Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="BBallF, post: 4092317, member: 10435"] Walsh is one of those old school Big East on campus facilities. It only holds about 1400 for basketball now after modifications to put in new athletic offices plus standing room for about 100 or so. In its heyday it was the biggest arena in North Jersey, before the Meadowlands and the Rock in Newark. I lived about 8 blocks away growing up. The biggest tourney here or anywhere in NJ back then for high school was the ECT or Essex County Tournament which was the boys tourney. For a stretch in the 60s of about 7 years in a row the winner of that tourney ( 6 times a Newark team) was the best team in the state and twice in the country. It was impossible to get in for the tourney. I became a vendor at the age of 13 selling potato chips and the like so I could see the game. I wasn't a very good businessman. I wound up playing there several times in high school and had my best game in the semifinals of the ECT JV tournament which was played immediately before the varsity so it was a sell out also. It's a great place to watch a game. Very close up. I was there last year and when Audrey went for 25 against them as a freshman. I had seen her father play there as well. I have great seats this year and am very much looking forward to it with my family including my daughter who also played on that court many times. I love watching Geno coach up close. You can really appreciate how savvy he is. [/QUOTE]