Word came this week that Washington State is retiring Klay Thompson's jersey. Duh! The only other player in Washington State history whose number was retired is Steve Puidokas, a third-round draft pick by the Washington Bullets in 1977. Does anybody remember him?
Meanwhile, in the entire history of the Montana basketball program, to the best of my knowledge (or listed as such on the roster), we have not retired a single jersey, when indubitably, inarguably and unequivocally there are two players deserving of that honor: Micheal Ray Richardson and Larry Krystkowiak. I say, retire those jerseys now! Here's why.
--They deserve it. Both are in the Montana Sports Hall of Fame. Both would be unanimous first-team choices on any All-time All-Big Sky team. And both played in the NBA, the highest achievement in basketball. Richardson, a #3 overall pick in the draft by the New York Knicks, was a four-time NBA All-star, and despite his drug problems, retains legendary status as an NBA player. Krysko not only played nine years in the NBA, he was also briefly the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
--Retired jerseys are a connection to the tradition of any sports program. You can't glance at the roster of our football team without being reminded of Terry Dillon and Dave Dickinson, of the prior glories of the program.
If these numbers have been informally retired, they should be listed on the roster as such, just as we do for Dillon and Dickenson on the football side.
If not, this is an oversight not only on the part of our Athletic Department, but by the University of Montana. I mean, what are they thinking?
Or not.
Meanwhile, in the entire history of the Montana basketball program, to the best of my knowledge (or listed as such on the roster), we have not retired a single jersey, when indubitably, inarguably and unequivocally there are two players deserving of that honor: Micheal Ray Richardson and Larry Krystkowiak. I say, retire those jerseys now! Here's why.
--They deserve it. Both are in the Montana Sports Hall of Fame. Both would be unanimous first-team choices on any All-time All-Big Sky team. And both played in the NBA, the highest achievement in basketball. Richardson, a #3 overall pick in the draft by the New York Knicks, was a four-time NBA All-star, and despite his drug problems, retains legendary status as an NBA player. Krysko not only played nine years in the NBA, he was also briefly the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
--Retired jerseys are a connection to the tradition of any sports program. You can't glance at the roster of our football team without being reminded of Terry Dillon and Dave Dickinson, of the prior glories of the program.
If these numbers have been informally retired, they should be listed on the roster as such, just as we do for Dillon and Dickenson on the football side.
If not, this is an oversight not only on the part of our Athletic Department, but by the University of Montana. I mean, what are they thinking?
Or not.