Short-handed VCU Tops St. Louis

Final Score: VCU 67, Saint Louis 65
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Current Records: VCU 17-5 (10-3 A-10), Saint Louis 11-5 (4-4)
 
The short story: Freshman Ace Baldwin Jr. sank a pair of go-ahead free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining to lift VCU past Saint Louis, 67-65 Tuesday night at the Siegel Center in a critical Atlantic 10 Conference match-up.

OPENING TIP

• Baldwin Jr. totaled a career-high 15 points and recorded seven assists in the game
• Junior forward Vince Williams Jr. scored a team-high 16 points and tallied nine rebounds to help the VCU cause
• VCU senior forward Levi Stockard III contributed nine points on 57 percent (4-of-7) shooting from the floor
• Freshman forward Jamir Watkins chipped in nine points, grabbed four rebounds and recorded three assists for the Black and Gold

 

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Billikens held a 65-63 advantage with just over one minute remaining in the contest. Baldwin Jr. drew a pair of fouls and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch to give the Rams the game-deciding advantage. Saint Louis missed a long 3-pointer as time expired
• The first half was a back-and-forth affair that featured 12 lead changes. Saint Louis clung to a two-point lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half, but freshman guard Josh Banks knocked down a 3-pointer that sparked a 9-3 VCU run and gave the Rams a four-point lead at the break
• With Saint Louis leading 44-39 six minutes into the second half, VCU ripped off a 10-2 run that spanned three minutes of game time. The run was capped off by a 3-pointer from Williams Jr.
• The Rams scored 13 points off 15 Billikens’ turnovers
• VCU recorded 16 assists on 24 made field goals

 

NOTABLE

• VCU improves to 11-4 all time against Saint Louis, including 3-1in the Mike Rhoades era
• Williams Jr.’s nine rebounds match his career-high
• Saint Louis’ 15 turnovers are tied for the second highest mark by the Billikens this season.
• Box score
  

 

NEXT UP
 

VCU will hit the road to close out its 2020-21 regular season against Davidson at 2 p.m. Saturday. The game will air on ESPN2.

 

-- Game note from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

 

Update on Bones' Injury Status

Bones Hyland's injury update from the VCU Athletic Dept.: Bones has a sprained foot. MRI/X-rays were both negative. While his condition is considered to be "day-to-day," he will not play Tuesday against St. Louis (6 p.m. at the Siegel Center; TV: CBSSN). 

At today's Zoom presser Coach Mike Rhoades said that one of his freshmen recently told him that since June he hasn't met anybody new at VCU outside of his teammates. 

With that sad truth in mind, Rams fans should remember just how unusual and demanding this sheltered from the outside world policy been for these 18-to-22 year-old student/athletes. Furthermore, just how dedicated to sticking by the rules this batch of VCU players has been over the course of this crazy season. Many other teams have only played a few games, due to COVID-19 outbreaks. 

Then Rhoades was asked what he's telling his kids about all the closed off living conditions for his players, the sudden cancellations/postponements and the changes lineup changes, Rhoades said, "I tell them to be where your feet are."

Bottom line: VCU's basketball players are lucky to have such a steady, caring, forthright coach. 

VCU Falls to Mason in OT

Final Score: George Mason 79, VCU 76 OT

Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)

Current Records: VCU 16-5 (9-3 A-10), George Mason 10-8 (6-6)

 

The short story: Junior forward Vince Williams scored 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished for five assists. But it wasn’t enough to prevent the Patriots from halting the Rams winning streak at six games.

 

OPENING TIP

• Sophomore guard Bones Hyland provided 17 points for the Rams prior to being carried from the court with 2:06 remaining with a foot injury.
• Williams finished 4-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range.
• Freshmen guards Jamir Watkins and Ace Baldwin Jr. supplied 13 and 12 points, respectively. Baldwin added six steals.
• Mason's Josh Oduro was unstoppable with a game-high 27 points. He added six rebounds.  

 THE DIFFERENCE

• The Patriots owned a 42-26 advantage on the glass, which included 15 offensive boards. Mason outscored VCU 13-2 on second-chance points. 
• Mason also owned a 46-32 scoring edge in the paint.
• The Patriots’ Javon Green hit a pull-up jumper in the lane with 2:21 left in the extra period to snap a 69-69 tie. Moments later, Otis Frazier turned a VCU turnover into a jumper and provided the Patriots with a 73-69 cushion with 59 seconds left. Oduro made 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final minute to keep VCU at arm’s length. 
• Oduro scored six points to spark a 15-5 George Mason run that gave the Patriots a 65-62 lead with 2:42 left in regulation. VCU’s Levi Stockard III converted a traditional three-point play with 1:09 left to give VCU a short-lived 67-65 lead.
• Last gasp: VCU missed a 3-point attempt at the end of regulation.
  

NOTABLE

• VCU leads to the all-time series between these two schools 43-22.
  
• The Rams saw their six-game win streak come to an end Saturday. 
• Box score. 
  

