RIP John Thompson

[Fat tire 13]

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That whole sweater subplot was hilarious. Makes me miss the 1980s Big East when all these coaches were larger than life characters, and the rivalries were fierce

RIP Big John

 

[Arangeman]

JB on Dan Patrick. Shared an anecdote I either didn’t know or had forgotten. The second hand he shook after Roy Williams when we won in ‘03 was John Thompson’s. He was court side doing radio with Raf.

 

[rrlbees]

RIP Big John. Some of my best SU b-ball memories were SU-Gtown games.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

 

[JKinPhilly]

RIP to a coaching legend. I despised his teams with the fire of a thousand suns, but no denying he was great for the game and for the Big East.

 

[OrangeOnions]

Mike Greenberg, commenting on the passing of Big John, said that Syracuse vs Georgetown will always be what college basketball looked like, sounded like and felt like to him.

 

[Eric15]

My favorite JT memory - I was at a game (96 I think) and he and JB were talking with the ref. JT jokingly shoved Boeheim. The crowd roared and I screamed “Cmon Jimmy, you can take him!” Glad they weren’t actually fighting

Every SU fan watching stopped breathing for like 2 seconds until they realized he was joking.

 

[djcon57]

with all the crap you see about student athletes being hired guns these days...John knew the benefit that some of these guys, who had no chance to get into G Town otherwise, and made sure they got their degrees.

 

[Vshukla]

Ali needed Frazier to reach his full greatness.

Without Larry and the Celtics, there would be no Magic and the Lakers.

Federer and Nadal needed each other to push themselves to be their best.

Without Dusty Rhodes, Flair and the Horsemen wouldn’t have been as cool as they were.

Without Big John and the Hoyas, we wouldn’t be who we are.

If Coach Boeheim and DC say good things about JT, then my hatred of all things GTown is matched with respect for him.

 

[joct]

I remember hearing a little about this back then...quite a story

 

[CuseFaninVT]

 

[RandygoCuse]

How many college coaches have coached 4 Hall Of Famers?

 

[Briancuse]

How many college coaches have coached 4 Hall Of Famers?

Iverson Ewing Mourning. Who's the 4th Dikembe?

 

[721Comstock]

Iverson Ewing Mourning. Who's the 4th Dikembe?

Correct.

 

[SU94]

Some solid insights in here for our youngins who talk about UConn and Duke (gimme a break).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/syracuse-vs-georgetown-the-oral-history/2013/03/06/91fa40b0-85e1-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_32&itid=lk_inline_manual_48

 

[Eric15]

I can’t believe I never realized that Thompson played for the Celtics and has a couple rings.

 

[DonLightfoot]

Oh my, very sad. RIP Big John

 

[OrangeDW]

There's revisionist history here.
And no mention that he pioneered the recruiting of thugs.
But he was a good game coach and an excellent foil.

“thugs” like Iverson?

 

[kuethstheman]

“thugs” like Iverson?

Well... yes.

He was able to mold some, moreso than others.

 

[OrangeDW]

Well... yes.

He was able to mold some, moreso than others.

Not sure why that’s a bad thing to some. IMO he should be commended for giving kids an opportunity that others wouldn’t, and in some cases helping to put them on a better path.

IMO, the “thug” criticism should be limited to overly physical on court play - which GTown was certainly often guilty of.

We’ve recruited our share of kids that some would be willing to write off as “thugs” too.

 

[The Ack]

Man, ...hate GT...but...

This news was shocking. The context and perspective it has illuminated encapsulates the contradictions that befall a diehard fan of any sports team. So many on this forum hate GT but attach a life changing moment in their fandom to JT and his relationship to SU. That seems like the ultimate tribute to me.

 

[Briancuse]

Really cool touch Ernie Charles Kenny and shaq all have towels on their shoulders.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I said it in the Gore thread and it’s even more appropriate now, what a tough weekend for the old Big East. Rest easy JT2.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Damn. Too many old rivals gone this year.

 

[BraintreeB]

Shocking news. JT was great for CB and for the Cuse. I was at the last game at Manley and that quote by JT still resonates with me. The Manley FH is officially closed quote was the official start of the rivalry that I so much enjoyed over the years. As much as we all loved to hate the Hoyas we were so fortunate to see those Georgetown teams come into our house and frustrate the heck out of us. RIP Coach Thompson.