Anonymous
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06-16-05 06:53 PM - Post#8445
What terrible news regarding the passing of John McAdams, the gatekeeper of the Palestra and the Big 5 tradition. I hope that Penn and the Big 5 appropriately honors the immense contribution that he made to Philly basketball. He and his voice will be sorely missed
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T.P.F.K.A.D.W.
PhD Student
Posts: 1171
Loc: Our Nation's Capital
Reg: 01-18-05
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Re: Very sad news
06-16-05 07:00 PM - Post#8446
In response to
A wonderful announcer.
In an era where announcers feel they have to be an ever bigger part of the show, McAdams never varied from his calm, measured tone, no matter how nutso the Palestra might get. A professional through and through.
He will be sorely missed.
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Howard Gensler
Postdoc
Posts: 4141
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Very sad news
06-16-05 07:11 PM - Post#8447
In response to
John was a very nice man and a classy announcer. No histrionics and no "YOOOOUUUUUUURRRRRR Pennsylvania QUAAAAAAKERS!" Just a traditional approach to announcing a game in keeping with the historic building.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21212
Reg: 12-02-04
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Re: Very sad news
06-16-05 07:39 PM - Post#8448
In response to
As much as we discussed the Palestra experience on this board, I don't think we gave McAdams sufficient credit.
He will be a tough act to follow.
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12533
Reg: 12-07-04
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Re: Very sad news
06-17-05 01:34 AM - Post#8449
In response to penn nation
"welcome to the palestra, college basketball's most historic gym."
John was just a great man. He will be sorely missed. Penn basketball games will never be the same.
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Mike Porter
Postdoc
Posts: 3618
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Very sad news
06-17-05 08:27 PM - Post#8450
In response to
Wow... sad news indeed. To be completely honest, I can not imagine attending a Palestra game without John announcing it. He was a very nice man and huge contributor to the wonderful Palestra atmosphere we all have enjoyed. He will be sorely missed.
-Mike
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dperry
Postdoc
Posts: 2214
Loc: Houston, TX
Reg: 11-24-04
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Re: Very sad news
06-21-05 01:44 AM - Post#8451
In response to Mike Porter
I have been very busy with meetings at my church and just heard the bad news. No question that the Palestra atmosphere will be poorer for his absence. It is also unfortunate that he did not enter the Big 5 Hall of Fame while he was alive; I hope that will be immediately rectified. Re: Dane and Howard's remarks, however, I think the greatest memorial Penn could give him would be to hire a similarly restrained and professional replacement. While I am saddened by his departure, it pleases me to think of him and my grandfather together, comparing notes on great Big 5 games, members of the society of angels that loves helping other people play :-) . . .
David Perry
Penn '92
"Hail, Alma Mater/Thy sons cheer thee now
To thee, Pennsylvania/All rivals must bow!!!" |
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Quaker Fan
maximus
Posts: 282
Reg: 11-23-04
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Re: Very sad news
06-21-05 07:52 PM - Post#8452
In response to
My thoughts and prayers are with John and his family. While I did not know him on a personnal basis - I was at the Palestra so much over the years that the past 4 or 5 years he always made sure to say hi to if I passed by him. I always said hi back - honored that he respected the fans as much as the game and the Palestra. I always felt his trademark came at the end of the game - "One minute remaining, one minute"
I guess John has now had his last one min and we can only now wish he had been given some overtime.
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Stuart Suss
PhD Student
Posts: 1439
Loc: Chester County, Pennsylva...
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Very sad news
06-21-05 11:50 PM - Post#8453
In response to Quaker Fan
The top names in Philadelphia-area basketball and Philadelphia-area sportswriting were present for the funeral of John McAdams on Tuesday morning. In addition to the Philadelphia contingent, Jerry Price led a Princeton delegation in tribute to John's recent work at Princeton football games.
The priest, Father Edward Casey, set the perfect tone for the funeral with his opening comment, inviting those gathered to do what John McAdams would have requested them to do: "Guess the attendance!"
Dan Baker, former executive secretary of the Big Five, and the man who hired John as Palestra PA announcer, delivered the eulogy. He disclosed what many people did not know. John worked all over the Delaware Valley, Penn sports in addition to basketball, other Big 5 basketball games, small college basketball, Reading Phillies, Wilmington Blue Rocks, hockey. For all of these years, John was medically unable to drive and his wife drove him to each game.
Such was the funeral of John McAdams, college basketball's most historic announcer. A class act, who will be missed.
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