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Providence College Athletics
Vinnie Ernst - A Providence College Legend
4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 11, 2011
By Marty (Butsy) Walsh and Bobby Ernst
Bobby Ernst received an early Christmas gift in November. One he had hoped to receive a few years earlier. He was confident the gift was on its way but didn't know when it would arrive. It was for his younger brother and best friend, Vinnie; a gift that will always be remembered by Bobby and the entire Ernst family for generations to come. And also, by everyone in Jersey City and New England who knew Vinnie Ernst way back then.
The long-awaited announcement and press release came out of Rhode Island.
Providence College (PC) will honor Vinnie Ernst and his backcourt partner, Ray Flynn, during halftime of its basketball game against the University of Cincinnati on Saturday February, 19, 2011. Their names and numbers, #10 and #14 respectively, would be unveiled on a banner in the rafters of Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Ernst and Flynn will become the eighth and ninth members of the Friar basketball family to be honored as part of the Friar Legends Forever Tradition that began in 1996. To earn the honor, the player or coach must have made a significant impact on Friar basketball and he must have received national recognition during his career at Providence.
Lenny Wilkens '60 was the first PC player to have his number retired in 1996. In 2007, the College honored former coaches Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt. In 2008, Jimmy Walker '67, Marvin Barnes '74 and Ernie DiGregorio '73 had their numbers retired. In 2009, the College honored John Egan '61 as his number was retired.
Ernst, a native of New Jersey, was one of the greatest point guards all-time at Providence College. A 5-foot-8-inch wizard with the ball, he also helped the Friars capture the NIT titles in 1961 and 1963. As a sophomore, Ernst was named NIT Most Valuable Player. He recorded 243 assists as a senior and still holds the PC single-game assist mark (16) and single-season-average assist record at 8.68 (28 games). Ernst recorded 911 points in three seasons (83 games) of action.
As a junior, Ernst was named UPI Honorable Mention All-America, All-East and All-New England. In his final season with the Friars, he earned UPI Small Player First Team All-America, Associated Press and UPI Honorable Mention All-America, All-East and All-New England. Ernst also played for the United States World Championship Team and the United States Pan American Games team in 1963.
As word seeped out about Vinnie's jersey being retired, several people contacted Bobby. Fred Corbalis, life-long friend and St. Al's basketball teammate summarized what so many felt: "I read the article about Vinnie's jersey number being retired at Providence College with sadness and pride. What a fabulous honor, and so richly deserved...I was not aware of all the accolades Vinnie had received during his college career."
Freddy was not the only one in Jersey City unaware of Vinnie's basketball achievements at Providence. Several generations have grown up since Vinnie lit up the CYO Center, St. Al's high school and Madison Square Garden hoops and most likely, have never heard of him.
Yet for all of us, Jersey City old fogies, who were privileged to see Vinnie Ernst play, we're not surprised at his college's timeless recognition. For he was special, one of the greatest basketball players in Hudson County's illustrious history. Bob O'Connor, his St. Al's Hall of Fame coach, said "coaching Vinnie was a once- in-a lifetime experience."
A Winner from the Beginning
No one knew Vinnie better than Bobby. "When I was 10 years old, my mom told me to take care of my 7- year old brother. " From that moment on, they were inseparable, playing games (i.e. stickball, box ball, etc.) and having fun together. Both loved to laugh and kid each other, just as their father always did.
Basketball was their favorite game. Vinnie was a fast learner. Once shown how to dribble, pass and shoot, he quickly mastered the skill. His speed, quickness and hand- eye coordination stood out for all to see and appreciate. The barely four- foot tall fourth-grader was a natural.
Bobby recalls "Vinnie would dribble up and down our block, -Wilkinson Avenue between Jackson and Ocean--head up, constantly changing hands, changing speeds. He wore out dozens of basketballs, dribbling with his fingertips. His palms never touched the ball. In the summertime, we'd jump the PS 15 school fence and shoot hoops in the morning, then walk to the CYO and play all afternoon, and after dinner, go up to Snyder high gym to play some more. "
Vinnie made the CYO Biddy Basketball team as an 8 year old, the only kid his age ever to do so. He watched from the bench as Bobby led the Jersey City CYO to its first national Biddy Basketball title as the 12- year old point guard. Vinnie quickly surpassed his big brother's achievements, leading the CYO to two national titles and being named Mr. Biddy Basketball twice, as an 11 and 12 year-old.
