Muskie
08-04-2008, 11:50 AM
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj89/xhoops/xavier_cover.gifMichael Perry Answers Your Questions
As you guys may remember, Michael Perry, the author of Xavier Tales, kindly accepted our request to take questions about his upcoming book about Xavier Basketball from our loyal members here at XavierHoops.com.
Despite a full-time schedule, Michael graciously agreed. The staff here at Xavier Hoops really wants to thank Michael for taking his personal time to answer the submitted questons for us and putting Xavier Tales together. Onto the questions:
Q: How heated were the Gillen/Huggins years? Obviously, we had the "handshake"
game, but did those staffs really despise each other?
A: Yes, I would say those staffs did not like each other. I don't mean Skip and
Bob, but certainly some of Skip's assistants were not Huggins fans. And
during the Gillen years, yes, there was much animosity. In the book, Pete talks
about how draining that rivalry was for him, and he kind of indicated it was a
factor in his leaving Xavier. He talks about the non-handshake, how surprised
he was when it happened and how he and Huggs are civil when they see each
other now.
Q: Why Jim Bunning for the Foreword?
A: When people asked me why I was considering Bunning for the foreword and I
explained that he played and coached at Xavier, they were surprised and said
they did not know that. So, I figured I'd be able to start the book with
something a lot of people don't know. There is nothing about Bunning's politics,
it's all about how he ended up at Xavier and how his career went there. Besides,
how many Hall of Famers played in the XU men's basketball program?
Q: I wonder if there were any players that you wanted to be in the
book but for some reason were not able to get in.
A: Anthony Hicks. Jamie Gladden. Michael Hawkins. I interviewed 16 of the top
18 scorers in school history. So I was pretty pleased overall (that's why it
took a year and half). I really like Michael and was disappointed I could not
find him. I think he was overseas much of the year.
Q: Where did the name "Xavier Tales" come from?
A: I wrote "Tales from Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball" in 2004. I wanted to
give it a bit of a different sound but with the same emphasis - on the "tales."
There are about 250 stories in the book. I played with some others, like
Xavier Stories, etc ... Just settled on Xavier Tales and it grew on me and looked
good on the cover.
Q: I'd be interested to know what player left the most positive impression on
Michael.
A: Well, I have known a lot of the guys for a number of years. I think very
highly of so many of the players and coaches I've know (too many to name). Skip
Prosser will always be one of the best people I ever covered in my career.
Guys like Pat Kelsey are, in part, a reflection of Skip. Byron, of course, is a
fabulous ambassador for Xavier in every way. Is there a better person than
Joe Sunderman? I could go on and on.
Q: Your favorite interview?
A: No question: Skip. As I mention in the book, it's the last time I saw him.
If not for the book, I would not have had that last time together with him.
I also love talking to Lenny Brown now as a grown man. Lenny was a challenge
as a reporter when he played. To have earned his trust and developed a
relationship with him so much that he would call me back when he got a message
means something to me.
I enjoyed Staak. Don Ruberg (who had great recall of stories), Richie Harris
(who I did not know before this) and so many, really.
Q: What is something that even the most rabid X fan would be surprised to learn?
A: Some of Ray Tomlin's stories as the first African-American Xavier player are
interesting. That Jim Bunning played and coached at Xavier. That Byron
almost quit the summer before his freshman year because he didn't think he'd be
good enough at basketball to succeed at Xavier. That Joe Sunderman's career
ended when his car hit a train during his senior season. That Thad cried in his
hotel room in Indy when Xavier won the A-10 tourney for the first time under
Sean. ... That enough to whet the appetite?
Q: What Xavier team do you think was the best?
A: David West's senior year (2002-03) or 1989-90 or either Elite Eight team or
... Boy, that's no answer at all, is it?
Q: What single factor has contributed the most to X's success?
A: A run of great coaches and lots of hungry players. Just look at some of the
best players to come out of the program; most developed while they were at X.
The lineup of coaches from Staak on is unreal. Not a blip on the radar
screen. Sorry, I cheated -- I guess those are multiple factors.
Q: When is Xavier Tales 2 coming out?
A: After the national championship.
