Remembering the Royals old

The Royals were born in Rochester, New York in the mid 1940's and were original members of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team peaked in 1951 when they made it to the NBA Championship to battle the New York Nicks. It was a sensational series with the Royals winning the first three games, then losing the next three. Game seven saw classic basketball with the Nicks fighting back from a 16 point deficit. With only 40 seconds left on the game clock and the score tied, Royals star, Bob Davies was fouled and subsequently sank two free throws. The Royals prevailed 79-75 and were crowned NBA Champions. Unfortunately, the Royals of Rochester never achieved financial success and the NBA pressured Royal's ownership to relocate to a larger city.  Jack Twyman, a Royals player and former University of Cincinnati star suggested a move to Cincinnati. 

In 1957 the Royals migrated west to the Queen City and took up residence in the Cincinnati Gardens. Royals stars Marice Stokes and Jack Twyman led Cincinnati to the playoffs during their inaugural season. However, tragedy struck during the final regular season game in Minneapolis when Stokes fell and hit his head on the hardwood floor. The result was a traumatic brain injury that left Stokes a quadriplegic and without the ability to speak. The Royals struggled for the next two years finishing last place in their division. 

University of Cincinnati star Oscar Robertson joined the Royals in 1960 and immediately made a positive impact on the team. In 1961 he was named NBA Rookie of the year. The "Big O" was a one man wonder, a superstar on the hardwood. He became the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. Robertson still holds the NBA record for triple doubles in regular season games with an amazing 181. Compare that with Magic Johnson's 138 and Wilt Chamberlain's 78. In 1964 the "Big O" was named most valuable player in the NBA. 

Jack Twyman, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas

The Royals improved further when Middletown High School and Ohio State University star Jerry Lucas joined the team in 1963. He became a top rebounder and in the 1963/64 season, Lucas recorded four 30-rebound games, including a 40-rebound game on February 29, 1964. Lucas is still today the only NBA forward with a 40-rebound game.  

The years 1961-1966 were prime-time for the Cincinnati Royals. They had a winning record in each of those five seasons and made it to the playoffs. Furthermore, in 1963 and 1964 the Royals reached the East finals, but couldn't beat Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics dynasty.  

A crowning moment for the Cincinnati Royals came on January 11, 1966 when the Cincinnati Gardens hosted the NBA All star game. It was a nationally televised event with the East versus the West; Red Auerbach coached the East and Fred Schaus, the West. Much of the game focused around Cincinnati's previously named All-Stars; Oscar Robertson, the All-Star MVP in 1964, and Jerry Lucas the All-Star MVP in 1965. Both Robertson and Lucas played for the East along with their Royal's teammate Adrian Smith, who Red Auerbach named as a reserve player. All Star players for the East also included the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek and Bill Russell. The Cincinnati crowd of 13,653 rallied behind the East who won handily 137 to 94. Adrian Smith of the Royals scored 24 points for the East and was named the Most Valuable Player for 1966. The NBA recognized his performance by rewarding him with a Ford Galaxie 500 convertible. 

After 1966, it was mostly downhill for the Royals. It was season after season that ended with a losing record. Jack Twyman retired in 1966, Jerry Lucas was traded to San Francisco in 1969 and in 1970 the Big O was sent to Milwaukee.  Professional basketball and the NBA was growing, but attendance in Cincinnati was on the decline. The NBA signed a network television contract with ABC and there was a move of teams to larger markets. The Royals, who were losing money, were courted by other cities who promised new public funded arenas and hefty profits.  In March of 1972 Royals owners announced that the team would move to Kansas City. Shortly thereafter on March 23, 1972, the Cincinnati Royals won their final game against the Baltimore Bullets 132- 114 before a Gardens crowd of 4,022 and said good bye to the Queen City. 

