Talking hoops with former Union star Geno Carlisle

The 2nd annual Red Hawk Showcase is right around the corner.

Geno Carlisle with the Portland Trail Blazers
Geno Carlisle/Portland TrailBlazers (photo: Willamette Weekly)

One of the best high school teams in West Michigan will host a full day of basketball on February 6th at Union HS on Grand Rapids’ west side.

I recently went back and forth with my childhood friend and former Union Red Hawk star Geno Carlisle to talk about his time at Grand Rapids Union and the grind that kids playing now can look forward to in college and beyond.

With the Red Hawks’ boys team ranked #1 in the area on my list, the former Northwestern and Cal-Berkeley star addressed his start at Union after transferring across town from Ottawa Hills,

“My time at Union was exhilarating to say the least. It presented me with a feeling of both fascination and uncertainty. This was mainly because two rivals I’d grown up battling, Thomas Kelly and Thomas Kilgore, would soon become allies. I adapted very quickly to my transition to Union. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of culture, the size of the school, as well as how well I got along with mostly everyone on the team. It was a school full of spirit and personality that started from the principal Mr. Maben to the Athletic Director Mr. Walker and on down to the teachers. They really had a genuine concern for their students and athletes alike!”

Carlisle went on, turning to the dominant basketball team,

“As far as our basketball team, we were loaded! So much so that I don’t even think we realized it. We had 3 future D1 guards for major Universities with Thomas Kelly, Thomas Kilgore, and myself. Athletic wingman like Terry Peak, dead eye 3 point shooters like Akai Smith, and a great head coach in Ernie Johnson. We really had a lot of good times both on and off the court.”

With the Red Hawks, ranked #20 in mLive.com’s HS rankings, coming off a 54-33 loss to #12 Muskegon, this 7-2 Union squad has a couple steps to climb to play with the state’s best. Carlisle told me,

“I think the biggest challenge in high school playoffs is the feeling that if you lose, your done. I’m not sure how it is now but back then, in city league championships and regionals, if you lost it was over. So there is a much greater pressure to perform. At the same time, those are the moments you live for so the pressure just turns to adrenaline. That’s when the cream rises to the top.”

You don’t just get to get there, to the top, that is. Carlisle advice on continued improvement and dedication,

“My advice for kids to get better is to continuously work on their game. All facets… I use to have my mother drop me off at the YMCA around 7 am on Saturday morning and I will stay there until 9 or ten pm. I would pick a spot and shoot 50 shots or 100 from that one spot until I like the way the ball swished. Then I would spend hours dribbling, imagining I was surrounded by my rivals. I would imagine the crowd. Fall asleep on the court…”

“And after that quick nap?”, I asked.

“Wake up and then play and practice some more. I was obsessed and in love with the smell of the ball and the gym. In love with the stories that I’s heard about great players. I would meditate and imagine myself doing the things I’d heard about. That’s what’s missing with players today. They think drills will make them great but just because you can use a paint brush it doesn’t make you an artist. You have to have a love in your spirit to the point that it’s no longer work but a fascination. The most important advice I would give a kid would be confidence. I wasn’t the best in high school but you couldn’t make me believe that. From 11yrs old til the time I left I thought I was the most prolific scorer and unstoppable dribbler on the planet and no one could convince me otherwise. I was overconfident but it was also based on my training. Confidence and hard work is everything.”

Carlisle should know a bit about confidence and hard work. He chased his dreams, starred in high school and college and made his way to the pros. Yes, even the NBA.

I went on to pester him to give me his GR Top 5, but he’d only go as far as,

“It’s very hard to Rank a top 5 because I was always fascinated by players that came before me, like my father Clarence and uncle Elmo Carlisle. I would always hear about legends before me so I would always go old school for my picks.”

Forcefully, I leaned on the keyboard and pressed for more.

“If I had to pick 5 while I was playing,

  • Thomas Kelly – Union
  • Thomas Kilgore – Union
  • Ennis Young – Ottawa Hills
  • Jermaine Carter – Creston
  • Shawn Kneeland – East Kentwood

in no particular order.”

That’s three teammates, a rival and a neighbor.

He made the GSCeltic Top 10 in GR list, most likely because of his infectious smile, and Geno always has a minute for an old friend from the streets of childhood and a “Hi!” for my dad every time we talk. That’s why I love this dude.

Check out a loaded lineup of high school basketball on February 6th at GR Union HS.

Tickets are $10 for the entire day.

  • 1pm: Stevensville-Lakeshore vs. Wayland
  • 3pm: #16 Detroit Allen Academy vs. Northpointe Christian
  • 4:30pm: New Haven vs. Lowell
  • 6pm: Detroit Cornerstone vs. #20 Union
  • 7:30pm: Saginaw vs. #5 Godwin Heights

 

December Beer(s) of the Month: Arizona IPAs!