NEXT UP

VCU will host Saint Louis at the Siegel Center on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

-- Game notes from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

Rams Outlast Spiders

Final Score: VCU 68, Richmond 56
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Current Records: VCU 16-4 (9-2 A-10), Richmond 11-5 (4-3)

 
VCU held Richmond to a season-low 56 points. Sophomore guard Bones Hyland's double-double led the Rams past their crosstown rival at the Siegel Center.

 

OPENING TIP

• Hyland finished with 20 points and corralled 12 rebounds, as well as six assists
• Freshman forward Jamir Watkins tallied 10 points, dished out three assists and grabbed three rebounds
• Freshman guard Ace Baldwin, Jr. scored 10 points, collected seven rebounds and recorded four assists
• Sophomore forward Hason Ward scored 11 points, pulled down seven boards and blocked two shots
  
• Nathan Cayo led Richmond with 18 points and seven assists

 

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams’ defense held Richmond to just 13 percent shooting from beyond the arc 
• Richmond shot just 33 percent (20-of-61) in the game overall 
• VCU out rebounded Richmond 43-27 
• Trailing by five with eight minutes remaining in the first half, sophomore forward Hason Ward threw down a dunk that sparked a 16-4 VCU run that spanned six minutes. The run help secure a 32-24 advantage at the break 
• With just over eight minutes remaining in the contest, Richmond cut the VCU lead down to one. The Rams proceeded to outscore the Spiders 17-6 to end the game 
•  The Rams outscored the Spiders 42-28 in the paint

NOTABLE

• VCU improves to 55-31 all time against Richmond, including 4-3 record in the Mike Rhoades era
• The Rams registered 21 assists on 26 made baskets
• Hyland scored 20+ points for the 10^th time this season. The Rams are 9-1 when the sophomore scores over 20
• VCU has won six straight games and 14 of its past 16 games 
• Box score
  

 

NEXT UP

VCU will be back in the Siegel Center at 2:30 p.m. Saturday for a matchup against George Mason. The game will air on NBCSN.

 

-- Game notes from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

About Forced Compliance

The simmering National Anthem controversy moved to the front burner with quarterback Colin Kaepernick's rather quiet gesture in 2016. Here we are nearly five years later and the arguments for and against athletes taking a knee during the playing/singing of the Anthem haven't changed much, even if many people have grown more tolerant. After all, this is an excellent time to rethink a lot of things.

Occasionally, discussions about that controversy remind me of an odd episode from my childhood about recitation duties: When I was in the second grade there was an obligatory start-the-day ritual. First the teacher called the roll. Then one student was summonsed to the front of the class to lead in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer. We kids took turns. Like some of my peers, I didn't like doing that job. 

 

It made me nervous. Yet, then, I hadn't gotten to the point in my career as a student that I might have protested, or flatly refused to do what was expected. That came later...

The Pledge came first. So I faced the flag, as required, and started saying the spiel with my hand over my heart. Except, with my gaze locked on the flag over the blackboard, I had started reciting the Lord's Prayer – “Our Father, which art in heaven...”

Naturally, the kids laughed. A lot. 

Of course, I surely must have changed gears to say the proper speech, but I don't remember that part. The embarrassment and laughter I remember all too well. Later on some kids accused me of doing it on purpose. That was not the truth. Eventually, it occurred to me later that the Pledge of Allegiance was sort of like a prayer. 

 

Anyway, over the years, I have grown to be more uncomfortable with watching, or being in on, any kind of prayer or chant. Hey, I don't even like the chanting that goes on at political demonstrations when I agree with the sentiments being expressed. 

 

Maybe that comes from watching too many WWII movies about Nazis forcing compliance. I don't remember when I decided to stop putting my hand over my heart during the National Anthem at games. It was a long time ago.

 

My practice is to stand, quietly, hands clasped together in front of me, but I don't sing along. Yes, I've been glared at a few times, but there's never been a scene. Out of respect, I try not to call attention to myself.

Sometimes, during the anthem I flash back onto that first time I was made to feel uncomfortable about forced patriotism and/or forced prayer, back in elementary school. Still, I have nothing against playing the National Anthem before games; if folks like to salute the flag during the ritual, that's fine with me, too. Of course, it's also OK with me when athletes take a knee during the playing of the Anthem. Hearing a good rendition of it is nice.

 

Forced compliance, with any imposed show of loyalty, from the top down or by a mob, is what the optimistic side of me hopes is going out of style. Of course, the same side of me thinks a reverence for the truth is about to become popular.

Paradise Unvarnished

Note: This piece was first published in SLANT in 1991. This was the first episode of a series. But I can't find the others.

No talent. It wasn’t easy to stomach. The public had no use for his abstract expressionist paintings. They were too big for most walls. He’d be a has-been, except he never was. 

Uncle Dudley’s letter was still in his pocket. It said, “Come home to run the restaurant, or it’s going on the block February 1st. It’s time you should make a living, already. Either way, Rebus, I’m retiring." Could Rebus leave Key West? Face real winters?

