Jack Burik

[fordhamanhattan]

Since I was a freshman reporter on the Ram during the 1970-71 and while covering Frank McLaughlin's freshman team I was still able to go to 26 of the 29 games the varsity played that halcyon year, I will offer my profiles of the members of that club before the Tip-Off dinner.
   Jack Burik was the senior playmaker (point guard had yet to come into fashion). He was a great ballhandler and passer, hard nose defender and could hit a set shot from the top of the key against zones. His play was just as important to the success of that club as any of the big stars. The McKeesport, Pennsylvania product ( a Roger Hackettism) was also a great star on the baseball diamond as a shortstop and slugger for Gil McDougald's nine. He went on to play minor league ball for several years. As a guy, Jack was always approachable at a local watering hole (the Web
was the favorite of the sportsminded in those days) and kind even to freshman.

[85]

Classic stuff.   Fordham's sports archivist.   

[TJHinNYC]

I hope -- after the run-down of the major figures of the 1970-71 basketball campaign -- Fordhamanhattan can provide a quick profile of various peripheral characters who added so much to the enjoyment of that great moment in time.  F'rinstance, noted members of the Booster Club, the guy in the mascot's ram suit, the cheerleading crew, the dance troupe (with a nod towards Rod Stewart), and bandwagon-hopping hangers-on (such as myself).

It's still mind-boggling to think that a 10-15 team could reverse itself in one year and attain a 26-3 record against fairly top-notch competition.

I look forward to all of Fordhamanhattan's recollections.

[room 106]

From the moment JB set foot on the Rose Hill campus he was asked to sacrifice his own scoring for the good of the team. He did so willingly and still came through whenever a pressure shot or big scoring night was needed.  At 5'10" he frequently defended taller, often quicker opponents, but never one with more heart. He truly ran the team on the floor, hated turnovers with a passion and fought the stat guys for every assist. He is a Ram for the ages.

[RAM71]

I remember the BC game in Chestnut Hill. Jack was having a career night. Everything he threw up was going in. Suddenly, he threw up a wild shot from about 30 feet at a critical time late in the game, very much out of character. Digger called him over and really laced into him. That was the first and only time I ever saw Digger chastise Jack, whom he loved as a ballplayer. Jack went on to play very well in the OT as the Rams pulled away.

Jack was a fierce competitor who hated to lose and got 110% out of his ability. He came to Fordham with the rep of an outstanding baseball player who also played some basketball. He made himself into an outstanding basketball player. He was the epitome of what guts, determination and hard work can do. 

[rambacker]

From the moment JB set foot on the Rose Hill campus he was asked to sacrifice his own scoring for the good of the team. He did so willingly and still came through whenever a pressure shot or big scoring night was needed.  At 5'10" he frequently defended taller, often quicker opponents, but never one with more heart. He truly ran the team on the floor, hated turnovers with a passion and fought the stat guys for every assist. He is a Ram for the ages.

Here, here.  The heart and soul of that great team.  He was the steadying influence, the true quarterback of a very talented group of players that were hungry to win in a big way.  He was a guy that knew how to win.  

The real beauty of that team was that each player sacrificed something so that they could play as one, and there was no team in the country that played harder.  That was the secret to their success.  And Digger Phelps was the man who instilled that mentality with the players.  I know some alums like to rip Digger for leaving for South Bend after that season, but he did one hell of a job of coaching that season.  I never saw him coach that well again during his years at Notre Dame.

One of the many national TV reporters that came on campus that season to report on the team was Howard Cosell.  I had just left a class in Keating and was walking across a snowy Eddie's Parade when I almost literally walked into the shot while he was doing his stand-up report.  I stood and watched from behind the camera as Howard reported "Yes, I'm here on this tranquil campus in the Bronx, where a college basketball team has captivated America by its electrifying play.  Can the Fordham Rams beat what many believe is the nation's best team, the Marquette Warriors?  There are those that believe they can.  A true Cinderella story if I've ever seen one."  I can remember his words like it was yesterday.  After he wrapped his report, I walked over and asked him what he thought of this unique college sports story.  His answer?  "You are a lucky young man to be a student at this fine college right now.  Your team is America's darling right now.  Savor the moment, young man."  Years later, when I was in charge of marketing for NBC Sports, I reminded him of our conversation that day, and he asked, as only Howard could, "That was a special moment for Fordham.  Do you think Fordham can ever get back that magic"?  My answer?  "I hope so, Howard.  As do many other Fordham grads".

