Historical Association #5

[Wayne23]

11/20: 2-0 start. Cris Walk looks very good.

12/4: 5-1, RPI #54. We were awful in our last game. Only Walk played well. He gets 26.3, 7.0.

Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba will follow a path toward communism.

12/11: 400 US troops, along with helicopters, arrive in Vietnam.

12/16: Martin Luther King is arrested in Albany, GA.

12/25: We end pre-conf. play at 9-2. RPI #40. +10.3 PPG, +3.7 RBs, +5.7 TOs. Our guard play is WAY better than last season. Cris Walk is #3 in the nation in scoring with 27.1. Ron Stro gets 13.7.

Debbie’s special is done. It will air Saturday, January 14, on ABC. We are really excited.

[Wayne23]

1/1/1962: 10-2, 1-0, RPI #40. Easy road win with 5 players scoring 10 or more.

1/15: 14-2, 5-0, RPI #24. We are playing extremely well right now. We’ve beaten the teams that were picked to finish #1 and #2, and both games were on the road.

We finally have a committed recruit, our first. PG, #206.

Debbie’s special was great. She didn’t book a show last night so she could watch it. We watched it together. Her guest stars were Little Eva, who has a huge hit with “The Loco-motion,” and Dee Dee Sharp who has almost as big a hit with “Mashed Potatoes.” But the show was mostly Debbie, singing, and doing a couple of dance numbers. Her non-musical guest was Shelley Berman who did a very funny comedy routine. Let’s see what the ratings look like. We’ll know that in a couple of days.

1/19: Debbie did great in the ratings. Her agent says ABC is talking to him about a summer replacement series. Debbie is over the moon!

1/29: 17-2, 8-0, RPI #20. 3 game lead in the Big West. +12.5 PPG, +6.2 RBs, +4.1 TOs. Walk is getting 26.1 PPG.

Debbie signed for the Debbie Monroe Show, which will air this summer on Thursday at 9:00 on ABC. This is just wonderful! It will shoot mostly in L.A., with a couple shows coming from New York. They start shooting in late March.

Debbie said she could get my comedy magic act on but I’m not at that level, so I thanked her and said no.

2/12: 19-4, 10-2, RPI #25. 2 game lead. A 2 point loss on the road and a 3 point loss on the road.

2/26: We end the regular season 22-5, 13-3, 3 games up on 2nd place. RPI #23. +10.5 PPG, +5.6 RBs, +3.3 TOs. Walk gets 24.4 PPG.

[Wayne23]

3/1: We begin the Big West tournament against #8 seed Cal ST Fullerton, 10-17, 6-10. Beat them by 28 here but then lost by 3 there.

74-73. We were awful Down 10 with 4:22 left. Our leader, Cris Walk got the winner with .4 seconds left. We were lucky.

#4 seed Cal ST Northridge, 15-13, 9-7, in the semis. Beat them by 16 then lost by 14.

3/2: 81-60. MUCH better! 27, 6, 3, 4 for Walk, 12, 9 for Stro, 15 for Will. +13 RBs.

#3 seed Cal-Irvine, 16-13, 10-6, for the title. We beat them by 11, then lost by 3.

3/3: 78-61. 24, 5, 3 for Stro, 17, 7 for Walk. They both fouled out but it was late and it didn’t matter. +9 TOs.

25-5, 13-3, RPI #. Hoping for a #5 or #6 seed. We’ll see.

3/12: #7 East. We play #10 Minnesota, 16-12. First ever NCAA appearance for us.

3/16: 76-68. 26, 10, 4, 3 for Walk. We led by as many as 25.

#2 seed, #9 ranked UCLA, 28-6, in round 2. Tough matchup.

3/18: 74-95. We were in over our heads. 22, 6 for Stro, 21, 6 for Walk.

Great season!

4/3: #1 North Carolina wins it all.

