Blast from the past - Great story by Jerry Carino
- Thread starter Halldan1
- Start date
People think racism is bad now. I was too young to remember any of this but I was born of the next generation and know how bad it was when I grew up first in Newark and eventually in Bloomfield.
I remember the race riots in Newark and seeing military tanks traveling down Bloomfield Ave from where I used to play ball with freinds during that summer. It was a frightening sight. It felt like we were a country at war with ourselves.
I remember the race riots in Newark and seeing military tanks traveling down Bloomfield Ave from where I used to play ball with freinds during that summer. It was a frightening sight. It felt like we were a country at war with ourselves.
Well the country did go to war against itself 100 years prior, in which the city of Newark strongly supported the south. imagine how crazy that was. the race riots seemed like an absolutely absurd time. you cant do anything but admire the players who had to overcome this kind of stuff.
Walter Dukes.... one of a kind. On and off the court. What a great Pirate hero.
Great article by Jerry and great team that did the right thing all around. SHU should be proud of the history that was made especially for standing shoulder to shoulder with Walter Dukes in a very different time.
Wow his wikipedia page is short but pretty crazy
Walter F. Dukes (June 23, 1930 – February, 2001) was a center for the New York Knicks (1955–1956), Minneapolis Lakers (1956–1957) and Detroit Pistons (1957–1963).
Born in Rochester, New York, Dukes played high school basketball at Seton Hall Preparatory School, and attended Seton Hall University. He graduated from New York Law School in 1960.[1]
Dukes helped the Lakers win the 1956–57 NBA Western Division in his second season. While with the Pistons, he was named to the 1960 and 1961 NBA All-Star West Teams. Dukes averaged double figures in rebounds in six of his eight seasons in the NBA, and had career averages of 11.3 rebounds per game and 10.4 points per game.
Dukes led the NBA in personal fouls in 1958 (311) and 1959 (332) and led the NBA in disqualifications four consecutive seasons between 1958–59 and 1961–62[2] — still an NBA record. His 121 career disqualifications (in only eight seasons) rank second in the NBA to Vern Mikkelsen, and he holds the record for the highest career percentage of games fouled out (21.9%) for any player with over 400 games played.[3]
On March 14, 2001, Dukes was found dead in his apartment in Detroit, Michigan. According to a police spokesman, he had been dead for about a month when his body was found. He died of natural causes, aged 70.[4]
Walter F. Dukes (June 23, 1930 – February, 2001) was a center for the New York Knicks (1955–1956), Minneapolis Lakers (1956–1957) and Detroit Pistons (1957–1963).
Born in Rochester, New York, Dukes played high school basketball at Seton Hall Preparatory School, and attended Seton Hall University. He graduated from New York Law School in 1960.[1]
Dukes helped the Lakers win the 1956–57 NBA Western Division in his second season. While with the Pistons, he was named to the 1960 and 1961 NBA All-Star West Teams. Dukes averaged double figures in rebounds in six of his eight seasons in the NBA, and had career averages of 11.3 rebounds per game and 10.4 points per game.
Dukes led the NBA in personal fouls in 1958 (311) and 1959 (332) and led the NBA in disqualifications four consecutive seasons between 1958–59 and 1961–62[2] — still an NBA record. His 121 career disqualifications (in only eight seasons) rank second in the NBA to Vern Mikkelsen, and he holds the record for the highest career percentage of games fouled out (21.9%) for any player with over 400 games played.[3]
On March 14, 2001, Dukes was found dead in his apartment in Detroit, Michigan. According to a police spokesman, he had been dead for about a month when his body was found. He died of natural causes, aged 70.[4]
Also interesting to me: http://www.espn.com/classic/obit/dukes_walter_obit.html
Dukes has a different number in every pic of him on google.
Dukes has a different number in every pic of him on google.
I've seen the Life Magazine story and I got chills reading the account with the big photo. Honey Russell's son wrote a book about his dad and there were several pages about this game that went into even greater detail. I gave the book to my old pal Fordham 57, who probably has it sitting on a shelf in his library. Jerry Izenberg wrote a tremendous story about this game upon the Pirates first return to Louisville after the incident, some 50+ years later.
I've got this somewhere in my house. I think I know where it is, but I haven't seen, nor looked for it, in some years. It's there, though. Never would've tossed it.
Dick Gaines spoke at a Booster Club event while having many accomplishments, being most proud of winning( in mid 50's) a southern tournament MVP not because of how well he played but because of all the prejudice.
A GREAT Seton Hall player and person.
A GREAT Seton Hall player and person.
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I have stated before and I will state again that I will personally pay for the cost of a banner to commemorate walter dukes 734 rebound in the 52 - 53 season.
That still stands as the single season rebound record after all these years.
All you need to do is average 24 or so rebounds for a full season and the ncaa tounament and you might start to sniff that number.
Odd that it would take someone paying for it to happen. Nice if you to offer though
