Full Court Press

I am not one for e mails, but I had to tell you a story. Eight years ago I was very involved with our mens club at St Tarcissus. I was approached to try and get a sport celebrity to talk to our parishoners. A daunting task as most sport celebrities don't have the time or ask a small fortune for their time. I thought of Coach Meyer and got his number from a friend.I asked him how much he charges for a speaking engagement and received a figure. Much to my disappointment he asked for a much higher figure. I said Coach we can"t afford that much and he responded, Mike give me what your club can afford. He almost sounded embarrassed when he explained to me he does so many charity appearances, which he does not get reinbursed for and has to make up for it somehow.
We had him the night of April 18,1998 at our auditorium. It was a great night. There was a 60 -90 minute discusssion of his career, a question and answer period and Ray signing autographs and talking to people until everyone had a chance to talk to him.
He could have not been more gracious.
So when people mentioned Ray Meyer the legenday coach I say yes, but what a wonderful human being! Ray is now with his beloved wife Marge watching the NCAA GAMES IN THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE!!

Friends of mine had many interactions with Ray Meyer - they will tell you he was one of the nicest people you could ever want to meet.
They would also say he was one of the worst coaches you could ever want to meet.
Obviously the former is more important than the latter. Reading some columnists in this city, you would think he was the second coming of John Wooden. Ray never had any sort of handle on his players when he had the best talent in the country in the early 80's which is why they ususally went out early despite being the better team.

I just met Coach Meyer a couple of times but I do have a wonderful rememberance. I asked him to sign my copy of "Coach."
He graciously did: To John, I hope you enjoy the book. Good luck to you all your life! Ray Meyer HOF 78.

Thanks to you, Coach, for a wonderful ride. I hope you now have the peace you so richly deserved.

I rember him well. His team always gave Kentucky a rough time. May he rest in peace.

News
Touching hearts just Ray's way

March 18, 2006

BY TONI GINNETTI Staff Reporter

March is basketball's month, a time Ray Meyer relished long after he retired as DePaul's Hall of Fame basketball coach in 1984. At 92, he still talked in recent weeks about getting to Indianapolis for this year's Final Four, his favorite gathering place among coaches -- most many years his junior yet not above seeking his counsel.

But as the first games of the NCAA tournament were going on Friday, Meyer succumbed to failing health. His family and close friends were with him, while scores of others at DePaul and around the basketball world kept private vigils.

"Ray Meyer is an iconic figure in the history of basketball in America and the life of DePaul University,'' school president the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider said. "He represented all that is good about college athletics -- a pure love for the game, an unwavering commitment to fair competition and, most importantly, a genuine respect for his student athletes.

"Not only was Ray a national champion, he was a hero to his colleagues, players and thousands of children who attended basketball camps hosted by the man they knew simply as 'Coach.'''

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On St. Patrick's Day -- Meyer's favorite holiday -- those who knew him spoke respectfully of the man whose basketball career spanned five decades and whose character eclipsed that career.

"He was a coach's coach. He was a man's man,'' said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who grew up in Chicago. "He was the face of college basketball in Chicago. When you think basketball in that city, you think Ray Meyer.''

Said Mayor Daley: "Ray Meyer was synonymous with DePaul basketball for almost half a century. "He was admired not just by his players and basketball fans, but by everyone who came in contact with his warm personality.

"Ray was a goodwill ambassador for both DePaul and the city of Chicago, and he will be missed.''

With George Mikan in 1945, Meyer's Demons won the National Invitation Tournament, then considered the national championship.

With Mark Aguirre as a freshman in 1979, DePaul went to the NCAA Final Four in one of its most famous fields, which included Magic Johnson at Michigan State and Larry Bird at Indiana State.

ESPN basketball analyst Digger Phelps, whose years as Notre Dame coach brought him close to Meyer and his family, said Meyer's passing is like losing a father.

"He and Marge [his late wife] were my second family,'' Phelps said. "Marge reminded me so much of my mother. They were beautiful people. When it came to identifying Chicago, behind the first Mayor Daley and his wife had to be Ray and Marge.

"We always had great games against each other, even to the end of his career in 1984. To think of going from George Mikan in the 1940s to the 1980s with guys like Aguirre and Terry Cummings, that's like two generations of basketball coaching. Talk about surviving as a coach -- he went from Mikan in the 1940s to getting to the Final Four in 1979.''

At the time he retired, Meyer was the fifth all-time winningest coach with a 724-354 record. But he joined the broadcast team of DePaul games while serving as a special assistant to the university president. In the process, he compiled an incredible record of 55 consecutive years with the school while coaching or broadcasting 1,467 consecutive DePaul games.

"I never remember Coach being sick,'' said WCIU-TV sports director Kenny McReynolds, who was an assistant coach on Meyer's staff in his last two seasons. "He made me the first African-American coach of any sport at that school, and that means a lot to me. The years I was with Coach were probably two of the greatest years of my life. He was the greatest man I've ever known and he taught me how to be a man.''

Like many of his players, Cummings developed a special relationship with Meyer during and after his playing days from 1979 to 1982.

"The thing that was most inspiring was he was so passionate and he loved people,'' Cummings said. "It wasn't about color or economic status. He was one of the first men in my life who allowed me to be a man.

