Linda Gamble (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Linda Gamble was an American women's basketball
player of the 1960's and 1970's
, and Pan American Games
silver medal
ist in 1971
. She is considered one of the female pioneers in the sport, having helped bring women's basketball international attention.
, and gained attention for her athletic abilities during high school. She would later, in 1980
, be inducted into the Louisiana High School Athletics Hall of Fame
. That same year Joe Ferguson
was also inducted. She attended college at Ouachita Baptist University
, where she played both basketball and tennis
, and was named the National College Rookie of the Year in basketball for the 1968
-'69
season. Under Head Coach Carolyn Moffit, Gamble led Ouachita Baptist to 48 regular season victories in three seasons, and a fourth place national finish during her freshman
season, and third place national finish in 1970
. In 2007
she was inducted into the Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Hall of Fame, joining other graduates from that university, to include former Dallas Cowboys
star Cliff Harris
.
Gamble went on to play for the USA Pan American team of 1971, in Cali, Colombia
, where they finished second to Brazil
, winning a silver medal. Although both the Brazil and USA teams finished with a 5-1 record, following Brazil being upset by Canada
, Brazil was awarded the gold medal
because they had defeated the USA team in the first game of the series. Gamble led the USA team during the games, averaging 20 points per game. They would go on to compete in the 1971 Women's World Championship, held in Brazil, where they finished a disappointing eighth. The success of that team and others brought women's basketball to the attention of the International Olympic Committee
, and in 1976
women's basketball was added to the Olympic Games
. At that time, she was one of the top women's players in the nation. She has since been named on the "All-Time USA Women's Basketball Team Roster". By the mid-1970s she went into coaching. She would eventually coach for over thirty years, mostly in Texas
.
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
player of the 1960's and 1970's
1970s in sports
-Major events:The 1970s will be forever associated in terms of sport with the great Pittsburgh Steelers teams of that decade.The 1970s was known for three renegade sports leagues that challenged older, established organizations in need of an energy boost and fresh perspective on their respective...
, and Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
ist in 1971
1971 in sports
1971 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Gustav Thöni, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria-American football:...
. She is considered one of the female pioneers in the sport, having helped bring women's basketball international attention.
Basketball career
Gamble was born and raised in Grand Cane, LouisianaGrand Cane, Louisiana
Grand Cane is a village in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 191 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and gained attention for her athletic abilities during high school. She would later, in 1980
1980 in sports
1980 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Andreas Wenzel, Liechtenstein** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein...
, be inducted into the Louisiana High School Athletics Hall of Fame
Louisiana High School Athletic Association
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is the agency which regulates and promotes the interscholastic athletic competitions of all high schools in the state of Louisiana.- Organization :...
. That same year Joe Ferguson
Joe Ferguson
Joseph Carlton Ferguson, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Ferguson played college football at the University of Arkansas, where he still holds the school's single game record for most completions and in that same season was named the Southwest Conference's Offensive...
was also inducted. She attended college at Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University is a private, liberal arts, undergraduate institution located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, which is about 65 miles southwest of Little Rock. The university's name is taken from the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern campus boundary. It is affiliated with the Arkansas...
, where she played both basketball and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and was named the National College Rookie of the Year in basketball for the 1968
1968 in sports
1968 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall champion: Jean-Claude Killy, France** Women's overall champion: Nancy Greene, Canada-American football:...
-'69
1969 in sports
1969 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall champion: Karl Schranz, Austria** Women's overall champion: Gertrud Gabl, Austria-American football:...
season. Under Head Coach Carolyn Moffit, Gamble led Ouachita Baptist to 48 regular season victories in three seasons, and a fourth place national finish during her freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
season, and third place national finish in 1970
1970 in sports
1970 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion – Karl Schranz, Austria** Women's overall season champion – Michèle Jacot, France-American football:...
. In 2007
2007 in sports
2007 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* February 4 – Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win was the Colts' first Super Bowl Championship since their 1970-71 team, when...
she was inducted into the Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Hall of Fame, joining other graduates from that university, to include former Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
star Cliff Harris
Cliff Harris
Clifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...
.
Gamble went on to play for the USA Pan American team of 1971, in Cali, Colombia
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
, where they finished second to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, winning a silver medal. Although both the Brazil and USA teams finished with a 5-1 record, following Brazil being upset by Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Brazil was awarded the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
because they had defeated the USA team in the first game of the series. Gamble led the USA team during the games, averaging 20 points per game. They would go on to compete in the 1971 Women's World Championship, held in Brazil, where they finished a disappointing eighth. The success of that team and others brought women's basketball to the attention of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
, and in 1976
1976 in sports
1976 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Rosi Mittermaier, West Germany-American football:...
women's basketball was added to the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. At that time, she was one of the top women's players in the nation. She has since been named on the "All-Time USA Women's Basketball Team Roster". By the mid-1970s she went into coaching. She would eventually coach for over thirty years, mostly in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.