The Royals, renamed the Kings, played in Kansas City until 1985. From there they moved to Sacramento California. The Sacramento Kings continue the Royal tradition, but an NBA championship has eluded them.  In retrospect, Cincinnati, like Rochester, was a step along the way for the NBA and professional basketball. The Royals played in Cincinnati when the game of professional basketball was coming of age.  The Gardens fit like a royal glove and locals had the good fortune and pleasure to watch hall of famers Jack Twyman, Jerry Lucas and one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Oscar Robertson. It was fun while it lasted and memories will forever remain etched in the history of the Queen City.

1966 NBA ALL STAR GAME HIGHLIGHTS                                                                                                                                   Talking about 1966 All Star MVP, Adrian Smith  



Share your memories of the Royals at the Cincinnati Gardens.  Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com                                                                                        

House of Hockey old

The Cincinnati Garden was born at the ready to serve popcorn, hot dogs and hockey. Its major backers included wealthy concessionaire Louis Jacobs of Buffalo, NY and unnamed Canadians with business and hockey interests. They modeled the new Garden in Cincinnati after the Maple Leaf Gardens, the famous hockey cathedral in Toronto and named Frank Selke, a successful hockey executive as Cincy's General Manager. Selke had boundless energy and for two decades was a driving force in the success of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs. There was little doubt of Selke's intention to turn the Queen City into a hockey town. 

On February 22, 1949, grand opening night, the first event at the Garden was of course, a hockey game. A packed house at the Garden ate popcorn and hotdogs as they watched an exhibition between the Montreal Canadians of the National Hockey League and the Dallas Texans, a group of players who would form the nucleus of a new hockey club coming to Cincinnati. It was a momentous night and a great beginning for Cincinnati's hockey barn.

The Cincinnati Mohawks

Cincinnati's first professional hockey team was affiliated with the Montreal Canadians of the NHL. The team premiered in the American Hockey League in October, 1949 playing in the western division against regional rivals; the Cleveland Barons, the Indianapolis Capitals, the St. Louis Flyers and the Pittsburgh Hornets. They skated their first game at the Garden unnamed with players baring question marks on their jersey's. That soon ended when the winner of a fan contest named the upstart club "The Cincinnati Mohawks. Frank Selke brought to town a retired hockey veteran to manage the Mohawks. Francis "King" Clancy lacked management experience, but took the position as a favor to Frank, who he said always treated him well. Frank gave Clancy a two year contract. Clancy did his best, but the Mohawks ended both seasons in last place. When his contract wasn't renewed King was hired by Conn Smythe, legendary owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs to manage their affiliate, the AHL Pittsburgh Hornets. There, Clancy led the Hornets to victory and the Calder Cup. Season 3 for the AHL Mohawks was another disappointment. Although they improved to a third place finish, it was a losing season and fan support was dismal. By season's end, financial conditions were such that the three year old hockey club folded. Professional Hockey was seemingly done for at the Gardens. But it wasn't over - quickly, private investors organized and funded a new hockey club they named the Cincinnati Mohawks; new team, same name. By October, the Mohawks were again skating on Garden ice, this time in the International Hockey League.

From the get go, the new Mohawk's hockey club dominated the International League. They benefited by their affiliation with the Montreal Canadians who had an extensive farm system. The Mohawk's ruled the Garden ice against competitors like the Troy Bruins, Fort Wayne Komets, Toledo Mercurys and the Grand Rapid's Rockets. Their strength was such that they have been called the greatest minor league hockey team of all-time. Between 1952 and 1958 the Mohawks finished first in the International Hockey League all six seasons and won the Turner Cup Championship five years in a row. NHL notables skating for the Mohawks included Paul Bibeault, Don Marshall and Phil Goyette. 

In June of 1958, to the surprise of many, the Cincinnati Mohawks folded for a second time. It was reported that the Mohawks cost the Gardens an estimated $250,000 over the nine years of operation. Garden executive Thomas Grace told the Cincinnati Enquirer that despite winning six straight championships, the team has been a loser at the gate. "We have a hard core of very loyal hockey fans, but there just aren't enough of them," Grace said. He added that he would like to see Cincinnati in a league of major cities with major playing arenas, which would be feasible from a travel standpoint. "We are not giving up on hockey. What we're doing is giving up hockey in its present status."

