Obscure sports trivia

Name either player selected before or after Larry Bird in the 1978 Draft.

 

Michael Ray Richardson?

 

No, sir.

 

Rick Robey and Gene Banks?

 

In proper Celtics fan pronunciation, in honor of Bob Cousy it's "Wick Wobey."

 

No, sir.
Hint time: Golden State picked fifth ahead of Boston. Portland chose seventh behind the Celtics.

 

Would they have played against each other in the NCAA championship game at the Checkerdome in St. Louis? Seems right but I could be wrong.

 

That’s why I was thinking of them. I wasn’t sure what year they both were in.

 

Me neither, but that leads to another hint ...
The guy drafted immediately after Bird played for Arkansas in that Final Four in STL. The Hogs lost in the semifinals.

 

Looked back at the list again.
Damn good guess. Richardson was No. 4.

 

Going to bed.
Will post answers in the morning.
In the interim, guess away!

 

I remember an off hand remark on some telecast saying something to the effect of “why do the knicks stink?! They passed on Larry Bird to take Michael Ray.”

Probably worse comparisons to make, but it came just after Richardson got banned.