BeerCityHoops is once again proud to name the Beer of the Month! December usually brings guests to the Dirty Water Tavern, but this year the crew became out-of-towners for the holidays(not tourists, or ‘two-wrists‘: folks holding open travel maps). Finding themselves in the mysteriously chilly desert of Arizona over Christmas 2015, they’ve brought you an extra label to chase and an extra special ‘go-to’ spot for fried chicken and strawberry shortcake that satisfies before sending the whole party into a food coma.

This month’s beers of the month are, of course, IPA’s.

LumberYard Brewing Co.’s Flagstaff IPA and SanTan Brewing Co.’s HopShock IPA headline the marquee of the On The Mitten Road page over at BeerCityHoops.com’s December’s Beer of the Month!

Horny Toad Shortcake pic
Sorry, it went quick!

And that restaurant? It’s called The Horny Toad. Hold on, read the backstory. Jeff and the gang over at the The Toad are a necessary food stop when visiting the Phoenix area. Yes, it’s a drive from downtown, but settled back in Old Cave Creek(since GC first visited in 1980-something), this fried chicken heaven can knock your vacation plans out of whack for a week! Diving in to a half order is enough for three grown men(boys). If they’re drinking, get the whole chicken. Order the strawberry shortcake with dinner and just accept that you want/need to eat it.

Day tripping to Cedar Springs Brewing

After a long weekend of family, turkey, parties and leftovers, the Beer City Hoops crew made our way north to Cedar Springs Brewing for Sunday brunch and beers.

In a new tradition created after the Sunday Morning Referee show came to an end earlier this year, we’ve headed out ‘On The Michigan Road’ in honor of the former WoodTV storyteller & my personal childhood hero, Dick Evans, to bring you the interesting people and places that West Michigan has to offer.

Today’s adventure took the crew north to the familiar streets of Cedar Springs, MI. Located a mere 17 miles north of Grand Rapids city center, the Red Flannel town has a brand new brewery to welcome the locals and visitors alike. While I had previously had an opportunity to sit at the bar and taste some of the brews, this would be my first time experiencing the food menu, or even seeing it for that matter.

Upon our arrival just after the clock struck noon, we were greeted promptly and seated within minutes. Although they have communal seating at the tables in the middle of the room, we were sat at a high top in the northeast corner with a great window view of Main Street’s happenings. It was quiet in the streets of my alma mater’s town but the buzz inside Cedar Springs Brewing was hopping with excitement.

IMG_2412Our first priority was to try the brew. We had the Cedar Cider and the Yinzer
Roundabout IPA. Our CFO gave the Cedar Cider a 4-star (out of 5) review. Sweet to taste, not bitter and an appealing bubbly flavor were the highlights. I had the Yinzers, hoping that I would find an IPA that could make me sneeze like Sierra Nevada’s Revenge Rye IPA. While the hops held their own, the bite didn’t make me sneeze. Without sneezing, it just not going to get that 4th star. 3-stars for the Yinzers!

On to the food menu we moved as I’ve been waiting for weeks to try the Mac and Cheese that John Gonzalez of mlive.com was so very eager to recommend upon the Brewery’s opening.  I also ordered the Wings appetizer with the bacon-ranch sauce and the CFO ordered the Grilled Cheese and Flannel Fries. The wait was minimal and our server’s attention was uber-focused on the section. #hugetip #noemptyglass 

The wings were hot and done to perfection, not too spicy. Sweat rating: Noticeable. (I love hot, spicy food but sweat like glass. It’s a conundrum.) Not enough napkins used wiping my forehead. 3-stars only.

The cheddar cheese melted out of and off the grilled sandwich onto the Flannel Fries and that made them both spectacular. 5-stars!

When it came time to dig into the Mac and Cheese, it was the dream that actually lived up to expectations. Creamy white-cheese and macaroni with bacon, onions and broccolini made this exquisite meal a privilege to partake i. I may just have saved a soup cup full to take home and enjoy early Monday morning. 5-stars!

 

November Beer of the Month: Super G from White Flame Brewing

White Flame Brewing

BeerCityHoops is proud to announce our November Beer of the Month as White Flame Brewing’s Super G!

Right in the heart of Hudsonville sits White Flame Brewing’s wide variety of great beers just a short ride out of Grand Rapids on Chicago Drive. No matter your preferred choice, White Flame is sure to have something in store for you.

30 Years Later, Part 9: David Thirdkill

Born in St. Louis and nicknamed, “The Sheriff”, David Thirdkill was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 15th pick in the 1982 NBA Draft out of Southern Idaho and Bradley University. The 6-7 small forward played five seasons in the League, from 1982 to 1987, playing for the Suns, Pistons, Bucks, Spurs and Celtics. After averaging nearly 26 minutes per game for the Spurs to finish the 1984-85, Thirdkill found himself in Boston averaging around 8 minutes but winning a ring in 1986. He’d later play overseas.

