The Wit & Wisdom of Al Maguire
The Wit & Wisdom of Al Maguire
Much of Al’s notoriety was gained at my alma mater, Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Yet, for all of the talented players who went through his program, his great wins, and ultimately his capturing the NCAA Championship in 1977 (in his last game ever as a coach), Al Maguire will be remembered most for his incredible wit.
He was a rare combination of humor, sarcasm, sincerity, intelligence, intensity, fairness and compassion. I had an opportunity to meet him during the summer before my freshman year at Marquette. He and Billy Packer were taping a segment for NBC Sports. They were tracing Al’s roots back to his days on the 108th street playground in Rockaway, Queens where legends came to play basketball in the summer–people like Lew Alcindor, Brian Winters, Len Elmore, Al & Dick Maguire and more. I worked in my uncle’s bar, across the street from the hallowed grounds, when Al came in for lunch.
I introduced myself and told him that I’d be attending Marquette in the fall. True to his nature, Al spent 3-4 hours over the next two days talking to me about Marquette, getting an education from the Jesuits, basketball, living among the Cheeseheads in WI (which Al thought was right up there with NY) and getting the most out of life. It was a great experience for me; one I still remember fondly today (20+ years later).
Recently, I came across a book which included some of Al’s best quotes (from A to Z). Below are some of my favorites. Enjoy!
DINING – I went into a restaurant one night and ordered lobster, and the waiter brought me one with a claw missing. I called him over and told him about it. He told me that in the back there’s a tank they keep lobsters in and, while in there, they fight and sometimes one loses a claw. I told him, “then bring me the winner.”
EDUCATION – I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cab driver. Then they would really be educated.
FIGHTING – When a guy takes off his coat, he’s not going to fight. When a guy takes off his wristwatch, watch out!
MOTTOS – (1) Live every day as if it were Saturday night. (2) Dream big. Don’t be just another guy going down the street and going no where. (3) Live in the moment that you are in. Make your life exciting. Do what you have to do as long as you don’t hurt people.
NEW YORK – I come from New York where, if you fall down, someone will pick you up by your wallet.
PERSONALITY – A team should be an extension of a coaches personality. My teams are arrogant and obnoxious.
QUICKNESS – Dean Meminger was quicker than 11:15 Mass at a seaside resort.
RECRUITING – My rule was I wouldn’t recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house. That’s not my world. My world has a cracked sidewalk.
EXIT – I had my moment on the stage. The trick in life is to know when to leave.
The Wit Wisdom of Al Maguire - To learn more about this author, visit Brian Moran's Website.
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With the 2009 NCAA tournament entering the Sweet 16, I wanted to re-visit a blog post I wrote in a previous lifetime. It was about Al Maguire, one of the great coaches in men’s college basketball.
Much of Al’s notoriety was gained at my alma mater, Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Yet, for all of the talented players who went through his program, his great wins, and ultimately his capturing the NCAA Championship in 1977 (in his last game ever as a coach), Al Maguire will be remembered most for his incredible wit.
He was a rare combination of humor, sarcasm, sincerity, intelligence, intensity, fairness and compassion. I had an opportunity to meet him during the summer before my freshman year at Marquette. He and Billy Packer were taping a segment for NBC Sports. They were tracing Al’s roots back to his days on the 108th street playground in Rockaway, Queens where legends came to play basketball in the summer–people like Lew Alcindor, Brian Winters, Len Elmore, Al & Dick Maguire and more. I worked in my uncle’s bar, across the street from the hallowed grounds, when Al came in for lunch.
I introduced myself and told him that I’d be attending Marquette in the fall. True to his nature, Al spent 3-4 hours over the next two days talking to me about Marquette, getting an education from the Jesuits, basketball, living among the Cheeseheads in WI (which Al thought was right up there with NY) and getting the most out of life. It was a great experience for me; one I still remember fondly today (20+ years later).
Recently, I came across a book which included some of Al’s best quotes (from A to Z). Below are some of my favorites. Enjoy!
DINING – I went into a restaurant one night and ordered lobster, and the waiter brought me one with a claw missing. I called him over and told him about it. He told me that in the back there’s a tank they keep lobsters in and, while in there, they fight and sometimes one loses a claw. I told him, “then bring me the winner.”
EDUCATION – I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cab driver. Then they would really be educated.
FIGHTING – When a guy takes off his coat, he’s not going to fight. When a guy takes off his wristwatch, watch out!
MOTTOS – (1) Live every day as if it were Saturday night. (2) Dream big. Don’t be just another guy going down the street and going no where. (3) Live in the moment that you are in. Make your life exciting. Do what you have to do as long as you don’t hurt people.
NEW YORK – I come from New York where, if you fall down, someone will pick you up by your wallet.
PERSONALITY – A team should be an extension of a coaches personality. My teams are arrogant and obnoxious.
QUICKNESS – Dean Meminger was quicker than 11:15 Mass at a seaside resort.
RECRUITING – My rule was I wouldn’t recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house. That’s not my world. My world has a cracked sidewalk.
EXIT – I had my moment on the stage. The trick in life is to know when to leave.
The Wit Wisdom of Al Maguire - To learn more about this author, visit Brian Moran's Website.
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