U of L Play-by-Play Announcer Paul Rogers said Denny Crum was the most "genuine, courteous, normal person." Paul talked Denny's love of everything about Louisville, his fiercely competitive spirit, his desire to help the community whenever possible, and much more...
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Big is that, of course,the theme music from the nineteen eighty National
(00:30):
Championship. It was a pop songon the radio, but NBC chose that
as the song to be the themeof the entire March Madness in nineteen eighty.
Of course, Louisville went on towin, so that song's always welded
to the culture here in Louisville.Kenny Rogers and excuse me, Kenny Loggins
(00:52):
and Michael McDonald from the Dubie Brothersactually bull singing on that song is a
big hit. I know a guywho was working back then, he's been
working in sports for most of thelast fifty years or close enough to it,
and that is Paul Rodgers, stillVoice of the Cardinals. Hey,
Paul's good to have you back onthe air, mister Paul Rogers. Right
(01:17):
here, you down? Oh thereyou go? Okay? Brother? Well,
you know, I know Denny lovedyou and you guys spent a lot
of time together. So I justfigured we just opened it up and let
you tell us about Denny's personality thatyou saw. Well, everybody knows what
a great basketball coach he was.The Record Books show at a Hall of
(01:38):
Famer two championships, national championships,numerous conference championships, and on and on
it goes. But the thing thatstrikes me about Denny and everybody, whether
you knew him intimately or not,knew this he had. He just became
such a pillar of the community.There was never a charity he would say
no too. There was never anautograph he would turn down. He was
the most genuine nerdis easy to getalong with, high profile personality that maybe
(02:05):
there's ever been in our city.I loved working with the man. We
never had a cross word. Hewas always accommodating pregames, post games,
wins, losses, But we hada friendship that went along with it as
well. We played golf on afew occasions, we had dinners together,
played cards together. I wasn't hisleague, in his league as a card
(02:28):
player, but he means but thosekinds of things. He was just such
a gentleman and everybody knew it.And that's what I will always remember and
cherish most about Denny. I totallyforgot about the cards thing because he sponsored
his own like poker tournament or something, so he was serious about that.
He was, but he also hadjust these little friendly Friday night games occasionally
(02:53):
with him and some friends, andyou bring your wives. I mean,
it was not the big Bucks byany means. It was just for fun
and just so relaxing, so youknow, you sometimes had to kind of
look around and say that this isa big time person here and we're all
just hanging out doing normal kind ofstuff. And that's the way Denny was.
(03:14):
He was just so normal. I'llalways love him for coming here under
the guise of getting a couple ofyears a head coaching experience so he could
go back to be the head coachat UCLA. But he got here,
fell in love with the place,and just never would go back. UCLA
tried to hire him. I don'tremember exactly how many times. I know
(03:35):
at least two, and I thinkmaybe three or even four. And I
remember on one of those occasions itwas what turned out to me the last
time I actually met him at theairport. I was working for TV then
and I found out he had beenout there and I was coming back on
a flight and I met him atthe airport. It was a little hesitant
because I didn't really want to botherhim, and I thought he'd see me
and just roll his eyes. Well, he saw me smiles said, hey,
(03:58):
how you doing, and we saidthere. We did an interview and
he was really torn at the timeas whether or not he would take the
job, and I kind of thoughthe would, and then when he did
not, I knew then he willnever leave here. He just loved Louisville
too much. He liked the lifestyle, he loved the passion for basketball,
he loved the horses, he lovedthe derby he owed racist horses, as
(04:19):
you know, and just everything aboutthis community he just couldn't tear himself away
from. And likewise, people didn'twant to let him go either. A
lot of people that you and Iboth know have spent time with him fishing,
and they love Van was on alittle while ago. As a matter
of fact, they loved talking abouthis fishing. But he was competitive even
(04:39):
at that. You know, ifyou're in a boat with him, he
wants to catch more and bigger fishthan you. One of the sort of
ironic things about Denny was as pleasantand as courteous as he always was after
losses or wins or whatever in termsof basketball, he was fiercely competitive,
(05:00):
not just in basketball, but asyou just said and everything he did,
I mean fiercely competitive with its afriendly golf game, a friendly card game,
whatever he wanted to win. Buthe was always the ultimate sportsman.
