A thought-provoking audio memoir shorts filled with stories, humor, anecdotes, and commentary on social, cultural, business, and religious issues. Whatever Linden remembers and thinks will entertain, challenge, and inform is a possible subject.
Pistol Pete and Rudy the Rifle: Two Heroes In One Night
•Linden Wolfe•Season 1•Episode 13
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Remember the first time you watched your childhood hero in action? For me, it was January 27th, 1969, when my eight-year-old self witnessed the legendary Pistol Pete Maravich take on my Tennessee Volunteers at the Stokely Athletic Center. Tune in as I recount the thrilling experience of watching Maravich's ball-handling magic and the unexpected heroics of Rudy Kinard, an undersized player who clinched a last-second victory for the Vols. This isn't just a story about basketball—it's about the nature of heroes and how they shape our dreams and self-concepts.
Here for the memories thought-provoking audio memoir shorts filled with stories, humor, anecdotes and commentary on social, cultural, business and religious issues. Whatever Lyndon remembers and thinks will entertain, challenge and inform is a possible subject. The collection of memories about one's life allows for the development and refinement of a sense of self, including who one is, how one has changed and what one might be like in the future.
Speaker 2:
Greetings and salutations. I'm Lyndon Wolfe, and welcome to my audio memoir here for the memories is what I call it. I am thrilled you have come to visit and hope you feel so welcome that you want to return. Like voting, I wish you to come early and often.
Speaker 2:
This is a story about heroes. I think we all have them. If we don't have them now, we did at one point, especially when we were young. Heroes are not necessarily bad things, so I don't think my life's narrative would be complete without a story about a boy and his idol, and what happened to me on January 27th 1969. I idolized Pistol Pete Maravich, even though I later discovered his personal life at the time was unworthy of emulation. Nonetheless, the lengthy Sports Illustrated cover story about him and his legend was scoured by me dozens of times. The most prolific score in college basketball history by far Not even close. I dreamed about playing like him and getting a glimpse of him in person would be a treat for an eight-year-old and a treat that an eight-year-old and a treat that would never be forgotten. His basketball scoring exploits and magician-like ball handling and passing skills are legendary. Look him up on this new thing called the internet. If you were uneducated on his career. You could even watch him on a newer thing called YouTube. He was absolutely one of a kind. Anyway, he played for his father at LSU and the Tigers were coming to Knoxville on that exciting night to take on. My Tennessee Volunteers Wound up as only an eight-year-old basketball fanatic could be.
Speaker 2:
I had my transistor radio tuned into the pregame show and couldn't wait to hear of Maravich's exploits that night. Averaging an astonishing 44 points a game, it was sure to be spectacular. As I hunkered as close to the box radio as I could, my dad interrupted me and told me in no uncertain terms to get in the car. We had an errand to run. Despite my protest, he was adamant. He told me we could catch the game on the car radio if necessary. But I knew the AM signal there would be intermittent, at best Nearly despondent. I kept my head down as we drove.
Speaker 2:
Pre-game broadcast continued to phase in and out. To calm myself I wondered what Pistol's first basket would look like, what ball handling and passing wizardry he would display. I expected him to score 40 or more and transcend my overhyped imagination. As the car came to rest I realized that we were on the campus of the University of Tennessee. As the car came to rest, I realized that we were on the campus of the University of Tennessee. The pregame show was winding down and there we were, within walking distance of Stokely Athletic Center, home of the Vols and the site of Pete's game against us. We had just enough time to find our place on the exit row steps where our standing room only tickets would allow. I don't know how Tad secured those tickets, but there I was in heaven watching my idol hoop it up.
Speaker 2:
As it turned out, maravich only scored 30, and UT won on a last-second shot by Rudy Kennard from long range. Kennard, ironically, scored an average of 40 points, less per game than Pistol. The place erupted and my 6-foot-5-inch idol Maravich walked off in disbelief with his floppy hair and socks walked off in disbelief with his floppy hair and socks. My eight-year-old life was now complete as I watched my hero play a basketball icon and I gained a new hero in a no-name, undersized kid from Atlanta who heroically defeated my idol. Later, the only downside I could find in my hero worship was that both were dead. Maravich tragically passed at 40 while playing a pickup basketball game with Dr James Dobson, the well-known Christian psychologist and radio host. The media lit up the story and millions mourned. Kennard passed at 70 in Omaha, nebraska, and no one seemed to notice.
Speaker 2:
As I have aged, I now think often that having mortals for idols isn't a great idea. Look back and rediscover who your heroes were. Why did you pick them? Would you pick them again now? What might you learn from your journey into your memories about your heroes? And, by the way, who is your hero today? I think that's the most important question For me. Glad you asked. Well, all I can say is that mine isn't dead or mortal. I'm Lyndon Wolfe and this is my audio memoir. Here for the memories. Come and join me again and please don't delay. This guy was good.
