Former Syracuse Nationals first-round pick Connie Dierking dies at 77

[Orangeyes]

As a kid I rarely missed a Syracuse Nationals game. A mere fifty cent piece got you a great seat on the stage. You could compare the view to that of the first level of our student section. The things I remember about Connie Dierking were that he was afraid to fly, he had blond hair like Gorgeous George almost looked bleached and he had a girls first name. In fact I had an Aunt Connie.

As a kid I probably didn't realize that he played with the Big O at Cincy.

RIP big guy.

http://blog.syracuse.com/sports/2013/12/former_syracuse_nationals_firs.html#incart_river

 

[Crusty]

The Nats used to do a practice exhibition and one game a year in the Utica Memorial Auditorium (usually an NBA double header). I remember Connie but he was short compared to 7'3" Nate "Swede" Halbrook who I think joined the year after Connie left.

Great childhood memories.

 

[Orangeyes]

Don Boldebuck (210 cm) and Wade Halbrook with waitress Susan Katchmeric. Las Vegas, U.S., 3 February 1960.

Worlds Talest Basketball Players has a number of Swede pics.

I remember a game where he let fly with one from about 30 that brought the house down when it went in.

http://www.thetallestman.com/wadehalbrook.htm

 

[Crusty]

At one of the scrimmages he was injured and I saw him sitting in the stands. He was on the aisle in an empty row - his legs to side in the aisle since they would not fit in the row. It was like he was sitting in a hole - all you really see were his legs and knees and his head!

 

[esmorange]

As a kid I rarely missed a Syracuse Nationals game. A mere fifty cent piece got you a great seat on the stage. You could compare the view to that of the first level of our student section. The things I remember about Connie Dierking were that he was afraid to fly, he had blond hair like Gorgeous George almost looked bleached and he had a girls first name. In fact I had an Aunt Connie.

As a kid I probably didn't realize that he played with the Big O at Cincy.

RIP big guy.

http://blog.syracuse.com/sports/2013/12/former_syracuse_nationals_firs.html#incart_river

I sat on that stage at the War Memorial for a lot of those Nat games. e
Even saw that NBA Allstar game

 

[Orangeyes]

I sat on that stage at the War Memorial for a lot of those Nat games. e
Even saw that NBA Allstar game

So did I, still have the program and some of those brown ticket stubs.

 

[esmorange]

Was some fabulous basketball Especially those Celtic battles, talk about rivalries might have been better than Cuse vsHoyas

 

[Orangeyes]

Was some fabulous basketball Especially those Celtic battles, talk about rivalries might have been better than Cuse vsHoyas

Those games packed the War Memorial, folks sat on the steps going up the aisles. You could usually count on Mendy Rudolph, Sid Borgia or Norm Drucker to do the games.

 

[Crusty]

Thanks to the Syracuse Nats, I got to see:

• All the Nats legends
• Elgin Baylor
• Jerry West (rookie year)
• Hot Rod Huntley
• Big O (rookie year)
• Jack Twyman
• Wayne Embry
• Richie Guerin
• Carl Braun
• Darrall Imhoff
• Johnny Green
• Bob Pettit
• Cliff Hagan
• Clyde Lovellette
• Lenny Wilkins

They played a different game back then and I miss parts of it.

 

[Orangeyes]

Thanks to the Syracuse Nats, I got to see:

• All the Nats legends
• Elgin Baylor
• Jerry West (rookie year)
• Hot Rod Huntley
• Big O (rookie year)
• Jack Twyman
• Wayne Embry
• Richie Guerin
• Carl Braun
• Darrall Imhoff
• Johnny Green
• Bob Pettit
• Cliff Hagan
• Clyde Lovellette
• Lenny Wilkins

They played a different game back then and I miss parts of it.

No Celtics?

 

[Crusty]

No Celtics?

They never played in Utica. Had to wait until the 70's in the Garden for that.

 

[phillydad]

As a kid I rarely missed a Syracuse Nationals game. A mere fifty cent piece got you a great seat on the stage. You could compare the view to that of the first level of our student section. The things I remember about Connie Dierking were that he was afraid to fly, he had blond hair like Gorgeous George almost looked bleached and he had a girls first name. In fact I had an Aunt Connie.

As a kid I probably didn't realize that he played with the Big O at Cincy.

RIP big guy.

http://blog.syracuse.com/sports/2013/12/former_syracuse_nationals_firs.html#incart_river

I remember Dierking with a big game, 29 pts I checked, in a Game 1 win vs the Sixers in a best of 5 following the 66-67 season. Sixers, coming off a 68 win season, were already down a game, and as a 14 year old Philadelphian raised on sports negativity, I was like, "here we go again..." But it turned out okay. Dierking was a good compliment to Jerry Lucas and Oscar.