A great Frank McGuire quote about recruiting Tommy Riker....
- Thread starter UpstateGC
- Start date
ah, tommy
many a night b4 games he'd swing by the campus club, throw down a pitcher & waddle down to the coliseum.
he could pop a zit from about 6' & hit a mirror.
lol, the night he was flippin' birds @ a fan who was heckling him on the foul line
night @ the sugar bowl classic when the golden domers double teamed roche & the soph from hicksviile lit it up for 36.
many a night b4 games he'd swing by the campus club, throw down a pitcher & waddle down to the coliseum.he could pop a zit from about 6' & hit a mirror.
lol, the night he was flippin' birds @ a fan who was heckling him on the foul line
night @ the sugar bowl classic when the golden domers double teamed roche & the soph from hicksviile lit it up for 36.
I don't remember Tom Riker being mean. Tom Riker was serious about playing basketball and is a great guy. McGuire would make comments like that to motivate his players. He used to talk about trying to get Jackie Gilloon to "walk and not run".
You're correct, Riker was a gently giant off the court but on the court - a different matter. I'm sure that was what McGuire was referring to. Also, just like you said, McGuire was a great motivator.
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This post was edited on 2/6 11:37 AM by UpstateGC
Tom Riker busted up a player from Marquette to the tune of seven or eight stitches below his eye. Can probably google that brawl, from somewhere around 1973 or 1974, would be my guess? Hell of a fight, and the game wasn't bad either.
and ... Tom Riker had one leg about an inch longer than his other leg.Originally posted by yeasos:
Oh, the good ole days and we could shoot the ball.
Yep...Tommy's "exploits" were legendary.Originally posted by CockofEarle:
ah, tommy
he could pop a zit from about 6' & hit a mirror.
lol, the night he was flippin' birds @ a fan who was heckling him on the foul line
night @ the sugar bowl classic when the golden domers double teamed roche & the soph from hicksviile lit it up for 36.
But he was really a nice guy to most.
Remember it well. 1972 at C.C. National TV. USC's 1st Sunday athletic event. USC pres, got letters about playing "heathen black Catholics" on Sunday. Riker punched "The Black Swan", Bob Lackey. Lackey got stitches & Rikes cracked his hand. Disappointing loss in O.T. Overcame a pretty big deficit thanks mostly to soph. sharpshooter Ed Peterson who was never heard from again (transferred??). Got our revenge 2 years later at the C.C. when Brian Winters hit a 22-23 footer to win it at the buzzer.
Tks, Chuck. I had never read that. It takes me back. I still remember that Quaker City Classic. USC defeated four teams in four days to win. I know Lasalle was one. Don't remember the others.
USC could have won that championship game with NCS but for a lazy pass by Cremins. What could have been........
The Marquette player was named Lackey. I think tom hurt his hand with that left handed haymaker. I was there for that fight as well as the Maryland fights all over the court.Been to 99% of games since 1969-70 season. Riker did not drink before games but he did after. He often came by the "Shoe" and hung out at our dorm. Most of the team was at dons after the games and later "the other place" on rosewood. Life was good 35 years ago.