When he won Mr. Biddy the second time in 1954, he was named "Mayor for the day" by Mayor Bernard Berry. Vinnie promptly gave his Sacred Heart grammar school off for the day, thus keeping the Jersey City tradition of the golden rule alive. That is, he who has the gold, rules! Vinnie and his CYO teammates later went to Washington DC where he pinned a Biddy ball emblem on Vice President, Richard Nixon's lapel.
The barely five -foot tall, 12-year old magician did something else that made him famous overnight. He scored 98 points in a game. Only Bevo Francis and Wilt Chamberlain ever scored more. This feat earned him an appearance on the nationally televised The Tonight Show, hosted by Steve Allen; where he taught the legendary TV show host how to shoot hoops. As an eighth grader, he received his first college basketball scholarship offer, from Bones McKinney, renown coach of Wake Forrest University.
Vinnie followed his big brother to St. Aloysius high school where he and Bobby Sponza starred on the undefeated JV team as freshmen. Both also suited up for varsity games. However, neither played all season. Not because they weren't good enough. But because a state rule prohibited freshmen from playing varsity basketball; even though they practiced with the team and sat on the bench during the games.
Instead, Vinnie cheered for Bobby as the starting point guard and sparkplug for the school's first state basketball championship team in 1956. By the time Vinnie graduated in June 1959, St. Al's had won two more state titles, several Christmas tournaments and was selected to play in the prestigious Eastern States Basketball Tournament in Newport, RI, coming within a basket of upsetting the much taller and heavily-favored Archbishop Carroll, Washington DC, the top-ranked and undefeated high school team in the country.
By then, Vinnie ranked among the most sought after high school basketball players in the nation. A two-time All State, All New York Metropolitan first team and nationally known, he had scholarship offers from two hundred colleges across the country! Amazingly, he achieved this notoriety decades before USA Today`s national ranking of high school teams, ESPN's coverage of big time, high school games and AAU national tournaments all over the country.
Taking Providence to the Top
Vinnie and Bill Raftery, his close friend and then, all -time All State scorer at St. Cecilia's in Kearny had planned to play at the same college together. Bill remembers, "Every summer we played basketball in various leagues. We were always looking for the best big man to have the ultimate team. That's because we had one of the best guards in Vinnie. He was the very best team player. Nobody ran fast breaks better than him. He had the combination of skill and speed that made him one of the very best."
On their joint visit to LaSalle College outside Philadelphia, Bill was impressed and decided to go there. Vinnie wanted to go farther away to school; to a Catholic college with a big center. 6'10" Jimmy Hadnot was already at Providence. So Vinnie journeyed up to Rhode Island, three hours away. There, he'd lead the Friars to their golden age of basketball, just as he did at the Jersey City CYO in Biddy ball and St. Al's high school.
As a sophomore, Vinnie won the MVP in the 1961 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at Madison Square Garden. Back then, the NIT was bigger and more prestigious than the NCAA tournament. Bobby was at the Garden when the Friars played Holy Cross in the semi-final game. His performance that night probably won Vinnie the MVP award. That game revealed Vinnie Ernst at his competitive best.
He was fouled at the end of regulation, with the scored tied. As he stood on the foul line preparing to shoot, Holy Cross fans pulled on the guide wires holding the Garden's basket in place. The basket shook and swayed as if in a hurricane. Despite several appeals from the public address announcer, Crusader fans kept pulling on the guide wires. Finally, after twenty minutes, the shaking stopped and Vinnie took the long awaited foul shot. His shot looked perfect, smoothly dropping into the cylinder, only to have it suddenly spin out like a frightened bird. In overtime, he exacted his revenge, being responsible for all of Providence points. He made three baskets and assisted on three more baskets, leading the Friars to an easy victory over their New England rival.
He then led the Friars to a come-from-behind victory over St. Louis in the NIT finals. Providence would again win the NIT in 1963, his senior year. It's no wonder that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, wrote in his blog: "Being raised in New York, I was so lucky to be able to catch the best college teams at various times in the old Garden on 48th Street and 8th Avenue. While in grade school I got to see great Providence teams featuring Lenny Wilkens and Vinnie Ernst."
