tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post8737649421856674187..comments2024-03-11T16:39:12.344-05:00Comments on Once A Knight ...: When you're a winner, life is goodNico Van Thynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-84506031651098296212014-03-14T16:40:15.060-05:002014-03-14T16:40:15.060-05:00From Liz Sachs Piker: Great article on Leon, Nico....From Liz Sachs Piker: Great article on Leon, Nico. He was a great friend of my brother's in high school and mine, although he was two years behind me. But Ruston High was a small enough school in the 1950's that everyone knew everyone and Leon was just coming on as one of RHS's new stars. MY highlight was the team of several years before with Dupey Cobb and the rest winning state -- I was at every game, even that rickety old gym in South Louisiana for the semifinal.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-23770601530118414232014-03-12T23:26:18.376-05:002014-03-12T23:26:18.376-05:00From Jim McLain: Excellent piece on Leon. Your opi... From Jim McLain: Excellent piece on Leon. Your opinion of him and mine are the same.<br /> Leon could go a little loopy sometimes, though. I remember one home game in the 1990s. Tech had won, but it had been a lackluster performance. I think I had been banished to the wire desk at the time and Katherine and I were attending as spectators. We were leaving TAC when we heard Leon on the PA system. I walked back into the arena and Leon was dressing down the fans for not being supportive. Only time I ever saw a coach do that.<br /> The old Tech AD, Bob Vanatta, used to get Leon and Gary Blair's names mixed up, calling Leon "Coach Blairmore." Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-35367172177233661452014-03-12T23:15:10.063-05:002014-03-12T23:15:10.063-05:00From Sid Huff: Leon may not miss basketball too mu...From Sid Huff: Leon may not miss basketball too much, but basketball sure misses him.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-88466988085415122812014-03-12T23:14:27.046-05:002014-03-12T23:14:27.046-05:00From Jimmy Russell: Nice piece on a fine friend an...From Jimmy Russell: Nice piece on a fine friend and coach. I have seen Leon laugh many times. He has never gotten his due, such as coaching the U.S. Olympic team. I guess being a man hurt him with that. Geno is the man (he thinks). He could not walk in Leon’s shoes.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-65433308392601465072014-03-12T23:12:56.163-05:002014-03-12T23:12:56.163-05:00From Thomas Aswell: In my mind's eye, I can st...From Thomas Aswell: In my mind's eye, I can still see Ruston High School sophomore Leon Barmore in the closing seconds of a razor-thin victory over Ringgold and its star player (I believe his name was Barrie Haynie) in the Ruston gym. Leon was ecstatic. He was in the backcourt waiting for Ruston to inbound the ball with only seconds left and holding onto a two-or three-point lead. He was bouncing all over the court. I will never forget that image.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5125402567351329247.post-32655201353778172912014-03-12T23:08:55.980-05:002014-03-12T23:08:55.980-05:00From Leon Barmore: Thank you, Nico. You put great ...From Leon Barmore: Thank you, Nico. You put great effort into this nice article as you always do. My family and I appreciate it very much. Thank you, my friend.Nico Van Thynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07072351355184106484noreply@blogger.com