SB Nation Bay Area Editor's Pick
Al Grigsby Roundtable: Recalling The Career Of One Of Cal's Hardest Working Players
by Ohio Bear on Feb 9, 2011 12:26 AM PST
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PrintThe unexpected decision of Gary Franklin to transfer from the Cal basketball program just 13 games into his college career took Cal’s players, coaches, and fans by surprise. But it was not the first surprise Franklin sprang upon Cal. The first surprise came when Franklin first donned a Cal uniform: Franklin conspicuously wore jersey number 4 for the Bears.
By doing that, Franklin became the first player to wear number 4 for the Bears since the Sweet 16 round of the 1997 NCAA tournament, where Cal lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels. That night, sixth year senior Alfred Grigsby played his final game as a California Golden Bear, wearing the number 4 he had worn since the fall of 1991, when he suited up as a true freshman. In a touching gesture that was a surprise to most in attendance—including Grigsby—Cal retired the number 4 on senior night in 1997 when Grigsby played his final game in Harmon Gym. At the time, Grigsby’s number was only the second one retired in Cal men’s basketball history. (Kevin Johnson’s number 11 was the first. Since that time, Cal has retired Jason Kidd’s number 5 and Darrall Imhoff’s number 40.)
via i802.photobucket.com.
Trust us -- Darrall Imhoff's retired number is up there, too.
It has been discussed in the broadcast media and on the Cal blogosphere that Franklin either requested or demanded that he be allowed to wear number 4 and that Cal allowed him to do so with Grigsby’s gracious blessing. Now that Franklin has transferred, the number 4 is once again in the Haas Pavilion rafters, restored to retired status as a testament to Grigsby’s long career as a Golden Bear.
The Hit Squad decided to take this opportunity to look back on the career of Al Grigsby.
1. Educate some of our younger CGB readers. Why is Al Grigsby's jersey retired?
CALumbus Bear: I, too, await this education, as I have yet to hear a compelling answer.
Ohio Bear: Hatters gonna hat!
Seriously, what CALumbus Bear might be trying to say is that Al Grigsby’s jersey was retired for unconventional reasons. By comparison, it’s easy to see why Cal retired the other numbers that hang in the Haas Pavilion rafters—Kevin Johnson was an all-time great player for Cal and had a very good NBA career; Darrall Imhoff was the best player on Cal’s national championship team in 1959 and had a serviceable NBA career; and Jason Kidd is what we know he is. By contrast, Al Grigsby compiled modest stats during his career at Cal. (For his career, he averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, with a career FG percentage of 56%.) You won’t find Al Grigsby on Cal’s all-time career leaders in scoring or rebounding, but you will find he is one of the most beloved Bears of his era. His tireless work ethic, his team-first mentality, and his determination to fight through countless injuries endeared him to his teammates and to Cal fans.
Kodiak: Al Grigby's jersey is retired as a tribute to perseverance. He wasn't the most talented player. He didn't have the most noteworthy career or statistics. But he absolutely refused to give up. I hope that most you have never had a surgery nor had to rehab from one. It's not fun. In fact, it's miserable, soul-crushing, and an ever-present struggle against despair. I forget the exact number, but I thought I remembered that Big Al came back from at least three major surgeries and rehabs. That's endless hours of therapy, ice, tape, and pain...with no promise or guarantee that you'll ever be right again. He probably should have hung them up, but didn't. Not only was able to come back and contribute to Cal's Sweet 16 run in his final season, but he managed to play professionally in Japan after graduating.
2. What do you remember most about Al Grigsby's game?
LeonPowe: He was a man's man down low. Just a big strong dude, who would shed bodies and grab rebounds in traffic. Not a prodigious leaper, and not a whole lot of moves, Big Al was what I've heard people in Texas (where he was from) say "country strong."
Kodiak: Heart. Despite being gentle and soft-spoken with an easy smile off the court, I remember that he battled down low with absolute ferocity. He never did have much of an outside shot, but he had a little baby hook and a drop-step move. He was probably best cleaning things up either on the break or on put-backs.
CALumbus Bear: Perhaps the most memorable thing is how long he was at Cal, and all the injuries that hampered (yet extended) his Cal career.
OhioBear: I remember him as your quintessential lunch pail and hardhat guy. He was a hard worker in the paint and was a force to be reckoned with on the glass, whether offensive or defensive. The other thing I remember is how Grigsby was, in a sense, exactly what I expected when he came to Cal from Yates High School in Houston. I remember Lou Campanelli talking about Big Al when he was discussing the recruiting class that was coming in the Fall of 1991. When someone asked Coach Campanelli to talk about Big Al, the coach said something like, "Well, I know he can run." Coach talked about going to watch one of Big Al’s practices at Yates High and saying that the Yates coach ran the players relentlessly at practice. According to Coach Campanelli, Big Al just ran, and ran, and ran, and ran, and ran. So I sort of had this expectation of a big strong kid who was a hard worker with a lot of stamina. Big Al didn’t disappoint in that regard.
3. How about individual plays or games? Is there any performance from Al Grigsby's career that you remember in particular?
LeonPowe: Unfortunately, playing a career that started with the spectacular Lamond Murray, had the Basketball Hall of Famer Jason Kidd in the middle, leading his own. . .mediocre team in the middle and then finishing with another spectacular couple of players in Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Ed Gray, Al never really had a signature play or game that I can recall off the top of my head. He did catch some oops from Kidd - I remember a fast break off the opening tip against LSU in the NCAA. But I do remember Al would just consistently emerge from a crowd of players with the ball for offensive tips. The man would work and throw people around.
