Marty Byrnes

[OrangePA]

The former No. 44 is depicted in the HBO piece “Winning Time”

Marty was a heck of a player.

Hope he is doing well.

 

[Jake]

He of the “left-handed leaping leaner”.

 

[kcsu]

Great memories of him and that team

 

[Briancuse]

Who plays him on the show?

 

[GENESEO1983]

He of the “left-handed leaping leaner”.

Nice Joel Mareiniss quote……..”up the invisible ladder”

 

[bevosu]

Nice Joel Mareiniss quote……..”up the invisible ladder”

Joel's widow passed away in February. She was 91.

Georgiana Mareiniss Obituary (2022) Syracuse Post Standard

 

[GENESEO1983]

Before SU sports was on tv every game, Joel calling the games on the radio was my window into Syracuse basketball and football…….classic lines and nicknames!

 

[rrlbees]

Before SU sports was on tv every game, Joel calling the games on the radio was my window into Syracuse basketball and football…….classic lines and nicknames!

Before our family got seasons when I was a kid, we’d go to games at Manley and sit in the balcony right below Joel.

 

[stuckinbig11]

Marty played a better game than Magic !

 

[bevosu]

Marty played a better game than Magic !

It might have been my inherent SU bias, but I thought Marty deserved the MVP for that tourney (Carrier Classic).

 

[44Jack]

Magic was a GREAT player - but that weekend Marty was BY FAR the MVP

 

[Cheriehoop]

He lived in Strathmore section in Syracuse for a number of years after the NBA. He was a grad assistant for SU basketball too after his NBA career while attending school . Last I heard he was living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and had a long tough battle with Covid about a year and a half ago, even being on a ventilator. Hoping he’s fully recovered and doing well now.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

Marty played a better game than Magic !

I can still visualize that Carrier Classic. I probably had my best seats ever in Manley. Magic had a very good semi-final game but Marty outplayed him in the final and SU won. Magic got MVP. When does a player from the championship team not win MVP? Everyone was shocked, even Magic.

Of course, JB was very calm about it….

LOL he was not!

 

[goofnoff]

A buddy of mine, here in Baltimore, put up 30 on the 'Cuse in the opener. He made the all tourney team. After the game JB said he wanted to give him a scholarship but alumni had pushed for another guy.

 

[longtimefan]

I can still visualize that Carrier Classic. I probably had my best seats ever in Manley. Magic had a very good semi-final game but Marty outplayed him in the final and SU won. Magic got MVP. When does a player from the championship team not win MVP? Everyone was shocked, even Magic.

Of course, JB was very calm about it….

LOL he was not!

And to pour salt in the wound. . .

Later that season, SU won an in-season tournament at New Mexico, beating the Lobos on their notorious home court "The Pit". MVP? Michael Cooper of the runner-up team.

Ironic that Marty Byrnes was a teammate of Johnson and Cooper with the Lakers.

 

[OrangePA]

Before our family got seasons when I was a kid, we’d go to games at Manley and sit in the balcony right below Joel.

Me too.

 

[pfister1]

I can still visualize that Carrier Classic. I probably had my best seats ever in Manley. Magic had a very good semi-final game but Marty outplayed him in the final and SU won. Magic got MVP. When does a player from the championship team not win MVP? Everyone was shocked, even Magic.

Of course, JB was very calm about it….

LOL he was not!

Me too! I remember being fortunate enough to attend that Carrier Classic as a youngster. It was the first Carrier Classic no less. Before it became SU and three patsies that were only arguably Division I basketball programs.

 

[Bill Orange]

And to pour salt in the wound. . .

Later that season, SU won an in-season tournament at New Mexico, beating the Lobos on their notorious home court "The Pit". MVP? Michael Cooper of the runner-up team.

Ironic that Marty Byrnes was a teammate of Johnson and Cooper with the Lakers.

And thanks to the Lobo Classic, that was the genesis of the "standing and clapping" ritual that continues to this day.

 

[longtimefan]

And thanks to the Lobo Classic, that was the genesis of the "standing and clapping" ritual that continues to this day.

I wonder if they continue to do it in Albuquerque.

 

[Bill Orange]

And thanks to the Lobo Classic, that was the genesis of the "standing and clapping" ritual that continues to this day.

They do, but they don't sit until both teams have scored a basket.

 

[OrangePA]

And thanks to the Lobo Classic, that was the genesis of the "standing and clapping" ritual that continues to this day.

True that!

 

[Dick_in_MI]

And thanks to the Lobo Classic, that was the genesis of the "standing and clapping" ritual that continues to this day.

Yep, yet another “tradition” that we stole from another school.

The only one that I can think of that I’m pretty sure we originated…I think it evolved when I was a student…was the “who’s he?” cheer. Of course, over time the University pushed back on it because it wasn’t exactly conducive to a family-friendly atmosphere. It was Class AAA high-culture for we adolescents in the Manley Zoo however. I still miss it.

