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Post by jimsteel on Feb 2, 2024 16:34:03 GMT -5
Jim Rowinski, a former NBA forward, passed away at the age of 63 Rowinski, a 6'8" 250 lb center, attended and played collegiately at Purdue University. Along with standout freshman and fellow center, Russell Cross, he helped lead the Boilers to a 21-11 record and to a third-place finish in the NIT under first year head coach, Gene Keady. During his sophomore season at Purdue, Jim helped them to an NIT Finals appearance. In his junior season, he led Purdue to the second round of the 1983 NCAA Tournament. After Russell Cross left for the NBA after his junior season, Rowinski became the starting center for the Boilermakers. During his senior season, he led the Boilers to a Co-Big Ten Conference title, a berth in the 1984 NCAA Tournament and an overall record of 22-7 for the season, averaging 15 points a game on the season. Jim was named First Team All-Big Ten and was also selected a team co-MVP with point guard Ricky Hall. he was rewarded with the Chicago Tribune Trophy, which is given the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. He is one of three Purdue players to have been awarded this trophy; along with Rick Mount (1969, 1970) and Glenn Robinson (1994) who were also recipients. Jim Rowinski was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the fourth round of the 1984 NBA draft. Although he did not play his drafted season, Jim eventually began his NBA career in 1988 with the Detroit Pistons and on through to 1990 with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat. His NBA career lasted 23 games over two seasons, where he averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds a game, along with 84.4 percent at the free throw line and a 41.7 field goal percentage.
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Post by on_the_edge on Feb 2, 2024 17:33:39 GMT -5
Hmm, I don't remember him on the Pistons. Must have been deep on our bench during our runs at the title.
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 2, 2024 20:00:51 GMT -5
John Pregenzer, a former professional baseball pitcher who appeared in parts of two Major League Baseball seasons (1963–64) for the San Francisco Giants, passed away at 91. Born in Burlington, Wisconsin, Pregenzer graduated from Antioch Community High School, in Illinois, and attended Illinois Wesleyan University. He was initially signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates before being acquired by the Giants as a minor leaguer during the 1960–61 offseason. That everyday baseball transaction would contribute to Pregenzer's fame during his brief Major League career. When Pregenzer made the Giants' roster at the outset in 1963, he came to the attention of Novella O'Hara, a baseball fan who wrote the "Question Man" column for the San Francisco Chronicle. According to the journalist's 1997 obituary: "Miss O'Hara organized in 1963 the remarkable John Pregenzer Fan Club, after hearing that the Giants had acquired a rookie relief pitcher of that name for the waiver fee of $100. Miss O'Hara was fascinated with the idea that a baseball player could be acquired for such an affordable sum, and she asked the Giants if she could buy one, too. The fan club lasted longer than Pregenzer, who pitched in 19 games before being booted to the minors. Before Pregenzer's departure, however, Miss O'Hara had arranged for him to receive a baked pheasant testimonial dinner, a quality transistor radio and a scroll naming him honorary mayor of Fresno." At its peak, the John Pregenzer Fan Club attracted 3,000 members. In Pregenzer's 19 games for the Giants, he went undefeated in two decisions. In 27⅔ innings pitched, he allowed 29 hits and 19 bases on balls. He recorded 13 strikeouts and one save. He was a successful minor league pitcher; over eight campaigns, he won 66 games, losing 49 with an earned run average of 3.67.
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 2, 2024 23:24:13 GMT -5
Jim Furey, a former linebacker for the New York Titans, passed away at the age of 91. Furey played for the Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions and New York Titans during his pro career. He played college football at Kansas State University. While in the American Football League Titans, he played in 9 games during the 1961 season. during his CFL career he played in a total of 4 games. After his professional football career, he became a teacher, football coach and vice principal in Rutherford, New Jersey.
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Post by TTX on Feb 3, 2024 5:46:12 GMT -5
Wow New York Titans...very infamous team (and later the Jets)
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 3, 2024 12:54:25 GMT -5
Alonzo Johnson, a former linebacker in the National Football League for two seasons during the 1980s passed away at the age of 60 Johnson played college football for the University of Florida and was recognized as an All-American. He was a second-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft and played professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL. Johnson accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Charley Pell and coach Galen Hall's Florida Gators football team from 1982 to 1985. Johnson was a key member of the Gators' defense in 1984 and 1985 when the Gators posted identical 9–1–1 overall win–loss records and led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with best-in-the-conference records of 5–0–1 and 5–1, respectively. He was a first-team All-SEC selection and a first-team All-American in 1984 and 1985, and also a team captain both years. He finished his four-year college career with 335 tackles, fifty-five tackles for a loss and twenty-seven quarterback sacks. Johnson was later voted into the Florida Gators' All-Century Team and All-Time Team, and inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great." In 2006, he was ranked No. 35 among the top 100 Gators of the first century Florida football by the sportswriters of The Gainesville Sun. Johnson was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (48th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played for the Eagles from 1986 to 1987. As a rookie, he played in fifteen games and started nine of them at rightside linebacker, with three interceptions. He left the Eagles before the beginning of the 1987 season to enter a drug rehabilitation program, and subsequently only played in three games for the Eagles in 1987. He was placed on the non-football injury list in December 1987, and did not play again.
