The recent death of Al Donaghue, a Kansas University basketball player of note in 1958-60, left a sense of loss and grief in many a life, particularly those in his family. He had a tough battle with lymphoma, and I can only hope he’s comfortable and enjoying himself again.
Al, nicknamed “Sam” while playing under Dick Harp, brought a lot to the table in many venues. One of his best contributions was the loyalty and love he displayed as a KU product, especially as a basketball alum. I’m sad that his passing will take away a little more of the warmth that the KU sports program seems to be losing in today’s dash for dollars.
Al and his wife, the former Mary Susan Eggleston, were constant attendees at Jayhawk basketball games, and they and a number of friends helped create one of those pods of camaraderie and delight that were so typical of KU fandom over the years. People who had adjoining seats for the game got to know each other, relished those associations and focused their pride on Jayhawk achievements.
Deaths and illnesses have led to the dissolution of too many such “families,” and when you throw in questionable policies of money-changers who have rearranged and eliminated so many good people in recent times, you’re inclined to feel sad.
Al, a one-time Wilt Chamberlain teammate, and his clan stuck with KU and each other through thick and thin for years, and his loss creates just one more gap in the Crimson and Blue fabric of devotion and affection.
As for that name Sam, even Al was never quite sure why coach Harp came up with it. Truth is, Dick was a big band fan who happened to like some recordings turned out by a group headed by “Sam” Donahue. In tutoring Al (with a ‘g’), Dick fell into the habit of “Sam.” Whatever the moniker, the many contributions from Al Donaghue for KU and many of us are jubilantly celebrated.
l If you haven’t been gonged by vertigo or haven’t seen what it can do to somebody, you can’t understand the difficulty former KU basketball coach Roy Williams is going through in his latest bout with the pesky ailment. It can make you seem drunk, upset your stomach and disorient your whole way of going. It could be that vertigo or some derivative was what has caused Roy to semi-black-out while kneeling and rising along the sidelines in critical games. Whatever, it’s a total pain in the tokus, and I hope he can shake it quickly and get back on the golf course.
Talk to plane pilots who fly at night, start feeling goofy and begin to mistrust their instruments, correct though they are, because the pilot is out of whack. Vertigo’s not funny and can be dangerous.
l Loved Roy’s remarks about alleged court recruits who are making commitments as early as junior high. He feels the Internet is doing great harm with all the dolts eager for scoops trying to picture marginal kids as Michael Jordans, Magic Johnsons or Larry Birds. He doesn’t blame coaches as much as the keyboard fools who “don’t know if it’s the sun or moon that comes up in the middle of the day.” For them, it’s not who you have but who you have to get, or missed.
l Can’t close without paying tribute to the late Genevieve Balyeat, with whom I worked, full-time and part-, for 52 years here at the Journal-World. She was loyal, talented, ultra-dependable and made it to age 99 because she also was tough. If I go to war again, I want her in my corner. She died last weekend, but we friends don’t grieve because she radiated so much sunshine into our lives that there’ll always be a glow.