Debbie has finished taping 3 shows for her summer series. I love them all. I was there when I could be, settled for Debbie’s descriptions for the other parts. Got to meet Ray Charles, Neil Sedaka, and Dion, of Dion and the Belmonts, and comedian Red Skelton. All of them were guests on one show or another.

4/4: Awards: Cris Walk is Big West POY, Def. POY, and 1st team, along with Ron Stro. Dave Lake made 2nd team. I was Conf. COY.

4/9: Let’s see what we get for job offers. Nothing impressive but my A. D. is moving us to a stronger conf., the Big Sky. I’ll take it.

4/16: We get 3 recruits! A C, #100, another C, #207, and an SG, #327. I’d REALLY like to get another guard.

Walter Cronkite debuts as anchor of CBS Evening News.

4/23: I ask for a budget increase. Got $6,650.

26-6, 13-3, 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. Overall, I’m 60-34, .638.

Debbie has finished taping her summer TV series. She has attracted some terrific guests- Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Nat “King” Cole, Chubby Checker, Sam Cooke, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, and comedians Red Skelton, George Gobel, Sid Caesar, Steve Allen, and a bunch of others. I think this show is going to be a smash!

Debbie’s latest single, “Us,” is #1 on the charts. That’s two #1 hits in a row. My girlfriend could not be more on fire!

[Wayne23]

5/1: We’re officially in the Big Sky Conf.

5/24: A soccer riot in Peru leaves 300 dead and another 500 seriously injured.

5/31: Adolf Eichmann is hanged in Israel for crimes against humanity.

6/5: Looking at transfers.

6/12: No luck.

Debbie’s 1st show was #9 in the Nielsen ratings.

6/26: 7 scholarships. We want 3 guards.

8/5: Marilyn Monroe dies of a drug overdose.

8/21: We offer to 4 PGs, 2 PFs, and a C.

8/28: Debbie’s last TV show aired tonight. The overnight ratings placed it at #7. Every show was in the top 10. She hasn’t been offered a Fall show, but both ABC and CBS are in negotiations for her to replace the first show that is dropped. Her agent said that they should only accept if they get a good time slot. In the TV industry some nights, Friday for instance, are ratings nightmares. So it’s a waiting game now.

Debbie’s singles and albums continue to sell really well, and she won’t admit it but I think she may be a millionaire.

9/18: Another soft schedule.

9/25: We get a PG, #431, and lose a C.

9/27: “Silent Spring” is published.

10/2: We get another PG, #168, but we lose 2 bigs.

1st day of practice. I like this team but I wish I had one more decent guard.

We’re picked to finish 2nd in the Big Sky.

James Meredith integrates the University of Mississippi among violence and turmoil.

10/9: We get a PF, #128, and lose a PG.

10/15: “Debbie and Carol,” featuring Debbie along with singer/ songwriter Carol King, debuts on CBS on Tuesday at 8:00.

The Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink of nuclear destruction. Tension is extremely high worldwide as everyone watches and waits to see if humanity will survive.

10/29: Nikita Khrushchev’s sanity saves the world from nuclear destruction.

11/6: 7 man rotation:

Soph Kyle Wily, a transfer from NC ST, starts at the Point. Juco junior Tony Cole starts at SG, subs at PG. Senior Don Will subs at SG.

Senior Jess Paul starts at SF with senior Kal Owen subbing there.

Senior Mal Koss starts at PF. Junior Cris Walk starts at C. Senior Rob King subs at PF and C.

There will be changes.

7 of our 9 pre-conf. games are on the road.

“Debbie and Carol” has been in the 20s in the Nielsen ratings. That’s good enough to be renewed, if it continues.

[Wayne23]

11/20: 1-1 in 2 road games. Cis Walk is our best player but he’s getting some help. Given the number of road games 5-4 heading into the conf. would be fine; 6-3 would be terrific!

Crap! 2 of our 3 committed recruits, a PG and a PF, don’t sign, which means they won’t hit our SAT score. CRAP!