 The temporary life of the aspiring artist/bartender/cab driver is better suited to the young Turk, still waiting for his ship to come in. Meanwhile, this old Turk hadn’t had a new idea in years. His opinion was stale. Out of schemes, Rebus sighed, polished off his beer and reached for another.

Dudley’s ultimatum. This was his ship coming in? After all the years of sweat and turpentine it looked more like a dinghy.

Like so many before him, Rebus had believed that once he finally got old enough to dwell on anything other than getting laid, his serious work would inevitably emerge.

On the road in South Carolina, he could see the plain truth. The artist scheme might have gotten more traction if he’d been half as talented as he’d been horny ... and maybe if he'd made smaller paintings.

--  Art and copy by F.T. Rea

McConnell Post-Acquittal Speech

Sen. Mitch McConnell's rather surprising post-acquittal speech struck me as an important moment in the history of our contentious time. If it works as I think it will, maybe there's a decent chance it will prove to be what he's most remembered for when his days in the Senate are done. 

Meanwhile, please get over your disappointment from watching Trump escape conviction. It merely confirmed that Trump's icy grip on the fraidy cat Republicans in Congress is still a thing. But we all knew that going into the trial. 

And, yes, House Manager Jamie Raskin lifted my hopes, too. He made his case convincingly. Nonetheless, today I'm already over letdown of the impeachment vote results. 

What I mostly wanted out of it, anyway, was to see Trump disqualified. And, practically speaking, that isn't really out of reach now. To me, McConnell's galling hypocritical "not guilty" vote mostly said he simply doesn't want to viewed as the one most responsible for splitting the Grand Old Party in half. 

Not if he can avoid it. Thus, McConnell plans to bide his time and allow Trump to be that man. Still, I'm glad that McConnell evidently wants to be part of the ad hoc movement to see to it two important things happen: 

1. Trump gets plenty of what he deserves, from here on. 

2. Trump loses control over most of the GOP. 

Which probably means being content to leave him with his following in the crackpot anti-government fringe and the white nationalists elements of the Republican Party. Now I figure McConnell's speech will have a significant impact and play a positive role in launching the aforementioned movement for people of all reasonable political persuasions, even strange bedfellows. 

It clearly signaled that from here on it's fine for forward-looking Republicans to attack immoral Trump, to knock him off of his perch. And so, I expect copies of the video below will become widely viewed. Hopefully, they will be persuasive.

 

Yes, it feels strange to view Mitch McConnell in a positive light, but it goes to show you... 

Rams Hold Off Bonnies

Final Score: VCU 67, St. Bonaventure 64
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Current Records: VCU 15-4 (8-2 A-10), St. Bonaventure 10-3 (8-3)

The short story: Friday night sophomore guard Bones Hyland scored 22 points, as VCU stiff-armed St. Bonaventure's determined comeback. In the doing, the Rams seized possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

 
OPENING TIP

• Hyland also grabbed eight rebounds and was 9-of-10 from the charity stripe
• Rams junior forward Vince Williams Jr. chipped in 11 points and grabbed nine boards
• VCU freshman guard Ace Baldwin Jr. turned in an all-around performance with seven points, six rebounds and four assists
• Jalen Adaway led the Bonnies with 23 points

 

THE DIFFERENCE

• St. Bonaventure narrowed a 12-point VCU second-half lead to just two, but the Rams converted 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to hold on for the win
• VCU out-rebounded the St. Bonaventure 43-34, including a 19-10 advantage on the offensive side of the ball
• The Rams outscored the Bonnies 18-11 off turnovers and 16-10 on second-chance opportunities 
• Knotted at 24 apiece, VCU went on a 9-2 run that spanned the last four minutes and 25 seconds of the first half. The run was capped off by a stick-back from senior forward Corey Douglas as time expired
• With nine minutes remaining in the second half, St. Bonaventure cut the VCU lead down to two with a 9-3 run. The Rams promptly responded with an 8-0 run of their own
  

NOTABLE

• VCU took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 standings with the win
• In winning its fifth consecutive game VCU avenged a 70-54 loss at St. Bonaventure on Jan. 20 in Olean, N.Y.
• The Rams improved to 7-4 all time against the Bonnies
• Hyland has recorded 20 or more points in nine games this season. The Rams are 8-1 when the sophomore records 20+ points
• Box Score
  

 

 NEXT UP

VCU will face crosstown rival Richmond on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center. The contest will air on CBS Sports Network.

Game notes from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

An Honest Effort

While watching Rep. Jamie Raskin sum up his impeachment case for conviction, I was reminded of a recent conversation with my daughter. Whatever we were talking about, it might have been VCU basketball, it got me to explaining my philosophy to do with a rule about honest efforts I learned from my grandfather as a boy: Always try hard, always give your best effort when playing sports.

