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A co-worker found this and asked me if it was true. I'd never heard it before. Can anyone confirm or deny?
Amazing but True Sports Story: Wichita vs. Detroit
I recently picked up this book that features Amazing but True Sports Stories that I think some will enjoy reading, so from time to time I will post a story from the book. Here is the first installment, one that features a local sports team. Maybe some of you will remember this game, or the story of the game.
Veteran basketball officials Cliff Ogden and Alex George learned first-hand just how difficult a referee's job can be. The year was 1956, and Ogden and George were officiating a game between the University of Wichita and the University of Detroit, played on Wichita's home court - which was known in those days for hosting crowds that were unruly and often inebriated.
Detroit was down one point with four seconds to play as they began to inbound the ball. The pushed the ball into the frontcourt and, before time ran out, a Detroit player was able to get off a shot. As Ogden and George both followed the arc of the ball toward the hoop, they were shocked to see that a Wichita fan had tossed an overcoat from the field house balcony and landed it right over the rim. The ball hit the coat and bounced off as the buzzer sounded.
Ogden and George were faced with a situation they had never encountered before. As they contemplated what call to make, they were surrounded by a wild mob of Wichita fans who were scrambling across the court, celebrating.
George turned to Ogden and said "It's a hundred and twenty feet to our dressing room, and I'm not going to call anything until we both get to the door."
With the door locked behind the two officials, George notified both teams that he had called the shot good, and the basket gave Detroit a one-point win.
Wisely, Ogden and George waited until they could hear no fans remaining in the Wichita field house before leaving their dressing and heading home.
I recently picked up this book that features Amazing but True Sports Stories that I think some will enjoy reading, so from time to time I will post a story from the book. Here is the first installment, one that features a local sports team. Maybe some of you will remember this game, or the story of the game.
Veteran basketball officials Cliff Ogden and Alex George learned first-hand just how difficult a referee's job can be. The year was 1956, and Ogden and George were officiating a game between the University of Wichita and the University of Detroit, played on Wichita's home court - which was known in those days for hosting crowds that were unruly and often inebriated.
Detroit was down one point with four seconds to play as they began to inbound the ball. The pushed the ball into the frontcourt and, before time ran out, a Detroit player was able to get off a shot. As Ogden and George both followed the arc of the ball toward the hoop, they were shocked to see that a Wichita fan had tossed an overcoat from the field house balcony and landed it right over the rim. The ball hit the coat and bounced off as the buzzer sounded.
Ogden and George were faced with a situation they had never encountered before. As they contemplated what call to make, they were surrounded by a wild mob of Wichita fans who were scrambling across the court, celebrating.
George turned to Ogden and said "It's a hundred and twenty feet to our dressing room, and I'm not going to call anything until we both get to the door."
With the door locked behind the two officials, George notified both teams that he had called the shot good, and the basket gave Detroit a one-point win.
Wisely, Ogden and George waited until they could hear no fans remaining in the Wichita field house before leaving their dressing and heading home.
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