12/4: 4-2. We’re more talented than we were last season. That means Walk is scoring fewer points, but he’s just as valuable to us!

Sen.Mike Mansfield goes on a “fact finding” tour of Vietnam. He says every dollar the U. S. has spent there in the past 7 years has been wasted, and that the Diem regime is so corrupt, they will never capture the support of the people.

Debbie broke up with me last night. She says she’s just too busy for a relationship. Frankly, I think there’s a new guy. I’m disappointed, but not angry with her. The kind of fame she’s experiencing makes it really tough to lead anything resembling a normal life. I told her I’m still her biggest fan, and I wished her well. Oh, and I meant it.

12/18: We get a commitment from a PF (#385). He’s a Juco, so he’s in. No SAT score to worry about.

12/25: 6-3, and I’m happy with that! RPI #206- hey, it was a soft schedule. +3.6 PPG, +4.1 RBs, +3.3 TO. Walk is scoring 20.3 per game.

Cuba frees all 1113 surviving invaders from the Bay of Pigs in exchange for $53 million in food.

Just reflecting on the relationship with Debbie. It’s a lonely holiday season. One of my big thrills was meeting Chet Baker when he was a guest on her show. It occurred to me that I can sing like that, and I’m slowly incorporating a song or two in his style into my comedy magic act. It’s going over pretty well.

Debbie seems to be dating Don Everly. Okay, at least in a show biz sense, that’s a definite step up. I’ve met Don and he seems like a nice guy.

[Wayne23]

1/1/1963: 7-4, 1-1, RPI #161. This conf. is going to challenge us. As he did last season, Don Will has worked his way into the starting lineup- as of now. His skill set is not exceptional but no one I have coached or played with works harder, both in games and in practice.

I have to say that I feel like I’m so much better as a coach here in my 4th season. I made LOTS of mistakes in year 1- game coaching, designing an effective practice, recruiting… It’s a complex job. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I keep a journal and a notebook, and I record the mistakes I catch. That helps me to avoid repeating them. Having said all of that, I LOVE this job!

1/11: George Wallace is inaugurated as Gov. of Alabama. His speech features the phrase, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”

1/15: 9-6, 3-3, RPI 101. The conf. is a step up, and we’re learning to play at this elevated level. We’ll get there.

Got the shock of my life. My agent says we’re going to release “My Funny Valentine” as a single, with “All of Me” as the B side. He says my Chet Baker singing style really works and he thinks this record could make some noise. Never in my wildest dreams. It will be out in about 3 weeks.

1/29: 3-6, 7-3, RPI #87. In a 2 way tie for 2nd, 1 back of 1st. We’ve stepped up our game! +3.8 PPG, +4.9 RBs, +2.5 TOs. 23.6, 7.6 for Walk. 12.1 for Don Will, 11.9 for
Tony Cole, so we can score both inside and outside. A 2nd inside offensive threat would be huge, but we don’t have it.

As expected, 2 committed recruits did not hit our SAT score. About a dozen guys we’re chasing didn’t hit it, either, including a PG we had offered to. Oh well, the chase goes on.

2/7: I now have a single on the market. Can’t wait to see how it does!

2/12: 15-8, 9-5. RPI #80. 3 of our last 4 are at home. 35, 19 for Walk in our last game. That’s impressive!

2/14: “My Funny Valentine” enters the Top 40 at #39. Amazing!

2/19: 4 way tie for 1st with a week left. Our last 2 are both at home, which gives us a definite edge.

2/26: We end the regular season 18-9, 12-6, alone in first! 4.3 PPG, +5.2 RBs, +2.9 TOs. 23.1, 8.0 for Walk.

My record is at #23 in the Top 40!

[Wayne23]

3/3: We play #8 seed Idaho, 13-15, 9-9, in the first round. There are at least 5 teams that could win this thing, maybe more. We won by 13 at our place.