Kodiak: I don't remember which game it was. But Al's signature sequence was hitting the offense glass with bodies all around him, tipping the rebound, once...twice...finally being the one to come down with the ball and put it in while being fouled. Years later, he had a similar sequence during his final season. Only, after all the tips, he wasn't able to make the shot. He had a rueful smile after that. I was both proud and very sad in that moment because although he was finally able to play again, you could see that he just wasn't the same player anymore.
Ohio Bear: More than any individual plays, I suppose the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Al Grigsby is a team-oriented fact. (Given Al Grigsby was a consummate team guy, perhaps that is appropriate.) When Al came to Cal in the Fall of 1991, he was part of a buzz around the Cal basketball program because of the recruiting class of which he was a part. He joined Lamond Murray, Monty Buckley, K.J. Roberts, and Stevie Johnson to make up what was thought to be a boffo recruiting class for the Bears – and this was one year before Cal added Jason Kidd and Jerod Haase to the program. While the 1992-93 season made Cal relevant again in college basketball circles—when Kidd led Cal to a win over Duke in the NCAA tournament and Cal’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 1960—it was Grigsby’s recruiting class that laid the groundwork for that success.
But as far as individual performances go, I guess the one I remember more than any other was in the second round of the 1997 NCAA tournament. Grigsby played almost the entire game, grabbed 13 rebounds, and played very well defensively on Tim Thomas of Villanova. Grigsby neutralized Thomas (who would be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft), which was one of the keys to Cal winning the game and reaching the Sweet 16.
4. A few years ago, Tightwad Hill put Al Grigsby in its "Sweet 16"-- the 16th best Cal basketball player EVAIR. High praise indeed. What do you think of that lofty status for Big Al?
Kodiak: Well, that's a bit of blue n' gold colored glasses there. By heart alone, I'd allow it. But in terms of skill and achievement, I'm afraid you'd have to say that what might have been simply never came to pass. If he had never been hurt, I am positive he would have been on the list.
Ohio Bear: When Kodiak talks about "heart," he’s right. Grigsby endured five (five!) surgeries during his time at Cal, truly sacrificing his body for his team. It’s no wonder that Grigsby is the only player in Cal history to be voted the team’s "most inspirational player" four times. As the Tightwad Hill so appropriately put it, Cal should name that award after him.
LeonPowe: I love Big Al. My Honda Civic was named after him. My neighbor's fish was named for him (he also had a big white fish named Raef LaFrentz). 16th best player . . .well, the man sacrificed a lot of pain and effort for the University and never gave less than his best. He was a great Bear.
CALumbus Bear: This is telling. I won't quibble with his rank of 16, but at the very least it is telling because we're now thinking "is he deserving of #16 all time?" We only have 4 male jerseys retired. Shouldn't Grigsby be in the top 4 all time if we retired his jersey? How about top 10? That's the bottom line here: he was a damn good player. But not "let's retire his jersey 4EVAIR!!!1" good.
Ohio Bear: Hatters gonna hat!
Al Grigsby in action during his final game at Harmon Gym
5. Rebounding was a strong part of Al Grigsby's game. How would you compare him to some of the other formidable rebounders Cal has had in recent years (e.g., Leon Powe, Ryan Anderson, Jamal Boykin)?
LeonPowe: Aside from Leon, Grigs was the biggest and strongest rebounder we've had in the last 20 years. And that's pretty high praise. Just a mean guy in the game, who wasn't afraid to get a little dirty under the board. Strong, effort, persistence, tenacity.
Kodiak: Ryan Anderson was a smart rebounder who used good timing, footwork and positioning. Boykin was much the same way...perhaps more so because he was undersized in the post. Leon Powe was just a beast and played all on heart and instincts. Pre-injury Al was probably most similar to Leon. Maybe he didn't have the same quickness/hops, but he was very strong and did a good job of using his body. Also, he was relentless - he probably grabbed at least 1-2 extra boards a game just from hustling and going for balls out of his area.
6. It's been reported that Gary Franklin asked (or demanded) that Al Grigsby's # 4 be taken down from the rafters at Haas and that he be allowed to wear the number. Now that Franklin has transferred, the # 4 has once again assumed "retired" status. Al Grigsby was reportedly okay with all of this. But regardless, what are your thoughts on Cal "unretiring" Grigsby's number for Franklin?
Kodiak: It's ironic that one of the most selfish players we've had, however briefly, was wearing the number of one our most giving and selfless players.
I'm not surprised that Al was classy about allowing the number to be used. He was never one to beat his chest and make it about him. I think he was surprised and little uncomfortable when they retired it in the first place.
The fact that they allowed it to be unretired speaks to me of a bit of split in the athletic department - I'm sure there are some who feel that the number didn't deserve to be retired, so it's no big deal to unretire it. Or, maybe they want to distance themselves from the Bozeman era in any way possible. (which is completely understandable)
Sorry, but that's still wrong and disrespectful. I don't care how brilliant a HS player may be or may have been during his prep years, if he hasn't done anything at Cal, then he doesn't deserve to wear the number of one of our greats.
As a school and as a basketball program, we decided to retire Al Grigby's number. Right, wrong, or otherwise, he deserves to have his number treated with respect.
LeonPowe: Well, I felt uncomfortable with the Franklin request. I understood the Grigsby number retirement - he was a warrior who played 6 seasons for the Bears. It doesn't mean I agreed with it, but since I liked Al so much, I was also ok with it. But disrespecting those who came before you - its just not right. I think it'd be one thing if GFrank had a special attachment to Al (say they were distant cousins or something - and Al gave permission) but that it was demanded and that the Cal Athletic Department acquiesced, something doesn't sit right with me.
