Mark McNamara - only 60
A bright spot of the Kuchen years.
An all time Bear great.

ncbears said:

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Mark McNamara - only 60
A bright spot of the Kuchen years.
An all time Bear great.

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r.i.p, big guy.

snip from sf paper..
https://www.sfchronicle.com/collegesports/article/Mark-McNamara-former-Santa-Clara-Cal-and-NBA-15235240.php#photo-19355100

Quote:

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After his playing days, McNamara worked as a coach and a scout before a bout with encephalitis forced him to alter his career path. He became part of the Dodge Ridge ski patrol. For the past several years, he lived in Alaska and worked for the Twin Lions Productions video company.

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MM mention earlier, after the passing of Darrall Imhoff some years ago..

Quote:

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McNamara had a lot in common with Imhoff. Each man was the Bears' starting center (McNamara in 1980-82), each was a first-round draft pick in the NBA and each was inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame..

McNamara thought of Imhoff as something close to an idol. "I aspired to be like him," said McNamara, who described Imhoff as "very humble courageous and stoic."

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https://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/Darrall-Imhoff-never-forgot-his-Cal-roots-11264495.php#photo-13180898

Very sad news. He was easy to root for and a great guy

Aw, man!

I never saw him at Cal, but I remember when he was with the Lakers.

He and Jeff Lamp (when they played together) were always able to get a pretty backdoor play off like clockwork.

dimitrig said:

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Aw, man!

I never saw him at Cal, but I remember when he was with the Lakers.

He and Jeff Lamp (when they played together) were always able to get a pretty backdoor play off like clockwork.

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RIP and prayers and thoughts for the McNamara family.

Rest in Peace. Can remember him back to his Santa Clara & Del Mar high days where he battled Cupertino High great Kurt Rambis...Both were at Santa Clara at the same time I believe.

McNamara's passing saddens me.

As a junior at Cal, he was good, but that was the year he kept getting called for hanging on the rim. We were like, "Dude, don't do that anymore!"

As a senior, he was flat-out a dominant center, especially on the offensive end. Say what you will about Kuchen, but he has to get a little credit for the improvement. McNamara was a low-post scoring machine that year... great footwork, spin moves, etc. Led the Pac 10 in scoring, rebounding and FG%. He would get the ball down there and it was all over but the cryin'. Didn't we take UCLA into OT that season (at Pauley?) and almost break the streak right there, with McNamara putting up huge numbers in the game?

RIP Mark McNamara.

McNamara came about five years after I'd graduated, but what impressed me about the guy was you could tell he knew what his strengths were and that's what he used. He had a nice inside game with a couple of polished go-to moves, and I recall he knew how to get good rebounding position - when was the last time we could say that about a Cal big man? Devon Hardin had way more athleticism, and if he'd had McNamara's approach, he may have been better off.

I was a little surprised McNamara didn't have a better NBA career - not an All-Star, but a I thought he'd be a solid backup player. I didn't know about his health issues and it sounds like that may have affected his play.

RIP

This article says he was a stand in for Chewbacca. That's pretty cool!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-29-sp-1482-story.html%3f_amp=true

RIP!

HearstMining said:

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McNamara came about five years after I'd graduated, but what impressed me about the guy was you could tell he knew what his strengths were and that's what he used. He had a nice inside game with a couple of polished go-to moves, and I recall he knew how to get good rebounding position - when was the last time we could say that about a Cal big man? Devon Hardin had way more athleticism, and if he'd had McNamara's approach, he may have been better off.

I was a little surprised McNamara didn't have a better NBA career - not an All-Star, but a I thought he'd be a solid backup player. I didn't know about his health issues and it sounds like that may have affected his play.

RIP

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McNamara was maybe 6-10 1/2, 240 lbs. Plenty big for college but not able to dominate the interior in the NBA (without the athleticism of an Olajuwan). Plus, he was an offensive-minded low post center just as players like that were beginning to be de-emphasized.

I hadn't heard about his health problems either. But what a player he was for us his senior year!

Cal8285 said:

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I was always in the front three rows of the student section during his two seasons at Cal, near the south FT line. Had a great view of Mark playing basketball. How could I not love Mark McNamara -- McNamara was on the floor when I first met my wife at the Arizona game in 1981.

