Roy Marble's #23

MelroseHawkins

MelroseHawkins

Well-Known Member
Jon - I couldn't agree more. You can ask anybody "Who is/was #23 at Iowa?" and the first answer that will come to most people's mind who has watched Iowa b-ball in the past 30 years is that is Roy Marble. Roy Marble is synonymous with the #23. In my eyes, there will never be an equivalent #23 at Iowa.

If there is ever a player to retire the number at Iowa, I think it would be him. He's almost the Jordan of Iowa in my eyes. Yes, he's had some post college transgressions but many have had transgressions in lives. This doesn't change who he was when at Iowa or how he played when at Iowa. Measure what he did on the court at Iowa, not what he got into after. Honor him by retiring his number not because he is unfortunately dying, but because he is the best and most unique player Iowa has ever had. Retire his number for his play.
 
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And if you are going to retire Roy's number, do it now, so that he can see it happen.

Also, in my mind, you are not defending whatever Roy did off the court by retiring his number, but merely celebrating what he did as a basketball player. Obviously activist groups, etc. will try to say otherwise, but I see nothing wrong with hanging his jersey in CHA.
 
MelroseHawkins said:
Jon - I couldn't agree more. You can ask anybody "Who is/was #23 at Iowa?" and the first answer that will come to most people's mind who has watched Iowa b-ball in the past 50 years is that is Roy Marble. Roy Marble is synonymous with the #23. In my eyes, there will never be an equivalent #23 at Iowa.

If there is ever a player to retire the number at Iowa, I think it would be him. He's almost the Jordan of Iowa in my eyes. Yes, he's had some post college transgressions but many have had transgressions in lives. This doesn't change who he was when at Iowa or how he played when at Iowa. Measure what he did on the court at Iowa, not what he got into after. Honor him by retiring his number not because he is unfortunately dieing, but because he is the best and most unique player Iowa has ever had. Retire his number for his play.
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That's just it, you can't ignore it, you can't help, but have compassion. There's a lot of baggage there and separating the two is difficult. Could I be on board with Iowa retiring his number if he weren't dying? Yeah, but I do not think it is as cut and dry as people are making it out to be. If you go down this road, you are opening yourself up to a lot of judgment calls in the future about whose # should and shouldn't be retired.
 
Such a shame that Iowa's only 2,000 point scorer doesn't have his jersey retired, but 9 other Hawkeyes do. Not taking away from what those other players did, but Roy Marble was the most prolific scorer Iowa basketball has ever had.

Its a damn shame.
 
1977Hawkeye said:
And if you are going to retire Roy's number, do it now, so that he can see it happen.

Also, in my mind, you are not defending whatever Roy did off the court by retiring his number, but merely celebrating what he did as a basketball player. Obviously activist groups, etc. will try to say otherwise, but I see nothing wrong with hanging his jersey in CHA.
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All of this got me to wondering about this situation. I almost wonder if a cognizant internal decision has been made that they will no longer "retire" numbers but instead honor them in the way Roy is being honored. But, for some reason they don't want to come right out and say that at this time. Just a thought. That doesn't change that the presentation ceremony could have been better.
 
Iirc there are no retired numbers at iowa. Only retired jerseys. Armstrong has his jersey in the rafters but we have someone wearing it right now.
 
Foval21 said:
Iirc there are no retired numbers at iowa. Only retired jerseys. Armstrong has his jersey in the rafters but we have someone wearing it right now.
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I think #40 is off-limits to any player, though. Not sure about any other numbers.
 
Thawki said:
All of this got me to wondering about this situation. I almost wonder if a cognizant internal decision has been made that they will no longer "retire" numbers but instead honor them in the way Roy is being honored. But, for some reason they don't want to come right out and say that at this time. Just a thought. That doesn't change that the presentation ceremony could have been better.
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I don't have the exact quote, but I saw something posted somewhere where Barta said something to that effect, that they didn't see them doing it anymore, that they haven't done it for 20 years, yada yada.

I actually think the "wall of honor" could be pretty cool if done right, but still don't really see any logic behind no longer retiring jerseys and hanging them next to the others. Why stop?

Gotta agree on the ceremony.. Maybe Roy was fine with it, and if so, then so be it (because this is about Roy, not *MY* feelings) but I personally thought the whole thing smacked of "doing the bare minimum". Even the jersey they gave him looked like some leftover unused Lick-era jersey that they slapped a #23 on. IMO, it would've been much better if they had taken the effort to make a late-80's era jersey. I guess that would take time though, and it just felt like this whole thing was slapped together at the last moment.

I also felt that Roy should/could have been allowed to address the crowd, if he wanted to do so.
 
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Duez Henderson would beg to differ.

Sadly, the jersey in the case that Roy was holding looked more like Duez's jersey than Roy's. Sad. No.....Pathetic.

You mean they couldn't have had a throwback #23 made for Roy?
No videos of Roy shown during the presentation?
No chance for Roy to say a few words (if he wanted to)
The Iowa Athletic Dept dropped the ball on the leading scorer in Iowa BB history. Not a fitting tribute.
 
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Biggusblockus said:
Duez Henderson would beg to differ.

Sadly, the jersey in the case that Roy was holding looked more like Duez's jersey than Roy's. Sad. No.....Pathetic.

You mean they couldn't have had a throwback #23 made for Roy?
No videos of Roy shown during the presentation?
No chance for Roy to say a few words (if he wanted to)
The Iowa Athletic Dept dropped the ball on the leading scorer in Iowa BB history. Not a fitting tribute.
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THIS EXACTLY!!!

I turned to my boys ans said, "That doesn't look like Marble's jersey." And after watching some pictures they said, "No, doesn't look like his jersey who was he?"

My response: "He was the Michael Jordan of Iowa basketball. Not as good a shooter or defender but he was great."
 
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