3/4: 74-66. We led most of the way but it was close for a very long time. 19, 6 for Walk, wo was double teamed whenever he got the ball. 20 for PG Don Will.

All of the favorites won so we face #4 seed, Weber ST, 18-12, 11-7, in the semis. They won by 13 there, then we won by 9 at our place. This won’t be easy. They’re very good inside, 3 very good inside players.

3/5: 76-83. We blew a 22 point lead. 2nd half score: 28-51. Awful! 37 for Cris Walk, but he didn’t get much help.

19-10, 12-6, RPI #90. I’m guessing NIT.

3/12: NIT, #8 West. We play #1 seed Pepperdine, 20-10. They’re very good outside. Walk needs to come up big.

“My Funny Valentine” peaked at #17. Not bad. It has sold over 700,000 copies so far. Next up? Another standard, “Don’t Smoke in Bed,” with “My Buddy” on the B side.

3/14: 72-64. 30 and 7 for Walk, but the story was D. We doubled the ball whenever one of their guards had it. Their starting guards combined for 5-29. I’m really proud of this. It was my idea, and we taught it to our guys, who executed it beautifully.

#5 seed Brigham Young, 22-11. Another outside team, but a tougher one. We’re going to try the same defensive strategy.

3/16: 78-75. 38 for PG Don Will, 11, 1 for Walk, who was doubled all night. Their starting guards combined for 5-18, so we did the job. Will hit a 22 footer at the buzzer for the win. Exciting!

#6 seed Richmond, 20-12, in the round of 8. This looks like an even match up.

3/21: 73-56, and we’re in the NIT Final Four! 13, 8 for Rob King, 16 for Walk, who fouled out early. It was truly a team effort. +11 RBs, +6 TOs. A week off before the next game.

Western Carolina, 22-11, a #2 seed, in the round of 4. They’re a 3.5 point favorite.

3/28: 81-90. The refs beat us. We had two guys foul out- our starting guards, and 3 others with 4 fouls. They had no one with more than 3. 23, 8 for Walk, 20, 4, 3 for Will.

Still, what a thrill to get to the NIT Final Four! Great season!

4/3: #2 North Carolina wins its 3rd in a row!

“Don’t Smoke in Bed” is released.

Marquette beat Western Carolina by 7 in the NIT.

4/4: Cris Walk is POY and 1st team in the Big Sky. I get Conf. COY.

4/9: UAB wants me and I’m tempted. Waiting for other offers… I’m not much of a Southern guy but… San Diego ST. That’s actually more tempting…

And I’m going to San Diego ST in the Mountain West. This is a good team. They went 19-11 this season and they’re only losing one guy who plays at all, an SF.

“Don’t Smoke in Bed” is #19.

4/16: I get a couple of late recruits and hire an awful #1 assistant.

4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade. Got it! We go from C to B.

22-11 season. Overall, I’m 82-45, .646.

“Don’t Smoke…” is at #14. I’m in the studio recording my next single, “You’d Be So Easy to Love,” and the album of standards, “So Easy.”

I do a club act that is less and less comedy magic and more and more singing. I do a lot of Fridays, and some Sundays. We usually have games on Saturday. When we travel my agent tries to book gigs in or near the city where I’m appearing. Juggling two careers isn’t easy, but I’m having a ball!

[Wayne23]

5/1: National basic.

6/5: Nobody in the transfer pool.

6/11: In Saigon a Buddhist monk self-immolates.

6/12: Medgar Evers is assassinated.

6/17: The U. S. Supreme Court rules that forced group prayer in schools is unconstitutional.

Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.

6/20: The “hot line” is set up between the U. S. and the USSR.

6/26: 6 scholarships. We want 4 bigs.

“Don’t Smoke in Bed” peaked at #11.

“You’d Be So Easy to Love,” and the album of standards, “So Easy,” are released. Debbie called me. She wants me on her show when they start up again in September. Of course I said yes!

8/21: We offer to 2 PGs, 3 PFs, and a C.

Vietnamese Buddhist monks continue to self-immolate.

8/28: MLK, Jr. delivers his “I have a Dream” speech in D.C.

9/18: We have a couple guys interested.

Soft schedule.

The single is #14. The album #55.

9/25: We get a C, #359, lose a PF.

In an interview with Walter Cronkite, JFK says the South Vietnamese government has lost the support of the people. He defends U. S. action in South Vietnam by invoking the idiotic “domino theory.”

10/2: We get 3 more, a PF, #374, and 2 PGs, #459, 593. We lose a PF.

1st day of practice. We’re picked 5th in the 11 team conf.

10/24: U. N. ambassador Adlai Stevenson is attacked violently in Dallas.

10/30: We get a PF. One more.

11/1: A coup overthrows the Diem government in South Vietnam.

11/6: 9 man rotation:

Junior Jim Gibs starts at PG, subs at SG. Senior Lee Vick is at SG. Soph Ivan Lowe, and frosh Jay Barr sub at the Point.

Soph Neil Dean starts at SF, subs at PF. Junior Ono Tari, and senior Brad Hort sub at SF.

Senior Jim Rudd starts at PF, subs at C.

Senior Walt Jarr starts at C.

[Wayne23]

11/20: 2-0 start. SG Lee Vick and PF Jim Rudd are leading the way so far.

All 5 recruits sign.

I finally made the Debbie and Carol show last week. It was fun. Debbie introduced me as “a dear, dear friend who was there at the very beginning. He supported me at a time when my career could have gone either way, and I’ll never forget him for that…”

I sang “You’d Be So Easy to Love,” and “My Buddy,” the latter to Debbie. We laughed about me doing my magic act, but I declined.

After the show I got a call from Frank Sinatra on the phone in the studio. I was pretty much in shock, but I managed to hear what he had to say, and I HOPE my answers made sense.

“Kid, you’re out Chet Baker-ing Chet Baker. I really like your style.”

He said that he wants me on his next TV special when he does one in the spring. I couldn’t say “yes” quick enough. It wasn’t a long conversation, but it will live in my “highlight film” for the rest of my life!

11/22: President Kennedy is shot and killed in a motorcade in Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested very quickly and charged with the crime, but conspiracy theories will abound for decades. Lyndon Johnson becomes President.

11/24: Jack Ruby shoots and kills Oswald on national television.

11/29: The Warren Commission is appointed.

12/1: Malcolm X describes the assassination of President Kennedy as “the chikcens coming home to roost.” This begins a falling out with Elijah Muhammed and the “Nation of Islam” which will end in Malcolm X’s murder.

12/4: 5-1. RPI #150. Morgan ST beat us by 15 there. Poor D and worse ball handling did us in. Didn’t expect to go undefeated.

SG Lee Vick leads us with 18.2. The other 4 starters are all playing well.

12/25: 8-1 going to conf. play. RPI #+9.2 PPG, +7.0 RBs, +3.1 TOs. 20.1 for Vick. Rudd gets 8.4 RBs.

[Wayne23]

1/1/1964: 9-1, 1-0.

1/8: LBJ declares “War on Poverty.”

1/15: 11-4, 3-3, RPI #74. Tied for 4th in the Mountain West.

Beatlemania arrives! “I want to Hold Your Hand” is released in the U. S.

1/29: 14-5, 6-4, RPI #57. +4.1 PPG, +4.0 RBs, +3.1 TOs. Alone in 3rd.

2/12: 19-5, 11-4. RPI #39. Tied for 2nd.

2/25: Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammed Ali, knocks out Sonny Liston to win the heavyweight title.

2/26: We end the regular season 21-6, 13-5, alone in 2nd. RPI #38. +6.8 PPG, +4.7 RBs, +2.8 TOs. Vick scored 18.3. 12.3 and 9.2 for Jim Rudd.