"He opened his office to all of us, but I was the only one who would go in. I became the liaison between him and the coaches and players. The other players wouldn't go in for whatever reason, but they knew I would. I'd talk to him about everything, from God to economics.''

Meyer's legacy in basketball was cemented in 1979 when he was elected to the Hall of Fame, and he won national Coach of the Year honors after that in 1980 and 1984. But it was his personality that most remembered more on Friday.

"From the moment you met Coach Ray, he touched your heart with his sincerity and friendship,'' said DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto, who played at DePaul, served as an assistant women's coach and married Joe Ponsetto, who had played on Meyer's 1978 Elite Eight team. "Ray was much more than just DePaul basketball. He was a national treasure.''

Current DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright, a Chicago native who coached at Leyden and Highland Park high schools before his college career, said Meyer's presence at DePaul's first Big East victory this season against Notre Dame was special for him. It was the last game Meyer would attend in person.

"He came to one of our practices [this season] and talked to the kids. He was as vibrant a man as when I first met him. You can add up all his wins, but they pale in comparison to the lives he touched. He left a little bit of himself with everyone he met.''

DePaul women's coach Doug Bruno, who played on Meyer's 1969-73 teams with Meyer's son, Joey, said Meyer's best legacy was what he did for hundreds of non-stars who learned to play the game.

"So many kids wouldn't have had a chance without the guy,'' said Bruno, whose team plays today in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament. "Everyone knows about the stars, but he earned his way into the Hall of Fame before Mark Aguirre came. He had ham-and-eggers like me ready to play against any team. As a coach, I look back and am in awe.''

On Friday in Auburn Hills, Mich., where the NCAA tournament was going on, Memphis Grizzlies scout David Booth, another former DePaul player, said the talk was about Meyer.

"I could walk into his office any time, and he talked to me like I was one of his players,'' said Booth, who played for Joey Meyer from 1988 to 1992. "When I was struggling in my freshman and sophomore years, I would go to him. What better person to get advice from than a legend like Ray Meyer?

"The buzz here is all about Coach Ray,'' he added. "That tells you his legendary status.''

Said Illinois coach Bruce Weber: "He's a legend. I know how much he meant to college basketball.

"When you talk about him, I think you can say his name in the same breath as Adolph Rupp and some of the great legends.''

Visitation for Meyer is planned from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday at St. Vincent's Church, 1010 W. Webster Ave., on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

tginnetti@suntimes.com

My father Paul Mattei was credited for bringing Ray to De Paul from Notre Dame when my Dad was the university's Athletic Director.
I am a grad.of DePaul & spent many hours at Alumni Hall as a student watching him during practice.
He was truly a great man whom all who came in contact with him will miss very much. See you up in basketball heaven Ray!!!

This is in regaurds to the person who wrote the negative comment about Coach Ray. Maybe you should spend less time spreading toxic thoughts and actually read the many positive things about what kind of a person he was. First lesson for you - he never treated anyone without respect (especially those who have past on). Please dig deep and find the strength to let people grieve in their own ways. Coach led his life with grace and kindness, I only hope you can do the same.

So steve stone is the best, that's a real crock,of *%^$#@#@ He's nothing but a big blow hole that calls out pitches that anyone with a brain knew was comming anyway. The next time I hear steve call for a pitcher to throw a pich-out will be the first time. that's what someone with a true insight on the game would give you. Any idiot can say he thinks Matt Clement is going to throw a slider when the counts ball 1 strike2 ( great insight Steve!!!!)

It’s with a heavy heart I write this story. It’s my tribute to a personal hero.

The last time I spoke with Ray Meyer was in 1955. I was a first grader and was attending his wonderful basketball summer camp in Wisconsin.

The reason I was at his live-in summer camp was so my mother could hide me from my father who she hated and divorced. My mother paid a small deposit and never paid the tuition for the camp. Yes my mother stiffed Ray for the balance due.

Ray Meyer still treated me like a young visiting prince.

Canoe trips, horseback riding, overnight camping, watching old black and white serial films, great food and of course basketball made this something I never forgot. More than that, I will never forget, Ray Meyer, his family and their kindness that made a huge impression on me.

It was always easy for me to understand why Ray Meyer was one of the best coaches ever in sports.

Ray, I have no doubt that you’re in heaven tonight. Thank you Ray!

As a slightly scared freshman in 1960, I had the assignment of writing a major article about Ray Meyer for the DePaulia. He was as kind and gracious to me then as he was 35 years later when I met him. Did he make a big impression on me? You bet! Ray Meyer tried to bring out the best in people whether on the court or not.

Growing up in the Los Angeles area in the 1970s and the 1980s, we would get to see DePaul play UCLA every year.

In fact, the first college basketball game I ever attended was between DePaul and UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in December of 1981. Even though the Blue Demons lost to the Bruins 87-75, I will never forget what happened before that game.

I was with my grandfather (who would pass away the following March), and my cousin. I got the chance to meet Coach Meyer when he walked out of the locker room before the game. It was the day after his birthday, and the UCLA student section gave him a birthday card, and I wished him a Happy Birthday.

Here I am a snout-nosed 10-year old kid, telling a legendary figure Happy Birthday. Granted that happened nearly 25 years ago, and I will never forget as long as I live.

Coach, you will be missed.