Feb. 8, 2006
Where has all the time gone? It is time to congratulate the Big Five on its 50th anniversary this season. The city of Brothely Love has seen some great players and teams, numerous coaching legends and excitement galore.
When you think about the Big Five, you think about the Palestra, one of the great places for college basketball. Talk about enthusiasm and excitement, just look at the events over the years, when a Villanova hooked up with Temple or Penn. Games with LaSalle and St. Joe's, hey, these were special. It was more than just a game because pride was at stake, bragging rights within the city.
There were so many outstanding players from these rivalry games. LaSalle had Tom Gola, who was Larry Bird before there was a Larry Bird. He led the Explorers to super success. LaSalle also produced the likes of Michael Brooks and the late Kenny Durrett. If you followed basketball for years, you'd remember Temple's outstanding backcourt of Hal Lear and the late Guy Rodgers. They made beautiful music together; they were so magical.
More recently, St. Joe's had the dynamic duo of Jameer Nelson and Delonte West that led the Hawks to an incredible season until heartbreak hotel came against Oklahoma State and Eddie Sutton's team led by John Lucas. Nelson went on to be national player of the year and both players moved on to the NBA!
Villanova had tremendous talent, from old school Paul Arizin to new school Ed Pinckney. LaSalle had Lionel Simmons scoring like crazy. Penn went to the Final Four in 1979, led by Tony Price, a player I drafted when I was with the Pistons. The Quakers had some great teams under Dick Harter and Chuck Daly.
Think about some of the other great coaches -- our own Dr. Jack Ramsay, Jack McKinney and Jim Lynam at St. Joe's. George Senesky coached the Hawks and was a standout on the NBA sidelines. There was Harry Litwack and John Chaney at Temple. At Villanova, there was Al Severance, Jack Kraft, and memories of Rollie Massimino winning the national title.
Wow, what a trip down memory lane, baby! Congrats to the Big Five on being so special, and these rivalry games still mean so much today! It has withstood the test of time to produce so many special moments.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
