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Did you go to school with anyone in pro sports???
Hallco
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in Sports Talk
To quote Bruce Springsteen..."I had a friend who was a big baseball player...back in high school".
He was drafted out of High School in 1988, but he never made it past Double A. He played a few years and eventually was given release and no one else was interested in him. I worked with a guy several years ago that went to high school with a current player, Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers. It got me wondering if anyone on the forum went to school with anyone in the pros. And if so, do you still communicate with the person?
He was drafted out of High School in 1988, but he never made it past Double A. He played a few years and eventually was given release and no one else was interested in him. I worked with a guy several years ago that went to high school with a current player, Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers. It got me wondering if anyone on the forum went to school with anyone in the pros. And if so, do you still communicate with the person?
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When I was a senior playing varsity, the school sophmore team had a 6'8" 15 year old, uncoordinated, skinney, clumsy kid playing center for it. His body had grown so fast that his large and small motor skills had not caught up with his physical growth. I was an average player and I could run circles around him.
Next year he got alot better as his coordination caught up with him. He grew even taller and by the time he graduated high shcool he was 7'0" tall. He went to Purdue and played four years from 1976-77 to 1979-1980. When he graduated from Purdue he got drafted in the top 5 in the 1980 draft. He played NBA ball for a number of years and made the All Star team a couple of times. He had great skills but at the pro level, he was criticized for not having the intensity needed to excel. His name is Joe Barry Carroll. A very good player, who could have had a better pro career if he was one dimensional [he came from a middle class background instead of from a broken family in the hood].
When I played, a player on another league team had an NBA career that was shortened by drug abuse. He was 6'3" in high school and led the state tournament in rebounding. He went to Montana for four years. In 1978 he was the #3 pick inthe NBA draft. He is Michael, "Sugar Ray" Richardson. He was a great player in the NBA until David Stern issued a life time ban from the league due to his drug use. He left the USA and played 15-20 years in European pro leagues. He retired in the early 2000's and came back to the USA.
One of my teachers was the twin brother of Terry Forster (although he was much thinner than Terry)
Steve
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
If you showed up late to that class, the teacher (short, around 5 feet tall on a good day) would stop talking and stare at you until you found your seat. Olowokandi showed up 10 min late one day. The teacher did his typical silent stare down. You can imagine how silly it looked when the 7 foot tall Olowokandi walked past the 5 foot tall teacher who was trying his best to look intimidating. Even the teacher realized how ridiculous he must have looked and broke into a chuckle before resuming his lesson.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
<< <i>Went to high school and played one year, my senior and his sophmore year, of baseball with Denny Neagle. He suprised me with how good he turned out to be, no contact from me, although a few friends of mine still communicate with him. >>
Denny was a spaz back then wasn't he. I met him when he was already a Gopher and he would go up to Grand Slam on Vandalia and just take these huge cuts. Didn't hit much. I didn't see how he could be that good, but he did look great for a while as a big leaguer.
Sat the bench as season and watched Ligtenberg pitch his freshmen season at U of M Morris. I guess I was on the team, but I don't think I played an inning that year.
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
In 2006, he played AAA ball in Albuquerque for the Marlins and led the team in hitting and fielding average. No call up. In 2008, his last year, he played in the independant Atlantic League for the York Revolution were he hit .321 and had a 30 game hit streak. Guys that were hitting .260 got calls but not him.
Just to give you an idea of the kind of ball player and clubhouse leader he was, the Marlins moved him down from AAA to AA in 2005 to catch their up-and-coming pitchers - Scott Olsen, and Josh Joshson. Those Mudcats won the AA Southern League Championchip with Chris catching in 2003 with Dontrell Willis, and Miguel Cabrera (both of whom were called-up early in that season). Last year, I saw a Marlins pre-game show featuring Josh Johnson and he praised Chris and thanked him for his leadership in 2005 in helping him become the pitcher he is today. That's high praise coming from one of the best pitchers in the game today.
Not school, but I recently played again (and beat) Steve Braun (the old Cardinal) in a County Better Ball Tournament.
That guy is STILL looks like he's made out of concrete.
...and my best friend's cousin is Kyle Gibson:
That's about as cool as I get.
His dad Terry played his final season w/ the Skins.
Eric was an amazing long jumper.
Played against and saw tons of pros when we played Dematha in basketball.
Adrian Dantley was a beast in High School.
My older cousin had some great battles against him.
<< <i>I went to the University of Minnesota when Brock Lesnar was wrestling there. Had him in one class - and he is huge! I am a big guy standing 6' and weighing around 275#s, but when I stood nice to Lesnar, I felt very small. The guy is a beast! >>
Wrestling is getting really popular on the forums!
This chick used to run circles around the guys. From what I remember she actually used to run against the men just to train for States and New Englands since the females in our conference weren't competitive enough for her.
Every time I ever saw her run cross country she'd be finishing as people were coming around on their middle legs/loops/laps. (depending on the course)
At conference meets she dominated pretty effortlessly, I don't think I ever saw her lose a race now that I'm thinking about it.
I guess that's why she won a bronze medal in Beijing...