He was always complimentary of the otherguy, and uh yeah, fishing was
a true passionate is. Of course, he had his home up there in
Idaho that he went to every summerand would often take guests with him,
(05:25):
and that would be one of thepopular charity auction items around exactly a trip
to visit Denny Crumb's Idahole cabin.And he couldn't have been nicer. But
believe me, if if you werecompeting for something, he tried to beat
you, that's for sure, nodoubt. I mean, even it was
reaching for the last cookie, hewas going to do that, you know,
Paul, And those golf tournaments too. Oftentimes people who don't play golf
(05:46):
may not understand this expression. Youcan buy mulligans for your team, which
means you have to take extra shots, but you have to turn in money
for whatever the charity is for eachone of those. And Denny would walk
up to the table and said,do you want to buy some mulligans today?
So how many can we have?And then he would go. He
would max out all the time becauseyou're right, he was so competitive.
He wanted those extra chances if thingsdidn't work out. Yeah, he would
(06:11):
buy them for the whole team.He wouldn't just buy his he would buy
them for everybody on the team.And anybody who played to scramble with him
would also tell you Denny Crumb neverstopped coaching. Yeah. I know some
people who really were uncomfortable like andscrambles with Jenny because they got some coaching
they didn't really want. Necessarily,he was going to always do what he
could to make you better so histeam would be better. Exactly editive that
hopefully win. Oh. Yeah,he worked with me on my driver,
(06:33):
you know, the first time Iwas in a group with him, and
it was hilarious though, but Iloved getting the instruction. I mean,
you're talking about a Hall of Fameguy, why not listen to ye?
For sure? But this community,there are so many little quiet things that
Denny did that people aren't aware ofbecause they weren't made public. But you
and I both know he gave moneyto help families in distress, those types
(06:59):
of under the radar things that hejust did because he had a good heart.
Yeah down syndrome cerebral paulsy Geene Sullivan, his good friend who was a
longtime pro at Wildwood Country Club putup put a tournament together every year and
strictly through local resources, which Dennywas a huge part of. That thing
(07:20):
would raise like a hundred thousand dollarsa year. Denny was the chairman,
I believe, of the Cystic FiveRoses dinner that was held every every year.
And it would be during the seasontoo. It might be a Friday
night before a Saturday game and hewould be the head waiter, so to
speak, of that event. Henever shied away from from helping charities and
just helping do good in any wayhe could. And I know he had
(07:43):
a scholarship fund or foundation. Andthere was something about potato soup every year.
Didn't they do some sort of luncheonfrom that every he was he even
wanted to compete as a chef.Yeah, they and they ended up in
the last gosh, I don't knowhow many years, quite a few every
years on a birthday every year theywould have a potatoes soup luncheon. It
was usually I'm trying to think atthe Middletown Roosters or they they were having
(08:09):
it there in most recent years,I think it might have been some other
places, but yeah, they wouldhold that on his birthday. You'd come
have lunch with Denny and whoever elsewas around, and all the proceeds went
to charity. And those are justthe kind of things that he did.
And I don't think Denny cooked thepotatoes soup then, but he could be
a bit of a chef at times. He cook up something fancy, you're
and there. I never got tosee him prep any of fish either,
(08:31):
but I'm sure he was good atthat. I'm sure he wasn't well.
He didn't do anything unless it wasgood at it. You can imagine,
all right. So, Paul,I don't know. I know you were
working for WHS in the nineteen seventies, but it was after Denny was already
here. I'm guessing who was thesmart person that went and talked him into
taking this job. Do you haveany idea? That's a good question.
(08:54):
I came to work at the stationin nineteen seventy three, which I think
was his third year of coaching,and I'm trying to remember even who the
athletic director was back then, couldhave been't Pet Hickman. Um, I
don't know, that's that's maybe areally good question, come to think of
it. But he was, youknow, he was a hot commodity.
(09:15):
He was John Wooden's top assistant.And I think he had an offer at
least from Virginia Tech and maybe someothers as well. And Louisville basketball wasn't
right tag. I mean, theywere good under Pat Hickman and under John
Dromond. His brief stint here wonthe n I T under Hickman and had
some really good teams, some reallygreat players West unself which bear do you
(09:35):
name it? But then Denny Dennyso Denny, I guess saw the potential
year and took him to the Finalfour his first year and then went on
to take Louisville into high, highprominence. But again he made no bones
about it early. He came hereto get head coaching experience so he could
go back to UCLA, but itnever happened because he fill them up with
the place so fantastic. UM.I did text with Susan a little while
(09:58):
ago. She's, you know,obviously hurt, but she knew it was
coming and She's been such a goodcaregiver and support beam for Denny in these
tough years of late So we're allsending our love out to her as well,
and all of Denny's kids and anextended family. Yeah, Susan was
(10:20):
a real saint and taking care ofhim in his late years, and they
had lots of good time together.And I know she's feeling the love of
the community. As you said,we all knew this was coming. It
still hurts what it happens, butyou prepare for it as best you can.
