Luke Bonner on UMass was listed at 7' 1" and the guy was around 6' 9".
He had one of the funniest quotes I've heard from a player. He had just ended his career losing to Duquesne in the A10 tourney, and as he walks off the court into the locker room he says "So what the f*** am I supposed to do now?" He said it in a very joking manner.
When Donny Marshall came out of UConn he didn't get much interest from the NBA but was invited in by some NFL teams as a possible TE. His height dropped from 6-7 to 6-4.
"Every season, college basketball has one or two teams that rise from dormancy to relevancy, squads that make long-awaited charges at the NCAA Tournament and become really fun storylines along the way."
This always reminds me of Bill Walton. He wanted his hieght listed as 6"11 1/2. He didn't want to be listed as a 7 footer because he felt 7 footers were looked at as freaks.
Billyboy78 wrote:This always reminds me of Bill Walton. He wanted his hieght listed as 6"11 1/2. He didn't want to be listed as a 7 footer because he felt 7 footers were looked at as freaks.
This is funny, but also true.
As in retail, we all know that something listed at $9.99 is $10.00, but all we see is the first 9.
Unlike Will Martell who used to tell people he was a "legitimate 7-footer."
"Every season, college basketball has one or two teams that rise from dormancy to relevancy, squads that make long-awaited charges at the NCAA Tournament and become really fun storylines along the way."
It's weird how much this still persists, despite it fooling absolutely no one. Jimmy Baron's listed height was also off, since he wasn't that much taller than me, and I'm 5'9".
SGreenwell wrote:It's weird how much this still persists, despite it fooling absolutely no one. Jimmy Baron's listed height was also off, since he wasn't that much taller than me, and I'm 5'9".
Andre Samuel is a good example. I remember how he seemed to get shorter every year. If he could have played a few more years, he might have been a point guard.
I think the better a player plays, the more likely the school is to give their actual size. No need to stretch the truth when the kid has already proven himself.
Bill Walton is the only guy I heard of who wanted to be shorter. I went to a Celtics exhibition game in '86 and got there early. Parish and Walton looked of equal height, but Walton might have been taller.
RI Red is right on ARD. He was probably 6-4 learning toward 6-5. By the same token, how many NFL teams list lineman at 300 pounds when they are really 340?
If Vince Wilfork is 325, then I'm Mr. Universe.
Most teams lie about player heights. It's a mental intimidation tactic for when the opposing team looks at the lineup. It's funny to me. This happens outside of college too. I used to be on recreational teams that did it.
"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!" - Marcus Garvey
Rosie, the Pats listing Wilfork at 325 is funny I know. He might have been 325. In high school. I'm 275 and the same height, and I'm half his size.
I'll bet he's very close to 400 lbs. It's amazing he's as athletic as he is. However, he's starting to decline, and that decline will be rapid at that weight. He'll be all done in a couple of years.
A few guys play near 400 in the NFL, but they're listed much lower. Remember when Refrigerator Perry entered the league? He considered a freak. Now he would be about the norm.
I remember one game in which Wilfork chased down a running back from behind for no gain. That guy must have heard it in the locker room later.
Haystacks was probably that weight. I saw him up close at Jack Witshci's once. Andre the Giant was over 500 and about 7-4. Sort of a reverse Manute Bol. Andre held the record at Custy's for consuming the most lobsters in one sitting _ something like 18. Andre was born with a pituitary gland problem that caused his freakish size. He died young. The biggest basketball player I ever saw in person was Mark Eaton, who looked like a walking mountain.
I saw Andre The Giant in person.
He could block out the sun.
Watched a bio on him once. His eating and drinking
exploits were mind boggling!
He once went to try out for the Washington Redskins, and they couldn't find a helmet big enough for him.
Seemed like a nice person. His gland problem killed him too soon.