lucky
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Post by lucky on Jul 8, 2010 22:22:02 GMT -5
Not sure if this belongs here or not, but just read that Mel Turpin of Kentucky fame committed suicide tonight. I always wished Mel more success than he achieved in the NBA after the Hoyas dispatched them in the final four.
Rest in Peace Mel.
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Jul 8, 2010 22:42:15 GMT -5
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Jul 9, 2010 13:08:48 GMT -5
Mel always remained in my mind a reminder of the Hoya's NCAA championship.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Jul 9, 2010 14:50:36 GMT -5
Mel always remained in my mind a reminder of the Hoya's NCAA championship. That second half v UK when Pat and the boys totally blew them out of the water. Unbelievable! |
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Jul 9, 2010 18:35:30 GMT -5
Mel always remained in my mind a reminder of the Hoya's NCAA championship. That second half v UK when Pat and the boys totally blew them out of the water. Unbelievable! Most of which occurred while Mel sat glued to the bench waiting for a halftime pizza which never arrived... |
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prhoya
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Post by prhoya on Jul 10, 2010 1:06:09 GMT -5
Not sure if this belongs here or not, but just read that Mel Turpin of Kentucky fame committed suicide tonight. I always wished Mel more success than he achieved in the NBA after the Hoyas dispatched them in the final four. Rest in Peace Mel. Sad story. |
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Jul 10, 2010 12:51:08 GMT -5
I actually had the priviledge of meeting Mel Turpin. He was pleasant and cordial but rather quiet. I think it was 1981, but I'm not positive. In any case, Kentucky was playing Florida on a Wednesday game. We had a 1/2 day at school, and as I always did on half-days, I stopped at the arcade for a couple of hours. One of the big games at that point, was a hockey game that was similarly designed to a foos ball table. I think it parlayed the excitement from the '80 Olympic win over Russia. Anyhow, my best friend and I played that game a lot. After a while at the arcade, I noticed a couple of people come in with Kentucky jackets on. Then I realized that the team was there relaxing before the game that night. Apparently, they had one of those hockey games in the team dorm in Lexington and it was one of their popular toys. My best friend and I ended up playing against the Twin Towers of Sam Bowie and Melvin Turpin. We beat them and their teammates really ragged on them. But they took it in stride and polite. We got autographs on napkins from this little Mexican restaurant in the mall. It was the only thing I could find, and I have no idea where they are now. I sure wish I still had them. Oh well ...
I also remember Wiston Bennett was there. I think he was a freshman and a big-time star recruit. He had his hair all greasy with a bunch of gel on in and he had his walkman with his headphones on bouncing around to his music. He wasn't really socializing with anyone and my impression was that he thought he was hot sh!t. I could be wrong, but I'll never forget that. The next year, he was an entirely different person. He had shaved off most of that hair and didn't give any indication of the cool, hip guy from the hood. I've always wondered whether that just happened by chance, or if he realized that he went from being the Big Man on Campus in high school, to just another great basketball player at storied Kentucky.
But I will always remember playing Turpin and Bowie and shaking their hands after we won.
RIP Mr. Turpin.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Jul 11, 2010 2:48:54 GMT -5
Now I know what caused Bowie to be injury prone.
Agree re Turpin, of course.
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hoyainspirit
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When life puts that voodoo on me, music is my gris-gris.
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Post by hoyainspirit on Jul 11, 2010 11:07:09 GMT -5
Mel always remained in my mind a reminder of the Hoya's NCAA championship. That second half v UK when Pat and the boys totally blew them out of the water. Unbelievable! Man, I was sooooo nervous! On pins and needles. But that was great fun to watch!!! |
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