And I'm sure she'll get a lotof support and condolences from friends and
families and just souther Louivillians. AndI don't know specific what maybe down the
(10:45):
road, but I would imagine therewill be some gigantic public ceremony honoring Denny
Crumb's life. You bet well.I'm so happy for you. You've gotten
to spend all this time with Denny, and you know, all the little
funny things because he was a jokertoo. I mean, he would he'd
you know, he he'd gig youa little bit, you know. He
liked that, oh yeah stuff,Oh yeah, he liked doing all those
(11:05):
kinds of things. And then whenyou were hurry. I was just gonna
say he was a very human person. There was a lot of humanity.
And sometimes, you know, youwould ask him a question on a sports
call in show or sports talk orcoaches show, and he would just take
in. Then you have to pointto your watch, Hey, we gotta
go to break. He was famousfor rather long winded answers. Yes he
(11:28):
was, but but you know,as I said, there was there was
never a post game interview that hecame out angry or I'm sure he was
seething inside a few times I knewhe was, But outwardly he was always
accommodating. He would answer the questionsum and he just he understood that was
that was he treated people the rightway. He gotta take quick stories.
(11:50):
Bob. Bob Donold tells a storyfrequently. He went to Madison Square Garden
to watch Louisville play I win.Bob's older brother Jim, of course coach.
I own them, and they scoredthe huge upset over Louisville and beat
him. As it turned out,of course, we didn't know a time
that was Louisville's last loss. Theywould go on to win the National championship
that day. But Bob to thisday says he was so impressed with how
(12:13):
Denny handled that he went to thepress conference and Denny was so complimentary of
a gym and so complimented NC State. It didn't make excuses, it didn't
belly ache. And Bob said,then, if I ever get to be
a head coach, that's the wayI want to be. That's the way
you should treat people. That's theway you should handle tough losses. And
then he did. He did thatall the time, and people really appreciated
(12:33):
it, and it was and itwasn't fake that that was Denny from every
day, every time. All right, Paul Rodgers. Great hearing your voice,
and we'll talk again soon somewhere downthe road. As the story continues,
the foundation Denny built upon continues togrow. Thanks Paul, appreciate you.
Thanks Terry. Good talking to you. Paul Rodgers, Voice of the
Louisville Cardinals. We're back in afew on news radio. Wait forty whas
Big is that, of course,the theme music from the nineteen eighty National
(00:30):
Championship. It was a pop songon the radio, but NBC chose that
as the song to be the themeof the entire March Madness in nineteen eighty.
Of course, Louisville went on towin, so that song's always welded
to the culture here in Louisville.Kenny Rogers and excuse me, Kenny Loggins
(00:52):
and Michael McDonald from the Dubie Brothersactually bull singing on that song is a
big hit. I know a guywho was working back then, he's been
working in sports for most of thelast fifty years or close enough to it,
and that is Paul Rodgers, stillVoice of the Cardinals. Hey,
Paul's good to have you back onthe air, mister Paul Rogers. Right
(01:17):
here, you down? Oh thereyou go? Okay? Brother? Well,
you know, I know Denny lovedyou and you guys spent a lot
of time together. So I justfigured we just opened it up and let
you tell us about Denny's personality thatyou saw. Well, everybody knows what
a great basketball coach he was.The Record Books show at a Hall of
(01:38):
Famer two championships, national championships,numerous conference championships, and on and on
it goes. But the thing thatstrikes me about Denny and everybody, whether
you knew him intimately or not,knew this he had. He just became
such a pillar of the community.There was never a charity he would say
no too. There was never anautograph he would turn down. He was
the most genuine nerdis easy to getalong with, high profile personality that maybe
(02:05):
there's ever been in our city.I loved working with the man. We
never had a cross word. Hewas always accommodating pregames, post games,
wins, losses, But we hada friendship that went along with it as
well. We played golf on afew occasions, we had dinners together,
played cards together. I wasn't hisleague, in his league as a card
(02:28):
player, but he means but thosekinds of things. He was just such
a gentleman and everybody knew it.And that's what I will always remember and
cherish most about Denny. I totallyforgot about the cards thing because he sponsored
his own like poker tournament or something, so he was serious about that.
He was, but he also hadjust these little friendly Friday night games occasionally
(02:53):
with him and some friends, andyou bring your wives. I mean,
it was not the big Bucks byany means. It was just for fun
and just so relaxing, so youknow, you sometimes had to kind of
look around and say that this isa big time person here and we're all
just hanging out doing normal kind ofstuff. And that's the way Denny was.
