Friday, February 26, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section C · Page 3
'Senior Night' 1972 was Bud's night
Bud Stallworth set still-unbroken record most points-per-game
By Matt Tait
Bud Stallworth pushes the ball uppourt against! Western Kentucky. Stallworth played for Kansas from 1969-1972. Photo courtesy of University Archives
Kansan sportswriter
Throughout the fabled history of Kansas basketball, "Senior Night" has always been an emotional, memorable moment.
For Isaac "Bud" Stallworth, "Senior Night" in 1972 was his night to shine.
In his last home game in Allen Fieldhouse, Bud, as he was affectionately called by the Kansas faithful, played the game of his life. This was a year that was far from a typical Kansas basketball season — Stallworth was worn down from carrying the load.
While the bruising and grinding of the pre-three-point line play had taken its toll on Stallworth, he was determined to make one last showing—one to be remembered.
"It was against Missouri and the fans had packed the fieldhouse for the seniors," Stallworth said. "There was no way, as long as I had any strength left in my body, that Missouri was going to beat KU at the fieldhouse."
Stallworth held true to his word and scored 50 points in the game. That total still stands as the highest number of points scored by an individual in a single game against a conference opponent at KU.
"Ididn't realize, as a younger man, that 25 to 30 years later, even with the three-point line, that the record would never be broken," Stallworth said. "As an individual, that may have been my greatest moment, but our Final Four team my junior year
may have been my greatest team moment."
The 50-point performance was Bud's finest game as a Jayhawk, and it marked the end of a fabulous college career.
Stallworth grew up in Hartselle, a small Alabama town. He said that as a young black kid growing up in the South during the 1960s, dreaming of playing basketball wasn't exactly the thing to do. But for Bud, dreaming of playing basketball was all he did.
"I was, and probably still am, the ultimate gmat rym." Stallworth said.
He came to Lawrence in the summer of 1667 to attend a music camp. His parents, Isaac Stall worth Sr. and Eva, were teachers, and they were sure their son would be educated.
"No A's meant no ball," Stallworth said.
Hoping to provide their son with a well-rounded education, they sent him to music camp. He learned to play the trumpet.
While at camp, Bud would sneak to the gym between rehearsals and play pick-up games with Kansas great Joseph "Jojo" White.
"These guys were All-Americans, and they were no different than me," Stallworth said. "The shoes and shorts may have been a little different, but I could play with those guys."
He returned home to Hartselle that summer. Stallworth said he was the first black recruited by Alabama and Auburn. He also was recruited by Vanderbilt, which only two years earlier had broken the color barrier.
Since graduating from the Univer
sity in 1972, Stallworth has been many places. He spent five years in the NBA, two with Seattle, who picked him in the first round of the NBA draft and a few years in New Orleans. But an automobile accident cut his career short.
After the accident, Stallworth became an entrepreneur in the restaurant business, starting Isaac's in
California, and Su Casa in Hawaii. Both businesses no longer exist.
Stallworth is working for the University of Kansas on a project called Crumbling Classrooms, which repairs classrooms.
Stallworth said that this was his way of giving back to the great institution where he spent so many years.
Former Kansas star continues success in the WNBA, abroad
By Chris Wristen
Kansan sportswriter
It's been just two years since Tamecka Dixon wore a Kansas Jersey, but in that short time span she has already made her mark on the WNBA.
Dixon, now a guard for the Los
Angeles Sparks,
has developed an
impressive list of
honors as a
professional. She
finished fifth in the
league in scoring
last season.
was second in
Dixon: Wants to be remembered after she retires.
three-point percentage as a rookie and has been the WNBA player of the week. In addition, she's played with USA Basketball during the off season against some of the world's best competition. But she still believes she has more to accomplish.
This success comes after a stellar career at Kansas where she was a two-time conference Player of the Year and earned All-American honors.
"I'd like to be on the steals and assists lists," Dixon said.
"Tamecka was a gamer, much like Lynette (Woodard) was," Kansas women's coach Marian Washington said. "She was going to take that last shot. She was willing to do that for us."
Although she has posted impressive stats as a player, her biggest influence on the court may be her enthusiasm. Through the years, Dixon has established herself as one of the most energetic players to take the court.
"When I first came to Kansas, I was told they had never seen a player with such a competitive mentality and who was such an emotional player." Dixon said.
Washington believes this energy will reach the fans as well.
"She's the kind of player people will want to come see, because you're not going to know what she's going to do," Washington said.
Even with all of Dixon's success, most of her goals remain team-oriented.
