Fugler misses out again
by Joey Martin - posted Thursday, January 31st, 2013 @ 8:36 am

Before I begin my annual rant on Max Fugler not being selected to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame again, I must congratulate Ervin Johnson Jonesville on making the Hall of Fame.

I never saw Johnson play basketball at Block High.

Then again, nobody else did either.

The 6-foot-11 Johnson never played high school basketball and was bagging groceries in Baton Rouge when he was brought to the attention of then-UNO coach Tim Floyd.

Johnson played four seasons (1990-93) and was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 1993 when Basketball Times made him a second-team All-America. UNO made two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT during his time there. Johnson finished as the second-leading scorer in UNO history (1,608 points) and was the school's all-time leader in rebounds (1,287), blocked shots (294), field goal percentage (.590) and double-doubles (55). He averaged 13.1 points and 10.5 rebounds for his college career.

Ed Cassiere was the sports information director at UNO at the time and did an outstanding job of promoting Ervin "Baby Magic" Johnson.

"Erv deserves this honor," Cassiere said.

Johnson was the MVP of the NABC All-Star game in 1993. His jersey was retired in 1997 and in 2005 he was named to the Sun Belt's All-Time team. A first-round draft pick by Seattle in 1993 (23rd overall), Johnson played 13 seasons, also spending time with Denver, Milwaukee and Minnesota. He averaged 4.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks for his 845-game career. His best seasons came in 1996-97 with Denver when he averaged 7.1 points and 11.1 rebounds and in 1997-98 with Milwaukee when he averaged 8.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg in starting 163 of a possible 164 games those two years. Born 12-21-67 in New Orleans.

Now back to Max.

I do know Fugler is still on the ballot.

And, once again, my ranting is not to slight the latest selections, especially Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Tommy Hodson, Chanda Rubin and Kevin Mawae 

They certainly belong.

But so does Fugler.

Fugler was part of Ferriday High football teams of the 1950s that lost only four games over four years and won four state championships.

Fugler and Frank Brocato were the lone Bulldogs to letter five years as both played as eighth-graders.

Fugler played on high school and college teams that combined to go 68-8-0 while he was a member of those teams.

Fugler was the first high school All-American at Ferriday High. He had the fortune of playing under Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Johnny "Red" Robertson, who was deservedly inducted in 2003.

Once again, congratulations "Baby Magic." And once again, "Wait till next year, Max."