On a side note I ran with a guy Craig Mielcarz for a couple of years. Here's his write up for being elected into our high school athletic hall of fame, the most notable of which being that he won the national high jump in 98.
CRAIG D. MIELCARZ (Class of 1999) was one of the greatest track and field athletes in Salem High history. A four-year letterwinner in both indoor and outdoor track, he captained both sports as a senior (winning NEC MVP in both) and was a two-time winner of the Moynihan Lumber Student-Athlete of the Year program. He holds the NEC records in both the indoor and outdoor high jump as well as the 300 meter hurdles outdoors. Craig was a three-time Class B state champion, a four-time All-State champion, two-time New England champion, two-time Dartmouth Relay champion and placed third at the Penn Relays. He won the Indoor National high jump title in 1998 (6 feet 9 3/4 inches) and was an All-American selection as a junior. Twice he captured the State Pentathlon crowns, as well as the State Decathlon as a senior while finishing second in the National Pentathlon. Craig is the school record holder in the high jump (6-10), 50 yard high hurdles (6.6), 300m hurdles (38.7) and 110m hurdles (14.8). He went on to achieve Division 3 All-American status while at MIT.
Craig was a jerk who was only concerned with his numbers though. He would slack off during practices and meets unless there was a scout present, and would drive to and from meets on his own, not riding with the team and often leaving meets after his events. Probably why he never went on to bigger things. He was naturally gifted but never worked to improve his abilities.
pirate fans out there, Paul Wagner was also a college teammate, but hurt his arm after 1 season.
I played LL against a guy who was signed by the Brewers, Fran (Italiano). Fran wasn't very tall but in those days some guys had it and most didn't. You could hear, but not necessarily see his heater, and I remember playing right field when he smoked a one hopper to me that I can still hear humming. Bzzzzzzzzzztttttttttt. I knew then and there that I wasn't cut out for big league (meaning high school lol) ball.
Funny thing is now that I'm 41 1/2, I bet I can hit high schoolers AND K a couple with my knuckler. Too bad I graduated with Honors, otherwise I might have a little eligibility left...
Went to school with Josh Booty. I know, not a star but he was here. Could have been a star if he had stuck with football.
<< <i>I was the valedictorian of Bret Saberhagen's 1982 H.S. graduating class. Guess which one of us went on to greater financial success. >>
At least he cut his hair that final year.
Any cool Saberhagen stories?
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
Reese Wallace was drafted by Seattle in 1990, but never made it to the bigs.
Chris Seelbach was drafted by Atlanta in 1991, and appeared in the Stadium Club Dome set, but never made it to the bigs.
Chad Alexander was drafted by Cincinnati in 1992, but opted to go to Texas A&M. He was drafted again after college and appeared in the 1996 Bowman set.
Currently collecting 1934 Butterfinger, 1969 Nabisco, 1991 Topps Desert Shield (in PSA 9 or 10), and 1990 Donruss Learning Series (in PSA 10).
<< <i>I was the valedictorian of Bret Saberhagen's 1982 H.S. graduating class. Guess which one of us went on to greater financial success. >>
Just picked up the yearbook to go with my 1980. Still interested in any Saberhagen stories you have.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
Dwight Evan
MIke Milbury
Ken Hodge
brad park
Chris ford
Didnt know him personally. But kind of suprised when I read online, or heard on espn, "hey, I remember that guy." To make it to the NFL is an unbelievable goal.
In college, there were future pro athletes everywhere NBA: Monty Williams, Laphonso Ellis, MLB: Craig Counsell, Dan Peltier WNBA-Coquese Washington, Michelle Marciniak NFL- Jeff Alm, Ned Bolcar, Mike Brennan, Tony Brooks, Reggie Brooks, Jerome Bettis, Rick Mirer, Derek Brown, Rodney Culver, Bob Dahl, Tim Grunhard, Mike Heldt, Rocket Ismail, Anthony Johnson, Andre Jones, Scott Kowalkowski, Todd Lyght, Gene McGuire, Rod Smith, Michael Stonebreaker, Pat Terrell, Ricky Watters, Chris Zorich, Reggie Brooks, Craig Hentrich, Stan Smagala, Lake Dawson, Irv Smith, Pete Bercich, Bobby Taylor, Demetrius Dubose, etc., etc., etc.
Made for some great pickup basketball games at ND.
Mike
I had the pleasure of doing battle with 'Tra Thomas in H.S,he was a beast back then for Deland
H.S.,Chipper Jones played baseball in Pierson .I watched Vince Carter fly thru the rafters at Mainland
right here id Daytona Bch,it was 2yrs later but my cousin played on the 95 team when they won it all.
Needs'
1972 Football-9's high#'s
1965 Football-8's
1958 Topps FB-7-8
The guy only spend a few weeks learning to long jump and triple jump and ended up finishing in the top 10 in the High School State Championships in one of those events. Our coach, who was a former olympic qualifier, stated that this kid is Olympic material. he never got his act together. Constantly missed practice, was on academic probation, etc.
The biggest waste of talent I have ever seen.
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Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
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