TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2017 SPORTS BASKETBALL Basketball Hall of Famer John Kundla dead at 101 MINNEAPOLIS: Before Phil Jackson and remembered fondly.” Kundla was the old- beating New York in 1952 and ‘53 and recalled to NBA.com last year. “The player Pat Riley, before Gregg Popovich and est living Hall of Famer in any of the four Syracuse in ‘54 for the three straight titles. I substituted gets a beautiful basket and Larry Brown, even before Red Auerbach, major pro sports. Kundla was inducted wins the ball game. Everybody said, ‘What there was John Kundla. Kundla, the Hall of into the Hall of Fame in 1995. A year later, TRAILBLAZER a smart move you made.’ “What had hap- Fame coach who led the Minneapolis he was named one of the league’s 10 He also was a trailblazer during those pened, the (other) player came to me and Lakers to five NBA championships, died greatest coaches as part of the league’s racially tense seasons, often turning down said, ‘I want to go to the bathroom.’ I got Sunday. He was 101. “NBA at 50” celebration. He was hired at hotels that refused to house black players credit for being smart.” Son Tom Kundla said his father died at 31 and resigned at 42 with a career record when the team was on the road. When he That kind of humility was his hallmark, an assisted living facility in Northeast of 423-302, happy to cede the attention later coached at the University of both on the court and at home. Kundla Minneapolis that he called home for and the accolades to his players over him- Minnesota, Kundla was on the bench and wife Marie, who died in 2007, had six years. With George Mikan in the middle self. He was known for his understated when the first black players arrived at the children. Five of Kundla’s six grandchil- and Kundla the calm, steady hand direct- sideline demeanor, which was unique school. “John was an incredible staple of dren played college basketball, a hoops- ing the team, the Lakers won the 1949 compared to the fiery drill sergeants of Minnesota basketball,” Timberwolves and loving family that would only find out John Kundla championship in the BAA - the league the era. Lynx owner Glen Taylor said in a state- how revered the patriarch was when oth- that preceded the NBA - and NBA titles in “John wasn’t a screamer and was very ment. To this day Jackson, Auerbach and ers would speak for John. Only two were make the other team look bad. But the 1950 and 1952-54, cementing the fran- mild-mannered, but he’d let loose when Kundla stand as the only three coaches to around during his Lakers days. “We were players were a real good group together.” chise’s place as the league’s first true we deserved it, and usually I was the first have won more than two championships too young to realize how important it was His induction speech for the Hall of dynasty. The Lakers also won an NBL title one he bawled out,” Mikan once told in a row and Kundla remains tied with and what a number of accomplishments Fame lasted just over six minutes, with the in 1948, but the NBL marks are not includ- Sports Illustrated. “The message he sent Popovich and Riley for total champi- he had made until we reached the age of vast majority of it spent thanking coaches, ed in the NBA’s records. was that no one on the team was above onships with five. reason,” Tom Kundla said. “That’s what my players and his wife, Marie, “who still yells “On behalf of the entire Lakers organi- criticism.” “He was an all-time great, Hall of Fame dad does. No big deal. We’d see the tro- defense in her sleep, believe it or not.” zation, I’d like to express our sadness at Kundla was born in Star Junction, NBA coach,” Timberwolves coach Tom phies and the big gold basketball in the The entire family was there for the the passing of John Kundla,” Lakers Pennsylvania, on July 3, 1916. He relocat- Thibodeau said in the team release “He entry way. It was a norm.” Kundla stepped induction ceremony, many of the chil- President and co-owner Jeanie Buss said ed to Minneapolis with his family at the had a very profound impact on the NBA, down in 1959 to coach at his alma mater, dren only then realizing just how in a statement. “John played an important age of 5. The Detroit Gems of NBL moved coaching and the overall game.” the University of Minnesota, before the accomplished their father was. “I would role in the history of the Lakers organiza- to