SERBY’S SUNDAY Q& A WITH ... Bill RAFTERY
Q: Describe the first Final Four you attended.
A: If it wasn’t the first, it’s the most vivid — Texas Western [in 1966]. We grew up with kids of all persuasions, and it didn’t dawn on me that this was a sociological, impact game whatsoever.
Q: You coached Seton Hall from 1970-81. What is your favorite memory?
A: Favorite memory was the ’89 NCAA [championship runnerup] team. That connected the dots — Honey Russell, Richie Regan, myself. And through P.J. [Carlesimo, coach] vicariously, we were able to enjoy it, because the philosophy at Seton Hall when we joined the Big East was very limited, and P.J. paid the price for a couple of years until [then-commissioner] Dave Gavitt came in and said to the president, “You’ve gotta reinvest in this.” You felt like you were a part of it.
Q: The call against Gerald Greene on Michigan’s Rumeal Robinson by referee John Clougherty with three seconds left in overtime in the 80-79 championship game loss.
A: Not to crucify the official, I think he just jumped the gun a little bit. I remember coming down the steps with Richie Regan, turning, and here’s [UNLV coach] Jerry Tarkanian, and he’s venting over the call.
Q: Did you console P.J?
A: What I remember the most is the impact he had on the CBS community ’cause of the way he handled it. I remember saying, “He’s probably the only losing coach in a final game whose team is remembered.”
Q: How do you think you would have handled it?
A: Pretty well. The reason I say that, after every game, I would go into the trainer’s room, and I would open up a can of beer, and I would finish the beer, and then light up a cigar, and I was then OK to say the right thing.
Q: Did you also do that while at Fairleigh Dickinson from 1965-70?
A: No, nobody bothered us at Fairleigh. If you said hello, we were happy.
Q: Describe your recruitment to Seton Hall of Danny Callandrillo.
A: His father was hearingimpaired. He would write a question and then I would answer it. And he used to call me “Corned Beef and Cabbage.”
Q: Why?
A: Because I was Irish. He’d say, “Are you gonna take care of Danny?” He would write it down. And I wrote, “It’ll be hard. I have a difficult time with Italians (leans back, arms raised and roars with laughter).” Q: The three most compelling moments at the height of the Big East Conference. A: [Ron] Rowan’s jumper for Looie [St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca] in the Garden. Ray Allen’s layup to win for UConn. I remember The Pearl [Washington] running off the floor against B.C. after he made the jumper, just kept sprinting. The No. 1 versus 2 in the Garden, St. John’s-Georgetown with “the sweater.” That was like a Knick seventh-game playoff. It was as good as you’ve ever heard it. Q: What about the 2009 Syracuse-UConn six-overtime game? A: That’s the all-timer. I’m convinced ESPN woke up the next day and said, “You know Sean McDonough’s a pretty good announcer.” They said to me, “What’d you think of the game?” I said, “It’s the latest I’ve been in New York where my wife wasn’t mad at me.” Q: What advice would you have for St. John’s coach Chris Mullin? A: Get good players. And I would add on: Get good kids, too. It’s never gonna be a boat ride, so that’s when your character comes out in these tough games, tough situations. Q: What are the three greatest games you’ve worked? A: Well I mentioned that 1 vs. 2 in the Garden. George Mason beat UConn to go to the 2006 Final Four. Then last year. Villanova. Q: What did you think of Syracuse leaving the Big East? A: It sort of ripped the heart out of a lot of people ... mostly [coach Jim] Boeheim. It’s mindboggling that [the Big East has] been able to hold their own and get a national champion last year and get five, six teams in the tournament out of 10. But that one was tough. Where does this league go now? [That] was almost the feeling amongst people. Q: What do you think of the one-and-done approach? A: There’s nothing we can do about it. I remember Al [McGuire], I think it was Jim Chones, in his car crying, and Al said, “You gotta leave.” The kid’s crying, he wants to stay at Marquette. Al said, “Look in your refrigerator.” He had no money. I would love the kid to go four years and get a degree knowing the things that could happen — cut, injury, not having the goods. The purist in us would like it to happen, but the reality is this is an opportunity for a kid to do something with his life. I’m reluctant to criticize a kid for doing it. I feel badly when he makes a bad judgment, and the NBA’s doing a better job now saying, “Hey, you’re not ready. ready.” I think that that’s s helped a few kids. Q: Who gave you the nickname “Uncle One More”? A: My wife’s brother-in-law, Bill Keegan. Q: What was the origin of that? A: Generally speaking, he liked a cocktail, and at the end of the night I’d say, “Why don’t we have one more?” Q: How competitive were the games at Tappan Street Playground? A: Fights ... pre-Big East confrontations (smile). Q: Describe your 1964 tryout with the Knicks.
A: I got cut by Eddie Dono- van at lunch. Red [Holzman] was sort of a scout then. From what I’m told, they had the afternoon session and Red says to Eddie Donovan, “Where’s Billy?” He said, “They cut him at lunch.” And Red was not confrontational, but like Red was more disappointed that I got cut than me. I went back and got my equipment to leave, and as I’m leaving, Tom Gola, who was an all-league defensive player and Hall of Famer, Richie Guerin, Hall of Famer, they’re coming in for the afternoon practice. They said, “Where you going?” I muster up, “I got cut.” And Richie says, “Geez Billy, I’m sorry to hear that, but if you need tickets, call Tommy.” Q: Your All-Onions team? A: Ronald Moore (Siena) would be my captain. And head coach (laugh). [Patrick] Ewing ... Mullin ... Ray Allen ... [Michael Jordan] making the jumper against Georgetown [in the 1982 NCAA championship]. ... [Mario] Chalmers’ jumper [to force overtime in Kasnas’ 2008 title win over Memphis], and then you gotta throw [Kris] Jenkins in there. Q: How would you describe your announcing style? A: I just do me. I don’t write notes down and try and be clever. You mirror your existence. Q: Describe UCLA freshman guard Lonzo Ball. A: I think he’s Bob Cousy, Dick McGuire, Chris Paul, Isiah Thomas, in terms of seeing the floor, and shortening the floor, getting the ball on time to people. He’s gonna be the Jason Kidd of the next 10 years. Q: Who is the best player in the country? A: [Senior Kansas guard] Frank Mason. ... Talking to [coach Bill] Self, all the things he does to help his team win. Gutty, tough, hard-nose, overlooked, nobody-recruited-him kind of kid. Q: What is it like being Bill Raftery? A: I’ve been really fortunate both through marriage and through [four] children, and I enjoy every minute with them that I can. I think I’m blessed that I did come from great parents. I enjoy what I’m doing.