Before there was "in again, out again Finnegan," before a "ring-tailed howitzer," there was this common refrain in Philly hoops.
It wasn't a basket, it was a "Gola goal."
Today there is a huge hole in the Philly hoops world. Tom Gola is gone.
From his sterling career at La Salle, where he was an MVP on teams that won both the NCAA and NIT titles, to leading the Philadelphia Warriors to an NBA title, to a distinguished career in city government, Tom Gola was a Philadelphia treasurer.
Gola died on Sunday.
How good was Gola? In his four years at La Salle, his team won 102 of 121 games.
He also still holds the NCAA career mark for rebounds at 2,201. Despite the advances in the game - and the athletes - no one has approached Gola's mark.
After his sterling college and NBA career, Gola returns to his alma mater as head basketball coach. In 1968-69, he led the Explorers to a 23-1 mark with a squad featuring Kenny Durrett. It is believed by man to be the best team in city history, but it was ineligble to take part in the NCAA tourney because of sanctions imposed on the school during the reign of former coach Jim Harding. They still wound up ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Staff writer Terry Toohey tracked down some Delco folks to memories of Gola.
Tom Gola was everything you imagine when you think of Philly basketball. He leaves a void, not only in sports, but in the city in general.
He was of another time, made of different material.
We are all the worse for his passing.
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