30 Years Later, Part 8: Jerry Sichting

Jerry Sichting was a scrappy 6-1, 190 pound guard from Martinsville, IN who excelled in three sports in high school, including   quarterbacking his team to a 14-0 record in 1974. He played at Purdue alongside Joe Berry Carroll.

He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 4th round of the 1979 NBA Draft but never played for them. He started the season with the Indiana Pacers and spent five season in his home state before being traded to the Boston Celtics before the 1985-86 season. Sichting became a fan favorite and a scrappy defender, even getting into a donnybrook with Ralph Sampson in Game 5 of the NBA Finals before winning his Championship ring in ’86. He would later play for the TrailBlazers, Hornets and Bucks before retiring in 1990. Sichting later made his way to the broadcast booth with the Celtics.

His coaching career is mostly as an assistant with the Timberwolves, Warriors and Wizards and currently in Phoenix. He had other stints at Marquette and Martinsville High School.

30 Years Later, Part 7: Robert Parish

“The Chief” was the oldest of the Big Three, he played the most games and you won’t find any of his collegiate statistics in an NCAA record book. Robert Parish came out of Centenary College in 1975 and was drafted by three different basketball teams in three different leagues but chose to sign with the recent NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, who were already in a  bit of a decline. His college stats are unknown because of a NCAA rule named the 1.6 rule, which is like trying to get credit from ITT Tech to transfer to Stanford.

In 1980, Red Auerbach traded 2 first-round picks, including the #1 overall included to Golden State for the #3 overall(McHale) and Parish. And so began The Big Three Era.

Parish played in an NBA record 1161 games and is the oldest player to win an NBA title(as of 2015) and 3rd oldest ever to play an NBA game.

The Chief is a consultant to the Celtics organization and is a mentor and coach for the Boston big men.

30 Years Later, Part 6: Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale may be the best power forward to play the game before we saw Tim Duncan take the floor. McHale, the 6-10 power forward voted the #1 player in the University of Minnesota’s 100-years of basketball, was drafted third overall by the Celtics in 1980.

After playing his rookie year coming off the bench behind Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and helped Boston win the 1981 NBA Finals. McHale was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year following the ’84 & ’85 campaigns and would also win titles with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986. Named to the All-NBA First Team in 1987, the 7-time All-Star, was also a 3-time All-Defense First Team winner. McHale’s #32 is hang in in the rafters at the TD Garden, while his #44 Golden gophers jersey is retired by Minnesota.

McHale took over the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004-05 for 31 games, leading them to a 19-12 record. In 2008 he took the reigns again, this time for 63 games amid a 20-43 record. In 2011, the Houston Rockets hired McHale and he’s helped them progress to a Championship caliber unit, losing in the Conference Finals this past year.

You can look forward to another uptempo, chaotic brand of basketball in Houston this year as the roster has been updated and the quality of talent has been upgraded with the addition of Ty Lawson at the point.

30 Years Later, Part 5: Greg Kite

When the Boston Celtics selected Greg Kite in the 1st Round of the 1983 NBA Draft out of Brigham Young University, the 6’11” center was coming off a 4-year career in which he averaged 6.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Lucky enough to spend time on the court with HOF inductees Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Dennis Johnson, Kite won NBA Titles with the Celtics in 1984 & 1986. He was part of the inaugural season of the expansion Charlotte Hornets in 1988-89 and later played for the Orlando Magic, starting in their second season of 1990-91. Kite played for 7 teams and retired in 1995.

 

30 Years Later, Part 4: Dennis Johnson

Straight Outta Compton to the Hall of Fame

Dennis Johnson wasn’t going to the NBA. Hell, he wasn’t even going to play in college.

Coach Jim White asked DJ to come play at LA Harbor College, a 2-year college which lead him to Pepperdine University where he developed into a tough defender with huge leaping ability. Drafted 29th by Seattle in  1976, he played for legends Bill Russell and Lenny Wilkens. Helping the Sonics win the 1979 NBA Title, DJ was named Finals MVP.  Traded to Phoenix after the 1980 season, Johnson changed his game from a scoring 2-guard to an all-out scoring machine. When   Phoenix traded him to Boston following the 1983 campaign, DJ changed his game again, becoming a pass-first point guard. The Celtics won titles in 1984 & 1986 before Johnson retired after the 1990 season.  The Celtics retired Johnson’s #3 in December of 1991.

Johnson passed away in 2007.

His nephew, Nick, was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 2nd round of the 2014 draft. The Rockets recently traded Johnson to the Denver Nuggets as part of a deal for Ty Lawson.