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 4, 2024 22:47:38 GMT -5
Earl Cureton, a former NBA power forward, passed away at the age of 66. He signed to play college basketball with Robert Morris, playing there for one season (1976–77), averaging a double-double of 17.2 ppg and 10.5 rpg, before electing to return home to play for the University of Detroit. Cureton sat out a year with the transfer but paired with future NBA player Terry Duerod to lead the Titans to the 1979 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, losing to Lamar 95–87 in the first round. Detroit finished ranked #20 on the season. Cureton had a stellar senior season in 1979–80, averaging 19.9 ppg and 9.1 rpg, and was inducted into the Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Fame in 2007. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Cureton in the third round, with the 58th overall selection, of the 1979 NBA draft. Cureton spent three seasons in Philadelphia before signing with the Detroit Pistons for the 1983-84 Detroit Pistons season and spending the next three seasons with Detroit. He became a journeyman for the rest of his career, traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1987, and then playing for the Los Angeles Clippers (1987–88), Charlotte Hornets (1988–89, 1990–91), Houston Rockets (1993–94) and finally the Toronto Raptors (1996–97). He played 674 NBA regular games and 54 playoff games, averaging 5.4 PPG and 4.7 RPG in 18.4 minutes per game. He won two NBA Championships: with Philadelphia 76ers in the 1982-83 NBA season and with the Houston Rockets in the 1993-94 NBA season. Cureton also spent time in the Lega Basket in Italy, the LNB Pro A in France, the Venezuelan SuperLiga, the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional in Mexico, and the Liga Nacional de Básquet in Argentina, retiring at 39 years old from the Toronto Raptors in February 1997. Cureton played on the following teams during his professional career: 1980–1983 Philadelphia 76ers 1983 Olimpia Milano 1983–1986 Detroit Pistons 1986–1987 Chicago Bulls 1987–1988 Los Angeles Clippers 1988–1989 Charlotte Hornets 1989–1990 Olimpia Milano 1991 Charlotte Hornets 1991 New Haven Skyhawks 1991–1992 Tours Joué Basket 1993–1994 Sioux Falls Skyforce 1994 Houston Rockets 1996–1997 Toronto Raptors
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 4, 2024 22:49:28 GMT -5
Rich Caster, a prolific tight-end for the New York Jets, passed away at the age of 75. He was a wide receiver and tight end for thirteen seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the New York Jets. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1972, 1974 and 1975 seasons and played college football at Jackson State University. He became a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity while a student at Jackson State University. His son Max is a professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling. During his NFL career, he played in 161 games and started in 119 games with 5,515 yards and 45 touchdowns. Caster played for the following teams during his NFL career: New York Jets (1970–1977) Houston Oilers (1978–1980) New Orleans Saints (1981) Washington Redskins (1981–1982)
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 4, 2024 22:51:41 GMT -5
Bill Lachemann, a former longtime coach, passed away at the age of 89. " The Los Angeles Angels received some unfortunate news Sunday morning. Long-time Angels coach Bill Lachemann passed away at the age of 89. He served as the bullpen coach for the team under the manager at the time Marcel Lachemann. Working alongside his brother made the game even more special for him, and it was an opportunity that he never took for granted. “It’s not a job, it’s a fun thing for me,” Lachemann says. “Whatever they want me to do, they just point me in a direction and I do it.”Per Bill Lachemann via The Los Angeles Times Lachemann was still active in 2018 at the age of 84, participating as the Angels' roving catching instructor. He loved the game of baseball and never let his passion for it go away. He was known for being the first one out onto the field, even in his advanced age. The love of the game kept him going, and the players resonated with it. Former Angels manager Mike Scioscia spoke about Lachemann's work ethic back in 2013. “He’s the first one in here. . . "Has his shin guards on before a lot of these guys are even out of bed,” says Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, a two-time All-Star catcher with the Dodgers during his playing career.Per Mike Scioscia via The Los Angeles Times Lachemann used a firm but nonscolding approach with the players. He understood that they would absorb his words better that way, and it was a mutual respect situation. He would chart pitches during games to then quiz catchers later on. Lachemann wanted to make sure that the players were paying attention to each pitch. It was his way of keeping the players engaged at all times.
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Post by TTX on Feb 5, 2024 5:19:20 GMT -5
Lots of sports guys recently. RIP.
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