Cincinnati Swords

It was a dozen years before another professional hockey opportunity presented itself to the Gardens. The National Hockey League expanded to Buffalo, NY in 1971 and the Cincinnati Swords were formed to serve as a farm club for the NHL Buffalo Sabres. The Swords played in the American Hockey League and skated the Gardens ice from 1971- 1974. The team was outstanding, posting a winning record all three years. In 1973 they dominated the league with a record of 54-17-5 winning the AHL Championship and the Calder Cup. Although attendance at the Gardens was mediocre, the Swords had a loyal fan base and were popular with the media. Their success helped fuel efforts to bring major league hockey to Cincinnati. In 1972, the Swords went so far as to participate in a "We're Ready" promotion led by a group co-chaired by William Dewitt, Jr and Brian Heekin. That group was awarded a franchise by the World Hockey Association in 1975 and they formed the Cincinnati Stingers. The Stingers debuted at Cincinnati's new Riverfront Coliseum and ironically spelled the end for the AHL Swords and professional hockey at the Gardens.

Cincinnati Cyclones

The Stingers left town in 1980 and the Queen City was a decade without a professional hockey team until a group headed by Knoxville businessman Doug Kirchhofer, brought the Cincinnati Cyclones to town. The Clones began skating on Gardens ice in the fall of 1990 playing in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). From the beginning the Cyclones had a winning combination of victories on the ice and fans in the stands. They made the play-off's their first year with a record of 37-24. Attendance averaged an impressive 7,696. The Clones marketed their product well, creating an enjoyable fan experience. In their second season the Cyclones continued winning making the semi finals in post season play. Gardens attendance averaged a league high 9,473. In 1992 the team moved to the International Hockey League and experienced their first losing season winning only 27 of 82 games. The Cyclones bounced back the following year and fan support remained strong, In the 1995/96 season the Clones had nine sellouts of the Gardens. Hockey players come and go, but over the years fans at the Gardens became accustomed to watching regulars like Don Biggs, Chris Chchocki, Jeff Greenlaw and Paul Lawless. 

In 1997, the Cyclones lease was up at the Gardens and Clones owner, Doug Kirchhofer, saw as an opportunity. Looking to build on the Cyclone's success he formed a group, Cincinnati Entertainment Associates that acquired the 17,000 seat, Riverfront Coliseum. The purchase included a 14 million dollar renovation and renaming the arena "The Crown." Kirchhofer further announced that the Cincinnati Cyclones would make the Crown their new home. After seven exciting, memorable and entertaining seasons at the Gardens, the Cyclones packed up and left.

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks

When the Cyclones vacated, Gardens owner, Jerry Robinson had but one choice; he scrambled and within months hatched the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey league. The Ducks, affiliates of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim made their Gardens launch on October 5, 1997, facing off against the Kentucky Thoroughblades. That same evening the Cincinnati Cyclones premiered at the newly named Crown, officially making Cincinnati a two-team hockey town. John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer called it "Ice Wars."  He described the night as the beginning of a battle between facilities, teams and team owners to determine who would attract sufficient fans to remain in business. Would it be the Crown or the Gardens? The Cyclones or the Ducks? Doug Kirchhofer or Jerry Robinson? Opinions differed, but there was unanimous agreement that there would be only one winner. Jerry Robinson predicted the Gardens and the Mighty Ducks would be victors in two years. Doug Kirchhofer said he could not envision a scenario where the Clones would lose and said the battle would continue as long as Jerry wants it to. 

The Mighty Ducks under direction of club President Peter Robinson nestled into their home at the Gardens. Over their first three years the team struggled on the ice finishing each season with a losing record, but they played aggressive hockey and provided fans at the Gardens an entertaining hockey experience. In their fourth season under coach Mike Babcock the Ducks improved, winning 41 games. 