CALumbus Bear: Some punk recruit should not be able to demand that a retired jersey be taken down. Our response should have been: "you are a high schooler, get over yourself and pay homage to the retired numbers in the rafters." Instead of asking for a retired number, a player should strive to play so well that his or her number is retired, and then (rightfully) be affronted if some punk high schooler later demands that it be unretired.
Ohio Bear: If this is true, I am disappointed that Cal would honor such a request. While I probably would not have retired Al Grigsby’s number if the decision were mine, the fact of the matter is that the program honored Grigsby in this way. The honor deserved to be respected better than that.
Al Grigsby today:
His jersey in the rafters shows that Al Grigsby is a Cal basketball immortal. These days, he is also a Bay Area treasure, as director and coach of the men's program at West Valley Basketball Club in San Jose. As this article from last year described, Grigsby coaches young men not only in basketball fundamentals, but also in choosing the right college.
Coming full circle, Grigsby now instructs about basketball, including recruiting.
"The first thing we tell kids is don't go crazy over your first letter [from a college coach]," he offered. "It's nice but doesn't mean much."
Grigsby sees hoops as a lot like life.
"First comes fit," he advises, which is what's most important to the individual.
"Be honest with yourself because a lot of kids think they are better than they actually are. What's critical for you? If you are marginal and do go D-1, you may not play much. D-2 has good coaches, it's good competition and there are plenty of these players playing overseas."
He also advises prospects to ask themselves, "are you doing the things necessary to get better?"
Sometimes these methods work successfully, sometimes not. "We have lost players due to our honesty because some want immediate gratification and, with that attitude, you're not going to make it here."
He continued, "We have our own little corner of the world. It's not like New York or Miami or Los Angeles where talent is everywhere."
And it never will be simply based on demographics. But that's okay because Grigsby cares about the individual achieving success both within the framework of a team and also society. He is a living example.
The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.
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As for jersey #‘s, I’d vote “Wait for next great player” although maybe Powe or Randle are deserving of such elite company?
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
If there is a modern era player who deserves the honor, I’d say it’s Randle. He was a four-year player for Cal and was the Pac-10 POTY on a team that won the conference championship, Cal’s first title in 50 years. So not only was Randle a very good player, his career had historical significance for the program.
To be honest, though, I’m not really a “retire numbers” guy. I don’t mind honoring players by putting their jerseys in the rafters. But keep using the numbers. If anything, make the honored numbers a sort of prize for players to strive for, sort of like the way Michigan football treats jersey # 1.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
by Ohio Bear on Feb 9, 2011 6:57 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Nice write up! I will always remember Grigsby as he was on the first team I got to be a ball boy/sweat kid for (w/ Kidd). As an aspiring power forward he was the guy I looked up to on the team and although I don’t really remember any specific plays I remember his fight (which likely resulted in me cleaning the key on more than one occasion).
Def worthy of retirement in my (somewhat biased) opinion.
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
before voting people, do some research on Bob McKeen
his jersey should have been retired long ago (in fact, before the others), he was a complete player and Cal’s first real basketball star
by Scooterville Gau on Feb 9, 2011 1:45 AM PST reply actions
Yes
McKeen’s jersey should be in the rafters.
As a practical matter, 6 is already “retired” in a sense because that is no longer a valid basketball jersey number per NCAA rules.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
Why’s that?
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Feb 9, 2011 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
For referees signaling the player a foul is called on. More than 5 requires two hands to make.
by Missing Barry on Feb 9, 2011 10:23 AM PST up reply actions
So what? That’s so stupid.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Feb 9, 2011 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
Why is it stupid? There are 10-15 players on a basketball team. There are 37 available numbers that don’t have 6-9. It’s not like it’s a problem. And it’s something basketball players have been facing their whole careers up to the point of college, it’s not like you have a chance to get attached to number 78 in high school and then you aren’t allowed to wear it in college. You don’t get to wear number 78 before college, either. It just makes it easier/more clear for the refs to avoid mistakes. It’s not like other sports don’t have arbitrary number cutoffs, like say….nothing higher than 99….
by Missing Barry on Feb 9, 2011 11:24 AM PST up reply actions
I guess I don’t see why there needs to be a rule specifically designed to make referee hand signals marginally easier.
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Feb 9, 2011 7:28 PM PST up reply actions
I think you’re best off just not worrying about it. ;)
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 7:37 AM PST up reply actions
Screw retired numbers, there needs to be a statue to Nibs Price! Pete Newell is remembered on the court. Andy Smith has his tomb stone as a bench used by Cal teams down the ages in Memorial Stadium (which I was enfuriated to see taken out, they had better lay that thing back good as new when we go back!). Pappy has his statue, complete with 1-loss Big Game record on a tablet. There needs to be a remembrance to Nibs Price, who single handedly dedicated himself to the California athletes of ages past. Following Andy Smiths death, Nibs Price took over the football team for 5 years and would take them to the 1929 Rose Bowl (wrong-way Riegals). Starting in 1924, he would coach California basketball in Harmon Gymnasium all the way until 1954, when he would be replaced by Pete Newell, and after amassing a career number of wins that would be eclipsed by someone in the Bay Area only by Mike Montgomery this season. I mean, because just because he didn’t take Cal to any tournaments and only forlorn Rose Bowl trip, he dedicated himself to the students who hired him, and was literally California Basketball for 30 years. He would lead Cal to the PCC title match between southern and northern divisions, Cal becoming PCC Champions 7 times and coming in 1st in the southern division 12 times, 7 times in second. No coach in Cal’s basketball program can boast such of such accomplishments. His final PCC champion team would go to the NCAA Tournament, losing to Ohio State in the FInal Four. I understand that the Nibs Price Award is the MVP, which was first given out in 1955, the first season without Coach Price leading the Golden Bears. This man is a legend and deserves some recognition on campus. This is said by someone who understands that Pappy’s statue was paid for by Pappy’s Boys, and that the bench that is Andy’s tombstone (yes, his ashes were scattered over Memorial Stadium after his death) was a practical installation, as it actually was able to fit the entire team on it (in the days when teams were small, and football fields had different dimentions). If Pete could get the court, there needs to be some love for Nibs, the man of Cal basketball.
by Joe Bandsmen on Feb 9, 2011 2:37 AM PST reply actions 7 recs
I put this in the Memorial Stadium update comments, but I don’t think the Andy Smith bench will be honored appropriately according to page 26 of the SEIR:
The granite bench that immortalizes Andy Smith, early Cal football coach credited with inspiring fundraising for the construction of California Memorial Stadium, has been removed from its original location at the east side of the 50 yard line on the playing field. The bench is an important part of the early history of the football program, but is not a character defining feature of the historic Stadium. The bench will be preserved and at the completion of construction will be placed exterior to the CMS, near the north entrance, to be featured in the landscape on the plaza above the SAHPC, at the top of the grand stair, for all to enjoy; relocating the bench also improves sightlines for fans seated on the east of the Stadium, on the 50 yard line.
by HelloBowlesHall on Feb 9, 2011 12:11 PM PST up reply actions
WTF?
A) THE STUDENTS STAND YOU IDIOTS, OUR SIGHT LINES ARE FINE
B) ITS A ****ING TOMBSTONE
C) THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS MOVING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Joe Bandsmen on Feb 9, 2011 12:40 PM PST up reply actions
ok my rant is out of my system, but COME ON. They have got to be kidding me? Actually if I recall at the post game ceremony after the Washington Game (which we had to stay for to play Hail to Cal) Sandy Barbour stood on the plinth WITH Chancellor Bergeneau and said that the first act to remodel the stadium was to remove Andy’s bench, but that it would be returned to its position. I’m calling Barbour on this in 2 years if they screw this up. Its not like they saved the sod in the 80s when they tore it up. HALLOWED GROUND. The only person who has the claim that Memorial Stadium is a burial ground is Andrew Lathan Smith, not RunningWolf &Co.
by Joe Bandsmen on Feb 9, 2011 12:43 PM PST up reply actions
I recommend we call her on it now while they can still change it – in two years it will be in concrete (literally).
by HelloBowlesHall on Feb 9, 2011 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
i voted for other
because there should have been a choice for ‘none.’ That is because while I think Randle is the closest to someone who should have his number retired I don’t think he (and the others) are quite on par with Johnson and Kidd. Rigsby’s number retired is nice and all but probably not necessary. I’m 50/50 on it. Imhoff is way before my time so I’m going to concede to the folks who know.
Kidd completely revitalized the Cal basketball program ( sorry Lamond) and put it on the national scene. It was one of the reasons I chose to go to Berkeley instead of UCLA. (Very glad I did).
Johnson is a no brainer.
Randall is one in a line of bald headed point guards for Cal during the Braun era, and was simply the latest in a progression. The first was Leggins, then Ubaka, and Randle was the one who inherited the role. All three of these men helped to run Braun’s “offense” of let’s hold the ball for 30 seconds on the perimeter and send it up with a prayer. Powe did a great job, but didn’t stay around long enough to make things really interesting. Perhaps a combination of Murray and Lampley would be best, as they both wore the jersey well and took great strides for making California Basketball something to watch in the early 90s and once again when it came back to campus after a few years hiatus in Oakland (which makes one wonder if the Colesium would have been a better choice for football this fall). Don’t get me wrong, Randle has some great stats and was a great leader, but the reason he has the points was because we did not have effective play down low under Braun’s tenure, and we never seemed to feed it inside when we should have. Therefore, ball stays outside, Randle has it when shot clock is winding down—-he’s gonna make the shot. It was only in Braun’s successful years that we did anything down low (see for further reference Sean Lampley, Amit Tamir, Forehand-Kelly, Ryan Anderson, Leon Powe, ect). Frankly the guard that seemed the most intelligent and the guard I would like to remember from the Braun tenure would be Midgley, but that was because he knew how to move the ball around, play smart basketball and shoot from the perimeter. He was not always scoring heavy, but he was doing good things for the team. Sorry I went on a Braun rant, but I can still remembering how when Monty came it was like screens had been rediscovered after centuries of being lost.
has some great stats and was a great leader
How about Cal’s all time leading scorer and Pac-10 player of the year and the best player on the first Pac-10 championship won by Cal in decades?
And a weak defender, poor passer for a PG, didn’t rebound, etc. Randle was a very good player. I don’t want to take anything away from him. But he wasn’t special on the level of guys like KJ and JK. That those guys went on to be on to be a couple of the best PG’s of their respective generations emphasizes that point, I think. Not that NBA accomplishments should matter for retiring a jersey, but rather, it’s just a reflection of just how special guys like that are, compared to guys like Randle. Guys like Randle come around every so often. It’s incredibly unlikely Cal will ever have another PG as good as those other two, though.
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 7:41 AM PST up reply actions
Sure, but you’re not really talking about his inclusion on an All-Star team or All-American team. Retiring numbers at Cal should be about contributions at Cal – and P10 POY and winning a conference championship are things that KJ and Kidd (respectively) never did.
I mean did people talk about not awarding Kidd the retired number because he was a terrible outside shooter at Cal? We’re not talking about the respective qualities of their games but rather their contributions to the university basketball program.
Right.
Not that NBA accomplishments should matter for retiring a jersey, but rather, it’s just a reflection of just how special guys like that are, compared to guys like Randle. Guys like Randle come around every so often. It’s incredibly unlikely Cal will ever have another PG as good as those other two, though.