The 5'8' ball-handling magician became the public face of Providence basketball, its heart and soul. Ray Flynn, his backcourt teammate honoree, 1963 NIT MVP, and one of the greatest outside shooters in the history of Friar basketball remembers Ernst:" I never saw anybody faster or smarter on the basketball court than Vinnie Ernst. He not only led what some called the best fast break team in college basketball, but his playmaking and passing instincts were unmatched "Ray, just hang around the 25 foot area, I'll get you the ball". And he always did. Opposing players chased him around the court until I was open and in a good position for a shot......
Flynn, who later became Mayor of Boston (1984-1993), cited Ernst's leadership qualities: "Our '63' team was even a team off the court. I'll never forget what Vinnie told me just before the University of Miami game at Madison Square Garden. Miami had beaten us in Providence earlier in the season, and were led by the country's leading scorer Rick Barry. "Ray, we are the best team in the country. We've won 16 games in a row, and nobody is going to beat us. He made you believe in yourself".
Flynn added: "Vinnie more so than any player I ever saw, could electrify a crowd. He was great with the media as well. I didn't like doing interviews, but Vinnie always knew what to say. We came to Providence College together, we played together and now our Friar jerseys will forever be side by side together. Vinnie might have been small in height as basketball players go, but nobody was a better competitor."
Honoring Vinnie
On Saturday morning, February 19, 2011, Bobby, his sister Carol, and about thirty members of the Ernst family drove up to Providence College for the 4:00 pm induction dinner, followed by the Cincinnati -Providence game at 7:00 pm and official induction ceremonies at half time, and a post-game party hosted by Patti, Vinnie's widow.
The afternoon dinner included a multi-media tribute to Vinnie as a Friar immortal. Included were on camera testimonials from Bill Raftery, Bill Reynolds, well-known basketball sportswriter and best-selling author, Dave Gavitt, Hall of Fame coach, Ernie DiGregorio, Friar great and Ray Flynn. The show featured film footage of Ernst against Holy Cross and St. Louis at the NIT. As he dribbled through and around defenders for layoffs and assists, he resembled Red Grange's Galloping Ghost. No one could keep up with the dynamic little playmaker from Jersey City.
Afterwards, Vinnie's son Geoffrey made his father proud, speaking from the heart about what his father meant to him and his sisters. Geoffrey again spoke during the halftime and the entire Ernst family came on the court, along with Ray Flynn and his large family to watch the unveiling of Vinnie and Ray's names and numbers in the rafters. Bobby said: "this was one of the best days in my life."
By the end of the weekend, newspaper articles would appear in the Jersey Journal, the New York Post ( Peter Vescey's sports column) and the Providence Journal ( Jim Donaldson's feature), largely due to a two-week PR blitz beforehand by Bobby, with the assistance of Bill Raftery. Vinnie was a hero to writer Jim Donaldson as a kid growing up in Rhode Island. His column captures what Vinnie meant to so many kids in New England.
Vinnie also inspired Ernie DiGregorio, All-American guard and "Friar Legend Forever" member. In a letter to Bobby Ernst, Ernie wrote: "Vinnie was one of the greatest players in the history of Providence College. I used to love to watch him run the fast break and he did it with such ease. He was defiantly one of my heroes and I know how proud he was of you and the family." During the following week, a reader sent the following letter to the Providence Journal:
"Since 1974 I have a worked in a SUNY program that provides academic and vocational courses to people who do not have enough education or enough money to go to college. Our program is free and we serve mostly adult minority students.
As Director of the program I often address our students from time to time. One of my favorite themes goes something like this: If you visited my office, you would see a picture of a basketball player hanging on a wall. It was taken at the old Madison Square Garden, and it shows him all by himself, with the scoreboard in the background that indicates that the score is tied and there is no time left on the clock. He will take a shot and, if he makes it, his team wins and he is the hero.
He missed the shot.
What might have been his reaction? Some people would respond by being dejected, by moping, by feeling sorry for themselves, or some other negative feeling. But Vinnie Ernst, the young man in the picture, picked his head up, either scored or helped his teammates score on every play in overtime, and his team won the game. Not only that, his team eventually won the championship and Vinnie was the Most Valuable Player.