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[off topic]
grreat location 8285, and of course congrats finding a life partner. till the harmon rebuild we were under press row next to the home bench.

random old-timey flashback, late second half of an ASU game, fans improvised harassing nics as sun devil guards received the ball around the perimeter: "red hair", "nooo hair", "reeeed hair", "sooooome hair",, ,, ,, ]

That is a great photo. In the trees. I am the tree. Who says white guys can't jump?

HearstMining said:

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McNamara came about five years after I'd graduated, but what impressed me about the guy was you could tell he knew what his strengths were and that's what he used. He had a nice inside game with a couple of polished go-to moves, and I recall he knew how to get good rebounding position - when was the last time we could say that about a Cal big man? Devon Hardin had way more athleticism, and if he'd had McNamara's approach, he may have been better off.

I was a little surprised McNamara didn't have a better NBA career - not an All-Star, but a I thought he'd be a solid backup player. I didn't know about his health issues and it sounds like that may have affected his play.

RIP

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Brian Hendrick and Leonard Taylor also had great footwork and positioning.

Looperbear said:

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HearstMining said:

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McNamara came about five years after I'd graduated, but what impressed me about the guy was you could tell he knew what his strengths were and that's what he used. He had a nice inside game with a couple of polished go-to moves, and I recall he knew how to get good rebounding position - when was the last time we could say that about a Cal big man? Devon Hardin had way more athleticism, and if he'd had McNamara's approach, he may have been better off.

I was a little surprised McNamara didn't have a better NBA career - not an All-Star, but a I thought he'd be a solid backup player. I didn't know about his health issues and it sounds like that may have affected his play.

RIP

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Brian Hendrick and Leonard Taylor also had great footwork and positioning.

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Yep, good point. Two players I enjoyed watching. And you can put Leon Powe in there - was he barely 6-8? Really knew how to use his body as well as slide to get open and he also averaged nearly 10 rebounds a game at Cal. I wish I'd seen him play before the knee injuries.

Looperbear said:

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Brian Hendrick and Leonard Taylor also had great footwork and positioning.

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And long before them John Coughran. But none of the above dominated like McNamara - as a senior he was the leading rebounder in the conference with 4 rpg more than the next guy. Not to mention 22 ppg on 70% shooting.

47 points at Utah or Byu.. was high altitude so quite an accomplishment.

In his memory, I'll relate my one out-of-the-Cal-uniform anecdote on Mark McNamara...

For recreational, PE and intramural play, Harmon Gym used to push back the lower seats and run three full courts. On Friday afternoons, the center court was "reserved" for some top flight pick-up games, with players coming in from all over. The talent was good enough to where, if I didn't have anything else going on, I'd usually head down there after my last class to watch for awhile.

The Cal MBB players would occasionally participate, but it was fairly rare... and I found out why: One day, Mark McNamara joined in. I recall it was the year he was sitting out as a transfer, but people, including me, knew who he was. The guy guarding him was maybe 6-4, 200, so McNamara had half a foot and 30-40 lbs on him. However, the guy was able to prevent McNamara from doing any damage offensively by ABSOLUTELY HAMMERING him every time he touched the ball. I mean, on some of them you could hear people gasp. These were call-your-own-fouls games and it was not to cool to call a foul on the guy who was guarding you, so McNamara's reaction to this was to ignore it and keep playing.

Finally -- and they were right in front of me, so I'll never forget it -- McNamara was knocked to the floor with something like a forearm to the head. One of the top players, a regular, goes up to the guy guarding McNamara and says, "C'mon, man... ", to which the head-shaking reply was, "That m_____ f_____er ain't gettin' s___ offa me today."

Good times. RIP Mark McNamara.

stu said:

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Looperbear said:

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Brian Hendrick and Leonard Taylor also had great footwork and positioning.

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And long before them John Coughran. But none of the above dominated like McNamara - as a senior he was the leading rebounder in the conference with 4 rpg more than the next guy. Not to mention 22 ppg on 70% shooting.

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And there was Coughran's teammate, Ansley Truitt, who averaged 19 points and 13,2 rebounds the last year they played together, while the junior Coughran averaged 19 points and 8 rebounds. The following year, after Truitt graduated, Coughran would average 16 points and 9 rebounds. A little farther back was Bob Presley, who averaged 14.5 rebounds in 1968. And a few years before that was Imhoff, a consensus first team All-American, whose best stat year was 1960, where he averaged 14 points and 12.4 rebounds. McNamara was a dominant center, and his 70% FG% was phenomenal.