It should be about their Cal accomplishments. Not their NBA accomplishments. I’m just pointing out their NBA success tells us something about how good they were at Cal. I have very little doubt that the Cal versions of Kidd and KJ would have torn up Randle.
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
I guess the only parallel I can grab is from football, where we know that Nnamdi is by the far the best Cal defensive back in the last 15 years to ever wear a Cal jersey.
However, not considering his ability or his talent, it isn’t too big a leap to argue that Deltha, Syd’Quan, Dante Hughes, Thomas DeCoud – even Jemeel Powell had superior Cal careers to Nnamdi.
Nnamdi is today and then a far superior player to any of them – especially considering their NFL performances, but if we had to choose someone to honor for their Cal accomplishments – he’s probably last on that list. I think Jerome Randle had a Hughes like career – led the Pac Ten, took the Bears to a high position, but is not (fast/big/strong) enough to make an impact at the next level. Should that matter in honoring someone for their Cal accomplishments?
I don’t like the Nnamdi comparison, because he played a different position at Cal than he’s been so good at in the pros. I don’t think it is necessarily true that he was better than the other guys at Cal. He might not have been nearly as good at S as he is at CB.
by Missing Barry on Feb 11, 2011 7:39 AM PST up reply actions
Regardless, you’re arguing about Jerome’s shortcomings as a player. I’m saying those things don’t . .. or shouldn’t matter about retiring a player’s jersey at a University.
What ultimately should matter is if you think these things are enough:
- led team to Pac-10 title and NCAA Tournament
- Led pac-10 in scoring
- Pac-10 Player of the Year
- Cal’s All-Time leading scorer
If those do or do not meet your threshold – that’s one thing. His shortcomings as a defender or passer shouldn’t play into this – this is not the basketball hall of fame or the all-star team.
And I’m saying what should matter is both how good the player was and how long they stuck around…
by Missing Barry on Feb 12, 2011 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
And LeonPowe is saying, Jerome stuck around at Cal all four years and was very good (leading scorer, Pac-10 title, POTY, etc…)
California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!
by atomsareenough on Feb 12, 2011 2:20 PM PST up reply actions
The more deserving #44 - Ashley Walker.
Not-so-arguably the greatest women’s basketball player Cal’s ever had. She deserves to be in this poll just as much as Powe and Randle do, if not more so. If #44 gets retired, it should be hers.
quick cut-and-paste:
- Only player in Cal history with at least 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 blocks
- 47 career double-doubles
- ranked first in Cal history in rebounds (1117), free throws made (506) and attempted (675)
- tied for first in games played (130)
- second in career points (2142), blocked shots (174) and made field goals (810)
- third in scoring average(16.5 ppg), fourth in field goal percentage(52.7), seventh in free throw percentage(75.3), ninth in career steals (177)
- ranks sixth on the Pac-10 career rebounding list and seventh in Pac-10 career scoring
- one of only six Pac-10 players to amass 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career…
- scored 155 points in seven career NCAA tournament games, averaging 22.1 ppg
- first Cal player ever taken in the WNBA draft, going in the first round (12th overall pick) of the 2009 draft
Awards:
Pac-10 All-Freshman Team – ‘06
Pac-10 Tournament Semifinals – ’07, ’09
All-Pac-10 Team – ’07
All-Pac-10 1st Team – ’08, ’09
Pac-10 All-Defensive Team – ’08, ’09
Associated Press NCAA All-America Honorable Mention – ’08
CBSSports.com NCAA All-America 3rd Team -’09
Pac-10 All-Tournament Team – ’09
Ashley was a great player and a great teammate – she dominated the way few other Cal players have. Give her some love.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
by BearStage on Feb 9, 2011 3:42 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I am on board with this.
To be clear, I wasn’t slighting women’s basketball with the number choices. Women’s basketball was beyond the scope of this post.
The Cal women’s basketball program has retired only one number (13), for Colleen Galloway, the program’s first true outstanding player. If there is a next one to be retired, I think it should be Ashley Walker’s 44.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
SEXIS!!!! Hatters gonna hat!
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Feb 9, 2011 7:37 AM PST up reply actions
Hmmm… if that number is retired, why isn’t it hanging in the rafters???
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Gary Franklin should be given an award
for being a beeyotch and leaving. yeah, I’m sad it didn’t work out but it also feels like detecting cancer years before it becomes rampant.
It could feel that way, but it feels more like Monty flopped a bit on his stellar recruitment—-I mean Monty isn’t known for putting up with attitudes or anything, so what possessed him to head off after Franklin?
the answer is
upside. franklin was/is a project with his retarded shooting motion. but do you remember around Game 10 or so how Monty told the media, Yeah, we talked to his old coaches and they said Gary is better when he has the ball in his hands. What that really meant was that Gary and his dad were bitching to Monty about his situation and Monty was doing his best to appease them. 2 games later it was obvious that Franklin was not that awesome as the point and Monty subsequently BENCHED him. Then the Mater Dei crybaby transferred. good riddance.
With Monty, players “know” who they are “getting” when they sign up. Don’t blame Monty: he is a Hall of Fame, proven commodity. Based on media reports, it appears that Franklin’s father allegedly was whispering in his ear a lot…. In my mind, his leaving the team has been a blessing: the team rallied around themselves and turned their season around. Plus, the other young players on the team have emerged and developed exponentially!
Leonard Taylor
He’s by far the forgotten Cal hoops hero. Which is sad, because you guys have no idea how much he meant to the team, or how important he was to bringing Cal basketball back to relevance way back in the early days of the rebuilding.
I'm thinking of having a little party down in Newport.