[RAM71]

Jack supposedly refused to shake Al McGuire's hand before the Marquette game, the only player to do so. The story was that Jack had very badly wanted to go to Marquette to play for Al and even wrote the coach to that effect. But McGuire never recruited Jack because he had the "play maker" position slotted for his son, Allie.

I don't know how much, if any, of that is true but it made a good story then and still does 40 years later.

[John]

Jack supposedly refused to shake Al McGuire's hand before the Marquette game, the only player to do so. The story was that Jack had very badly wanted to go to Marquette to play for Al and even wrote the coach to that effect. But McGuire never recruited Jack because he had the "play maker" position slotted for his son, Allie.

I don't know how much, if any, of that is true but it made a good story then and still does 40 years later.

I do remember a story about a guard on McGuire's Marquette team lobbying the coach for the starting position, saying (probably with merit) that he was as good as Allie. And McGuire nodded and said, "Yes, you are as good, but Allie's my son, and I love him, and you're going to have to be better than him if you want to start."  Man told it like it was, and didn't mince words.

[RAM71]

Here, here.  The heart and soul of that great team.  He was the steadying influence, the true quarterback of a very talented group of players that were hungry to win in a big way.  He was a guy that knew how to win.  

The real beauty of that team was that each player sacrificed something so that they could play as one, and there was no team in the country that played harder.  That was the secret to their success.  And Digger Phelps was the man who instilled that mentality with the players.  I know some alums like to rip Digger for leaving for South Bend after that season, but he did one hell of a job of coaching that season.  I never saw him coach that well again during his years at Notre Dame.

One of the many national TV reporters that came on campus that season to report on the team was Howard Cosell.  I had just left a class in Keating and was walking across a snowy Eddie's Parade when I almost literally walked into the shot while he was doing his stand-up report.  I stood and watched from behind the camera as Howard reported "Yes, I'm here on this tranquil campus in the Bronx, where a college basketball team has captivated America by its electrifying play.  Can the Fordham Rams beat what many believe is the nation's best team, the Marquette Warriors?  There are those that believe they can.  A true Cinderella story if I've ever seen one."  I can remember his words like it was yesterday.  After he wrapped his report, I walked over and asked him what he thought of this unique college sports story.  His answer?  "You are a lucky young man to be a student at this fine college right now.  Your team is America's darling right now.  Savor the moment, young man."  Years later, when I was in charge of marketing for NBC Sports, I reminded him of our conversation that day, and he asked, as only Howard could, "That was a special moment for Fordham.  Do you think Fordham can ever get back that magic"?  My answer?  "I hope so, Howard.  As do many other Fordham grads".

Rambacker, I'm sure you remember that Howard Cosell had a nightly sports spot on WABC TV news in NY at 6:30 PM. The night before the ND game, his guest was Johnny Dee ("Johnny Dee, Johnny Dee, you're lucky if you even make the NIT..."). Howard predicted, in his own inimitable way, that ND would "thrash" Fordham. To his credit, Cosell had Digger on the show the Friday night after the game and congratulated Digger and said to him "young man, you're going places". Unfortunately, Howard was correct on that one. 

[ZonaRam]

I remember when Jack, Billy, and Charlie were freshman.  It did not take long into the season for the gym to fill to watch the freshman games that year.  They meshed right from the start and those freshman games were some of the best played at RHG.

[rambacker]

Rambacker, I'm sure you remember that Howard Cosell had a nightly sports spot on WABC TV news in NY at 6:30 PM. The night before the ND game, his guest was Johnny Dee ("Johnny Dee, Johnny Dee, you're lucky if you even make the NIT..."). Howard predicted, in his own inimitable way, that ND would "thrash" Fordham. To his credit, Cosell had Digger on the show the Friday night after the game and congratulated Digger and said to him "young man, you're going places". Unfortunately, Howard was correct on that one. 

I missed that show, but I do remember Howard saying to me years later, "Digger invigorated that Fordham team.  They should be happy he was there that year instead of rueing the day he left.  What's going on over there now?

[mugzcoyne]

I am new to this forum.  I am enjoying all the discussion about the 1970-71 team.  I was involved with that team.  The reason that I have replied to this thread is that Jack was my roomate that year.  I'll let you guess who I am, although my user name gives me away.

[pjd]

jack burik's photo in the programs .... he looked like a rock star ... like after a garden game he would head down to the village and meet Jim Morrison for a beer.