There was a funny thing… I wouldn’t exactly call it a “tradition” but in the Zoo we would generally pick a random opposing bench player during warmups and cheer loudly for him everytime his shot went in. The opponents always warmed up at the Zoo end of the court in Manley. The one consistent element was that player was generally short and cocky-acting. Having selected and groomed our target, the Zoo would call continuously for that player to be inserted once the game got underway. When the coach put him in, the Zoo went nuts and cheered like crazy, all the while urging him to shoot every time he touched the ball. Of course, by now the kid was very aware of all the attention, was very nervous, and would generally miss every shot he took. In delight, the Zoo would laugh raucously and shout all sorts of derisive things at him. One night, an opposing player who was the recipient of such Zoo sportsmanship actually ran up into the stands and started swinging at random Zoo denizens. I was probably about ten rows up so he never got up to me but it was SU basketball entertainment at its finest.

Good times, good times.

 

[sutomcat]

Yep, yet another “tradition” that we stole from another school.

The only one that I can think of that I’m pretty sure we originated…I think it evolved when I was a student…was the “who’s he?” cheer. Of course, over time the University pushed back on it because it wasn’t exactly conducive to a family-friendly atmosphere. It was Class AAA high-culture for we adolescents in the Manley Zoo however. I still miss it.

There was a funny thing… I wouldn’t exactly call it a “tradition” but in the Zoo we would generally pick a random opposing bench player during warmups and cheer loudly for him everytime his shot went in. The opponents always warmed up at the Zoo end of the court in Manley. The one consistent element was that player was generally short and cocky-acting. Having selected and groomed our target, the Zoo would call continuously for that player to be inserted once the game got underway. When the coach put him in, the Zoo went nuts and cheered like crazy, all the while urging him to shoot every time he touched the ball. Of course, by now the kid was very aware of all the attention, was very nervous, and would generally miss every shot he took. In delight, the Zoo would laugh raucously and shout all sorts of derisive things at him. One night, an opposing player who was the recipient of such Zoo sportsmanship actually ran up into the stands and started swinging at random Zoo denizens. I was probably about ten rows up so he never got up to me but it was SU basketball entertainment at its finest.

Good times, good times.

Great story. DIck, you need to be a consultant for Otto's Army. This needs to happen.

 

[OrangePA]

Yep, yet another “tradition” that we stole from another school.

The only one that I can think of that I’m pretty sure we originated…I think it evolved when I was a student…was the “who’s he?” cheer. Of course, over time the University pushed back on it because it wasn’t exactly conducive to a family-friendly atmosphere. It was Class AAA high-culture for we adolescents in the Manley Zoo however. I still miss it.

There was a funny thing… I wouldn’t exactly call it a “tradition” but in the Zoo we would generally pick a random opposing bench player during warmups and cheer loudly for him everytime his shot went in. The opponents always warmed up at the Zoo end of the court in Manley. The one consistent element was that player was generally short and cocky-acting. Having selected and groomed our target, the Zoo would call continuously for that player to be inserted once the game got underway. When the coach put him in, the Zoo went nuts and cheered like crazy, all the while urging him to shoot every time he touched the ball. Of course, by now the kid was very aware of all the attention, was very nervous, and would generally miss every shot he took. In delight, the Zoo would laugh raucously and shout all sorts of derisive things at him. One night, an opposing player who was the recipient of such Zoo sportsmanship actually ran up into the stands and started swinging at random Zoo denizens. I was probably about ten rows up so he never got up to me but it was SU basketball entertainment at its finest.

Good times, good times.

The Zoo remains the most amazing and most intimidating fan section in the history of college athletics.

The students were funny and brutal.

I remember sitting behind the BC bench one game. I was so close I could hear what was being said in the huddle.

Whenever the coach, Bob Zuffelato, stood up the Zoo would crush him - "sit down!!!" He finally had to crawl to the sideline to communicate with his team on the floor. That is the honest to God truth.

I also remember that he spent an entire TO telling his team to calm down and ignore the Zoo. He spent no time on strategy.

The Zoo, combined with the "Shaft, It's Alright, What You See is What You Get Medley" and the Dennis Duval warm-up drill, made games at Manley as good as I have ever experienced.

SU Basketball has never been as much fun as it was back then.

 

[HastingsCuse]

A buddy of mine, here in Baltimore, put up 30 on the 'Cuse in the opener. He made the all tourney team. After the game JB said he wanted to give him a scholarship but alumni had pushed for another guy.

The opener was against LeMoyne. Was your buddy Gene Grey? He was only LeMoyne player to make the all-tourney team. (I was at the game as a LeMoyne student but I don't remember how many points he scored.)