Yup. Had LT’s neck injury not been misdiagnosed, he could have played his entire junior year alongside KJ, Chris Washington, Dave Butler, et al.. With Taylor down low, that team (1986-87) probably would have accomplished more than its relatively early exit from the NIT. Just one of many what-might-have-beens in the history of Cal sports.
To Taylor’s credit, much like Grigsby and Powe after him, he returned from adversity had a spectacular senior season, despite being a virtual one-man team.
Go Bears!
by California Pete on Feb 9, 2011 10:01 AM PST up reply actions
Yup
What I remember most about Taylor was that he was just a monster. Other teams could simply not stop him when he go the ball low. He had that combination of strength and finesse that allowed him to be a brute when needed, but also put on some slick moves and make the defender look silly.
I'm thinking of having a little party down in Newport.
Brian Hendrick
Tightwad Hill’s old write-up still resonates about another forgotten Golden Bear felled by injury…
http://tightwad-hill.blogspot.com/2007/01/sweet-sixteen-13-brian-hendrick.html
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is
research."
Other: none. What can I say, I’m a small-Hall kinda guy. I set the bar very high for things like that, and to the best of my knowledge, nobody else is deserving.
Agreed, about setting the bar high
Actually, of all the players who have passed through Cal since I started observing in 1978, the only player at a high enough level was Shareef. However, apparently being Pac 10 Player of the Year as a freshman and then going pro as the third choice in the NBA draft is not good enough. As if he owed Cal the forfeiture of instant riches and risking career-ending injury, by staying on for more years, in order to qualify.
Maybe the sensible thing is not to retire jerseys, but to put players’ names in some sort of circle of honor that is displayed at Haas. That circle could be larger than just a few retired jerseys, and would eliminate the embarrassment of having Grigsby’s jersey hanging, but not Shareef’s, Leon’s, Lamond’s, Jerome’s, Theo’s, Patrick’s, and many others who certainly did more for Cal basketball than Al did. No knock on Al. He was apparently a really good guy, with a lot of tenacity, but actually never lived up to expectations on the court.
I think it’s fair to take the number of years a guy played into account. The longer you stay, the more you contribute. That’s not to say a guy like Shareef should be disqualified or anything, or that he made the wrong choice, just that I’d make the selection based on total contribution.
by Missing Barry on Feb 9, 2011 9:48 AM PST up reply actions
since […] 1978, the only player at a high enough level [to warrant a retired jersey] was Shareef.
Really? Not KJ or Kidd?
I agree that Shareef was incredible, but I think that maybe you’re not giving some of the other players that have come through the program since ‘78 enough respect. I’d argue that as incredible a gifted player as Shareef was, both Kidd and KJ played at an equal level.
I'm thinking of having a little party down in Newport.
If anything, Kidd and KJ played at a higher level.
And if you’re looking at accomplishments in the pros, you’d have to give them both the nod there, too.
’Can’t deny that Shareef was incredible, though. Most polished low-post moves of any true frosh that I’ve ever seen. Add him to the list of guys that I would have loved to have seen play/develop under Monty.
Old Toothwrangler
I see your point.
It does take time to see whether a jersey should be retired, and that bar does need to be pretty high.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Okay, but if you’re recruiting a star high-schooler (say, Alan Crabbe?) and you think giving him or her his number choice will seal the deal, I can see where the Athletic Dept. would agree to it. Maybe just the reality of recruiting?
At Duke, Kentucky and Memphis they can say, “Sorry, but I guess we’ll take the next blue-chipper who will wear whatever jersey instead.” Cal can’t quite say that.
I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.
Ryan Anderson
Can someone remind me….didn’t he lead the Pac in points AND rebounds AND win Pac-10 player of the year? Didn’t he also go crazy during the Pac-10 tourny? Do I have my facts straight?
6 1st round draft picks, 2 Super Bowl Champions and counting
by Another Successful Tedford QB on Feb 9, 2011 9:47 AM PST reply actions
I was thinking about that, too. Honestly, I think Anderson is Cal’s best player in quite a while (since Shareef probably)….
by Missing Barry on Feb 9, 2011 9:49 AM PST up reply actions
Not all of this is accurate
He led the Pac-10 in scoring in his soph year, but not rebounding.
As a freshman, he was 5th in the Pac-10 in both scoring and rebounding
He was not a Pac-10 player of the year.
Yes, he had great Pac-10 tourney games in both seasons
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
Thanks OB
I tend to overinflate all the guys that I went to school with. And their stats/performance get better and better each successive year.
In my mind, Marshawn Lynch rushed for 6,000 yards in one year and Desean returned 78 punts for TDs. Oh I think Powe averaged 35 points and 20 rebounds….
6 1st round draft picks, 2 Super Bowl Champions and counting
by Another Successful Tedford QB on Feb 9, 2011 9:58 AM PST up reply actions
I understand
When I was in college, Russell White returned a kickoff 199 yards for a touchdown and Sean Dawkins caught 80 TD passes in a season.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
Pac-10 players of the year from Cal
Jason Kidd (1993-94)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1995-96)
Ed Gray (1996-97)
Sean Lampley (2000-01)
Jerome Randle (2009-10)
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
I remember this — I had carpet duty the last game in Harmon. You could tell he wasn’t expecting it, but the crowd seemed to think it was a good idea.
The vibe that day was something else, let me tell you…
Member of the Lost Tribe of Mooch
I was not at that game. But I was at the home finale two days later in the Cow Palace, when we beat Arizona by 2. (Remember when we used to play “big” games at either the Oakland Coliseum or the Cow Palace?!?) That atmosphere was a lot of fun; would’ve been true bedlam if the game were at Harmon.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
Yeah, I was there, too. I recall yelling at a friend of mine because he stepped onto the floor with the flag a few seconds too early. I don’t think the ref saw (thankfully), but Miles Simon was glaring at him. It was awesome.
