1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,500 This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history. 2 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:13,000 This is Don Drysdale. Memories play tricks on you. That goes in any field, but it's especially true in sports. 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,000 Somehow the big plays get even bigger and the average plays are forgotten. 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:23,500 Today, I'll tell you about a basketball star who made one shot that overshadowed his entire career. 5 00:00:23,500 --> 00:00:28,500 This program is brought to you as a public service to this station on behalf of your local Army recruiter. 6 00:00:28,500 --> 00:00:35,000 Today's Army offers you the chance to live in Europe and they'll guarantee it in writing before you enlist. 7 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,500 See your local Army representative for details. 8 00:00:37,500 --> 00:00:43,500 Now, today's story. It's about a great basketball player for the Rhode Island Rams, Ernie Calverley. 9 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:49,000 On March 15, 1946, Ernie made his way into basketball records. 10 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,000 Not because he was an outstanding player and the team leader, but because of one shot. 11 00:00:54,000 --> 00:01:00,500 On that particular night, the Rams were playing bowling green in the National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden. 12 00:01:00,500 --> 00:01:04,500 And the 20,000 fans in the garden saw a fabulous game. 13 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:10,000 The lead changed hands 12 times. Bowling green was big and controlled the backboards. 14 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:15,000 The Rhode Island State squad was short. The tallest starter they had was only a little over six feet. 15 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:20,000 But they were very fast and punished the taller squad with continuous running and fast breaks. 16 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,500 Each team would lead for a little while and then the other. 17 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:30,500 The game was tied 20 times. With one minute left to go, Calverley's Rams were trailing 72 to 70. 18 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:34,000 Ernie took the pass, putting the ball into play and broke down the sideline. 19 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:39,000 He worked in and out, baked his way under the bowling green basket and scored to tie the game. 20 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,000 The crowd in Madison Square Garden was on its feet. 21 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,000 The little center from Rhode Island was taking the game right to the big men. 22 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,500 But bowling green wasn't done for the night either. 23 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:57,000 One of their tall forwards worked his way down court and dropped the ball in to again take the lead 74-72, with only 10 seconds left. 24 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:01,000 The situation seemed hopeless. Only a miracle could save the Rams. 25 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:08,000 And I'll tell you about Ernie Calverley's miracle in just a moment, after this good news from today's Army. 26 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:15,500 During World War II, many Europeans were surprised to see combat-hardened American troops taking time out to play a game of baseball. 27 00:02:15,500 --> 00:02:23,500 Well, it's much the same today. American soldiers from Texas to Thailand still take time out from their jobs to participate in athletics. 28 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:29,000 Today's Army knows you have to be fit mentally and physically to meet the challenges of a modern world. 29 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:35,500 Train hard, play hard, see your Army representative and join the people who've joined the Army. 30 00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:42,000 Now back to our story. It's about Ernie Calverley and his Rhode Island State Rams of 1946. 31 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,500 They were playing bowling green of Ohio in the National Invitational in Madison Square Garden. 32 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:51,500 With 10 seconds left in the game, bowling green led 74-72. 33 00:02:51,500 --> 00:03:00,000 To tie it, the Rams would have to put the ball in under their own basket and move it a full court length against men that were a foot taller than they were. 34 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:05,500 The little Rams were clearly the underdog favorites. But victory seemed impossible. 35 00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:10,500 As the crowd stood up for the final 10 seconds of the game, it grew deathly quiet. 36 00:03:10,500 --> 00:03:14,500 Everyone was holding their breath to see if Rhode Island could catch up. 37 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:19,500 Maybe someone would foul. Maybe a miracle would happen. Well, a miracle did happen. 38 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:26,000 As each team jockeyed for position, Ernie Calverley broke away from the defenders and raced for his own basket. 39 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:31,000 It seemed even sillier than the opening tip-off, which matched him with a 7-foot giant. 40 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:36,500 But the incoming pass went directly to Ernie. He took it at the top of the key, turned and shot. 41 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:41,500 He was 10 feet inside his own half of the court, 55 feet from the basket. 42 00:03:41,500 --> 00:03:46,000 The ball arched high in the air as it soared over the defenders' heads. 43 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:53,000 It slammed into the backboard at the far end of the court, bounced down toward the basket, and rattled through as the buzzer sounded. 44 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:58,500 Calverley had tied the game with one of the most amazing shots in basketball history. 45 00:03:58,500 --> 00:04:05,000 The garden went crazy. Well, people were yelling, screaming, jumping, and trying to climb down on the floor to the court. 46 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:15,000 The little guy had performed a miracle. That shot broke the spirit of Bowling Green, and Rhode Island went on to win in overtime, 82 to 79. 47 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:23,500 Ernie Calverley had a great collegiate basketball career. He scored over 1,868 points in his four years at Rhode Island State. 48 00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:35,000 But the one basket that will always be remembered is the one 55-foot desperation shot that only tied the game.