Rollie Massimino (1934-2017)

Yesterday we got the sad news that Rollie Massimino had died at the age of 82.

2010 Phungo #10 Rollie Massimino

I am not originally from the Philadelphia area but I will always remember the 1985 Villanova Wildcats championship team. Winning that game made me a fan of the team for life.

I never expected to live in the Villanova community, but life's twists & turns brought me to a place where I reside less than five miles from the campus. The team has now returned to prominence and it is fun to be able to follow the local team.

March Madness 2009
I have gone to the opening rounds of March Madness when it has been hosted in Philadelphia several times. In 2009 I was checking out the lower level prior to the game and talking to a friend when Rollie Massimino passed right in front of him. We mentioned to Rollie how much we enjoyed the 1985 Championship team. He was congenial said thanks, shook our hands, posed for a picture and signed our tickets - the smudge and the fact that it is signed upside down are my fault.

Regardless it is a cool memory to have and one of the more fun artifacts in the Phungo museum.

Phungo Card
The picture I took made it onto a Phungo card back when I still made them. This is pretty early in the Phungo canon so we have a pretty vanilla design with the text being a snapshot from an excel spreadsheet. Pretty primitive, but considering my minimal graphic arts skills at the time, I am pretty proud of the finished product.

Rollie Massimino Index
2007 Donruss Extra Edition #65 (February 2016 Villanova reaches #1 for first time since 1985) 
2010 Phungo #10 (25th anniversary of 1985 Championship)
Game Report March Madness 2009


Wiki
I have a posted a few dozen of my photos to Wikipedia, this is the first of those pictures.

Sources and Links
Sports-Ref

Villanova Wildcats #1

For the first time in 30+ years Villanova's Hoop team is ranked #1.

2007 Donruss Extra Edition #65 Rollie Massimino

The last time the Wildcats were atop the NCAA rankings was in 1985 when they shocked Georgetown in the NCAA final. The head coach of that team was Rollie Massimino who we have featured here in a Donruss mixed sports issue from 2007.  The A-sides of the cards are all pretty uniform and don't really clue us in to the repped team.

Flip

2007 Donruss Extra Edition #65 Rollie Massimino (B-side)

However the flip side is done up in some nice VU colors. Nice blurb on the 1985 National Championship, and a couple of quick hits regarding Rollie's career accomplishments (500 Career D1 Wins, 11 NCAA appearances w/ -Nova)

We are such big fans of Rollie around her we even put the ocach onto a Phungo Card in the 2010 set.

Tonight the Cats host St John's in PrimeTime, well sort of prime time - they are on CBS-SportsNet, which I can never find. If your a Philadelphia FiOS customer, I believe that is 594 on your dial. 

Source and Links
Villanova

Happy Anniversary 1985 Villanova Wildcats

Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the Villanova Wildcats Upset of Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA Men's Basketball Final.

2010 Phungo #10 Rollie Massimino

It doesn't seem like that long ago. I was a senior in High School then and thoroughly enjoyed what was one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports. The game made me a lifelong fan of the NCAA tournament. It's one and done format creates opportunities for an underdog like Villanova to beat a powerhouse like Georgetown - Even if they have to play a "Perfect Game"

The photo from the above Phungo card was taken prior to a 2nd round game at last years NCAA tournament. Rollie was in the house to see the 2009 version of the Wildcats in the tournament. I arrived at the venue early and was checking out the shoot around when a friend spotted Massimino. He walked right in front of us and was gracious enough to pose for this picture and sign autographs while making some quick conversation.

For more information on the 1985 NCAA championship click here for the Wikipedia entry.

March Madness Opening Rounds - Philadelphia

Posting some Pictures from the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament

Tip off to American U v Villanova.

Philadelphia Hosted six games for the first two rounds of this years NCAA tournament. The participating teams were BYU, Texas A&M, American University, Tennessee-Chattanooga, U Conn, UCLA, VCU and local favorite Villanova.

The always popular Cheerleaders!!!


UConn Monster Big Man Hasheem Thabeet. >>>
















The Head coach to the 1985 Champion Villanova Wild Cats Rollie Massimino.

The NCAA Tournament is always a fun event, if an opening round comes to your area and your a hoop fan I suggest you try and find your way to a session.