Lists. Everybody likes lists. Here are some of mine, culled over nearly 40 years, most in sets of five:
They're gone, but I'm glad I knew them:
Frank X. Lauterbur, UT football.
Bob Nichols, UT basketball.
Ernie Harwell, Tigers announcer.
Byron Nelson, Golf legend.
Ted Garvin, Toledo hockey.
And five I wish I had met or known better:
Doyt Perry, BG football.
Woody Hayes, OSU football.
Harold Anderson, BG basketball.
Frank Stranahan, Local golf legend.
Muhammad Ali, boxer.
Biggest blasts from the past:
UT 24, Penn State 6, football, 2000 season.
2006 Detroit Tigers season.
Tiger Woods' first Masters win, 1997.
OSU defeats Alabama, Oregon in CFP, Jan., 2015.
UT 64, Ohio State 63, basketball, 1998-99 season.
My favorite baseball stadiums:
PNC Park, Pittsburgh.
Fenway Park, Boston.
Wrigley Field, Chicago.
Old Yankee Stadium, NYC.
Camden Yards, Baltimore.
Favorite college football stadiums:
Rose Bowl, Pasadena.
Tiger Stadium, LSU.
Ohio Stadium, Columbus.
Glass Bowl, UT.
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
All-time favorite local college coaches:
Tom Amstutz, UT football.
Dick Strahm, Findlay football.
Gary Pinkel, UT football.
Jim Larranaga, BG basketball.
Larry Gipson, UT basketball.
A nod to five sports movers and shakers:
Joe Napoli, Mud Hens/Walleye.
Gene Cook, Mud Hens.
Mike O'Brien, UT.
Allan Block, BCSN founder.
Ed Scrutchins, TPS/City League.
Five favorite local venues:
Huntington Center.
Savage Arena.
Fifth Third Field.
Waite HS, stadium and field house that turn back time.
BGSU Ice Arena.
And five places I miss:
Toledo Sports Arena.
Tiger Stadium, Detroit.
Libbey HS, the original stadium and the best field house in town.
Forbes Field, Pittsburgh.
Old upstairs bandbox gyms at DeVilbiss, Woodward and Macomber HS.
My five-plus favorite local radio voices:
Jerry Keil, WSPD/UT.
Jim Weber/Frank Gilhooley, Mud Hens.
Jay Lehman, UT basketball.
Mark Beier, UT football/basketball.
Tom Guitteau, UT football.
Bill Clark, Preps.
Through the years with local TV sports:
Rob Powers, Ch. 13.
Jim Tichy, Ch. 24.
Michael Reghi, Ch. 13.
Orris Tabner, Ch. 11.
Dan Cummins, Ch. 11.
Y’all know I love to eat, so five favorite metro Toledo restaurants:
Mancy’s Steakhouse.
LaScola Italian Grill.
Georgio's.
Shucker's, Swanton.
San Marcos.
Equal time for diners, drive-ins and semi-dives:
Dale's Bar, Maumee.
Moe's Place, Rossford.
Inky's, Toledo.
Tony Packo’s, Toledo.
Culver's, wherever.
Some joints I miss:
Oak'en Bucket, Toledo.
Cavese's Italian Village, Rossford.
Sardini's & Sons, Toledo
Two delis: Warzy’s and Brauer's, Toledo.
Billyle Supper Club, Toledo.
Favorite area public golf courses:
Carrington Club, Monroe.
The Legacy, Ottawa Lake.
Stone Ridge, Bowling Green.
Maumee Bay, Oregon.
Eagle Creek, Norwalk.
Influential local golf figures:
Judd Silverman, LPGA.
Don Kotnik, Toledo CC.
Herman Lang, Inverness Club.
Karen Stone, Toledo juniors.
Alan Fadel, First Tee.
Active high school coaches:
Ed Heintschel, St. John’s basketball.
Greg Dempsey, Central Catholic football.
Mike Vicars, Swanton football.
Todd Mitchell, Fayette basketball.
Doug Pearson, St. John’s football.
And there’s nothing like the old days in high school coaching, so much so that I need a dozen dandies:
Dick Crowell, Bowsher basketball.
Nick Toth, Central Catholic football.
Joe Stalma, Rossford basketball.
John Johnson, Macomber/Clay/Waite football.
Larry Clark, Perrysburg basketball.
Dick Cromwell, St. Francis football.
Bill Axe, Central Catholic basketball.
Fred Beier, St. John’s football.
John Downey, Archbold football.
Val “Willie” Glinka, St. Francis basketball.
Rick Kaifas, Whitmer basketball.
Jim “Spike” Berry, Cory-Rawson football.
Why all these lists? Why here? Why now? Tune in Sunday.
Contact Blade sports columnist Dave Hackenberg at: dhack@theblade.com or 419-724-6398.
First Published July 1, 2016, 4:33 a.m.
