Swede and Lonnie

On numerous occasions my father has been mentioned along with another phenomenal New Jersey athlete: Lonnie Wright.  Both were from Newark, and both were known for their remarkable versatility.  Conventional wisdom is that they are the two greatest all-around athletes Newark ever produced, and both were included when the Star Ledger of Newark named New Jersey's top 50 athletes of the 20th century.

Swede and Lonnie were in the inaugural group of inductees into the Newark Sports Hall of Fame.  I approached Lonnie and told him that he was my idol when I was a kid.  He laughed and said that Swede had been HIS idol.

Wright was all-state in everything in high school.  At Colorado State he was an All-American basketball player and  set the school shot-put record.  Perhaps his most impressive sports accomplishment came later.  Lonnie is the only athlete in the modern era of pro sports to play the two sports of football and basketball (Denver Broncos and Denver Nuggets).  There have been a small hand full of two sport pro athletes, but not football and basketball.  Wright is the only one.  My father always knew he was in special company when he was compared to Lonnie Wright.

I spoke to my buddy Joe Abruzzese today, and he reminded me that he played baseball against Wright in high school.  Joe, a catcher, tried to throw Lonnie out while he was stealing second base, and joked that by the time the ball got to second, Wright was on third.

It's somewhat unfortunate that Lonnie Wright's name is not a household name.  It should be.  He was that special.