Voting Station

Bob Kurland

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Basketball Player

The Resume

    (December 23, 1934-September 29, 2013)
    Born in St. Louis, Missouri
    Attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State)
    Won two NCAA championships (1945-46)
    Played for the Phillips 66 Oilers (1947-52)
    Won three AAU championships (1947-48,1950)
    Won two Olympic gold medals (1948,1952)
    Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame (1961)

Why he might be annoying:

    Although he was often cited as the first seven-footer to impact the game, he himself claimed a height of only 6 feet, 10-1/2 inches.
    He was nicknamed ‘Foothills.’
    Because he (and fellow big man George Mikan) could leap over the rim to grab shots, the NCAA instituted the ban on defensive goaltending (1945).
    He turned down offers to go pro from the St. Louis Bombers and the New York Knicks.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the first member of his family to attend college.
    He was president of the student council for two years (1945-46).
    He was credited with inventing the dunk shot. (Or at least with being the first player to dunk regularly.)
    He was twice named Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament (1945-46).
    He carried the US flag during the Olympic opening ceremony in Helsinki (1952).
    He was married to his wife Barbara for 62 years.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying