I Became a Shocker Fan....

[SHOXAAC]

I voted Ralph Miller but i think I really came of age in the Gary Thompson era after Ralph left. My mom and dad were season tickets holders and took me to many games when I wasn't much taller than a grasshopper. I remember struggling to carry mom's cushioned stadium seat that was a companion to dad's, both of which were used on those horrible old benches that used to line most of the arena (I was always a bit envious of the rich people on the opposite side of the court in their nice, "cushy" chair backs).

As I got older, and before I went back to school and while working at Boeing, I have fond memories of taking my 2nd shift lunch break out in my car and listening to Gus Grebe call the games, all the time freezing my ass off in my piece o' crap Volkswagen Bug. As an aside, I remember the excitement I would feel when I would see Dave "The Rave" Stallworth walking the factory floor of Boeing. I always wanted to say something to him, but never wanted to bother him.

After working the blue collar travails at Boeing, I went back to school to study photography and journalism and was fortunate to be a season ticket holder during the Bookend and X-Man era, getting to see the games up close and personal. I was there for AC's finale and got to interview him after the game, became friendly with X and Zarko, and met a lot of good players from that era.

While my love and fandom for Shocker basketball never completely waned, lack of program success coupled with the rise of Shocker baseball meant I rarely heard much about my beloved Shox after I joined the Navy. That changed during the Turgeon reign and the maturation of the interwebz and I'm happy to say that the last few years of Shocker basketball has been first and foremost in my heart more so than at any other time.

So, many thanks to ALL Shockernetters of all ages and this fine fan forum, love me some Shox!

I love all these great stories...also, thank you for your service of our great country.

[shocksrbest]

If Dave the Rave and Nate Bowman had played in that Final Four, WU might have won the National Championship - just saying!

LOL. Not only too young to stay awake, but too young to remember who played.

[ShockerInKC]

I was born the week we were ranked #1. Just down Hillside from the school. Went to games in the late 70's with my dad and sister, saw Cal, Robert Elmore, and Cheese Johnson. Anybody else remember all the American cheese squares whirling through the air and on to the court at Lynbert's last game? Got season tickets with my dad when Smithson came to town. Sat in section X row 33 so my dad and his buddy could sneak in a few cigarettes during the game. I'd take my AM radio and binoculars. Dad would always ask on close calls if the refs got it right, or what did Mike Kennedy say about that call. Kept my season tickets until I moved away, then got them again in Turgeon's third year. I've seen us beat Drake and score 125, Iowa when Randy fell backwards, Carr score 47, Xavier out rebound the other team (practically), beat KU at home, the best crowd ever in the NIT Fla State game, and many more.

[wufan]

My Dad graduated from WSU in 72. Had classes with the football players that survived the plane crash. My folks had second row floor seats behind the visitors bench from 77 to 82. As a wee lad I remember having a babysitter every home game. In 1986 I had posters of X-Man and Carr on my wall and I tried to convince my classmates that they were every bit as good as Jordan, Bird, and Magic (though I have no memory of watching them play).

I remember the Fogler years, but wasn't really a fan of basketball. In the Thompson era my Dad got us six pack tickets. It was something like 2 tickets, 2 hotdogs, and 2 drinks to six games for $60 and despite how bad we were, that is when I became a fan.

I was so excited for the Randy Smithson era, which coincided with my college years (not at WSU). I also used to attend the NJCAA Championship in Hutchinson, and living in Augusta I followed Randy's teams at BUCO JUCO and even attended some of his camps. I played one year of basketball with Chris Grill, and Randy signed some very good area players like Darren Williams and Maurice Evans. Jason Perez was a surprise stud.

In medical school (Turgeons first year) I told my friends (most of whom had never heard of the Shockers) that WSU was going to be good very soon and they shrugged me off. Now my phone blows up every March with texts and phone calls from all over the country.

[Signman]

The first game I remember, but probably not the first game I attended, was when the Shockers whipped the 1962-63 Big Ten Champion Ohio State. This was the year after Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek lost in the championship game to Cincinnati (the MVC champion). This team featured Gary Bradds and came in to the Roundhouse 7-0 on Dec. 29, 1962. Final score 71-54. From then on I was hooked for life. Check out the box score - page 9 on the link.

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-baskbl/1962-63.pdf

[im4wsu]

The first game I remember, but probably not the first game I attended, was when the Shockers whipped the 1962-63 Big Ten Champion Ohio State. This was the year after Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek lost in the championship game to Cincinnati (the MVC champion). This team featured Gary Bradds and came in to the Roundhouse 7-0 on Dec. 29, 1962. Final score 71-54. From then on I was hooked for life. Check out the box score - page 9 on the attachment.

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/gra...bl/1962-63.pdf

Attendance 11,373 plus me and my dad.

[ciaomichael]

That Heights team was lights out unbelievable.

Yes, that was one incredible high school basketball team. They had Darnell Valentine, James Carr, Antoine Carr, this jumping jack forward named Adolphus "Doc" Holden and a point guard named Calvin Alexander, who was possibly quicker than Valentine. Probably the greatest high school team in Kansas high school basketball history.