Rudy becomes 4th Uconn....

[the Blades]

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Cliff is the only one in that group who was not drafted in the 1st round. I will never forget watching when he was invited to the 1989 (?) draft, with many scouts believing he would be a 1st round pick. The draft was televised on MSG network (I think) and it was a total embarrassment for Cliff because he was the last of the invited kids picked by around 20 picks or so. Meanwhile until he got picked the MSG cameras kept showing him all alone in the room and looking foolish as the 1st round came and went without him being picked.

I knew Cliff personally when I was at UConn and liked him. He was frequently in my dorm and knew me because I lived on the same floor as a bunch of his teammates and we would chat when he visited them. One cold winter night I remember he knocked on my door and asked me if I would give him a ride to Store 24 for some late night munchies. Store 24 (not sure if it is still there) was a 24 hour convenience store, walking distance in normal weather but a harsh walk in the cold of winter. Anyway Cliff knew I had a car and I agreed to give him a ride because at the time I was also hungry. That car was a 1984 Dodge Omni which had no leg room up front for a big 6'10" dude like Cliff and even with the seat rolled all the way back, Cliff's knees were stuffed against the dashboard. All these years later I am thinking it's a good thing I did not get into an accident and mess up those legs and screw up what was later on a long and excellent NBA career. I wonder if any 2nd round pick ever scored more points than Cliff did?

BTW him going in the 2nd round was a joke- on talent and athletic ability he should have been a 1st rounder. Also, he was not a Calhoun recruit. He was a Dom Perno recruit.