the Twin Cities in 1947 and hired Lakers moved to Los Angeles. say, ‘Dad you were a superstar coach,’” tion. ... In addition to his numerous contri- Kundla to run the re-named Lakers. In WHAT WAS KUNDLA’S SECRET? “We played team ball,” Kundla told Tom Kundla said. “‘No no,’ he would say. butions to the Lakers and our legacy, Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen and Jim Pollard, the “One game with about a minute left to NBA.com. “We didn’t try to (run up) the ‘I had a great team. It was always, ‘I had John was a wonderful man and will be Lakers assembled the first super-team, go. Tie game. I substituted,” Kundla score. We played defense. We didn’t try to a great team.’” — AP LOS ANGELES: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo homerun in the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on Sunday in Los Angeles, California. — AFP BASEBALL Dodgers lose injured Kershaw, beat Braves LOS ANGELES: Clayton Kershaw left after two ness” in his forearm. Strasburg said he wants to loss since May 30. Wade Davis finished for his Montero (1-7). Rookie Daniel Gossett (2-5) who took two of three from the Twins. Matthew innings with lower back tightness that is sending “nip it in the bud” so he’s available to the team in 20th save in 20 chances. gave up two runs and five hits in six innings, Boyd (4-5) won his second straight start since he him to the disabled list, and the Los Angeles the crucial stages of the late season. Brian and Santiago Casilla worked the ninth for his was recalled from the minors, striking out a Dodgers overcame a blown save by Kenley Goodwin’s leadoff homer ignited a four-run first YANKEES 6, MARINERS 4 16th save, ending New York’s four-game win- career-high eight in six-plus innings. Jansen to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Sunday inning off Robbie Ray (9-5), who lasted five New York won a series for the first time in six ning streak. on Logan Forsythe’s bases-loaded single in the innings, allowing five runs. Bryce Harper singled weeks when Aroldis Chapman struck out Ben ROYALS 5, WHITE SOX 4 10th. Kershaw, unbeaten in 15 consecutive starts, in the first to extend his hitting streak to 16 Gamel with a runner on to preserve the Yankees’ REDS 6, MARLINS 3 Brandon Moss hit a game-ending double off came out after 21 pitches. He was headed for games. Joe Blanton (1-2) got two outs and third win in four games against Seattle this week- Scooter Gennett, Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Tyler Clippard, extending Chicago’s longest los- scans and declined to compare his current situa- earned the win. end. The Yankees had been 0-8-2 in series since Barnhart homered, and Billy Hamilton had three ing streak since 2013 to nine games. Whit tion with last year, when he was out 2 1/2 sweeping Baltimore on June 9-11. After Seattle hits and stole a pair of bases to increase his Merrifield, Jorge Bonifacio and Eric Hosmer hit months with a herniated disk in his back. Jansen CUBS 5, CARDINALS 3 overcame a 3-0 deficit with a four-run fourth major league-leading total to 43. Cincinnati fin- consecutive home runs off Derek Holland in the entered with a 3-1 lead and got the final out of Willson Contreras hit a tiebreaking two-run inning against Caleb Smith, Brett Gardner hit a ished a 2-8 homestand in which they allowed 23 fourth inning for a 3-0 lead, and Merrifield hit the eighth, then gave up a tying three-run homer and Jose Quintana won again as Chicago tying, bases-loaded single in the sixth and Clint homers and 72 runs. Rookie right-hander Sal another solo shot in the eighth off Dan Jennings homer to Matt Adams in the ninth. Forsythe sin- beat St. Louis to move into a virtual tie for first in Frazier followed with a two-run double off for- Romano (2-2) made his fourth and longest big to tie the score at 4. Mike Moustakas singled off gled after Cody Bellinger was intentionally the NL Central. Kyle Schwarber also connected as mer Yankee James Pazos (2-3). Didi Gregorius league start, allowing one run and three hits over Gregory Infante (0-1) leading off the ninth and walked by Jim Johnson (6-2) to load the bases. the Cubs won for the eighth time in nine games had his first career multihomer game with solo six innings. Raisel Iglesias gave up one hits over pinch-runner Lorenzo Cain advanced on a wild Brandon Morrow (3-0) retired the side in the since the All-Star break.