The insanely great site Lost Lettermen took on another ambitious project in recent weeks by tracking down the whereabouts of each of the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Players.
The list dates to 1939, the first Big Dance, when Ohio State's Jimmy Hull was named the MOP. Hull became a successful dentist in Columbus, where he lives to this day.
There was Kentucky's Bill Spivey, the 1951 MOP. He became implicated in a point-shaving scandal and although he was cleared of any wrongdoing, he was banned from the NBA. After his playing career ended, Spivey went into sales and real estate, but eventually became a recluse of moved to Costa Rica in 1993. He was found dead of natural causes in 1995.
Howard Porter was the 1971 MOP from Villanova, but by 1985, he ended up broke, addicted to cocaine and sleeping on his mother's couch. He went into rehab and eventually became a probation officer. Porter's life ended tragically in May 2007, when he was severely beaten and died from his injuries eight days later in a drug deal gone bad.
Ed O'Bannon, pictured with the post, helped UCLA win the title in 1995, but he never lived up to expectations in the NBA. He is now a car salesman for Findlay Toyota in Henderson, Nev., just outside Las Vegas. He's also the varsity coach at Henderson International School.
There is a wealth of terrific information in Lost Lettermen's latest effort. Check it out and let others know about it.
Comments