SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Way back in Tucker’s time
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net
Temple Tucker remembers a different era in the National Basketball Association.
Back in the late 1950s, the league was barely a blip on the map. There were only eight franchises. And the NBA Draft certainly wasn’t covered like it is today.
The Philadelphia Warriors drafted Tucker in the fourth round with the 29th pick in 1958. He didn’t see his selection on some television network or a social media service like he would have today.
Tucker said he didn’t know he was drafted until the Philadelphia Warriors gave him a call.
However, a professional basketball career wasn’t meant to be.
“I wasn’t real keen on pro ball,” Tucker said in an interview with The Bowie News on Thursday morning. “I was not excited at the prospects of income. I didn’t like the idea of playing two or three games of week.”
Tucker, who is a proud member of the Bowie Hall of Honor, said the top salary back in those days belonged to St. Louis Hawk Bob Pettit ($25,000).
The Warriors offered Tucker $8,000 per year to start. He was looking for more.
Constant travel didn’t appeal to Tucker, either. See more of this column in the weekend edition of The Bowie News.
Former Bowie High School basketball star Temple Tucker. (Photo courtesy Rice University sports information)
Nocona’s volleyball team headed to Bowie for a three-team scrimmage with the host team and Ponder Aug. 7.
Each team played the other two for 30 minutes in the Lady Rabbit gym. Lady Indian Coach Sandy Langford said she thought things went well for a first scrimmage.
“Just like any young team that is trying to find itself in a first scrimmage, We looked really good at times and at others not so much,” Langford said. “We’re forming a new team after losing a lot of seniors.”
Langford said the squad would have one thing go wrong and it would explode into several things. That will need to stop for a successful year in Langford’s mind.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Bowie’s tennis team is now 3-3 for the non-district campaign with a 1-2 week.
In the Rabbits’ home opener Aug. 5 against Graham, Bowie posted a 13-6 match win with the girls completing a 9-0 sweep.
Jessi Mayfield and Angeles Alvarez won 9-8 (7-4) while Payton Goodwin and Maddie Schwarz were 8-1 winners as were Avery DeWeber and Avery Bonham.
In girl’s singles Willow Seibert won 8-2 in No.1 1 singles. Goodwin and Mayfield were each 8-5 winners. Alvarez posted an 8-1 win. Schwarz won 9-8 (8-5) with Deweber taking an 8-2 decision.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Two major portions of Nocona’s 2023 bond issue are very close to being completed.
The new high school gym should be complete in time for the volleyball team to begin practice there Aug. 1, according to Superintendent Dr. David Waters. Ground on the 22,000 square foot facility was broken on Oct. 18, 2024.
Waters said a punch list meeting with the construction manager was scheduled for earlier this week with final touchups expected shortly afterwards. Fans should be able to enjoy the facility for the volleyball team’s season opener Aug. 11.
Fans will enjoy the new gym from entering the facility which has glass walls, enabling fans to watch the game from the foyer. Once inside the gym itself, there is stadium, chair back seating on the home side allowing for a much more comfortable experience.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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