(03:14):
He was just so normal. I'llalways love him for coming here under
the guise of getting a couple ofyears a head coaching experience so he could
go back to be the head coachat UCLA. But he got here,
fell in love with the place,and just never would go back. UCLA
tried to hire him. I don'tremember exactly how many times. I know
(03:35):
at least two, and I thinkmaybe three or even four. And I
remember on one of those occasions itwas what turned out to me the last
time I actually met him at theairport. I was working for TV then
and I found out he had beenout there and I was coming back on
a flight and I met him atthe airport. It was a little hesitant
because I didn't really want to botherhim, and I thought he'd see me
and just roll his eyes. Well, he saw me smiles said, hey,
(03:58):
how you doing, and we saidthere. We did an interview and
he was really torn at the timeas whether or not he would take the
job, and I kind of thoughthe would, and then when he did
not, I knew then he willnever leave here. He just loved Louisville
too much. He liked the lifestyle, he loved the passion for basketball,
he loved the horses, he lovedthe derby he owed racist horses, as
(04:19):
you know, and just everything aboutthis community he just couldn't tear himself away
from. And likewise, people didn'twant to let him go either. A
lot of people that you and Iboth know have spent time with him fishing,
and they love Van was on alittle while ago. As a matter
of fact, they loved talking abouthis fishing. But he was competitive even
(04:39):
at that. You know, ifyou're in a boat with him, he
wants to catch more and bigger fishthan you. One of the sort of
ironic things about Denny was as pleasantand as courteous as he always was after
losses or wins or whatever in termsof basketball, he was fiercely competitive,
(05:00):
not just in basketball, but asyou just said and everything he did,
I mean fiercely competitive with its afriendly golf game, a friendly card game,
whatever he wanted to win. Buthe was always the ultimate sportsman.
He was always complimentary of the otherguy, and uh yeah, fishing was
a true passionate is. Of course, he had his home up there in
Idaho that he went to every summerand would often take guests with him,
(05:25):
and that would be one of thepopular charity auction items around exactly a trip
to visit Denny Crumb's Idahole cabin.And he couldn't have been nicer. But
believe me, if if you werecompeting for something, he tried to beat
you, that's for sure, nodoubt. I mean, even it was
reaching for the last cookie, hewas going to do that, you know,
Paul, And those golf tournaments too. Oftentimes people who don't play golf
(05:46):
may not understand this expression. Youcan buy mulligans for your team, which
means you have to take extra shots, but you have to turn in money
for whatever the charity is for eachone of those. And Denny would walk
up to the table and said,do you want to buy some mulligans today?
So how many can we have?And then he would go. He
would max out all the time becauseyou're right, he was so competitive.
He wanted those extra chances if thingsdidn't work out. Yeah, he would
(06:11):
buy them for the whole team.He wouldn't just buy his he would buy
them for everybody on the team.And anybody who played to scramble with him
would also tell you Denny Crumb neverstopped coaching. Yeah. I know some
people who really were uncomfortable like andscrambles with Jenny because they got some coaching
they didn't really want. Necessarily,he was going to always do what he
could to make you better so histeam would be better. Exactly editive that
hopefully win. Oh. Yeah,he worked with me on my driver,
(06:33):
you know, the first time Iwas in a group with him, and
it was hilarious though, but Iloved getting the instruction. I mean,
you're talking about a Hall of Fameguy, why not listen to ye?
For sure? But this community,there are so many little quiet things that
Denny did that people aren't aware ofbecause they weren't made public. But you
and I both know he gave moneyto help families in distress, those types
(06:59):
of under the radar things that hejust did because he had a good heart.
Yeah down syndrome cerebral paulsy Geene Sullivan, his good friend who was a
longtime pro at Wildwood Country Club putup put a tournament together every year and
strictly through local resources, which Dennywas a huge part of. That thing
(07:20):
would raise like a hundred thousand dollarsa year. Denny was the chairman,
I believe, of the Cystic FiveRoses dinner that was held every every year.
And it would be during the seasontoo. It might be a Friday
night before a Saturday game and hewould be the head waiter, so to
speak, of that event. Henever shied away from from helping charities and
just helping do good in any wayhe could. And I know he had
(07:43):
a scholarship fund or foundation. Andthere was something about potato soup every year.