Katey is good at pretending to be interested in hearing my old stories about playing sports. Our unspoken understanding is that it better be the brief version. So, to cut to the chase, I told her my grandfather taught me it was shameful to withhold one's best effort during any athletic contest, especially team sports, due to disappointment or anything else. He told me to never quit, no matter how lopsided the score. Moreover, it is one's duty to the game to play it properly.

Naturally, when he took me to a Richmond V's baseball game at Parker Field, when I was little, we always stayed through the last out, no matter the score. He explained: "You never know when you'll see something new." 

Eventually, as it was with everything to do with how to carry oneself properly, while playing sports, I adopted his hard-edged rules about honor (even if following them was sometimes beyond my reach). Therefore, it's at least partially his fault I became so stubborn about going all out -- all the time -- until the game is over. Sometimes my teammates and or opponents found it to be annoying. 

For instance, in basketball, on defense I tended to pick up the man I was guarding at half-court and stay on him, closely, no matter where he went ... also maybe a little hand-checking or a shove when emphasizing the setting of a pick. Some guys don't like that stuff, especially in pickup games. I did it anyway. In softball, in taking an extra base, I happily took out infielders planted in my way, by sliding into their feet to upend them. With Frisbee-golf putts, I didn't much believe in laying up to play it safe.

However, trying your best doesn't mean winning is the only point. As a college basketball coach I interviewed years ago told me -- "Winning is not the goal, it's a byproduct of good preparation and a good effort."

Once the game was over, after the initial rush for winning, or feeling of defeat for losing passed, I wasn't usually as pumped up over winning, or deflated over losing, as some of my teammates (Yes, I'm sure there were some exceptions). 

For the most part, for me, once it was over it was over. That's because I loved the process of striving more than I loved winning. Thus, while I always wanted to win, mostly I was more of a process guy than a results guy. Like Jamie Raskin did, I wanted to make a worthy play in a clutch moment.    

Raskin gave it his all. It was plenty. He should win, but it's like when he got into the game the score was already way in favor of his opposition; something like a mop-up relief pitcher who comes in from the pen in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, the bases loaded and his side down, 12-to-2. 

Nonetheless, Raskin and his fellow managers went all out. There was no lack of striving. I'm proud of their effort and Raskin's leadership, in particular. And even if some craven Republican senators weren't paying attention and they even made a show of it, a lot of young people were watching. Some probably saw something new to them -- an honest effort.

-- 30 --  

Rams Top Flyers

Final Score: VCU 76, Dayton 67
Location: Dayton, Ohio (UD Arena)
Current Records: VCU 14-4 (7-2 A-10), Dayton 11-6 (7-5)

 

The short story: Junior forward Vince Williams and sophomore guard Bones Hyland poured in 19 points apiece to lead VCU to a road victory Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.

 

OPENING TIP

·      Williams hit 7-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range on the way to a career-high scoring night. 

·      Hyland supplied 14 of his 19 in the second half as VCU held off the Flyers. He was 3-of-5 from 3-point range and played all 40 minutes

·      Senior forward Levi Stockard III and freshman guard Ace Baldwin added 10 points each to the VCU cause. Baldwin had three assists and a pair of steals

·      Ibi Watson led Dayton with 20 points

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      VCU committed a season-low eight turnovers, while forcing 16 Dayton miscues. The Rams outscored the Flyers 29-8 off turnovers

·      In addition to ball security, the Rams were a picture of offensive efficiency. VCU shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field in the game, including 52 percent (12-of-23) from the 3-point line. VCU also finished 10-of-11 at the charity stripe

·      The Black and Gold trailed for most of the first half, but Williams nailed back-to-back 3-pointers during a 10-0 VCU run that provided the Rams with a 39-38 lead with 2:36 left in the first

·      Dayton pulled within 66-65 with 5:59 left, but Hyland scored seven straight VCU points, including a long 3-pointer from the wing, to give the Rams a 73-67 cushion with 3:16 remaining

-    The Rams played their best overall game of the season and to beat the Flyers this time it was needed

 

NOTABLE

·      VCU has defeated Dayton twice this season, including a 66-43 triumph at the Siegel Center on Jan. 23. The Rams are 13-7 all-time against the Flyers

·      The Rams have won four straight games overall. VCU improved to 5-1 on the road in the A-10 play. Last season the Rams were 3-6 on the road in league games

·      Hyland became the first VCU player since JeQuan Lewis at Liberty on Nov. 15, 2016 to play all 40 minutes in a game

·      VCU was without the services of starting forward Corey Douglas, who is nursing an ankle injury

-    Box score 

 

NEXT UP

The stage is set for a first-place clash with St. Bonaventure on Friday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center. That contest will air on ESPN2. 

Game notes from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

Democratic impeachment managers' video

First thing for me to say about Day One of the impeachment trial is that I'm glad a well-edited short video documentary is playing such a pivotal role in this unfolding story. OK, the vote results after the presentations were expected, hardly conclusive, but overall, the Democrats won the day. Now we need for a lot of people to see this compelling 13-minute film that reminded me of the work of one of my favorite directors -- Costa-Gavras, who made "Z" (1969).

