle was great friends with him. One day on the Ocean City beach, my uncle pointed out to this person swimming parallel to the beach. It was Dr. Jack preparing for one of those Iron Man contests. He had to be in his 70's.
He built some terrific teams at SJU and probably had a budget of PTC tokens. Had a great Portland team in the NBA.
Last he was probably one of the first college coaches to have a weekly television show.
RIP Dr. Jack.
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big5vet
Utility Bench Player
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Post by big5vet on Apr 28, 2014 12:29:18 GMT -5
Through a mutual friend, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Jack about two years ago. He was exceptionally gracious and warm. We talked about a Palestra game I had attended as a teenager, St.Joseph's College, at the time, led by Cliff Anderson versus a ranked Davidson team. SJC beat 'em. Jack appeared to be in good health although he had recovered from a brain tumor. He was 89 years of age, still spry, traveled often, I believe. For months afterwards I told friends and acquaintances about the meeting. Also saw him last November at a social occasion. A great ambassador for the city Philadelphia and its rich basketball tradition.
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baab
Mop-Up Time
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Post by baab on Apr 28, 2014 21:17:23 GMT -5
That Davidson team was #1 in the SI preseason poll in 64-65, that was a huge upset. That SJU team went on to be #3 in the country that year. Ramsay was a great coach, he adapted his style to the team he had. That team pressed for 40 minutes and ran a fast break offense because he had Matt Guokas at point guard. I watched the LaSalle game on Channel 6 that year, Curt Fromal had an insane offensive performance and LaSalle almost pulled off the upset.
I am aware of all his other accomplishments, but he was probably with Chaney and maybe Jack Kraft the greatest coach in Big 5 history.
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Post by jellybean on Apr 29, 2014 6:13:28 GMT -5
That Davidson team was #1 in the SI preseason poll in 64-65, that was a huge upset. That SJU team went on to be #3 in the country that year. Ramsay was a great coach, he adapted his style to the team he had. That team pressed for 40 minutes and ran a fast break offense because he had Matt Guokas at point guard. I watched the LaSalle game on Channel 6 that year, Curt Fromal had an insane offensive performance and LaSalle almost pulled off the upset. I am aware of all his other accomplishments, but he was probably with Chaney and maybe Jack Kraft the greatest coach in Big 5 history. Harry Litwack has to be included in the list of the very best. |
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Post by weston2 on Apr 29, 2014 8:55:34 GMT -5
That Davidson team was #1 in the SI preseason poll in 64-65, that was a huge upset. That SJU team went on to be #3 in the country that year. Ramsay was a great coach, he adapted his style to the team he had. That team pressed for 40 minutes and ran a fast break offense because he had Matt Guokas at point guard. I watched the LaSalle game on Channel 6 that year, Curt Fromal had an insane offensive performance and LaSalle almost pulled off the upset. I am aware of all his other accomplishments, but he was probably with Chaney and maybe Jack Kraft the greatest coach in Big 5 history. Harry Litwack has to be included in the list of the very best. It was about a week after the infamous "bomb" scare game. SJC 93-LaS 85. Les Keiter, with Toby Deluca on stats, anyone remember who did color that year? 2/26/65 on WFIL. Betcha there were a lot of ring-tail howitzers. Fromal went for a career high 34. Dr Jack was one of the greats, on and off the court. Ghost of Hubie Marshall. |
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Post by 1stflooredwards on Apr 29, 2014 9:26:28 GMT -5
Harry Litwack has to be included in the list of the very best. It was about a week after the infamous "bomb" scare game. SJC 93-LaS 85. Les Keiter, with Toby Deluca on stats, anyone remember who did color that year? 2/26/65 on WFIL. Betcha there were a lot of ring-tail howitzers. Fromal went for a career high 34. Dr Jack was one of the greats, on and off the court. Ghost of Hubie Marshall. Wasn't it "Big Al Meltzer"? |
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Post by weston2 on Apr 29, 2014 9:59:29 GMT -5
Possibly, but I recall a list of people, running the gamut from Richie Ashburn, Bill White, Charley Swift, Bill Campbell,and maybe some others doing color back in the mid 60's. Big AL certainly was around then, remember more with Channel 17.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2014 12:08:00 GMT -5
RIP Dr Jack. He is a true legend and Phila sports icon.
When I was a kid, he was a member of the parish I belonged to (Immaculate Heart of Mary in Andorra). He was a kind and generous man who donated time and resources to the CYO program there as well as the local athletic association.
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Post by glorydays on Apr 29, 2014 12:14:43 GMT -5
If I am not mistaken Les Keiter's color man was Matt Goukas, Sr. A few games (maybe they were twice a week) were on Channel 6 back in the early 1960's. It was before "UHF" TV came along.
Before going to St. Joe's as HC Dr. Jack Ramsay did a 3 year stint at Mt. Pleasant High School in Delaware. (I am too young to remember that but I am stretching to bring The First State into thread...)
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Post by weston2 on Apr 29, 2014 13:11:01 GMT -5
If I am not mistaken Les Keiter's color man was Matt Goukas, Sr. A few games (maybe they were twice a week) were on Channel 6 back in the early 1960's. It was before "UHF" TV came along. Before going to St. Joe's as HC Dr. Jack Ramsay did a 3 year stint at Mt. Pleasant High School in Delaware. (I am too young to remember that but I am stretching to bring The First State into thread...) I think you nailed it. Forgot about Matt, Sr. Remember him as the voice at Franklin Field for Eagles games of the VanBrocklin-Jurgensen-Snead era. Met Matt Sr at the local recreation (Lawncrest) center back in the early to mid 60's, I believe he had something to do with the City Dept of Recreation, my grade school years. Ghost of The Gold Medal Tournament. |
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Post by victoriouslasalle on Apr 29, 2014 20:50:13 GMT -5
If I am not mistaken Les Keiter's color man was Matt Goukas, Sr. A few games (maybe they were twice a week) were on Channel 6 back in the early 1960's. It was before "UHF" TV came along. Before going to St. Joe's as HC Dr. Jack Ramsay did a 3 year stint at Mt. Pleasant High School in Delaware. (I am too young to remember that but I am stretching to bring The First State into thread...) Do you remember the "ringed tailed howitzer"? A Les Keiter original for sure  |
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baab
Mop-Up Time
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Post by baab on Apr 29, 2014 23:12:33 GMT -5
"the arithmetic reads" and "tickles the twine" is what i remember. i don't remember Les Keiter having a color man. Channel 17 was originally Ashburn and Campbell, then Al Meltzer and Charlie Swift and Gene Kelly, then in 71-72 Harry Kalas was play by play and Meltzer did color. That didn't work very well.
Anyway for some reason I remember that LaSalle St Joes game that year, it was the Saturday night after the bomb scare game which went on till about midnight.
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Post by weston2 on Apr 30, 2014 8:08:50 GMT -5
More on Les: "he's one of the most adroit dribblers we've seen on the maple court this year", "in again, out again Finnegan", "Welcome to Panicksville".
Matt Guokas, Sr did work with Les Keiter. Picture in the Palestra Pandemonium book backs that up. Meltzer followed Guokas until '66, and Meltzer left for Channel 17 and was their first hire. The Big 5 followed, it became the ESPN of UHF television in its time.
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Post by 1stflooredwards on Apr 30, 2014 9:22:13 GMT -5
Looks like only Les and his producer remained. No Big Al. link |
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