Didn't they do some sort of luncheonfrom that every he was he even
wanted to compete as a chef.Yeah, they and they ended up in
the last gosh, I don't knowhow many years, quite a few every
years on a birthday every year theywould have a potatoes soup luncheon. It
was usually I'm trying to think atthe Middletown Roosters or they they were having
(08:09):
it there in most recent years,I think it might have been some other
places, but yeah, they wouldhold that on his birthday. You'd come
have lunch with Denny and whoever elsewas around, and all the proceeds went
to charity. And those are justthe kind of things that he did.
And I don't think Denny cooked thepotatoes soup then, but he could be
a bit of a chef at times. He cook up something fancy, you're
and there. I never got tosee him prep any of fish either,
(08:31):
but I'm sure he was good atthat. I'm sure he wasn't well.
He didn't do anything unless it wasgood at it. You can imagine,
all right. So, Paul,I don't know. I know you were
working for WHS in the nineteen seventies, but it was after Denny was already
here. I'm guessing who was thesmart person that went and talked him into
taking this job. Do you haveany idea? That's a good question.
(08:54):
I came to work at the stationin nineteen seventy three, which I think
was his third year of coaching,and I'm trying to remember even who the
athletic director was back then, couldhave been't Pet Hickman. Um, I
don't know, that's that's maybe areally good question, come to think of
it. But he was, youknow, he was a hot commodity.
(09:15):
He was John Wooden's top assistant.And I think he had an offer at
least from Virginia Tech and maybe someothers as well. And Louisville basketball wasn't
right tag. I mean, theywere good under Pat Hickman and under John
Dromond. His brief stint here wonthe n I T under Hickman and had
some really good teams, some reallygreat players West unself which bear do you
(09:35):
name it? But then Denny Dennyso Denny, I guess saw the potential
year and took him to the Finalfour his first year and then went on
to take Louisville into high, highprominence. But again he made no bones
about it early. He came hereto get head coaching experience so he could
go back to UCLA, but itnever happened because he fill them up with
the place so fantastic. UM.I did text with Susan a little while
(09:58):
ago. She's, you know,obviously hurt, but she knew it was
coming and She's been such a goodcaregiver and support beam for Denny in these
tough years of late So we're allsending our love out to her as well,
and all of Denny's kids and anextended family. Yeah, Susan was
(10:20):
a real saint and taking care ofhim in his late years, and they
had lots of good time together.And I know she's feeling the love of
the community. As you said,we all knew this was coming. It
still hurts what it happens, butyou prepare for it as best you can.
And I'm sure she'll get a lotof support and condolences from friends and
families and just souther Louivillians. AndI don't know specific what maybe down the
(10:45):
road, but I would imagine therewill be some gigantic public ceremony honoring Denny
Crumb's life. You bet well.I'm so happy for you. You've gotten
to spend all this time with Denny, and you know, all the little
funny things because he was a jokertoo. I mean, he would he'd
you know, he he'd gig youa little bit, you know. He
liked that, oh yeah stuff,Oh yeah, he liked doing all those
(11:05):
kinds of things. And then whenyou were hurry. I was just gonna
say he was a very human person. There was a lot of humanity.
And sometimes, you know, youwould ask him a question on a sports
call in show or sports talk orcoaches show, and he would just take
in. Then you have to pointto your watch, Hey, we gotta
go to break. He was famousfor rather long winded answers. Yes he
(11:28):
was, but but you know,as I said, there was there was
never a post game interview that hecame out angry or I'm sure he was
seething inside a few times I knewhe was, But outwardly he was always
accommodating. He would answer the questionsum and he just he understood that was
that was he treated people the rightway. He gotta take quick stories.
(11:50):
Bob. Bob Donold tells a storyfrequently. He went to Madison Square Garden
to watch Louisville play I win.Bob's older brother Jim, of course coach.
I own them, and they scoredthe huge upset over Louisville and beat
him. As it turned out,of course, we didn't know a time
that was Louisville's last loss. Theywould go on to win the National championship
that day. But Bob to thisday says he was so impressed with how
(12:13):
Denny handled that he went to thepress conference and Denny was so complimentary of
a gym and so complimented NC State. It didn't make excuses, it didn't
belly ache. And Bob said,then, if I ever get to be
a head coach, that's the wayI want to be. That's the way
you should treat people. That's theway you should handle tough losses. And
then he did. He did thatall the time, and people really appreciated
(12:33):
it, and it was and itwasn't fake that that was Denny from every
day, every time. All right, Paul Rodgers. Great hearing your voice,
and we'll talk again soon somewhere downthe road. As the story continues,
the foundation Denny built upon continues togrow. Thanks Paul, appreciate you.
Thanks Terry. Good talking to you. Paul Rodgers, Voice of the
Louisville Cardinals. We're back in afew on news radio. Wait forty whas
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.