Strange But True: Nerves

Basketball coaches are often nervous. But no coach was more nervous than Joe Lapchick. It’s amazing that he didn’t quit coaching. But he managed to live with his nerves for more than 30 years as a coach.

In 1944 Lapchick was coaching St. John’s University. The Redmen had a great team that got to the finals of the National Invitational Tournament. Then they faced DePaul, sparked by big George Mikan, for the championship. When DePaul pulled into the lead, Lapchick was dying a thousand deaths. Then with five minutes left in the game, Mikan fouled out. St. John’s caught up and then passed DePaul. With a minute left, it seemed sure that St. John’s would win. Lapchick didn’t see the end of the game, however. He had fainted on the bench.

In 1952, coaching the New York Knicks, Lapchick watched as Fort Wayne came from behind, scoring the winning points with only two seconds to play. He walked dazedly into the Knick locker room and collapsed. He was in the hospital for three days.

In another game Lapchick was so angry at the referee that he disgustedly threw a whole water bucket high into the air. The water came down on Lapchick. Luckily, the bucket fell harmlessly to the floor.

But perhaps Lapchick’s oddest trick was what he did during a game between the Knicks and the Boston Celtics. The Knicks would fall behind, then race back and almost tie the game. Then they would fall behind again.

What was coach Lapchick doing on the sidelines? He had taken off his jacket and was slowly ripping out the lining. He had the sleeves half torn off before he realized what he was doing.

From The Giant Book of Strange But True Sports Stories by Howard Liss. Illustrations by Joe Mathieu.