KSU BASKETBALL

Since I just finished watching a Kansas State men's basketball game on tv, I'm reminded of the many years that I have endured the ecstasy and occasional heartbreak of following the Wildcats sports teams over the years. My first experiences probably spoiled me because I first started listening to KSU basketball in the mid 1950s, when they had some of best teams in Wildcat history. I was weaned on names like Bob Boozer, Jack Paar, Wally Frank, and the like. The coach at the time was the now legendary Fred (Tex) Winter. It must have been in the early 1960s when Tex brought his team to play an intrasquad game in the new (at that time) Riley County High School gym. I watched in awe at the amazing athletic abilities of those players. Seven footer Roger Suttner played in that game and did indeed seem larger than life. I even summoned the courage to ask Tex for his autograph that night. I kept that small signed piece of paper for many years until a few years ago when in a fit of cleaning out old things, I tossed it out. Wish I had it back.


I remember sitting at home listening to the (also legendary) sportscaster Dev Nelson call the games. Often I would keep a log of players stats as I listened. I became so obsessed that a few times when there was no game to be heard, I would sit down with a pencil and paper and make up and record my own play by play. Needless to say KSU always won those games.

Later when I was a bit older, after listening to a game the night before, I would be outside shooting baskets at my goal (attached to the front of a tin covered outbuilding) and pretending to be Willie Murrell with his nifty moves smoothly drifting across the lane to sink a running jump shot to win the imaginary overtime game.


I wonder what my childhood would have been like had I not developed such an avid interest in those teams and broadcasts. It was certainly great food for thought for a young boy with a healthy imagination. And most of those memories are still as fresh as if they happened yesterday.