Life is all about second chances. You are getting a second chance to get the education that you missed the first time around. You can either take advantage of it or you can find the same negative feelings that caused you to be unsuccessful on your first go around.
Be like Vinnie Ernst. Keep your chin up, do what you have to do, and I guarantee you that you will be the Most Valuable player in the game that counts... the game of life." Epilogue Vinnie Ernst passed away on December 22, 1996 at the age of 54. Fr. Bob Brennan was in the mid west when he heard the news. Cutting short his Christmas holidays, he flew into Newark Airport, arriving early on the morning of December 26. As he rushed to catch a cab to Jersey City, a middle-age African-American sky cap asked: "Father, why are you in such a hurry?" Bob replied: "I need to be at the funeral Mass for my good friend, Vinnie Ernst." The sky cap turned to him and whispered aloud from that quiet place deep inside where cherished memories reside: "Ah, what a GREAT player! What a G-R-E-A-T player!"
Vinnie's magnificent college basketball career ended almost fifty years ago, yet his name and number 10 jersey will be always present to the Friar fans attending the home basketball games for as long as Providence College fields a basketball team! I would bet that's at least another hundred years and more.
And to those of us lucky to have known, watched and played with or against him as a kid on Jersey City basketball courts and at St. Al's high school, Vinnie will always be special.
In our mind's eye, we can see the small, good- looking kid with a turned up nose, short blond hair and fast hands swipe the ball from an unsuspecting opponent and speed down the court, as if carried on eagles' wings, and then, suddenly stop on a dime at the foul line where he would surgically thread the ball to a teammate on the wing for an easy lay- up. An impish giggle and a smile of joy would grace Vinnie's young face. For he was at home on the court with himself and the world, making his teammates better than they ever dreamed they could be.
Anyone who ever played on the same team with this lightening quick point guard can never forget him. A week after the ceremony, Bobby Ernst received a surprise phone call at home from Louisiana, from someone larger than life, someone he had never met but always admired from afar. It was one of Bobby's favorite NBA players of all time. Willis Reed, the famous New York Knicks' Hall of Fame center!
Willis and Vinnie had met and played together on the 1963 United States Pan- American gold medal team. The legendary Reed said how "happy and elated he was that Vinnie Ernst's number has been retired by Providence. It's a great honor to a deserving man who left us too soon." Reed recalled "the great time they had playing together. He was a very good player. Surely Vinnie would be a good player in the pros today, with the 24 second clock. He had great fundamental skills and knowledge of the game... A real competitor!"
Vinnie Ernst wasn't the highest scorer in most of his Providence games, though he probably could have been if that was his goal. An unselfish court leader, he valued an assist as much as making a deuce himself. Assists brought individuals together as a team. And teams, not individuals, won basketball games! That was why Vinnie's teams won so many championships.
Fr. Frank McNulty, former St. Al's Athletic Director, celebrated Vinnie's funeral Mass in the packed St. Paul of the Cross Catholic church. Most of the basketball greats in Vinnie's era drove from near and far to be there that cold December morning. They came early to attend the private family wake beforehand, whispering to each other in sadness, sorrow and shock. They came because they genuinely admired, respected and loved Vinnie as a friend.
According to Fr. McNulty who had known the ever- confident player since 1952: "Vinnie put a little parish high school on the map. He was not the only player to bring fame to St. Al's high but he was unique---maybe his size, his fearlessness, his skills, his spunk and the sheer delight he took in playing the game...all these traits and more made him an inspiration to the kids of New Jersey and New England. "
Bobby said something similar in his e-mail to Vinnie's sons, daughters and grandchildren after their joyful Providence weekend together. In describing what endeared Vinnie to all who watched him play and why so many of us still remember him fondly today, his big brother wrote: "Your father took up playing basketball and his life was devoted to being the best he could be at the sport. He proved that one does not need height to compete in a big man's game. He proved that in basketball, or in life for that matter, a lot of heart, guts and courage can take a person a long, long way."
Last week, Providence College announced that it will honor the 1961 and the 1963 NIT teams next February. So Bobby, Carol, Phil, his oldest brother and the entire Ernst family will once again travel up to Rhode Island and celebrate the on-going gift of Vinnie's amazing life.
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