Member of the Lost Tribe of Mooch
I was at both games. I remember signing this huge card that was passed around the student section. You could feel the energy in the air. And the look on Big Al’s face was priceless.
That game against AZ was awesome. Didn’t Randy Duck go crazy that game? I remember Miles Simon being a real douche. The dude could play, though…and that was a really good AZ team.
Old Toothwrangler
Yeah, that was the AZ team that went on to take the National Championship that year. It was good times for Cal basketball. I remember being so excited that we got to play in the tourney.
It was my freshman year. My senior year, we won the NIT, which was also awesome.
Member of the Lost Tribe of Mooch
Slightly OT but...
… why have we only retired one jersey in football. Joe Roth is probably the most deserving and there’s no doubt about it. He even has his own game (despite the fact the AD doesn’t recognize it at the game anymore bah).
But I honestly think we should retire a couple more jerseys for football. My thoughts? Aaron Rodgers and Kapp.
In other words, Go Bears!
Like I said up the thread, I’m not much into the “retiring” numbers thing. But I like the idea of a ring of honor around the stadium, honoring great players from the program’s history. Rodgers and Kapp would definitely make that ring of honor, IMO.
Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.
I imagine it’s pretty inconvenient to retire football numbers in college these days. Don’t they have a problem with the number of available numbers? I’m under the impression that’s why you see Williams/Desean or Lynch/Bishop sharing the same number, right? If that’s the case, I’d imagine other colleges don’t retire football numbers, either…
by Missing Barry on Feb 9, 2011 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
How about NONE
First, let me say I’m not a big college basketball or even a big Cal basketball fan; Cal football has been part and parcel of my life for more than 40 years. Even so, I do have very definite views on retiring numbers.
Retiring a number should be an indication that the player being honored is so singular in their accomplishments and contributions to the program, that they simply cannot be replicated or matched. In football, Joe Roth certainly meets the standard; not because of his statistical accomplishments; not because he died while still a student and shortly after the 1976 season had come to a close; not because he fought a terminal disease. Retiring Roth’s No. 12 makes sense because of the undaunted courage he displayed in living life, both on and off the field makes him an enduring symbol for Cal football and for college football in general. Which says so much but can never say enough about the kind of human being Joe Roth was.
Retiring a number should mean just that: that number will never again be used by any subsequent player. Retirement, therefore, should be considered very carefully, indeed. There is a Cal Athletics Hall of Fame, and every one of the players listed almost certainly deserves enshrinement for their contributions and accomplishments to Cal Athletics in general and their sport, in particular. But number retirement is another matter altogether, at a higher level of not just accomplishment, but also an example of courage, dedication, and purpose. Quite possibly on those merits Al Grigsby’s number retirement is not only deserved, but also appropriate.
I’ll confess that I know very little about Bob McKeen, Russ Critchfield, and only a little more about Phil Chenier. They might very well be deserving of having their numbers retired; that’s a case for someone else to make. But what I’ve seen from the more recent players listed (Randle, Murray, Lampley, and Powe) there’s nothing there that makes me think, “Wow, his accomplishments are so above and beyond not only the arc of Cal basketball, but they are also outstanding in the arc of college basketball.” Nor do I think, “Now there’s an outstanding example of selfless leadership, courage, dedication or purpose.”
Retiring a player’s number should not only be irrevocable, it should indicate a player of an unparalleled composition.
by FiatSlug on Feb 9, 2011 10:34 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
Well said, I agree with many of those sentiments. Having your number retired is something that should be reserved for truly great, one of kind players. The type of player so unique and special there will never be another player like them.
by Missing Barry on Feb 9, 2011 11:30 AM PST up reply actions
Nor do I think, "Now there’s an outstanding example of selfless leadership, courage, dedication or purpose."
I’m not sure how aware of Leon Powe’s life story you are, but I would say that he fits this description.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I am aware of Powe's life story before Cal,...
or at least what was publicized by the East Bay Express as he was preparing to finish high school at Oakland Tech before heading to Cal.
And it is an extraordinary story. But much of what is extraordinary about Leon Powe was written before he came to Cal. Suppose it wasn’t Powe but someone else. Would that person be deserving of having his/her number retired at Cal because of events before (s)he matriculated at Cal?
How is it that Powe’s experiences contribute to the argument that his number should be retired? Granted, he persevered in the face of daunting odds prior to coming to Cal, but he wasn’t by far the only actor in this drama. He was a pivotal actor, to be sure, but not the only one. What about Bernard Ward or Jonas Zuckerman? How about Connie Landry (Leon’s mother)? Each of their roles influenced how Leon acted and how he persevered.
What is it about Leon’s life while at Cal that would be worthy of consideration in retiring his number? NFL, NBA, and MLB franchises don’t retire numbers for what happened prior to beginning play in their respective leagues; why should Cal (or any other college) use a different standard?
I’m not arguing that Powe doesn’t deserve consideration. I’m only saying that what happened before he came to Cal is not, on its own, enough. I’m simply ignorant of examples of Powe’s leadership, courage, determination and purpose while at Cal.
Absolutely, Leon Powe is an extraordinary example of a kid who overcame daunting odds to become an NBA star. And he did play his college ball at Cal. But what did he do for Cal basketball that deserves consideration for retiring his number?
Outrebounding USC comes to mind.
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Oh come on, now you’re just being silly.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
I can’t tell if you are being sarcastic, but Leon Powe did outrebound USC in the 2006 Pac10 tourney, IIRC.
The internet's most successful troll!
