Bear Down Wildcats

Seriously. Has he been sick?

Merkin wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:51 pm Seriously. Has he been sick?

Who ever looked younger than Steve???

Rastafarian diet.

Merkin wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 1:13 pm

Wonder if there's one of these in the portal this year.

I imagine we were both students then, Eebs too for that matter wherever he went.

Back when UA was a football school with frickin' Larry Smith.

Fans really lost interest during Snowden's last season. He didn't seem very motivated, and then his wife was picked up for shoplifting at Levi's or Goldwater's, someplace like that.

Lindsey had two NCs in NAIA, and we thought "gee, it's all basketball, right?". But he didn't have to deal with scholarship athletes, and couldn't handle them.

Nor could he recruit.

He was also the worst game and personnel manager that I’ve ever seen.

I was there at that time too. McKale was like a morgue. I used to walk down to better open seats close to the floor, but that actually made the experience worse.

I used to hold my own against Brock Brunkhorst in pickup games at Bear Down Gym. And their best player, Frank Smith Jr was like 6-10 150lbs. Funny to watch.

Then came Lute and when he got Pete Williams anc Eddie Smith to join (2 of the most underrated players in UA history) the metamorphosis began.

The athletic department got a little desperate to get people to show up, so they brought in the San Diego Chicken. He was pretty funny, and he'd climb in and pound away at the pep band's drum kit. But the crowd was so flat and bummed that he eventually kind of threw up his hands and gave up. I think it was about at that time that some overnight security guard with psych issues kept lighting fires in trash cans so the fire department kept getting sent to McKale. Weird times. Very true about the contributions of Pete & Eddie (along with Kerr.) One thing I'd like to point out that maybe gets a little overlooked is that there were a few guys who suffered through the Lindsey year who, while limited in ability, got to play for Lute, worked hard, and helped contribute to the turnaround. You mentioned Brunkhorst, but Morgan Taylor, Keith Jackson, Dave Haskin, Troy Cooke, and Ken Ensor also chipped in.

Not to mention a $30 Fees card got you a ticket to any game, any sport.

Lol.

Forgot Rickey Byrdsong was an assistant. For some reason thought Lute brought him from Iowa.

Such a tragic end to his life too, killed by a white supremacist.

That guy was a STUD.

When Lute's transfers in did much better than the transfers out

Chris Mills was a baller.

I saw Chris mills play at McKale, I have an autographed poster from the wildcats vs wildchairs game as well.

T shirt I have from that year still kinda fits, and is what is pictured on my little logo there. Actually, that shirt might be a bit older than that. Can't remember exactly, I only put that baby on for big games!!

Good times!! Thanks grandma!!

I had a class with Mills.

No idea what Redick is doing on there, he had a very long NBA career.

But spot on the PAC players.

JJ Reddick does NOT belong. The rest of these guys were either great or pretty good in college, but just didn’t translate to the NBA at that time.

What’s the criteria? Most overrated while in college? Then I’d say Reddick does belong and DWill certainly does not.

Basing it on their professional careers after college would obviously yield different results.

But it is nice to see Duke holding 3 of the top 4 spots...

If it's a while in college list than Williams should be on the most underrated list. Guy wasn't recognized nationally till his second to last game in college.

I can't believe this many people care what ChatGPT thinks.

Sad day indeed. RIP Joe. A true Wildcat.

Since Ooh Aah Man started at a baseball game, here's a pic for Joe (Glenn Frey repping UA):

I was at the baseball playoffs when Joe first unleashed the "Ohh Ahh Man"!!

Call: "Sock it to 'em, Wildcats!!!"

Response:

Ooohhhhhhh!!!

Aaahhhhhhh!!!

In truth, I thought he was older. Just terrible getting sick like he did.

UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 5:37 pm Sad day indeed. RIP Joe. A true Wildcat.

Welcome back Eebs! Hope you can stay around. We shared a lot of the same experiences those UA years.

He started when I was in school.

Had nice conversations with him when he served drinks at the Bun Steer.

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 6:35 pm Had nice conversations with him when he served drinks at the Bun Steer.

When was that? I was a very frequent visitor to the Bum Steer between 1981-5, but the basketball program was in a lot of turmoil then, and the UA was a football school thanks to Larry Smith.

I wish I had known him then.

Merkin wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 10:02 pm

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 6:35 pm Had nice conversations with him when he served drinks at the Bun Steer.

