Remember when...Tucson, Arizona

 A time for us...

Grew up in Tucson...moved here with my family in 1952. Seen a lot of changes. Still remember cruising Johnny's, dancin' at the Embers, fibbing to my folks while spending late nights at Sabino Canyon, reading about Charles Schmid, spending time at the end of Campbell, walkin' downtown to the YMCA, going to the drive in at 22nd/Alvernon and still remember that sad day when all my girlfriends transferred from Catalina High to Palo Verde...those were the days.

I remember when Arizona Wildcats running back Joe "Jackrabbit" Hernandez" ran over defenses and when Peter LaCock (the son of Hollywood Squares' Peter Marshall) played first base for the Tucson Toros. I remember when Albert Johnson played basketball at Arizona and thrilled fans with his jumping ability. I remember when Carl Cooper coached track at the UofA. When Darrell Mudra coached football. When Fred Snowden created a frenzy when he took over coaching Arizona basketball, in a similar fashion to the documented exploits of Texas Western's Don Haskins (depicted in the great flick, "Glory Road").

I remember great high school coaches like Jim Wing, Lee Carey, Cliff Myrick, Bill Lovin, Galen Kintner, John Griste and John Mallamo...and the list goes on: Bill Kemmeries, George Genung and Larry Hart. All men who shaped our lives...back in the day. Us old timers will never forget what happened back then. Of course, sports in the Valley of the Sun continues today with a new wave of coaches. And in years to come, they will also be remembered.

Remember this article was written with just two cups of coffee in my system. Don't get me started again, or I'll name some more...remember you are free to comment...join my blog, become a follower on the right side of this page, set up a google password, for example, it's all free. I haven't made a dime with this endeavor and this blog has been around since 2009. It's just a log...documenting our footprints through time.

Yes, a lot of it is about my 60-and-over baseball team. I can't seem to get away from those characters, nor do I want to. But, more and more I'm letting a few words trickle in on life as I know it...and on life out there amongst the English. From the movie Witness. I'll save that story for another day.

Read on...