 

Trump's Son of Impeachment Trial Predictions

Here we go again: On Tuesday the second impeachment trial of the leader of the Trumpist cult is set to get underway. It's an event that will have pundits aplenty opining with certitude about how it will proceed and how it will turn out. Which means, of course, I'm ready to do my part with suggesting what we, the weary people, should expect will likely happen and/or probably not happen. 

But first let's take a look at an article about a new ABC News/Ipsos Poll that offers a snapshot of public sentiment about the former president's ordeal in the Senate and related matters. Spoiler: The headline for the piece reads: 

[A] majority of Americans say Trump should be convicted and barred from holding federal office in the future. 

Now here are my predictions:

Question: What's likely to Happen?

Answer: 1. Republican senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul will do all they can to piss off Democrats. They may even resort to making faces at key Democrats. 2. During the trial, jealous of the attention others are getting, Trump might cook up a stunt to steal the spotlight. Maybe a rally? 

Q: What Ought to Happen or Could Happen?

A: 1. The Democrats' Managers ought to issue a big fat subpoena for Trump to testify. Naturally, he will decline, but it will be hard for him to look good taking the coward's way out. 

2. Trump deserves a conviction and although it seems unlikely, today, think about this: If the damning story of Trump gleefully watching the mayhem unfold live, on TV at the White House -- and doing nothing to try to minimize the danger! -- is told effectively, well, perhaps a conviction becomes more possible. After all, during that crucial time, on Jan. 6, to say Trump was faithfully executing the laws, as per his oath of office, is quite a reach.

3. The GOP top dogs may have an epiphany that their party will be in a much better position in 2022 if Trump can't be a candidate in 2024; mainly because Liz Cheney is right when she says: 

"We have never seen that kind of an assault by a president of the United States on another branch of government and that can never happen again."

Q: What is unlikely to Happen?

A: 1. A mob will probably not be allowed to storm the Capitol. 

2. Trump will probably not be convicted, because the Republicans in Congress are still too afraid of incurring the wrath of the cult's dear leader -- Florida Man.

-- Words and art by F.T. Rea

The Brileys: Those Missing Cards

Note: In June of 1984 Richmonders experienced an abrupt change in the way news was gathered and presented. One monster jailbreak story made that happen. Then I stumbled onto an offbeat gimmick in the world of self-publishing. This piece about that episode was first written in 1988 for publication in SLANT, then I rewrote it in 2005. 

 

Today I have mixed feeling about this episode. Maybe the best thing I can say about it is that I ended up learning more than I bargained for. It certainly proved to me that regardless of the artist's intentions, in the first place, viewers will usually decide for themselves what it means to them ... as I suppose they should.  
  

*

Having terrorized the town with a series of grisly murders five years before, on May 31, 1984, brothers Linwood and James Briley led the largest death-row jailbreak in U.S. history. In all, six condemned men flew the coop by overpowering prison guards, donning the guards’ uniforms and creating a bogus bomb-scare to bamboozle their way out of Virginia’s supposedly escape-proof Mecklenburg Correctional Center.

While their four accomplices were rounded up quickly, the brothers Briley remained at large for 19 days. The FBI captured the duo at a picnic adjacent to the garage where they had found work in Philadelphia.

Linwood was subsequently electrocuted in Richmond on Oct. 12, 1984; likewise, James on Apr. 18, 1985.

While the Brileys were on the run the media coverage, both local and national, was unprecedented. During the manhunt the Brileys-mania led to stories about them being spotted simultaneously in various locations on the East Coast from North Carolina to Canada. When I noticed kids in the Carytown area were pretending to be the Brileys, and playing chasing games accordingly, well, that was just too damn much.

My sense of it then was the depraved were being transformed into celebrities so newspapers and television stations could sell lots of ads. Once they were on the lam, if it came to making a buck, it didn’t seem to matter anymore what the Brileys had done to be on death row.

“OK,” I said to a familiar Power Corner group in the Texas-Wisconsin Border Cafe on a mid-June evening, “if the Brileys can be made into heroes to sell tires and sofas on TV, how long will it be before they're on collectable cards, like baseball cards? (or words to that effect).” To illustrate my point I grabbed a couple of those Border logo imprinted cardboard coasters from the bar and sketched quick examples on the backs, which got laughs.

*

 

Later at home, I sat down at the drawing table and designed the series of cards. To avoid race humor entirely, I used a simple drawing style that assigned no race to the characters. The sense of humor was sardonic and droll. I elected to run off a hundred sets of eight cards each, which were put into small ziplock plastic bags, with a piece of bubble gum included for audacity's sake. I figured to sell them for $1.50 a set and see what would happen.

Traveling about the Fan District on my bicycle, it took about three days to sell the first press-run out of my olive drab backpack. New cards were designed, more sets were printed, more plastic bags, more bubble gum. 