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You’re being silly in that your example is merely one game. That does not make him worthy of a retired jersey.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Well, I guess I just approach this differently than you. I’d consider Leon’s entire life a potentially relevant factor. I was merely piggybacking on your standards of “selfless leadership, courage, dedication or purpose,” traits that I believe Leon embodied both before, during, and after his time at Cal. The courage to overcome his extremely trying childhood, the leadership to carry a very mediocre Cal team to two NCAA tournaments and a near regular season title, and the dedication and purpose to recover from multiple career threatening injuries.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
the leadership to carry a very mediocreCal teamcoach to two NCAA tournaments and a near regular season title
by Missing Barry on Feb 9, 2011 6:10 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, there was definitely guys with talent around Powe. I mean, just think what Monty could have done with guys like Ubaka, Kately, Maguire, Hardin, and Powe? Rod Benson. Midgley, Tamir. Of course a couple of those guys transferred, they weren’t all there are the same time, but give Monty a couple years of coaching with talent like that (especially the core of Ubaka, Hardin, Powe, Benson, Midgley, and maybe he gets one of Maguire/Kately to stay), and that’s a strong contender for an NCAA title…
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 7:46 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not trying to slam the door on Powe...
I’m just saying that there’s not yet enough out there for me to support retiring his number.
I’m sure that Powe will continue to be a candidate for this honor in the future.
In the meantime, I support being highly selective in bestowing the honor of retiring a player’s number. I wouldn’t want to ever un-retire a number because there were too many numbers retired.
Think of it this way: someone with the stature of Jackie Robinson should have their number retired. He wasn’t just an excellent athlete, he represented something else that transcended the game and enriched us all. Such a candidate is a shoo-in for number retirement. I use Jackie Robinson as an example that should be a no-brainer. As an aside, it’s my understanding that in MLB, #42 is permanently retired by all franchises. Exception: MLB allows players to wear #42 on April 15 each year, the anniversary date of Robinson’s MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Leon Powe isn’t there…yet. Here’s hoping that someday he will be.
You are correct on the Jackie Robinson thing.
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
I took that photo of the jerseys fo rOhioBear at the Az game on sat. He keeps making fun of me for not having Imhoff’s jersey in there. But Imhoff’s jersey is not next to those three. It is in a separate area. So, stop making fun of me!
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I met Al Grigsby when he was a player
Back in the 90’s when the team made its SoCal swing, they used to have a dinner at the hotel they stayed at in Marina Del Rey. I ended up sitting at Al’s table one year — I think it was pretty late in his career. He was a reserved but affable, and very humble young man who nevertheless really seemed to enjoy the questions and back and forth with us over-eager alums. From that day forward, I was a very big Al Grigsby fan.
As an aside, one thing I remember from that conversation was asking him to name the toughest player he had to defend. I remember him telling me it was Antonio McDyess. Don’t know why that stuck with me, but when I see McDyess’s name show up in the box scores to this day, I still think of Al.
Lastly, wasn’t Ryan Jamison in the same Fab Four recruiting class with Al, KJ and Lamond? Maybe I have that wrong.
I'm more of a 'big hall' type of guy
And wouldn’t mind at all to see Jerome and Leon get their numbers retired, or at least acknowledged and honored in some way.
I mean, Jerome Randle won Pac-10 Player of the Year on Cal’s first conference champions in 50 years. What else can a guy do? As for Leon, he’s one of the most inspiring Cal athletes I’ve ever known. Both are entirely deserving of some sort of honor.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I think the next two
should be Randle, and later, Jorge Gutierrez. Jorge might be a controversial choice, but he’s just a warrior out there, and his back story is quite amazing as well.
*Insert something witty here*. Oh, and Stanfurd Sucks.
Read up on Leon Powe’s journey and I think you’d add his name to your list
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
I do think Powe should have his number retired eventually
I just thought I would throw Jorge’s name out as he hasn’t been mentioned yet. And Randle is a shoe-in IMO.
*Insert something witty here*. Oh, and Stanfurd Sucks.
agreed, hopefully Jorge continues to develop year after year and becomes one of the greats. One thing to Randle’s credit is his development throughout his career at Cal, going from a weaker back-up PG to P10 player of the year.
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
Especially once Monty arrived, he turned Jerome into a whole new player. Jorge’s improvement from year to year thus far in his career has been very impressive.
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 7:48 AM PST up reply actions
I was really hoping the same for Gary Franklin before his departure, but it is what is I guess
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on Feb 10, 2011 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
It may have happened with time. Losing Franklin obviously helped for this year, but I’m not convinced it was good for the program long term. He had potential.
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 11:04 AM PST up reply actions
I felt the same way, but I have faith in Monty finding another up and comer to fill the scholly void, that will hopefully be a little more dedicated to the Blue and Gold
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
For as much faith as I have in Monty as a coach, I can’t say the same about his recruiting. He’s no Tosh.
by Missing Barry on Feb 10, 2011 8:50 PM PST up reply actions
I voted for other, other being none. We have not had another player come through who was exceptional enough to merit retirement.
I did (and do) support Grigsby’s retirement, though. His circumstances were a huge motivation for the rest of the team to succeed for him (I will never forget watching Jason Kidd come out wearing Grigsby’s shorts at the Coliseum the first game he missed with the first injury), and he battled back not just from three surgeries, but from three back surgeries over his six years at Cal. He was an awesome kid, and frankly, though he wasn’t nearly an NBA level power forward, I’d kill to have him on this year’s team.
Also, his jersey never came down from the rafters. It’s been up there all season, even while there was another 4 on the court.
Had to vote for Russ Critchfield because in addition to being a 3 time Cal MVP and a one time All-American I had him as a gym sub at Oakland HS. I was also a ballboy for the ABA Oakland Oaks one year and he was on the team and a good guy. He’s currently the coach at Butte Community College which I think I’ve heard something about recently.
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