On Wednesday, the 50th anniversary of Arizona's last basketball game at Bear Down Gym, I walked through the front door and was greeted by a nurse.
The site where Arizona once won 81 consecutive games has been repurposed. You can buy a cup of coffee and a donut at a quick-serve market where the office of coaches Fred Enke and Fred Snowden used to be.
Fifty years ago, on Jan. 18, 1973, Snowden’s first Arizona team beat UC-Santa Barbara in a farewell-to-Bear Down Gym game. One columnist referred to the venue as “once elegant, now a relic." It was the last of 488 UA games played at Bear Down Gym.Jerry Holmes, who was Snowden’s lead assistant coach, remembers the seven games Arizona played at Bear Down Gym in the 1972-73 season, but not necessarily fondly.
“The grand old dame’s days as a queen of high society are long past," the Tucson Citizen wrote in 1973. “Now it’s a doddering old dowager."The Star reported that Bear Down Gym prevented the UA from being a competitive basketball force. “It has drained Arizona," it wrote. “The school is now so weak it cannot field a presentable team."
When Dick Clausen was hired as Arizona’s athletic director in 1958, one of his first stated goals was to replace Bear Down Gym. In a 1998 interview at his midtown Tucson home, Clausen told me that departing Bear Down Gym met opposition at every turn. On the day of the last game at Bear Down Gym 50 years ago, no one could have guessed or dreamed that Arizona would become the No. 1 college basketball program West of the Kansas Jayhawks.
Thirteen athletes who played their entire basketball careers at Bear Down Gym — Warren Rustand, Ed Nymeyer, Ernie McCray, Roger Johnson, Fred W. Enke, Hank Leiber, Linc Richmond, Joe Skaisgir, Mo Udall, Waldo Dicus, Leon Blevins, Hadie Redd and George Genung — have been inducted into the UA Sports Hall of Fame.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US-China officials meet on economy, aim to ease tensionU.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met Wednesday with her Chinese counterpart and pledged an effort to manage differences and “prevent competition from becoming anything ever near conflict” as the two nations try to thaw relations.
Read more »
The AWD Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Has a Cheat Code for BurnoutsNo, its not Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.
Read more »
Polar bear kills woman and young boy after rampage through remote Alaska villageA polar bear chased down and killed a woman and a young boy when it entered a remote village in Alaska before a resident shot and killed the bear during the attack.
Read more »
Taylor Swift Guitar, Eminem Signed Gym Shoes, J-Hope Jumpsuit Slated for MusiCares Charity Relief AuctionTaylor Swift's guitar, Eminem's signed gym shoes, J-Hope's jumpsuit and more music memorabilia will be up for bid at the annual MusiCares Charity Relief Auction.
Read more »
Aneva Gym brings new way to workout in QueensIf you’re looking to get fit or stay on track with your fitness goals in the New Year, we’re introducing you to a new gym in Long Island City: Aneva.
Read more »
Get Moving With 25 Stylish Workout Sets for Every Exercise ActivityShop 25 of the best workout sets to get you inspired for your upcoming sweat sesh.
Read more »