Played inter mural there for rotc. I think I made one shot

~ Was Bryan McKeen ever coming to play QB or BB at Cal before being mugged by Jack Del Rio at the Coliseum championship game . . . ?

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bob-McKeen-Star-Athlete-At-Cal-Ex-Oakland-2786570.php

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/eastbaytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=176172006

Big C said:

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In his memory, I'll relate my one out-of-the-Cal-uniform anecdote on Mark McNamara...

For recreational, PE and intramural play, Harmon Gym used to push back the lower seats and run three full courts. On Friday afternoons, the center court was "reserved" for some top flight pick-up games, with players coming in from all over. The talent was good enough to where, if I didn't have anything else going on, I'd usually head down there after my last class to watch for awhile.

Good times. RIP Mark McNamara.

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This one hurts - RIP Mark and condolences to McNamara family. I was aware of Mark's medical issues, and thought it was a crime that a guy with such athleticism and spirt could be crippled by his heath conditions.

I participated in afternoon pick-up games at Harmon during the end of the 70s. I look back on that time fondly as the years roll by. If I could indulge for a minute.

My first year at Cal, there was this one guy, he was thin up top, but had these huge hands and a huge lower torso, and around my size - 6 feet or so. Maybe had an inch or two on me. I had played high school ball, and in the games at Haas, I often guarded the other teams not overly tall shooter or athlete. So it was a mutual thing that I got this guy. He plants himself key/baseline and calls for the ball. I figure play behind him, see if he has a move. The ball gets to him eventually after a few baskets each way. He then turn and faces me - not really a good move when you are on baseline. But then he launched straight up, while palming the ball in a huge hand, and slams from about 4 feet out all without on contacting me. I just looked at him in disbelief, gave him five, and told the tall guy to guard him. That was first introduction to Chuck Muncie. Years later I would see Chuck at Memorial for games and would remind him of exploits at Harmon. At that point he would get all modest and tell (lie) to my wife that I was a tough competition. I miss the pick-up games, but I really miss Chuck. It really is sad to see great Bears like Mark and Chuck leave us. RIP you sturdy Golden Bears.

wifeisafurd said:

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Big C said:

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In his memory, I'll relate my one out-of-the-Cal-uniform anecdote on Mark McNamara...

For recreational, PE and intramural play, Harmon Gym used to push back the lower seats and run three full courts. On Friday afternoons, the center court was "reserved" for some top flight pick-up games, with players coming in from all over. The talent was good enough to where, if I didn't have anything else going on, I'd usually head down there after my last class to watch for awhile.

Good times. RIP Mark McNamara.

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This one hurts - RIP Mark and condolences to McNamara family. I was aware of Mark's medical issues, and thought it was a crime that a guy with such athleticism and spirt could be crippled by his heath conditions.

I participated in afternoon pick-up games at Harmon during the end of the 70s. I look back on that time fondly as the years roll by. If I could indulge for a minute.

My first year at Cal, there was this one guy, he was thin up top, but had these huge hands and a huge lower torso, and around my size - 6 feet or so. Maybe had an inch or two on me. I had played high school ball, and in the games at Haas, I often guarded the other teams not overly tall shooter or athlete. So it was a mutual thing that I got this guy. He plants himself key/baseline and calls for the ball. I figure play behind him, see if he has a move. The ball gets to him eventually after a few baskets each way. He then turn and faces me - not really a good move when you are on baseline. But then he launched straight up, while palming the ball in a huge hand, and slams from about 4 feet out all without on contacting me. I just looked at him in disbelief, gave him five, and told the tall guy to guard him. That was first introduction to Chuck Muncie. Years later I would see Chuck at Memorial for games and would remind him of exploits at Harmon. At that point he would get all modest and tell (lie) to my wife that I was a tough competition. I miss the pick-up games, but I really miss Chuck. It really is sad to see great Bears like Mark and Chuck leave us. RIP you sturdy Golden Bears.

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Great story WIAF. Chuck was the greatest and what a great guy!

I have a buddy that was a Theta Delta Chi with Chuck. To a man, they loved the guy.




*I have a couple of photos of Chuck engaging in frat hijinks in SF in '73 or '74. I can't post my photos here, unfortunately.