"I want to bring a title back to L.A. Whatever I have to do to bring back a title, I'll do it," she said.
She does have a personal desire remaining though.
Commentary
"I want to be someone whose name is not forgotten when I hang up my shoes," Dixon said.
Kansas alumna fondly recalls beginnings, not ready for end
Edited by Clint Hooker
I recently had the privilege of meeting Kansas' current special assistant for external relations and women's basketball in her first season in the position, but maybe her title should read "the person we just don't want to let go."
She is Lynette Woodard, widely known as the greatest female basketball player to ever walk the planet — and a Kansas graduate.
I found her, not surprisingly, making jumper after jumper at a practice in Allen Fieldhouse.
Sne laughed when I mentioned — but never denied — the imaginary title many have bestowed upon her during her more than two decades of basketball.
Woodard's journey to the University began in 1875, playing in the high-school state tournament at Allen Fieldhouse for Wichita North High School. It was the gangly sophomore's first visit to Lawrence.
“It’s nice to be thought of that way.” Woodard said. “I love the game, and I don't think there's anyone in the world who works harder at it than I do. It's been my life. It's my soul.”
"I remember playing here, but I was sick, so I didn't get to take the campus tour with everyone else," she recalled. "Basically all I got to see was the fieldhouse."
Kansas coach Marian Washington was in attendance at Allen Fieldhouse that day to see Woodard play. Washington smiled as she remembered her first encounter with the future superstar.
"I saw her greatness as a sophomore in high school," Washington said. "I saw this young player take the basketball and just outrun people."
The decision as to which college to attend remained a question in Woodard's mind until she finally met Coach Washington. It was a visit that would change both their lives.
"I was open to a number of schools." Woodard said. "Then I came to visit and got the grand tour. Just meeting Coach Washington and knowing all that she had done. I knew this is where I wanted to be."
Washington was in her fourth season (1976-77) at Kansas when she signed the nation's top high school player from Wichita North. The Jayhawks' record was a modest 41-52 in those first four years under Washington, who was struggling to increase the team's scholarships and small recruiting budget. Woodard was the big-time recruit Washington needed to move her program to the next level.
The duo helped Kansas win 106 games while losing only 31, moving the program into The Associated Press poll, as well as the national spotlight, for the first time.
Woodard became the all-time scoring leader in women's NCAA history (3,649 career points) — a distinction she still holds — on her way to being named to four consecutive All-American teams.
"When you look at a player who has led the nation in scoring, led the nation in rebounding and led the nation in steals; that's a total player," Washington said.
There was much more to Woodard's years at Kansas than long bus trips and team meetings, though. She was a two-time academic All-American and graduated with a bachelor's degree in speech communications in 1981, an accomplishment she said would have never happened without basketball.
"It was through athletics that I found out about higher education. Had I not played, I probably would have just taken a job." Woodard said. "I never would have known."
Woodard would
Matt James
sports@kansan.com
later use her degree when she was the director of athletics for the Kansas City, Mo., school district in 1993-94 and vice-president of marketing for Magna Securities in New York in 1995-98.
When she graduated from Kansas, however, all Woodward wanted to do was play the sport she loved. Unfortunately in 1881, even the world's greatest women's basketball player had no American professional league where she could display her skills.
So, Woodard became an Olympian; she first made the team in 1980 when the United States boycotted the Olympic Games. And she was captain of the 1984
team that brought home the first-ever women's basketball gold medal.
The disappointment of the boycott did not deter Woodard, who played on various national teams during the summers and utilized the tough workouts of Coach Washington in the winters.
"1800 was a learning experience," she said. "We were all primed to go, but there was the boycott. That's a good lesson in life. Do all you can do, but it may not always come out the way you want it to."
"Watching the flag go up and representing your country, it is a beautiful experience," Woodard said.
Woodard also served as an assistant coach at Kansas until 1985 when she realized her childhood dream of becoming a Harlem Globetrotter.
A chill ran up my spine as she described the circumstances that led to her joining the world-famous traveling team.
"I count that as one of the miracles in my life," Woodard said. "When I was six or seven, I said I was going to be a Globe-rotter."
At 39, Woodward will begin her third year in the WNBA in June. She played for the Cleveland Rockers and Detroit Shock during the first two years of the professional women's league. She will most likely be chosen by one of several expansion teams joining the league this year.
Woodard will retire from professional basketball after the upcoming season.
"I don't want to do it past 40," she said with a smile. "Although, I think I can."
Lynette Woodard posts up under the basket. Woodard is the all-time career point scorer in women's basketball history with 3,649 points. Photo courtesy of University Archives
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