In 2001 the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks became winners of the Ice War when the Cyclones folded. Doug Kirchhofer's decision to move the Cyclones to the Cincinnati's riverfront proved disastrous. The Crown, renamed the US Bank Arena filed for bankruptcy and was sold. Doug Kirchhofer left the Queen City and returned home to Tennessee.

The Mighty Ducks ruled the Gardens ice for another four years. During their eight seasons at the Gardens they averaged a respectable 5,000 fans per game. 2005 spelled the end of professional hockey at the Gardens when the Ducks lost their NHL affiliation and Jerry Robinson opted not to secure a replacement team.

Share your memories of hockey at the Cincinnati Gardens.  Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com  

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The Gardens was the best place to watch a hockey game. Especially on dollar dog and dollar beer night.  The Cyclones especially had that place rocking. The Mighty Ducks not so much, but they played a higher level of hockey than the Cyclones. The US Bank Arena or whatever they're calling it these days is a lousy place to watch a hockey game. Ohiogirl81 2016

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The Cincinnati Gardens was where I discovered hockey in person after watching it on NBC. I fell in love with the Cincinnati Swords in the early to mid 1970s. I learned to play hockey thanks to Hap Myers and John Gould, who were Swords players and ran a hockey school. John was the coolest guy, he spent so much time with me on the ice 1 on 1, Rick Dudley was another player I got to know who tossed me pucks a few times (Duds is now an exec with the Montreal Canadiens.) We never missed a game--we were even there the night of the April 3 tornadoes in 1974 when one was chewing Elmwood Place up a few blocks away. What a great place for a 10-year old kid to grow up in...great days watching the Swords and playing games in both the main arena and annex all the way through high school. I'll miss that barn. Cyclingwriter 2016 

Fight Nights

Cincinnati has a long, rich boxing heritage and is renowned as a boxing mecca. It's gyms have cultivated scores of talented fighters and numerous world champions, many of whom battled in the Gardens ring. Over the years the Gardens hosted amateur competitions, tournaments and 34 professional boxing dates. Champions like Ezzard Charles, Wallace Bud Smith,Tony Tubbs, Aaron Pryor and Tommy Ayers are among the Gardens memorable.

Fights Remembered 

1949 - During the Gardens opening week 14,000 watched two Woodward High School alums put on winning performances. Newbie lightweight professional Wallace Bud Smith won his third professional fight and Ezzard Charles, the Cincinnati Cobra, beat Cleveland's Joey Maxim in the featured heavyweight bout. Here's what the Cincinnati Enquirer said about the night: 

Ezzard Charles

Nothing came close to the excitement in the new arena when Cincinnatian Ezzard Charles fought Clevelander Joey Maxim in a 15-round bout to determine who would fight Joe Louis for the heavyweight title in the summer. It was a mixed, integrated crowd of blacks and whites. Most everybody was dressed in jackets and ties; the ladies were in their Sunday finest. The Cotton Club crowd was here; so was the gambling crowd from Newport, Ky. High up in the 14,000-seat Garden sat Buddy LaRosa, who had recently graduated from Roger Bacon High School and was thinking about going off soon to join the U.S. Navy. Ringside sat Robert Elkus and his brother,Gene, sons of the late Max Elkus, of Max's Clothes on the West End, where Ezzard had worked since he was 15 years old. Cincinnatian DeHart Hubbard, who worked for the city recreation commission and was the first African-American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event (long jump, 1924, Paris) had brought Ezzard into the store one day. Max's was one of the few fine clothing stores in town where African-Americans were free to browse and shop and try on clothes. Also ringside was Christmas, Ezzard's secretary. They all marveled at the wondrous new building. The Elkuses and Christmas had been all over the country with Charles, but this place was as good or better than any of them. Hadn't even the sportswriters from New York said the same thing in the morning paper? “The New York Garden (Madison Square) may handle a few more thousand people, but it is nowhere near as fine an arena as this,” Al Buck and Ed Van Avery had said. “All the seats are good here.” John Erardi, The Cincinnati Enquirer 2/21/1999


1950 - December 5.  Ezzard Charles returned to the Gardens as the Heavyweight Champion of the World.To the delight of the mostly local crowd of 10,000, he KO'd New Yorker, Nick Barone in the eleventh round.

