Yet another reason I loved Al McGuire

[Mr O]

In the summer Al would ride around Europe on his motorcycle. My most favorite coach and he was a great friend of Jim McCafferty.

[Mr. Neutral]

I don't want to sound like an a-hole on this, but Jim Valvano is brought up all the time because of his ESPY speech and his struggle with cancer. McGuire was a much bigger presence in CBB, both as a coach and announcer, and it doesn't seem like he gets his props very much.

Very few CBB fans say they loved Valvano, but those of us who saw him on the sidelines or on TV routinely say that Al was just the best and is sorely missed in the college game.

[muskieman]

I would say both are characters and if you met them they were genuine people. Too bad they are not still with us because they gave us a lot of good material. Al of course had a longer career and Jimmy had the splash but both were fun to meet.

[Sonoma Muskie]

As a TV commentator Al McGuire delivered the classic quip when the cameraman lingered focuSing on the exposed back of the panties of a South Carolina cheerleader which were emblazoned with the nickname of the school's mascot "COCKS." Al's wry comment "You can tell the Catholic and state schools apart from the uniforms of the cheerleaders"

[Sonoma Muskie]

Al McGuire's restaurant evaluation method: "If the bread is warm & the waiter is gay, the food will be good."

[mumuskie87]

Al McGuire's restaurant evaluation method: "If the bread is warm & the waiter is gay, the food will be good."

Another one - If a waitress has dirty ankles, the chilli is good.

[skyhops]

Thats good stuff. When I was young I love Al as an announcer.

[Sonoma Muskie]

Before McGuire brought Marquette's program to national prominence with some NCAA appearances in the 1960 & 70's the then warriors were not distinguishable from a lot of other Midwestern Catholic college bb programs such as Loyola, St Louis, Detriot, Dayton and Xavier. He established MU in 15 yrs into what would take Xavier 30 yrs & 4 coaches to achieve.