Let's start with the obvious. This should've been a bit a long time ago. This guy is disappointed it took so long:
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| Winger Robbie Russell circa 1982 |
It stands to reason, then, that I'd have an affinity for begoggled athletes. And I do, with one exception. Growing up a fervent Boston Celtics fan, I hated Kurt Rambis given his predilection for delivering physical, borderline dirty blows to dudes in kelly green.
But Eric Dickerson? Dope. Horace Grant? Badass. Rip Hamilton? Avant garde. Thurl Bailey and Buck Robinson? Sturdy. Eric Gagne? Mais oui. Rodrigo Blankenship? Made dorky look nice. Edgar Davids? My spectacled footy idol. I could go on. And I will, as more athletes join the team.
Like the object of today's post, Indiana State sophomore center Robbie Avila. The 6'10, 240 lb (we'll allow it) Oak Forest, IL native is the key player on a Sycamores team that's going to be a bracket-busting darling in a lot of NCAA Tournament pools come March. He averages 16.2 points, 7.5 boards, and 4.1 assists per game for a team that's 20-3, 11-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. He's in the top 10 in the country in three-point shooting percentage, at .440. He's got a lot of Nikola Jokic in his game, both in terms of his skills and his generally doughy mien.
And he rocks the goggles like a boss:
Check out a Avila's on-court stylings:
Indiana State has a two-game lead in Missouri Valley Conference play. They'll likely need to survive the conference tournament gauntlet, though they currently sit 23rd in the NCAA NET rankings - the committee seems to think those are important except when they're not, and they're often not when they benefit a mid-major.
Regardless, looks like we've got ourselves a new G:TB Team of Destiny. A G:TBTOD, if you will. Climb aboard now - there's room for everyone.
my large adult son's game is doughp
ReplyDeleteRambis was the centerpiece of the Laker bespectacled because he wore library glasses with croakies, but with Kareem and Worthy always in rec-specs, that was one eyeglasses-wearing crew. None of whom Robbie enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteOthers that come to mind... Kent Tekulve, Chris Sabo. Chuck Muncie.
Who knew the hoops position 'stretch 4' also applied to jerseys?
ReplyDeleteAll the fly guys wear glasses.
ReplyDeleteI haven't gotten fly enough to wear glasses yet, but I suspect that day is coming.
ReplyDeleteFor Tribesters in audience and Z in particular: Bills added coaches; McDermott poached W&M offensive coordinator Christian Taylor, assigned him defensive quality control spot. That makes 3 on staff with direct WM ties -- McD, offensive guy Joe Brady and Taylor.
ReplyDeleteAlso added fellow named Ronald Curry as QB coach. Was with Saints. Curry another guy with SE Virginia Peninsula ties. Former Hampton HS Crabber, and for my money best HS football player I saw in 30 years there.
better than bubbachuck?
ReplyDeleteMore polished. 'chuck was a HoF athlete and crazy elusive but Curry was a superior athlete himself -- heck, he started and played both ACC football and basketball and made the NFL for a stretch as a wide receiver. Bobby Bowden said that Curry was one of the best he ever saw in HS.
ReplyDeleteI maintain that had Carl Torbush not played Curry at QB as a true freshman and simply let him develop, and had Curry devoted himself to football and not insisted on playing both sports, his college career would have been more successful and his NFL career arc would have been different. But yeah, he was the best I ever saw, anyway.
don henley outlives mojo nixon. ironic, that.
ReplyDeleteCurry was a better football player imo. As Dave said more polished and a big arm. More athlete than point guard on the court though. He was a monster athletically and a grown man physically as a HS senior but never had the feel for the game Iverson had. Again just my opinion and I certainly saw him less than OBX Dave but I did get to watch him play a couple times during my time at Chowan. Always wanted a pair of the tall socks he wore that read “Crabbers” length wise.
ReplyDeleteThere’s a long list of guys that could’ve played two sports in college. A significantly shorter list of guys who did so successfully. Kind of amazing that UNC had two at the same time in Curry and Peppers. Especially so because I think basketball and football is the toughest combination.
Mojo!!! No!!! Bummer, dudes. Elvis is still everywhere. May Mojo also be.
ReplyDeleteTo Mark's point about Curry-Iverson comparison, and one I failed to mention, Iverson was 150-155 pounds in HS. Curry was every bit of 175-180, in addition to being a couple inches taller. The extra heft and strength, arm strength included, along with polish and his natural "feel" for football create barest separation for me. Both were freakin' marvels.
ReplyDeleteOBX Dave - did you ever get to see a guy named Chris Hart play fball? Back in the mid-late 80's....Harrisonburg High. When he graduated, was the all-time leading rusher in VA. Had offers from everywhere, in both baseball and football. Ended up playing baseball at Auburn after turning down offer from the Reds...never made it past AA for the A's.
ReplyDeleteFirst Toby Keith, now Mojo Nixon?!
ReplyDeleteSaid nobody ever
Hey Danimal, no, never saw Hart play. Harrisonburg is about 3 1/2 hours from SE Peninsula where I worked. Didn't even cross paths with him during state playoffs. Kid sounds like a monster. Pity he didn't at least get a cup of coffee in The Show.
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