1955 - March 29. Veteran boxer Sugar Ray Robinson came to town to fight Johnny Lombardo of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania as witnessed by a crowd of 5,124. Robinson, a former welterweight and middleweight champion of the world won a split ten-round decision. According to the Associated Press, Robinson, who had been boxing professionally since 1940, showed only an occasional flash of his one-time speed and hitting ability. Lombardo disagreed. "He was so fast, I didn't see his punches."

1955 -  October 19. Wallace Bud Smith returned to the Gardens as World Lightweight Champion after taking the crown in a spit decision from Jimmy Carter earlier in the year at the Boston Garden.  That 15 round fight was said to be one of the most brutal in history.  Carter demanded a rematch and due to a clause in his contract, Smith obliged.  Wallace Bud Smith again prevailed, but it took another hard fought 15 rounds for him to retained his crown.

1962 - March 29.  The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that The National Senior Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Boxing Championships opened a three-day stand at the Cincinnati Gardens. Close to 200 boxers representing the amateur crop were registered to fight. This large number of boxers required officials to run  as many as 40 bouts in each of the opening sessions.  Two rings ran bouts simultaneously.  The National AAU Team Title was at stake.  Local contenders included National Golden Glove champions George Foster and Billy  Joiner.

1978  - March 10. Aaron Pryor, The Hawk, undefeated with 14 wins made his debut at the Gardens as a professional. He knocked down Al Franklin three times in the third-round for a TKO and win number 15.  

1979 - June 23. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Aaron Pryor dispatched Jose Fernandez with a right uppercut in a 45-second fight at Cincinnati Gardens. Pryor might have made shorter work of his opponent, but he had promised Enquirer photographer Michael Keating the knockout would come in the cameraman's corner.

1980 - June 20.   Another KO by Aaron Pryor, who has become one of the most intimidating fighters of all time. The Hawk finished Carl Crowley in the first round at 2:15. Pryor's next opponent was Antonio Cervantes in August at Riverfront Coliseum.  The Hawk KO'd the Columbian in round-four to become the WBA Junior Welterweight Champion.

1983 - February 25.Undefeated Tommy Ayers KO'd his opponent in the second round scoring his 18th win and Cincinnati Heavyweight Tony TNT Tubbs, undefeated, beat his man by a TKO in round 7. Two year later Tubbs beat Greg Page to win the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Title.      1984 - September 22. Tommy Ayers at 24-1 with a #4 ranking coming off his first loss Ayers took on a formidable foe Roger Stafford

1990 - April 28. Buddy LaRosa, Rollie Schwartz and Phil Smith brought the regional Golden Glove championships to the Gardens. The winners of the 12 weight divisions moved on to fight for the National championship.  Amazingly, three Cincinnati boxers became 1990 National Golden Glove Champs;  Tim Austin, flyweight, Ravea Springs, light middleweight and Larry Donald, super heavyweight.  1990 was a great year for Cincinnati amateur boxers.  

2002 - February 24.  Famed Olympian, turned pro, Ricardo Williams Jr., a product of Taft High School was headliner for the ESPN2's Super Brawl Sunday held at the Gardens.  At 6 and 0 with 5 KO's it took Williams the full 10 rounds to win by unanimous decision over a determined Anthony Washington.  Locals, Stephen Pryor and John Rudolph also won their matches.

2008 - August 30.  A crowd of 6,000 came to the Gardens for former heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster's comeback fight against Danny Batchelder.  Brewster won with a fifth-round knockout. The undercard included local favorites, middleweight  Aaron Pryor Jr. and lightweight Adrien Bronner who both won their matches.  Pryor Jr. won by TKO in round three and Bronner,in his 2nd professional fight showed great promise with a 1st round knock-out, a TKO of David Warren Huffman at 1:20. This night the bell tolled for the last time as it was the finale for boxing at the Cincinnati Gardens.