Commonwealth Network
This kid was a pure shooter, one of the best who ever lived and while I could tell you his name right now, let me tell about his final game of his fine collegiate career. The one where he scored only 20 points. That's right. A meager 20 points.
The date was March 19 and the year was 1970. The place was Madison Square Garden where his team was facing Marquette in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
Now before you go off jumping to conclusions, let me tell you this: Back then, before the advent of 64-team NCAA Tourney fields, the NIT meant something. It was not a throwaway tournament for second-class schools. The fact was that for some, unless you won your conference you didn't go to the Big Dance. No matter how many games you won. So, you went to the NIT and played hard.
And this Marquette club he faced was good, but they could have been beaten that night had this kid not been held to merely 20 points. Of course, he did all he could - he had hurt his ankle in a quarterfinal game against Oklahoma, a game in which he scored 37 points. That, however, was still not his best - nor his average.
For you see, this kid played for Louisiana State. And his nickname was Pistol.
Yes, Pistol Pete Maravich -- who had AVERAGED 44.5 points per game that season - was held to a mere 20 points.
1) Who holds the record for the most knockdowns in any professional boxing title fight? Give up?
2) Sure, you know that the most World Series wins is by the Bronx Bombers with a whopping 23. But what team in the National League has the most? Give up?
3) While some - albeit very few - of today's baseball pitchers can hurl those heaters in the high 90s, that still isn't nearly as fast the ball moves in this sport. In fact, it's the fastest moving-ball sport in the world. Take a guess. Give up?
4) Who nailed the longest punt on record in the NFL? Give up?
5) From 1953 to 1957, the Oklahoma Sooners were unstoppable, winning a total of 47 straight games. What team finally stopped them and what was the score? Give up?
Mike Emmett has been kicking around sports departments in newspapers and online operations around the U.S. for years. Got something to say to the Irishman? Email him with a click here.