So I got an impromptu as a result of a mini crisis to visit a supplier to GM for people in Michigan and New York, In the process I was listening to the radio and found out that tomorrow around 10AM there is going to be a ceremony honoring Jimmy Rayl. Bobby (Slick) Leonard who used to live close by is going to try and make it assuming he and his wife Nancy are feeling okay, Jerry Harkness should be there as well as Matt Painter and the current mayor along with Jimmy’s son. The times I guess was to move around Matt’s “hard practice” schedule for 2PM Thursday and so Matt has the game tonight and on the road tomorrow to speak at Memorial gym as I understand it.
Apparently they are going to rename a street after Jimmy that went beside his various houses now named superior street. According to his son, Jimmy had a driveway where he used to get games together and called his driveway gang. He recalled a time Rick Mount came over to shoot horse and they quit after a few shots and Rick said…let’s call it a tie and another time John Havlicek came over and shot on his goal. He got to know John I think as a result of them at one time or another after ball working for Xerox. Then there was a time that he played with a group for “goodyear” that had 8 Olympic players in the 68 Olympics. Jimmy’s son recalled the time Jimmy hit 532 FTs in a row before missing in groups of 10
Some of you may recall Matt trying out a zone a few years ago and spending time with Basil Mawby on his 2-3 zone. It lasted maybe 4 or 5 games? Anyway, Jimmy used to scout for Basil and went to scout Delta since Kokomo was going to be playing them and there was this player named Matt Painter that Jimmy liked. Jimmy called a few coaches to tell them about Matt and when he called Jud Heathcoate, Jud said, “Is this the all time leading scorer” when Jimmy said who he was. Jimmy went for 56 and 44 in two games against MSU. Jimmy thought Matt was going to MSU, but Matt stayed closer to home and became a Boiler. Matt’s father went to IU and the house that Matt grew up in has a stained glass window with the devils fork in it…he also had a full court beside his house for basketball. Jimmy’s son married a Boiler and is a Boiler fan as well. Anyway, I can recall Jimmy scouting in the mid 80s, but didn’t know the story behind him and Matt. I think I captured a lot that was said during my drive.
Apparently they are going to rename a street after Jimmy that went beside his various houses now named superior street. According to his son, Jimmy had a driveway where he used to get games together and called his driveway gang. He recalled a time Rick Mount came over to shoot horse and they quit after a few shots and Rick said…let’s call it a tie and another time John Havlicek came over and shot on his goal. He got to know John I think as a result of them at one time or another after ball working for Xerox. Then there was a time that he played with a group for “goodyear” that had 8 Olympic players in the 68 Olympics. Jimmy’s son recalled the time Jimmy hit 532 FTs in a row before missing in groups of 10
Some of you may recall Matt trying out a zone a few years ago and spending time with Basil Mawby on his 2-3 zone. It lasted maybe 4 or 5 games? Anyway, Jimmy used to scout for Basil and went to scout Delta since Kokomo was going to be playing them and there was this player named Matt Painter that Jimmy liked. Jimmy called a few coaches to tell them about Matt and when he called Jud Heathcoate, Jud said, “Is this the all time leading scorer” when Jimmy said who he was. Jimmy went for 56 and 44 in two games against MSU. Jimmy thought Matt was going to MSU, but Matt stayed closer to home and became a Boiler. Matt’s father went to IU and the house that Matt grew up in has a stained glass window with the devils fork in it…he also had a full court beside his house for basketball. Jimmy’s son married a Boiler and is a Boiler fan as well. Anyway, I can recall Jimmy scouting in the mid 80s, but didn’t know the story behind him and Matt. I think I captured a lot that was said during my drive.
