Golden Nugz for 5.13.09

by PJS on May 13, 2009 3:00 AM CDT in Golden Nuggets Comment 9 comments

I went by Maize and Brew last night and found some inspiration. This post called Players We Love to Watch, Even if They Aren't That Good focuses on Wolverine Zack Gibson. While I have no particular fondness or dislike for Gibson, it made me start thinking about who fits that category in the Minnesota sports world.

Logically, I went first to our Golden Gophers basketball players. A few names come to mind from recent years. Miles Tarver endeared himself to me for his grittiness. Jeff Hagen was more effective in the post than his he should have been. Imagine Hagen with more athleticism. As many of you know my old site was called Paging Jim Shikenjanski, after perhaps the guy I enjoyed watching the most growing up, even if he wasn't the best player on his Minnesota teams.

So, I throw it out there to all of you. What Gophers basketball or football palyers did you love watching despite perhaps a lack of talent?

Scout's Chris Monter has a conversation with a potential 2011 basketball recruit in Missouri product Ricky Kreklow.
I agree with Sid Hartman. He writes: Talk about some of the crazy rules of the NCAA. Some of the best high school basketball players in the country were here to participate in the Sabes Invitational tournament at Bloomington Jefferson High School, but Gophers coach Tubby Smith and his staff were not allowed to watch the action because all coaches are barred from watching such tournaments.
After being away for awhile I had some catching up to do and this was one of the better reads. It's our friend at the Daily Norseman taking the mainstream media to task for creating the Brett Favre monster media monster.

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…Football: the entire 1994 team except for Chris Darkins. That was my first year at the U, and I learned the art of the hopeless blowout, “Jim Wacker Face,” the heartbreaking losses, and the Mike Alstott 4 TD game.

…Basketball: Ryan Wolf. I would regularly outscore him in pickup games at the Rec Center. It made me wonder why I didn’t try out for the Gophers team, but I rooted Wolf on regardless.

by JG2112 on May 13, 2009 9:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i was at that Purdue game

good times from the Wacker years.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on May 13, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dusty Rychart was my favorite less-talented Gopher. He got every ounce of his talent out and then some on the court. Local kid who walked on to the U and way exceeded expectations. Yes, the team was in shambles at that point, but no one can question his hustle, ability to rebound at his size, and just desire to get the ball on the rebound or to put the ball in the bucket.

by mraveling on May 13, 2009 9:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Former paratrooper

Richard Coffey

by the accomplice on May 13, 2009 11:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Defintley agree on Richard Coffey.

Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher

by PJS on May 13, 2009 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

doesn't count

he was actually good

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on May 13, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Football over the last few years

Dan Kwapinski – Hard working DT from Lisbon, ND. I went to a nearby high school; he was tough on the field, but I could throw discus farther then him.

Jakari Wallace – Would always make huge 3rd down receptions. Came out of nowhere his senior year to be a pretty good kick returner, too.

These guys may be too talented to list, but I’ll put them down anyway:

Bryan Cupito – QB with the body and athleticism of a kicker. He steadily improved each year to be an efficient passer and great leader.

Amir Pinnix – Pretty talented back, but a big drop-off from the shoes he was filling (Barber, Maroney, and Russell). Still churned out a 1000 yard season after we had to replace the heart of our offensive line.

by ReelBigChris on May 13, 2009 9:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ouch!

Is GN taking a shot at me?

Coffey was good. But I think the point of the post was that you had people that were good despite the fact that they were not supremely talented.

by the accomplice on May 14, 2009 4:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

not taking a shot

but I remember Coffey as being one of the best rebounders in the Big Ten. I wouldn’t have put him on a list of “less talented” players we have seen in a Gopher uniform.

Just my take on it and I see your point. We all agree he was fun to watch and although he wasn’t Shaq he was good at his trade.

I attended Clem’s basketball camp one year and Coffey came in to speak. He was teaching us some of his rebounding tricks like boxing out and intentionally sitting on the other guy’s knee so he couldn’t jump until AFTER RC did. He was crafty.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on May 15, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs