🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Watching the Royals game tonight reminds me of 1985-1986, the greatest sports year of my life. I was new to KU in '85 from Illinois. I knew little of KU basketball. I did know baseball however and with my roommates took to the Royals at least a little. Watched the games all the way to the Joquin Andujar meltdown in game 7 of the series, brought to you by, ahem, Mr. Denkinger. Glad for the Royals to win that memorable series. (I actually spent grades k-6 in New Jersey and watched WIllie Wilson play football for 3 years. He was phenomenal at football, totally dominated the very good team in our town on Thanksgiving morning those 3 years. Rival games in NJ were played on Thanksgiving morning around 9 or 10 AM!)

Well by that time it was clear my Bears were in the midst of something very special It was great fun to watch. Of course in the middle of football season basketball starts. I attended my first late night, amazed at the atmosphere and bought my tickets. I didn't miss a game!

The Bears finish off their run and the Hawks were just dominating everyone, beating eventual NC TWICE in the regular season. Dallas here we come! Even the regional games were memorable. We beat MSU and then get Jimmy V in the regional final. The clock stops at Kemper, Brown gets T-d, which somehow helps us comeback in the last several minutes FF bound.

Somehow Duke, ranked #1 and KU ranked #2 draw each other in the semi's, Louisville had to knock off the highest seed to make a final four LSU. The refs took the game over, that's my version anyways, and maybe for the first time we were seeing the Dukification of college basketball. 26 whistles against KU, just 14 against Duke, and yet we were still in control until Archie got hurt, putting kind of a bitter end to the greatest year in sports.

I was in Dallas at the game and when Marshall went down from. Flagrant Foul-NOTHING WAS CALLED. that fouled ended his career and as I recall our coach was in tears knowing that was the case.

Danny didn't show up that game but that's okay he totally delivered two years later in KC against Oklahoma when we got the NCAA title in 1988.

@JayhawkRock78 Well Archie did come back and was actually injured again in the 88 season against St. Johns. I think that's when Coach Brown cried about it. Tough loss, but a great season.

My memory must be off.i need to check this out.

@JayhawkRock78 he's right

@wissoxfan83 Too bad Mr Denkinger isn't umping the game right now. At least the guy behind the plate has an "expanded" strike zone. LOL

@wissoxfan83 9-8 final after 12. Royals advance. Thanks Salvy UDAMAN !!

Perez just got the Gatorade bucket in front of national tv & LIKED IT. Best young defensive catcher in the game...period !

Man of the hour for sure !!

Survive & advance !!!

@globaljaybird he was due for a hit! Hosmer had a great game- speed kills! So happy!!!

Went to bed, missed the extra frames. Glad to see they won.

Dyson stealing 3rd with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th down by one was amazing. Blew my mind.

@approxinfinity mine too, like his lil dance too!!! That kid gore is fun to watch too! I read a great article how dyson broke the pitcher's moves down than made his move, pretty cool!

@Crimsonorblue22 Yeah.. I think you are referring to this one: How Jarrod Dyson Stole the Biggest Base of his Life ↗

@bskeet yeah, glad you found it! Thought it was very interesting. You?

Excellent breakdown.. I had no idea how a runner could read a pitcher before. The signs are so nuanced and subtle. The article, with the video clips, is very educational. Plus, it's fun to relive that game ;-)

@wissoxfan83 "The Bears finish off their run and the Hawks were just dominating everyone, beating eventual NC TWICE in the regular season. Dallas here we come! Even the regional games were memorable. We beat MSU and then get Jimmy V in the regional' final. The clock stops at Kemper, Brown gets T-d, which somehow helps us comeback in the last several minutes FF bound"

Great memories for sure. & now KC one win away from another golden WS trip. After the A's & Charlie Finley & his mule left for Oakland, the Royals were awful the first the first few years until a young guy came along named George Brett. Sparkey Andersen walked him almost every time his team faced him-& when he didn't Brett made him pay. No notable superstars on this Royals team like Wilson, White, McCrae, or Brett, but as I've said prior, those 3 special metrics for great playoff success are there:

Good starting pitching.

Lockdown bullpen.

And great, if not spectacular defense. These kids are as fun to watch as the old timers were-they'd be the first to tell ya that.

That bullpen is what's impressed me the most. I've seen Herrera for years terrorize Sox hitters. Davis is interesting. If you look at his stats, he's been a starter 3 different seasons, very average, if not below average stats, especially last year. 3 other years he's been a middle reliever with decent stats, especially this year. Phenomenal.