Benny Anders
Encyclopedia
Benny Anders was a star player at the University of Houston
during the early 1980s and a member of the school's so-called Phi Slama Jama basketball fraternity that included Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler
, Michael Young
, Alvin Franklin, Reid Gettys
, and Larry Micheaux
.
, Anders was an all-state high school player in Bernice, Louisiana
. In high school, Anders earned the nickname "The Outlaw."
, Anders, who wore #32, was part of the great Guy Lewis
-coached Cougar teams that featured Hakeem (then Akeem) Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, both of whom would later rank among the top 50 NBA players of all time.
In Houston's 1983 NCAA championship game against North Carolina State University
, Anders scored 10 points of 4 of 9 shooting from the field.
On December 26, 1983, Anders, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward who Micheaux once described as "the best athlete on the team," left the University of Houston after complaining about a lack of playing time. He returned a month later.
Something of a curiosity, at the 1984 Final Four
in Seattle, Anders arrived wearing a tux with a pink bow-tie and cummerbund and sunglasses. After the University of Kentucky was eliminated from the tournament, their Wildcat fans adopted Anders, hoisting signs that read "Benny Anders for President."
In section 3A, page 76, of Chuck Klosterman
's 2009 book Eating the Dinosaur
, Klosterman claims Anders was kicked off of the University of Houston Basketball team, at least in part, after bringing a handgun to practice, and his whereabouts since are unknown, in Klosterman's paraphrasing of an ESPN
anniversary article by writer Robert Weintraub.
According to Klosterman's essay, Weintraub reported on various rumors regarding Anders' life since his time with the Cougars on page 76 of the essay: "Some claimed he was last seen in South America. Others say Chicago. Still others insist that he continues to play basketball on the streets of Louisiana, eating glass as a not-so-small Forward."
for Tanduay Rhum and South America.
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
during the early 1980s and a member of the school's so-called Phi Slama Jama basketball fraternity that included Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler
Clyde Drexler
Clyde Austin "Clyde The Glide" Drexler is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard and small forward. A ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA named him one of basketball's fifty greatest players as of 1996. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and...
, Michael Young
Michael Young (basketball)
Michael Wayne Young is a retired American basketball player. After a 15-year playing career spent in the NBA and overseas, he is currently the director of basketball operations and performance enhancement at the University of Houston, his alma mater.- College :Young, a native Houstonian, played...
, Alvin Franklin, Reid Gettys
Reid Gettys
A "set up man" in large part, Reid Gettys played a pivotal role in the success of the powerhouse Phi Slama Jama basketball teams at the University of Houston during the early-to-mid 1980s....
, and Larry Micheaux
Larry Micheaux
Larry Wayne Micheaux is a retired American professional basketball player.-College:An all-state basketball player as a senior at E. E...
.
High School
A cousin of former NBA legend Willis ReedWillis Reed
Willis Reed, Jr. is a retired American basketball player, coach and manager of basketball teams. He spent his entire professional playing career with the New York Knicks. In 1982, his outstanding record and achievements were recognized by his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall...
, Anders was an all-state high school player in Bernice, Louisiana
Bernice, Louisiana
Bernice is a town in Union Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,809 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. In high school, Anders earned the nickname "The Outlaw."
College
At the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, Anders, who wore #32, was part of the great Guy Lewis
Guy Lewis
Guy Vernon Lewis II is a former NCAA basketball coach who led the University of Houston Cougars program for 30 years from 1956-86.-Coaching career:...
-coached Cougar teams that featured Hakeem (then Akeem) Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, both of whom would later rank among the top 50 NBA players of all time.
In Houston's 1983 NCAA championship game against North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, Anders scored 10 points of 4 of 9 shooting from the field.
On December 26, 1983, Anders, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward who Micheaux once described as "the best athlete on the team," left the University of Houston after complaining about a lack of playing time. He returned a month later.
Something of a curiosity, at the 1984 Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
in Seattle, Anders arrived wearing a tux with a pink bow-tie and cummerbund and sunglasses. After the University of Kentucky was eliminated from the tournament, their Wildcat fans adopted Anders, hoisting signs that read "Benny Anders for President."
In section 3A, page 76, of Chuck Klosterman
Chuck Klosterman
Charles John "Chuck" Klosterman is an American author and essayist who has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Believer, and The Washington Post, and has written books focusing on American popular culture....
's 2009 book Eating the Dinosaur
Eating the Dinosaur
Eating the Dinosaur is the sixth book written by Chuck Klosterman, first published by Scribner in 2009. In the mold of Klosterman's earlier Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, the book is a collection of previously unpublished essays concerning an array of pop culture topics.-Essays:Eating the Dinosaur...
, Klosterman claims Anders was kicked off of the University of Houston Basketball team, at least in part, after bringing a handgun to practice, and his whereabouts since are unknown, in Klosterman's paraphrasing of an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
anniversary article by writer Robert Weintraub.
According to Klosterman's essay, Weintraub reported on various rumors regarding Anders' life since his time with the Cougars on page 76 of the essay: "Some claimed he was last seen in South America. Others say Chicago. Still others insist that he continues to play basketball on the streets of Louisiana, eating glass as a not-so-small Forward."
Professional
Following his collegiate career, Anders played professionally in the Philippine Basketball AssociationPhilippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
for Tanduay Rhum and South America.