12-01-2015, 09:07 PM
12-01-2015, 09:27 PM
For those who don't remember him, here's a link to MB's 2008 review of his UAB legacy:
http://csnbbs.com/thread-332852.html
http://csnbbs.com/thread-332852.html
12-01-2015, 09:27 PM
For the 30th anniversary of UAB basketball, I picked my top 30 players of all time. Anthony Gordon was #26. Here is what I wrote about him:
26. Jack Gordon (1982-1986)
Not every story in this list of the thirty greatest Blazers ever to play for UAB is going to have a happy ending. #26 is one of those stories. The 26th greatest Blazer is Anthony “Big Jack” Gordon who played for UAB from 1982 – 1986. He was a very talented player who never played to his potential, yet still had some amazing moments.
Anthony or “Jack” Gordon was a 6’7” forward who played his high school ball at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis and was a part of the 1982 Memphis Connection that Gene Bartow brought to UAB and included Steve Mitchell, Jerome Mincy and Gordon. Gorgon averaged 20.3 points per game and an amazing 17 rebounds a game during his senior year of high school. In one game he had 28 rebounds in a game and was over the 20 rebound mark in ten games. He received first team All-Metro and 2nd team All State honors. Coming out of high school, Gordon was ranked among the top 100 high school players in the country by the B/C Scouting Service.
Gordon’s freshman year, 1982-83 was a rebounding year for the Blazers, coming off an Elite 8 NCAA appearance. As the season progressed, and the team struggled, Coach Bartow relied more and more on his freshman from Memphis. Gordon saw action in all 33 games and proved that rebounding was his strong suite, setting the current record for most rebounds by a freshman in a season (151 rebounds). Throughout his career, Gordon seemed to peak at the end of the season. In his freshman year, he played key roles in the last two Blazer victories. In the last game of the regular season against Samford, he scored his career high 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots. In the semi finals of the Sun Belt Tournament against VCU, Gordon grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots, including two key blocks down the stretch.
Gordon started 20 games during his sophomore season and played in all 34 games of the 1983-84 season. He led the team in field goal percentage and was second in rebounding and blocked shots to fellow Memphian, Jerome Mincy. Again, Gordon peaked during the Sun Belt Tournament. During the tournament, he scored 34 points and grabbed a tournament record 34 rebounds in three games. In the first game against South Alabama, he scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He followed that up in the semi finals with 10 points and 11 rebounds in UAB’s upset of VCU. For his efforts, he was named to the All Tournament team.
Statistically, Gordon’s best year was his junior year in which he averaged 6.9 rebounds per game and 5.4 points per game. He grabbed 10 or more rebounds in seven games, including 15 rebounds against Mississippi State. In the last game of the season, a NCAA tournament game against Memphis State, Gordon went up against All American Keith Lee, and pulled down 15 rebounds and scored 14 points.
Gordon’s senior year was somewhat of a disappointment. His scoring and rebounding averages dropped to 3.9 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. His best game of the season was probably his last game against North Carolina in the NCAA tournament. He scored 10 points and brought down 11 rebounds in the Blazer loss.
Jack Gordon was one of the most intense players to ever wear a Blazer uniform. When his head was in the game, his rebounding ability was second to none. Unfortunately, as his career wound down, he was less and less consistent. Throughout his Blazer career, he refused to talk to reporters, which created something of a mystique about him. Gordon still holds several records in the UAB record book. He is fifth on the All time Blocks list and he is 2nd on the Career Rebounds list with 746 rebounds, 2nd only to fellow Memphian Jerome Mincy. Jack Gordon is also #1 on the list of most games played with 134 games. Gordon is the only four year player who has played in every UAB game in his career.
Anthony “Big Jack” Gordon had the potential to be an NBA star, according to Gene Bartow. However, his focus and dedication failed him. He played one or two years overseas, but was unsuccessful. Eventually, he returned to Memphis and has had several problems with law enforcement. In 1989, Gordon was arrested for DUI. In 2004, he was charged with panhandling. In 2007, he was charged with public intoxication and unlawful possession of a weapon, for which he spent 10 days in jail. His fellow Memphians who played for UAB have tried to help him and even brought him to UAB’s 25th anniversary celebration in Birmingham in 2004.
Jack Gordon makes this list of the 30 Greatest Blazers, not so much for his scoring ability, but because of his rebounding skills and his part of Gene Bartow’s Memphis connection and the great teams he played on. Gordon’s play in conference tournaments led to several Sun Belt tournament championships. Had he lived up to his potential, Gordon might have been even higher on this list.
26. Jack Gordon (1982-1986)
Not every story in this list of the thirty greatest Blazers ever to play for UAB is going to have a happy ending. #26 is one of those stories. The 26th greatest Blazer is Anthony “Big Jack” Gordon who played for UAB from 1982 – 1986. He was a very talented player who never played to his potential, yet still had some amazing moments.