A half-dozen locations began selling “The Brileys” on a consignment basis. Sales were boosted when the local press began doing stories on them. For about a week I was much-interviewed by local reporters and orders to buy card sets began coming in the mail from Europe.

Reporters called me for easy quotes to fill articles on death penalty issues; that I was opposed to the death penalty seemed to strike them as odd. Finding myself in a position to goose a story that was lampooning the overkill presentation of the same press corps that was interviewing me was fun, at first. In the midst of a TV interview I announced that T-shirts commemorating the Brileys' 1984 Summer Tour were on the way.

Apart from my efforts, the hated Briley brothers’ chilling crime spree and subsequent escape inspired all sorts of lowbrow jokes and sick songs, and you-name-it, which did indeed fan the flames of racial hate in Virginia. Naively, I felt no connection to that scene. 

At least, not until a stop at the silk screen printer’s plant suddenly cast a new light on the fly-by-night project that summer's effort was. Walking from the offices to the loading dock meant passing through a warehouse full of boxes, stacked to the ceiling. Suddenly, I was surrounded: Four or five young men closed in and cornered me.

Some of them, if not all, had box cutters in their hands; all of them were definitely Black. At that moment I felt Whiter than Ross Mackenzie. Tension filled the air when their spokesman asked if I was the man behind the cards and T-shirts.

As it was not the first time I’d been subjected to questions about the cards, I quickly asked if any of them had seen the cards, or had they only heard about them? As I suspected, they hadn’t seen them.

Luckily, I had a pack in my shirt pocket, which I took out and handed to the group’s leader. As he studied them, one by one, his cohorts looked over his shoulder. I explained what my original motivation had been in creating the cartoons. No one laughed but the spell was soon broken. I let them keep the cards.

Later I was in a drug store, restocking one of my dealers for the cards, when a White lady with blue hair approached me. She worked there and had seen the cards, which she found unfunny. The woman told me her husband was on the crew that had cleaned up the crime scenes after some of the murders. Then she said that if I was going to profit from it, I should be man enough to hear her out.

So, I did. She gave me specific details. It was mostly stuff I had known, or suspected, but the way she told it was brutal.

At this point the success of my absurd art project seemed to be going sour. I got a call from a reporter asking me what I had to say about Linwood Briley having made some disparaging remarks about my cards. I got peeved and asked the scribe what the hell anybody ought to care about what such a man has to say.

Like it or not, I had become a part of what I had been mocking in the first place, which I mentioned in an interview with a Washington Post reporter writing about the phenomenon.

Rea says he designed the cards to deflate what he saw as the growing mythology of the Brileys, and to lampoon what he viewed as excessive media attention to their exploits. "The cards are deliberately provocative," he said. "I sensed that the Brileys, because of their derring-do, were becoming heroes. People wanted to know everything about them. We had two to three articles in the paper every day down here."

Rea drew the first cartoons for friends. When they found them amusing, he decided to market them at $1.50 a pack. "I'm a little uncomfortable that I'm becoming a part of the point I'm making," he said.

So I decided to withdraw the cards and T-shirts from the market. Today, without the context of the 1984 news stories being fresh, the humor aspect of the cards is somewhat arcane now. All the images were based on details from the aforementioned over-reported stories.

About three years later, I was having a beer in the Bamboo Cafe, standing at the bar at Happy Hour talking with friends. A middle-aged man that I didn’t know stepped my way. Furtively, he asked if I was the guy who “drew those Briley cards.”

After I said, “yes,” and introduced myself, he asked me a few frequently asked questions about the cards. Then he spoke in a hushed tone, saying something like, “What about those missing cards?”

“Missing cards?” I returned, feeling uncomfortable. “Are you asking why I skipped some numbers?

He nodded and reached in his shirt pocket to pull out a full set of The Brileys, with the cards still in the original plastic bag. Wanting to end the conversation quickly -- that he had the cards with him was way too strange for me -- I told him the simple truth with no jokes: “OK. First, I wanted to imply there was a vast series out there, without having to create it. Then, I wanted the viewer to maybe imagine for himself what the other cards might be.”

The collector put the cards back in his pocket. He stepped away, plainly disappointed with my easy answer, which gave him no dripping red meat to savor. As I remember it, he just stepped away and didn't say anything else ... which was fine with me.

 

That night in the Bamboo the truth without adornment was of little use to my public, such as it was.

-- 30 --

April 14, 1973: Discover the Fan

Forty-eight years ago an ad hoc group of 21 merchants along the commercial strip just north of most of VCU's Fan District campus cooperated for a one-time-only promotion called Discover the Fan. It should be noted that none of the participating businesses are still there today.

On April 14, 1973 a lingering cold spell left town and warm breezes brought in a bright spring day. For that Saturday afternoon the 800 and 900 blocks of West Grace Street, and environs, were packed with an unprecedented amount of foot traffic. Hundreds of helium-filled balloons and free prizes donated by the merchants were given away. The street was not closed and the vehicular traffic was slowed to a crawl all day. There was live music on-stage.