When was that? I was a very frequent visitor to the Bum Steer between 1981-5, but the basketball program was in a lot of turmoil then, and the UA was a football school thanks to Larry Smith.

I wish I had known him then.

I was there from ‘79-‘83 and you are correct about the state of both the basketball and football program. To be honest, the Ooh Ahh Man was sort of a joke at that time when he performed…a lot like the basketball team.

He worked at the Bum Steer my first couple of years if I recall correctly. I only frequented there for the specials - think it was White Wednesday or something like that where it was $.10 white well drinks.

Lol - today that would be so racist.

I was there for White Wednesday! All clear booze was dirt cheap.

I was at the BS many many times from 81 to 85 for WW. Merk, we must've bumped into each other.

Carcassdragger wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:26 pm I was at the BS many many times from 81 to 85 for WW. Merk, we must've bumped into each other.

No doubt!

Also The Wildcat House and while it was there The Outlaw. All within walking distance of each other.

Back when the drinking age was 19 and most college bars were away from campus. The only close to campus ones I remember is Gentle Ben's, The Green Dolphin, The Stray Cat and a couple others I don't remember.

Street Pajama was Gentle Ben's house band. I think Merle is still performing in town.

Is Stray Cat the one that burned down? I can still remember driving by it while the firemen were trying to put out the fire

Was with you guys from about 79-83 at the wildcat house, bens, green Dolphin and the converted church house that was a lot of fun but I can’t remember the name( I think it burned down)

The old library Dooleys/Stray Cat burned down under very mysterious circumstances.

Kind of like Chances on the east side, my favorite club on that part of town. Ended up on fire.

Also known for the best radio announcer in town was killed there, Bob Lee or something like that. Back when KWFM was one of the top AOR stations in the US.

Had a friend that was a bouncer at the Outlaw. Used to get let in free and walked right to the barber chair for a free margarita mixed in the mouth.

We didn't do much of the frat rat bars near campus. Boys from my town didn't join frats.

azcat49 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 6:49 pm Was with you guys from about 79-83 at the wildcat house, bens, green Dolphin and the converted church house that was a lot of fun but I can’t remember the name( I think it burned down)

The 'converted church' was Dooley's.

I saw Muddy Waters and John Mayall there.

When Mayall played there, it was a stinking hot day, and he came out wearing NOTHING but a pair of cutoff jeans. No shirt, no shoes, I have no idea how he got served.

I thought it was just the right size for intimate shows like that. And the balcony worked really well. I was front row balcony for Mayall, and front row center for Muddy Waters. The stage for each was set up at opposite ends of the room. It was really flexible. Tucson lost a great place in that fire. I heard it was an insurance job - is that true?

RichardCranium wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 10:14 pm

azcat49 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 6:49 pm Was with you guys from about 79-83 at the wildcat house, bens, green Dolphin and the converted church house that was a lot of fun but I can’t remember the name( I think it burned down)

The 'converted church' was Dooley's.

I saw Muddy Waters and John Mayall there.

When Mayall played there, it was a stinking hot day, and he came out wearing NOTHING but a pair of cutoff jeans. No shirt, no shoes, I have no idea how he got served.

I thought it was just the right size for intimate shows like that. And the balcony worked really well. I was front row balcony for Mayall, and front row center for Muddy Waters. The stage for each was set up at opposite ends of the room. It was really flexible. Tucson lost a great place in that fire. I heard it was an insurance job - is that true?

I saw Taj Mahal @ Dooley's/Stray Cat - perfect venue for a great artist giving an awesome performance!!

I smoked a joint in Dooleys.

Stray Cat used to have free Godfather's pizza for happy hour if memory serves.

Carcassdragger wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 8:52 pm We didn't do much of the frat rat bars near campus. Boys from my town didn't join frats.

Same.

Went into Dirtbags when they opened, and it was full of pretentious assholes like this. Never went back.



My favorite non-college bar was The Sundance, aka Scumdance. Just a bunch of rowdy guys wearing jeans, t-shirts, and western shirts. Lots of pool tables.

Country swing to the house band at the Stumble Inn with cheap pitchers. Did a lot of weaving home from that place. And going further back, the Point After on Speedway and Country Club, across from the Blue Note, which was about like that stripper bar in the movie Diner. (Yikes.) The Point After had a dance floor about the size of a postage stamp and pool tables in the back. LOTS of cute girls and it was jam-packed. Now I think it's a car wash. Last time I was in Dirtbag's, it was about like a Denny's with a bunch of loud old guys there to drink and pig out before a football game.