Anthony or “Jack” Gordon was a 6’7” forward who played his high school ball at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis and was a part of the 1982 Memphis Connection that Gene Bartow brought to UAB and included Steve Mitchell, Jerome Mincy and Gordon. Gorgon averaged 20.3 points per game and an amazing 17 rebounds a game during his senior year of high school. In one game he had 28 rebounds in a game and was over the 20 rebound mark in ten games. He received first team All-Metro and 2nd team All State honors. Coming out of high school, Gordon was ranked among the top 100 high school players in the country by the B/C Scouting Service.
Gordon’s freshman year, 1982-83 was a rebounding year for the Blazers, coming off an Elite 8 NCAA appearance. As the season progressed, and the team struggled, Coach Bartow relied more and more on his freshman from Memphis. Gordon saw action in all 33 games and proved that rebounding was his strong suite, setting the current record for most rebounds by a freshman in a season (151 rebounds). Throughout his career, Gordon seemed to peak at the end of the season. In his freshman year, he played key roles in the last two Blazer victories. In the last game of the regular season against Samford, he scored his career high 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots. In the semi finals of the Sun Belt Tournament against VCU, Gordon grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots, including two key blocks down the stretch.
Gordon started 20 games during his sophomore season and played in all 34 games of the 1983-84 season. He led the team in field goal percentage and was second in rebounding and blocked shots to fellow Memphian, Jerome Mincy. Again, Gordon peaked during the Sun Belt Tournament. During the tournament, he scored 34 points and grabbed a tournament record 34 rebounds in three games. In the first game against South Alabama, he scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He followed that up in the semi finals with 10 points and 11 rebounds in UAB’s upset of VCU. For his efforts, he was named to the All Tournament team.
Statistically, Gordon’s best year was his junior year in which he averaged 6.9 rebounds per game and 5.4 points per game. He grabbed 10 or more rebounds in seven games, including 15 rebounds against Mississippi State. In the last game of the season, a NCAA tournament game against Memphis State, Gordon went up against All American Keith Lee, and pulled down 15 rebounds and scored 14 points.
Gordon’s senior year was somewhat of a disappointment. His scoring and rebounding averages dropped to 3.9 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. His best game of the season was probably his last game against North Carolina in the NCAA tournament. He scored 10 points and brought down 11 rebounds in the Blazer loss.
Jack Gordon was one of the most intense players to ever wear a Blazer uniform. When his head was in the game, his rebounding ability was second to none. Unfortunately, as his career wound down, he was less and less consistent. Throughout his Blazer career, he refused to talk to reporters, which created something of a mystique about him. Gordon still holds several records in the UAB record book. He is fifth on the All time Blocks list and he is 2nd on the Career Rebounds list with 746 rebounds, 2nd only to fellow Memphian Jerome Mincy. Jack Gordon is also #1 on the list of most games played with 134 games. Gordon is the only four year player who has played in every UAB game in his career.
Anthony “Big Jack” Gordon had the potential to be an NBA star, according to Gene Bartow. However, his focus and dedication failed him. He played one or two years overseas, but was unsuccessful. Eventually, he returned to Memphis and has had several problems with law enforcement. In 1989, Gordon was arrested for DUI. In 2004, he was charged with panhandling. In 2007, he was charged with public intoxication and unlawful possession of a weapon, for which he spent 10 days in jail. His fellow Memphians who played for UAB have tried to help him and even brought him to UAB’s 25th anniversary celebration in Birmingham in 2004.
Jack Gordon makes this list of the 30 Greatest Blazers, not so much for his scoring ability, but because of his rebounding skills and his part of Gene Bartow’s Memphis connection and the great teams he played on. Gordon’s play in conference tournaments led to several Sun Belt tournament championships. Had he lived up to his potential, Gordon might have been even higher on this list.
12-01-2015, 09:36 PM
RIP Big Jack. Coach, 'Los, Alan, Torrey and others are waiting on you to get practice started.
Long Live the Blazers
Long Live the Blazers
12-01-2015, 09:48 PM
RIP Big Jack. You always played your best when the lights were brightest. I hope you find peace in the hereafter.
12-01-2015, 09:50 PM
(12-01-2015 09:36 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ]RIP Big Jack. Coach, 'Los, Alan, Torrey and others are waiting on you to get practice started.
Long Live the Blazers
Dont forget Larry Rembert and Antonio Jackson
12-01-2015, 09:53 PM
& Michael Charles
12-01-2015, 09:55 PM
(12-01-2015 09:50 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: [ -> ](12-01-2015 09:36 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ]RIP Big Jack. Coach, 'Los, Alan, Torrey and others are waiting on you to get practice started.
Long Live the Blazers
Dont forget Larry Rembert and Antonio Jackson
Sigh. I knew there were others. A lot of those guys are younger than me. Gone way too soon.
Be a heck of a pick up game. Coach Bartow and Coach Caitlin running the show.
12-01-2015, 11:59 PM
Jack lived on my floor from 84-86. At times, I would come home from class and he would be sitting on my couch watching tv. RIP, Jack.