[pjd]

I should add that Three Dog Night and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (Sylvia's Mother Said) were playing at the garden between the St. John's Manhattan games.

[joesunfish]

Zona, ditto the frosh team, which featured Jim Cunningham, Bill McCadney & Ernie Haynes in 1954-55. They went 20-0 and the RHG was rocking at every home game. While they were ranked 8th in the country before the start of the '55-'56 season, during the next three years, they never attained the glory, that the 1970-71 team did. Unfortunately, Haynes left school prior to the start of his soph season but Cunningham & McCadney became two of Fordham's all-time greats, and provided Ram fans with many terrific memories.

I've been following Fordham Basketball closely for 58 years, however, and I have never experienced the excitement of those two magical Thursday nights at Madison Square Garden in February 1971.

[Richie68]

two magical Thursday nights at Madison Square Garden in February 1971.

That was the magic that you had to be there to understand.  That's what I remember and that's what I want back.  For those two nights, Fordham was a national team, a top ten team, playing two top ten teams, Notre Dame and Marquette.  The national press was on hand and the nation was watching.  The Garden was standing room only, both nights.  Wow!  Sic Tempus Fugit.

[ram it 66]

I sat with Jack at Rigoletto's on Arthur Ave a year or two ago. Yelverton, Zambetti,
Woytowich and a few other team members were there as well. Jack told me he had a
tape of the Notre Dame game. I believe I'm still on the waiting list to view it.

Jack also told me he was at Forbes Field in 1960, the day Mazeroski hit the homer
to win the World Series. His dad had allowed him to play hooky.

[tuckertomm]

Yogi in left, sans golf cart.

[FUCoP69]

I have never experienced the excitement of those two magical Thursday nights at Madison Square Garden in February 1971.

Amen, brother! I still have my programs from those games.

P.S. We were robbed in the Marquette game. Al McGuire should rot in hell (alright, maybe 300 years in purgatory). Happily, he didn't get any farther in the NCAAs than we did that year.

[FUCoP69]

I've always felt that Ed Conlin never got the credit he deserved for recruiting that great 1970-71 team. I've often wondered how they would have done had Carlesimo not sacked Conlin after the 1969-70 season disappointment.

[85]

  Sic Tempus Fugit.

Richie you get a + for proper Latin usage.   

[BIG SUR]

Late in that magical season Fordham had a Saturday nite game against an inferior opponent whom I can't remember. We are big favorites. Frank Mclaughlin as was common in those days had National Guard drilling on Saturday morning, same day as the game. He reports to the armory and is not there 2 minutes when some guy says to him, What's wrong with the game tonite? Any injuries? " Frank says no why, and the guy says "they just took the Fordham game off the board. Bookies are not taking any action." Frank completes his obligation for the day and goes staight to the gym . Before he can find out what's going on he sees Charlie Yelverton on the trainer's table with a heavy tape job on one of his ankles.  Frank asks Charlie what happened and Charlie says "sorry coach I slipped on some ice on my way to breakfast and I twisted it. I don't think it's too bad but I might not play tonite". This is before the internet ,cell phones and social media etc etc etc. Oh how I long for those days.

[ace93]

Late in that magical season Fordham had a Saturday nite game against an inferior opponent whom I can't remember. We are big favorites. Frank Mclaughlin as was common in those days had National Guard drilling on Saturday morning, same day as the game. He reports to the armory and is not there 2 minutes when some guy says to him, What's wrong with the game tonite? Any injuries? " Frank says no why, and the guy says "they just took the Fordham game off the board. Bookies are not taking any action." Frank completes his obligation for the day and goes staight to the gym . Before he can find out what's going on he sees Charlie Yelverton on the trainer's table with a heavy tape job on one of his ankles.  Frank asks Charlie what happened and Charlie says "sorry coach I slipped on some ice on my way to breakfast and I twisted it. I don't think it's too bad but I might not play tonite". This is before the internet ,cell phones and social media etc etc etc. Oh how I long for those days.

And they could not dunk in those days either, so the players were safe from your eternal hatred.

[BIG SUR]

Ace I try to tell a nice story on my way to reconciliation and you spoil it. How can I ever heal if guys like you don't help.

[ace93]

Ok, I take it back. I just couldn't pass it up, it was just too much of a coincidence (or perhaps not) that the comments were about the era when dunking was not allowed.

By the way, I think you guys have forgotten that we have a thread for all this reminiscing, it's called The Glory Years thread and I believe we stickies it somewhere.