Motorists traveling toward the West End were treated to an unexpected scene, given the neighborhood's then-bohemian image. (Grace Street was a busy one-way street heading west in those days.) On that Saturday there were thousands of ordinary people milling about having a good time. Many of them acted like tourists on a lark. Kids with balloons were everywhere.

The illustration below is a scan of a handbill done by yours truly. With its list of participating businesses it provides a snapshot of the area in what was probably the zenith of the hippie age. Some of the characters who ran those businesses were rather interesting people. (H/t: One-on-One co-owner Fred Awad came up with the name for the event.)

At this time I had been the manager of the Biograph Theatre for a little over a year and the Discover the Fan promotion itself was my project. I convinced my fellow merchants to chip in and promote our oddball collection of businesses as the equivalent of a hip shopping center in the middle of town. Many people helped put it together and worked on aspects of it, but the happening couldn't have come about without the help of Dave DeWitt and Chuck Wrenn (the Biograph's assistant manager), which was significant.

Below is a piece about this event from that era. It was penned by the late Shelley Rolfe:

Shelley Rolfe’s
By the Way
Richmond Times-Dispatch (April, 16, 1973)

It was breakfast time and the high command for Discover the Fan Day had, with proper regard for the inner man, moved its final planning meeting from the Biograph Theater to Lum’s Restaurant. Breakfast tastes ran a gamut. Eggs with beer. Eggs with orange juice. H-hour -- the operations plan had set it for noon -- was less than three hours away. Neither beer nor orange juice was being gulped nervously.

Terry Rea, manager of the Biograph and the extravaganza’s impresario, was reciting a last-minute, mental things-to-do list. There was the vigilante committee, which would gather up the beer and soft drink cans and bottles that invariably infest the fronts of the shops in the 800 and 900 blocks of W. Grace St., focus area of the discovery.

The city police had promised a dragnet to sweep away the winos who also invariably litter the neighborhood. The day had bloomed crisp and sunny, the first dry Saturday since Groundhog Day. “I knew it wouldn’t rain,” Rea said with the brash confidence of the young. “Lots of young businessmen around here,” a beer drinker at another table said. The free enterprise system lives.

REA WAS assigning duties for the committee that would rope off two Virginia Commonwealth University parking lots that would serve as the setting for a fashion show and band concert. The committee to blow up balloons, with the aid of a cylinder of helium [sic]. One thousand balloons in a shrieking variety of colors. “If we only get 500 kids... two to a customer,” Rea said cheerfully.

“I need more people,” said the balloon task force leader.

Twenty-one businesses were involved in the project. Each of them had contributed prizes, and gift certificates had been put into plastic Easter eggs. An egg hunt would be part of the day, and Rea had a message for the committee that would be tucking the eggs away: “Don’t put them in obvious places, but don’t put them were people can get hurt looking for them.”

“We talked about doing this last summer but we never got it together,” Rea said. There had been fresh talk in late February, early March, and it had become airborne. The 21 businesses had anted up $1,500 for advertising, which was handled by Dave DeWitt, proprietor of a new just-out-of-the-Fan, small, idea-oriented agency.

“Demographically, we were aiming for people between 25 and 34,” Rea said. There had been newspaper advertising and spots on youth-oriented radio stations. “We had a surplus late in the week...” Rea said. The decision was made to have a Saturday morning splurge on radio station WRVA. “Hey,” said a late arrival, “I heard Alden Aaroe talking about it.”

“We wanted people to see what we have here,” Rea said. “People who probably close their windows and lock their doors when they drive on Grace Street and want to get through here a quickly as possible.”

Well, yes, there must be those who look upon the 800 and 900 blocks as symbolic of the counterculture, as territory alien to their visions of West End and suburban existence. Last November the precinct serving the 800 and 900 blocks went for George McGovern, by two votes. Not a landslide, but, perhaps, a trend.

NOON WAS approaching. Rea and DeWitt set out on an inspection tour. Parking lot ropes were being put into place. Rock music blared from exotically named shops. The balloon committee was still short on manpower. An agent trotted out of a shop to report, “They’ve got 200 customers ...” And how many would they normally have at this hour of a Saturday” “They wouldn’t be open,” Rea said.

Grace Street was becoming clogged with cars It would become more clogged. Don’t know how many drivers got out of their cars, but, for a while they were a captive audience making at least vicarious discovery.

Also much pedestrian and bicycle on the sidewalks. Merchants talked of espying strangers, of all ages. A white-haired woman held a prize egg in one hand, a balloon in the other. A middle-aged man had rakishly attached a balloon to the bill of his cap.

The fashion show went on to the accompaniment of semijazz music and popping balloons, most of them held by children. Fashions were subdued. A dress evocative of the 1840s. Long skirts. Loudest applause went to a man who paraded across the stage wearing a loud red backpack. Everybody’s urge to escape?

