MARCH MADNESS

It's that time of year again.  College basketball takes center stage with arguably the best month of sports in the year.  I love it.

One of the premier college basketball programs is found at Duke University.  For decades, it has been one of the top programs in the country.  It has garnered five national championships and six runner-up titles with twelve tournament final fours. 

This year they have a generationally great player named Zion Williamson.  As things go now with NCAA and NBA rules, he will probably only play one year at Duke.  The University has had some of the great players of our time and have retired 13 numbers never to be used again. 

The question today is, "Who was the very first Duke basketball player to have his number retired?"  He wore number 10.  He did not go on to play in the NBA but he did win an MVP award.  He was on two world championship teams.  His name was Dick Groat - Major League Baseball shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals who also won a National League batting championship. 

Groat matriculated at Duke when you could be a two-sport athlete.  He graduated in 1952.  At that time, baseball was a much more lucrative endeavor than professional basketball. 

So don't look for number 10 on the court when Duke plays this month - - - but keep your eye on Zion's number 1.  But, you might be able to see 88-year-old Groat courtside near the bench.