When former Ohio State Buckeye basketball player Rick Smith asked me to be one of the celebrity guests at this July’s Archie Griffin’s annual Scholarship Fund Golf Outing, I was both surprised and honored. Surprised because to be considered a “celebrity” is a bit funny to me, but of course that is the benefit in this town of being associated with Ohio State athletics. Honored because my former teammate, Jim Jackson, was this year’s honoree and I was glad to be able to be there to celebrate this accomplishment with him.
When Jim entered Ohio State in the fall of 1989, there was a frenzy of anticipation as he was one of the most celebrated high school basketball players ever from the state of Ohio. Some called Jim the “savior” of OSU basketball because he rescued the program from the doldrums of mediocrity and lifted it to heights it hadn’t seen in decades. Some who had watched him play as a prep star at Toledo Macomber, to becoming an All-American at Ohio State, to achieving a long and solid career in the NBA, called him a hero. I call him a friend.
The event brought together old friends, former athletes and coaches who’d lost touch over time and contributors and supporters of the Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund, to the beautiful golf courses at Medallion Country Club. Former OSU athletes such as Pete Johnson, John Hicks, Bill Hosket, Brad Sellers, etc., comprised a collection of celebrity guests with quite a list of impressive athletic accomplishments. Of course, there was also the gracious host: the famed Archie Griffin.
After a round of 18 holes in the “Scramble” format that saw retired OSU Golf Coach Jim Brown’s team shoot 19 under par, everyone reconvened to the banquet room for an excellent meal, a few auctions and a lot of old stories from the past. Several items, such as autographed jerseys and pictures, were up for silent auction, but the big ticket items were hawked by a bona fide professional auctioneer straight from the back hills of Kentucky who’s goal was to leave the winners of each item with nothing left but lint in their pockets. The biggest ticket item was a package that included 8 luxury suite tickets to the nationally anticipated Ohio State vs. USC football game, a round of golf earlier on game day at Medallion for the ticket holders plus a limousine ride to the game at Ohio Stadium from the golf course. The auctioneer squeezed $12,500 from the winner of that package. I about choked to death on my own tongue when I realized I might have upped the bid to $13,000 when I raised my hand to the waitress for a refill of my coffee. It would have been the most expensive cup of coffee in recorded history. Unlike some of the more financially comfortable guests bidding, I would have needed a loan application for that one. I can see myself now trying to explain that purchase to my wife, “well see, what had happened was…”
Former OSU football player, Tom Skladany, was the emcee of the event and provided relentless comic relief at the expense of former All-American lineman John Hicks. The biggest laugh came when Skladany recalled a story from their college days when he warned Hicks that they would be drawing blood tomorrow. To that Hicks replied, “Drawing blood! Man, they know I’m no artist!” Skladany shook his head and countered, “No, no, no, it’s not an art activity, it’s a blood test.” Relieved, he said Hicks thought about it and finally said, “Well, can I come over and study with you?” Hicks bellowed. Somehow I think he knew with Skladany on the microphone the jokes would be flying in his direction.
Former Ohio State coach Randy Ayers was then called to the microphone to share his thoughts, and begin the introduction of Jim. Coach Ayers elaborated on how he came to know Jimmy through the recruiting process and praised the values that Mr. and Mrs. Jackson instilled in him. Coach also spoke on the changing landscape of college basketball over the years. He said that in today’s era of the “one and done” athlete, referring to players leaving college after only one year to enter the NBA, teams do not get the opportunity to build continuity and relationships, nor do the players get to experience that critical time in their lives when college not only helps them become better basketball players, but molds them into young men. He referenced the three former OSU players he coached who were in attendance to support Jimmy, Mark Baker, Jamie Skelton, and myself, as evidence of the lasting relationships built in college. He laughed that he wasn’t sure he himself would be able to make it to the event due to his schedule, but when his “son” Mark Baker called him to make sure he was coming, he immediately made his reservations. Coach Ayers then commended current OSU basketball coach, Thad Matta, for maintaining a competitive program in spite of losing his top talent to the pros several years in a row. In closing, Coach Ayers thanked Archie and everyone for the invite, and said an aspect that makes the OSU and Columbus community special is their charitable nature and encouraged us not to lose that. I couldn’t help but remember how comfortable coach always was in front of a crowd, always saying the right things, and how eloquently he always spoke. With the exception of a few strands of gray hairs on everyone, it seemed like old times.
After Coach Ayers concluded, there was a hair raising video introduction of Jim by 10TV Sports Anchor Jeff Hogan, that featured highlights of Jim covering the course of his entire basketball career. Following the stirring video introduction by Hogan, the 2009 Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund honoree, Jim Jackson, took the stage to a standing ovation.
Obviously touched and humbled by the recognition, Jimmy began to thank the people in his life that helped guide him to what he has become. In addition to crediting his parents for guidance, he also mentioned three other men who were instrumental in steering his Toledo upbringing: Pete Culp, Calvin Lawshe, and Ed Scrutchins. He reminisced on how he initially didn’t consider choosing Ohio State, but after seeing the talent Ohio State began recruiting: Mark Baker, Chris Jent, Treg Lee, Perry Carter, Jamaal Brown, etc., and realizing how important Ohio State could become in his life after his basketball days were over, he realized Ohio State was the best choice. Looking at Coach Ayers, who laughed and shook his head, Jimmy recalled how he called Coach Ayers to inform him of his school choice, and told him that he selected…Syracuse University. After what seemed like a century of silence on the phone to Coach Ayers, Jim said he laughed and said, “I was just playing; I’m coming to Ohio State.”
Jim went on to acknowledge that his NBA career did not reach the level of accomplishments that he’d hoped for, but the blessing in disguise was the many business contacts he made while playing for various NBA teams that are now instrumental in his development and success as an entrepreneur. He stated how important his friendships from college were to him, and acknowledged and thanked myself, Mark and Jamie for our support. Like Skladany to Hicks, my former roommate threw me under the bus with stories on how “cheap” I was, and how that impacts his frugalness to this very day. Thanks Jim. He also used the moment to acknowledge the many accomplishments Coach Ayers had as coach at Ohio State. Jim recognized the pressures coach must have endured after being hired, not only as a young and unproven coach inheriting a very young team, but also as the first and still only African-American head basketball coach in OSU history. In college, Jim was teased about being the “son” of Coach Ayers. Today, I believe they both wear that relationship as a badge of honor.
Jim concluded by once again thanking everyone, especially Archie Griffin, for his selection as the honoree of this event, and said that it was much more important for him to be remembered as a great man than a great basketball player. Just as he entered, Jim Jackson returned to his seat to a standing ovation.
Archie Griffin then thanked Jimmy, contributors, everyone in attendance, and reminded us how important his organization was to Ohio State athletics and any support we could provide would be much appreciated. Like it began, the event ended with handshakes, laughs, and a lot of old stories from the past.
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