ON GRACE STREET a sword swallower and human pin cushion was on exhibition. No names please. “My mother ...” he said. He wished to be identified only as a member of “Bunkie Brothers Medicine Show.”

Discounted merchandise on sale included 20-yesr-old British Army greatcoats and a book fetchingly titled “Sensuous Massage.” Sales resistance remained firm.

On Harrison Street a sidewalk artist was creating. A wino, who had somehow escaped the dragnet, lurched across the sidewalk art muttering. “Free balloons ...” In a shop a man said, “I want the skimpiest halter you have ... for my wife.”

On an alley paralleling Grace Street, a man holding a hand camera and early on a VCU class assignment was directing actors. One stationed in a huge trash bin. “Waiting for Godot” revisited? The second, carrying a an umbrella in one hand, popcorn in another, approached the bin. A hand darted out for popcorn. “I ran out of film!” screamed the director.

Everything was being done again. The actor in the bin emerged, seized the umbrella and ran. “Chase him,” from the direct. Actor No. 2 did a Keystone Kop-style double take, jumped and ran. A small crowd that had gathered applauded.

LATE IN the day. Traffic still was at a saturation level. Early settlers said the territory hadn’t seen such congestion since the movie, “Deep Throat.” Rea spoke of objectives smashingly achieved. Euphoric talk from him on another day of discovery in September. City Hall would be petitioned to block off Grace Street.

The writer, Rolfe, lived only a few blocks away from the Biograph, so he was actually quite familiar with the cinema I ran and the surroundings he described. This was a day in which many things could have gone wrong, but didn't, so it was remembered fondly. Some of the merchants said they set new records for business in one day.  

VCU Comeback Edges Rhody

Final Score: VCU 63, Rhode Island 62

Location: Kingston, R.I. (Ryan Center)

Current Records: VCU 13-4 (6-2 A-10), Rhode Island 9-10 (6-6 A-10)

 

The short story: Sophomore Bones Hyland buried a go-ahead 3-pointer from the right wing with 3.9 seconds remaining and VCU hung on for its first win at Rhode Island since 2015.

 

OPENING TIP

 

·      Hyland finished with a game-high 23 points, as well as four rebounds and two steals. He was 5-of-9 from 3-point range

·      VCU also received a season-high 15 points and three rebounds from senior forward Levi Stockard III. He converted on 7-of-8 attempts from the floor

·      Sophomore forward Hason Ward added nine rebounds and four blocks and hit a pair of critical free throws in the waning moments for the Black and Gold

·      Ishmael Leggett (injured Fats Russell's substitute) recorded 17 points for Rhode Island

 

THE DIFFERENCE

 

·      On its final possession, trailing 62-60, VCU’s Jamir Watkins missed a 3-pointer from the wing, and teammate Ace Baldwin was able to tip the ball to Hyland, deep on the right wing. Hyland faked, dribbled once and buried the eventual game-winner as the defender sailed past. VCU was whistled for a foul with 1.9 seconds remaining, but Rhode Island missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Ward secured the rebound to preserve the victory

·      Hyland also hit a triple with 3:10 remaining to tie the score at 58-58. A bucket by Rhode Island’s Jeremy Sheppard and two free throws by Leggett pushed URI back in front 62-58. But with 32 seconds left, Ward drew a foul and calmly knocked down a pair from the charity stripe. Rhode Island missed the front end of a one-and-one on its ensuing possession to set the stage for Hyland’s heroics

·      VCU trailed by as many as 10, at 45-35 with 13:26 left in the game, but continued to chip away

·      VCU forced 16 Rhode Island turnovers and outscored URI 17-11 off miscues

·      The Black and Gold were 14-of-18 at the line, while Rhody was just 5-of-8

 

NOTABLE

 

·      The win snapped VCU’s four-game losing streak to Rhode Island. The Black and Gold also secured their first win in Kingston since the 2014-15 season

·      The game marked Hyland’s eighth 20-point effort of the year

·      VCU has won three straight games overall

·      Box score. 

 

NEXT UP

 

VCU is scheduled to meet Duquesne at the new UPMC Cooper Field House in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. That game will the broadcast on NBC Sports Network. 

Game notes from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

Poor Richard's, the Biograph Theatre and the Richmond Mercury

During 1972 three businesses were launched that seemed then to be solid indications that Richmond was becoming a more modern city/cosmopolitan market: Poor Richard's (restaurant) opened on Jan. 28; the Biograph Theatre (cinema) opened to the public on Feb. 12 (following the party the night before); the Richmond Mercury's first issue (weekly news magazine) was published on Sept. 13. 

 

Those stylish changes in what sort of thing was available in Richmond were warmly welcomed by many in my generation, the baby boomers.

In 2021, with those three enterprises long gone, I have to think most of the optimistic people who staffed those three businesses would say that 49 years ago we may have underestimated Richmond's stubbornness, somewhat. 

 

Still, there's no doubt we had some fun shaking things up while we could.