For more information on Xavier Tales (click here (http://www.xaviertales.com))
As you guys may remember, Michael Perry, the author of Xavier Tales, kindly accepted our request to take questions about his upcoming book about Xavier Basketball from our loyal members here at XavierHoops.com.
Despite a full-time schedule, Michael graciously agreed. The staff here at Xavier Hoops really wants to thank Michael for taking his personal time to answer the submitted questons for us and putting Xavier Tales together. Onto the questions:
Q: How heated were the Gillen/Huggins years? Obviously, we had the "handshake"
game, but did those staffs really despise each other?
A: Yes, I would say those staffs did not like each other. I don't mean Skip and
Bob, but certainly some of Skip's assistants were not Huggins fans. And
during the Gillen years, yes, there was much animosity. In the book, Pete talks
about how draining that rivalry was for him, and he kind of indicated it was a
factor in his leaving Xavier. He talks about the non-handshake, how surprised
he was when it happened and how he and Huggs are civil when they see each
other now.
Q: Why Jim Bunning for the Foreword?
A: When people asked me why I was considering Bunning for the foreword and I
explained that he played and coached at Xavier, they were surprised and said
they did not know that. So, I figured I'd be able to start the book with
something a lot of people don't know. There is nothing about Bunning's politics,
it's all about how he ended up at Xavier and how his career went there. Besides,
how many Hall of Famers played in the XU men's basketball program?
Q: I wonder if there were any players that you wanted to be in the
book but for some reason were not able to get in.
A: Anthony Hicks. Jamie Gladden. Michael Hawkins. I interviewed 16 of the top
18 scorers in school history. So I was pretty pleased overall (that's why it
took a year and half). I really like Michael and was disappointed I could not
find him. I think he was overseas much of the year.
Q: Where did the name "Xavier Tales" come from?
A: I wrote "Tales from Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball" in 2004. I wanted to
give it a bit of a different sound but with the same emphasis - on the "tales."
There are about 250 stories in the book. I played with some others, like
Xavier Stories, etc ... Just settled on Xavier Tales and it grew on me and looked
good on the cover.
Q: I'd be interested to know what player left the most positive impression on
Michael.
A: Well, I have known a lot of the guys for a number of years. I think very
highly of so many of the players and coaches I've know (too many to name). Skip
Prosser will always be one of the best people I ever covered in my career.
Guys like Pat Kelsey are, in part, a reflection of Skip. Byron, of course, is a
fabulous ambassador for Xavier in every way. Is there a better person than
Joe Sunderman? I could go on and on.
Q: Your favorite interview?
A: No question: Skip. As I mention in the book, it's the last time I saw him.
If not for the book, I would not have had that last time together with him.
I also love talking to Lenny Brown now as a grown man. Lenny was a challenge
as a reporter when he played. To have earned his trust and developed a
relationship with him so much that he would call me back when he got a message
means something to me.
I enjoyed Staak. Don Ruberg (who had great recall of stories), Richie Harris
(who I did not know before this) and so many, really.
Q: What is something that even the most rabid X fan would be surprised to learn?
A: Some of Ray Tomlin's stories as the first African-American Xavier player are
interesting. That Jim Bunning played and coached at Xavier. That Byron
almost quit the summer before his freshman year because he didn't think he'd be
good enough at basketball to succeed at Xavier. That Joe Sunderman's career
ended when his car hit a train during his senior season. That Thad cried in his
hotel room in Indy when Xavier won the A-10 tourney for the first time under
Sean. ... That enough to whet the appetite?
Q: What Xavier team do you think was the best?
A: David West's senior year (2002-03) or 1989-90 or either Elite Eight team or
... Boy, that's no answer at all, is it?
Q: What single factor has contributed the most to X's success?
A: A run of great coaches and lots of hungry players. Just look at some of the
best players to come out of the program; most developed while they were at X.
The lineup of coaches from Staak on is unreal. Not a blip on the radar
screen. Sorry, I cheated -- I guess those are multiple factors.
Q: When is Xavier Tales 2 coming out?
A: After the national championship.
For more information on Xavier Tales (click here (http://www.xaviertales.com))