OT: The region lost a great one.

[SKYDOG]

Junior Bridgeman has passed. He was a great player and businessman. Deepest sympathy to his friends and family.

East Chicago basketball legend, Bucks owner Junior Bridgeman dies at 71

East Chicago lost a legend Tuesday. Basketball star and billionaire Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman died Tuesday at the age of 71.

www.nwitimes.com

 

[JeffBoiler]

Junior Bridgeman has passed. He was a great player and businessman. Deepest sympathy to his friends and family.

East Chicago basketball legend, Bucks owner Junior Bridgeman dies at 71

East Chicago lost a legend Tuesday. Basketball star and billionaire Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman died Tuesday at the age of 71.

www.nwitimes.com

Heartbreaking. What a special human being he was. RIP Mr. Bridgeman - you made a lasting impact on your community and left an unbelievable legacy. Prayers up for him, his family and friends

 

[tidle25]

Played against him in high school. That team was great, and I thought he was the best player. I have lived in Louisville now for over 20 years and discovered how great of a businessman and humanitarian he became as well. He is much loved here and is a big loss. RIP.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Saddened to hear of this - loved watching him play - that '75 Final Four with Louisville/UCLA and with the Milwaukee Bucks....so many close calls in the playoffs. Think he would have made even more hay with the three-pointer in college.

Competitve sportsman, businessman/entrepreneur, and great benefactor/philanthropist. He will be missed. Rest in Peace, Mr. Bridgeman.....prayers to his family.

 

[Born Boiler]

East Chicago Washington was perfect in 1971 – 29-0 – led by “The Other Pistol Pete” Trgovich (22 ppg), Ulysses Bridgeman (17 ppg), Tim Stoddard (13 ppg), Darnel Adell (14) and Ruben Bailey (14). They topped 100 eight times and averaged 91 points, beating Elkhart 70-60 in the state championship game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, where our team landed freebies to see them.

Seven Senators played in college and two won NCAA championships with the 6-6 Trgovich playing for UCLA’s 1973 and 1975 NCAA champs and the 6-7 Stoddard on North Carolina State’s 1974 champions. Stoddard went on to pitch 13 years in Major League Baseball. Bridgeman, at 6-5, led Louisville to the 1975 Final Four, then played 12 years in the NBA and averaged 13 ppg.

The Senators’ perfect season completed a three-year run of unbeaten state champions in Indiana -- George McGinnis and Steve Downing led Indianapolis Washington to a 31-0 season in 1969, then East Chicago Roosevelt, East Chicago Washington’s archrival, went 29-0 in 1970 – but it’s ECW along with Oscar Robertson’s 1956 Indianapolis Attucks team who get mentioned most often on Indiana’s best-ever lists. Regardless of those standings, it’s where legends live on, like “Junior.”

 

[boiler in bloomington]

Played against him in high school. That team was great, and I thought he was the best player. I have lived in Louisville now for over 20 years and discovered how great of a businessman and humanitarian he became as well. He is much loved here and is a big loss. RIP.

That team was LOADED with talent.

 

[purduedavie]

Tough day yesterday for us region rats.

 

[tidle25]

East Chicago Washington was perfect in 1971 – 29-0 – led by “The Other Pistol Pete” Trgovich (22 ppg), Ulysses Bridgeman (17 ppg), Tim Stoddard (13 ppg), Darnel Adell (14) and Ruben Bailey (14). They topped 100 eight times and averaged 91 points, beating Elkhart 70-60 in the state championship game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, where our team landed freebies to see them.

Seven Senators played in college and two won NCAA championships with the 6-6 Trgovich playing for UCLA’s 1973 and 1975 NCAA champs and the 6-7 Stoddard on North Carolina State’s 1974 champions. Stoddard went on to pitch 13 years in Major League Baseball. Bridgeman, at 6-5, led Louisville to the 1975 Final Four, then played 12 years in the NBA and averaged 13 ppg.

The Senators’ perfect season completed a three-year run of unbeaten state champions in Indiana -- George McGinnis and Steve Downing led Indianapolis Washington to a 31-0 season in 1969, then East Chicago Roosevelt, East Chicago Washington’s archrival, went 29-0 in 1970 – but it’s ECW along with Oscar Robertson’s 1956 Indianapolis Attucks team who get mentioned most often on Indiana’s best-ever lists. Regardless of those standings, it’s where legends live on, like “Junior.”

We, Hammond High, played all three of those teams in their championship year and were destroyed by all three. McGinnis was the best individual player, but ECW was the deepest and best team. Trgovich, Bridgeman and Stoddard were the most highly recruited players, but the others were great too. Adell and Bailey were fast, and each I think medaled in the 100 yd dash. Adell was signed by the Cowboys after his college basketball career(at one of the OVC schools I think). Paco Sanchez, I believe had college basketball offers but signed a pro baseball contract. Charlie Williams played some at Alabama, I believe.

Most of us from the region pined for an ECW matchup with Thornridge, the two-time Illinois State champ just across the state line led by Quinn Buckner. Alas it was not to be, but my money would have been on ECW.

 

[Jaycee79]

East Chicago Washington was perfect in 1971 – 29-0 – led by “The Other Pistol Pete” Trgovich (22 ppg), Ulysses Bridgeman (17 ppg), Tim Stoddard (13 ppg), Darnel Adell (14) and Ruben Bailey (14). They topped 100 eight times and averaged 91 points, beating Elkhart 70-60 in the state championship game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, where our team landed freebies to see them.

Seven Senators played in college and two won NCAA championships with the 6-6 Trgovich playing for UCLA’s 1973 and 1975 NCAA champs and the 6-7 Stoddard on North Carolina State’s 1974 champions. Stoddard went on to pitch 13 years in Major League Baseball. Bridgeman, at 6-5, led Louisville to the 1975 Final Four, then played 12 years in the NBA and averaged 13 ppg.

The Senators’ perfect season completed a three-year run of unbeaten state champions in Indiana -- George McGinnis and Steve Downing led Indianapolis Washington to a 31-0 season in 1969, then East Chicago Roosevelt, East Chicago Washington’s archrival, went 29-0 in 1970 – but it’s ECW along with Oscar Robertson’s 1956 Indianapolis Attucks team who get mentioned most often on Indiana’s best-ever lists. Regardless of those standings, it’s where legends live on, like “Junior.”

Best Indiana High School Basketball Team Ever.
I watched them in the Regionals at Gary West Side. Thought I was watching the Globetrotters.

 

[DrEss]

Best Indiana High School Basketball Team Ever.
I watched them in the Regionals at Gary West Side. Thought I was watching the Globetrotters.

I wonder if there is any game tape of that team archived anywhere. Growing up in EC, I was a preteen in 70 and 71, and I remember even back then how popular those teams were. ECR’s Bradley was a bad dude as well.

 

[Jaycee79]

I wonder if there is any game tape of that team archived anywhere. Growing up in EC, I was a preteen in 70 and 71, and I remember even back then how popular those teams were. ECR’s Bradley was a bad dude as well.

The bridge on Industrial Blvd. Separated EC Washington and EC Roosevelt. Arguably the two best programs in the State during that time period. Roosevelt went undefeated in 1970, Washington in 71. The City of East Chicago had a Bunch of dudes back in the day.