Dave Magarity -- John Wayne

With all due respect to Mike Krzyzewski, there is only one Duke. But while Marion Morrison got his named changed, the king of westerns never did have a basketball court named after him.

John Wayne is without question one of the great big screen presences in the history of film. He is also an honorary member of the portly and stout club, although even I would not have wanted to piss off the Duke.

Even today his films are still enjoyed by millions. There is rarely a night when you cannot find a John Wayne film on one of your local cable channels.

Certainly his swagger and un-phased demeanor are still present today in picturesque Poughkeepsie, New York on the campus of Marist College. I'd like to think that, thrown back in time, I would easily corral even the toughest of the cattle rustlers.

It seems my passion for John Wayne movies is shared by many of my piers. We received a wagon full of emails and correspondence from coaches who fired off their favorite Wayne classics.

Even ESPN's Jay Bilas joined the posse. Perhaps Jay can do a nice feature for "College Hoops Tonight." He can call it, "Dave Magarity, the John Wayne of Coaches," with Iona's Jeff Ruland co-starring as the surly and burly bounty hunter hired to protect the railroad baron.

And, although the Duke never needed an extra gun, Jay could fill the role of the young aspiring gun fighter, which was played by such names as James Caan, Fabian, Jan Michael Vincent and others.

Now lets take a look at the selections submitted by some of my fellow gunslingers.

RICK BARNES (Texas) said his favorite was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." The legendary John Ford directed this film, which ranks among the greatest of its genre. A tremendous cast includes Jimmy Stewart and Lee Marvin. Singer Gene Pitney scored a big hit with the title song.

JAY BILAS (ESPN) and CRAIG ESHERICK (Georgetown) opted for "True Grit." We are introduced to Marshall Rooster Cogburn, which would later be the title for one of the Duke's final films. Wayne would win the Academy Award for his outstanding portrayal of a drunken, uncouth and determined man. I know a few guys that fit that description.

Rooster is hired by a headstrong young woman to hunt down the man that murdered her father. Robert Duvall has a small role in the film and Dennis Hopper has a bit part. Country western singer Glen Campbell sings the title song, while co-starring in the film as Texas Ranger.

TOM BRENNAN (Vermont), who would have played one of the railroad tycoons, chose "The Searchers" as his all-time favorite. The cinematography in this motion picture classic is outstanding. Easily one of the all-time classic western films, this movie was a big influence on the careers of future directors Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Paul Schrader and George Lucas.

Racism, obsession and paranoia are all prevalent in this powerful film, which centers around the long search for a young girl kidnapped by renegade Indians. In the movie's final scene, John Wayne walks through the threshold and grabs his elbow, which was a subtle tribute to director John Ford's close friend Harry Carey, Sr. who had recently passed away.

A big Marist College supporter, Steve Berner also emailed me to recommend this film for review.

TOM CONRAD (East Tennessee State assistant) wanted my thoughts on "The Sands of Iwo Jima." Well, I have written a few paragraphs without firing my six-shooter so I may as well take aim at my friend coach Conrad.

I don't know about the Sands of "Iwo Jima," but Tommy looks a little like something else that occasionally gets "beached" on the sand. I will have to send him a brochure for the Dave Magarity workout regiment -- 10 easy steps to being fit and trim.

As for the film, it had outstanding battle scenes for the era (1949), which helped to earn it four Oscar nominations, including John Wayne's first nomination for best actor.

BRUISER FLINT (Drexel) picked "The Sons of Katie Elder" as his favorite. This classic has a tremendous supporting cast, which included Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Earl Holliman and Dennis Hopper who played a more visible role in this film.

While the character of Katie Elder is never alive during the film, her maternal influence on her four sons, which included John Wayne, is a theme from the beginning to the conclusion of the film.

Outstanding choice, by Bruiser who made his screen debut in the basketball comedy, "The Sixth Man." I was impressed with Bruiser's sideline presence in the ghostly comedy.

STAN HEATH (Arkansas) said "The Cowboys" was his choice. One of Wayne's later films, "The Cowboys" featured such names as Bruce Dern, Slim Pickens and a very young Robert Carradine. The Duke plays Wil Anderson, a hard-nosed rancher who hires schoolboys for a 400-mile cattle drive.

The musical scores, arranged by the great composer and UCLA graduate John Williams, are tremendous.

BRAD HOLLAND (San Diego) and Ed Schilling (Wright State) selected "The Undefeated." No question that this is a title that we would all like to attach to our respective programs. In the case of coach Schilling it is especially fitting, as his Wright State Raiders recently knocked Butler off the list of the undefeated.

Terrific film about two Civil War veterans, played by Wayne and Rock Hudson, who were on opposite sides in the war, but form an alliance in the post war years. Released in 1969, the film includes two All-Pro NFL players of the time, Merlin Olson and Roman Gabriel. It was also one of the early roles for Lee Meriwether and Jan Michael Vincent who was known as just Michael Vincent at the time.

ANGELA LENTO (CollegeInsider.Com) went with a classic drama-adventure in "Hellfighters." This is a great film, which pays tribute to oil well fires and the men who have the job of putting out the flames. Wayne plays Chance Buckman, the best in the business.

Coaches all across the country can relate to one of the story lines, which finds Wayne's wife not being able to deal with his line of work. Sounds familiar, doesn't it coaches?

Bruce Cabot, Jim Hutton and Catherine Ross also star in this film, which has outstanding special effects.

LUTE OLSON (Arizona) chose "Rooster Cogburn." The sequel to "True Grit" features one of the great actresses of all time in Katharine Hepburn. She plays a church going woman who teams up with a crusty old gun fighter to avenge the death of her father.

Strother Martin, who coined the phrase, "What we have here is a failure to communicate," in the film "Cool Hand Luke," makes a cameo in this film.

Great choice by coach Olson.

TOM PENDERS (Another ESPN guy) picked one of my favorites, "Horse Soldiers." No question that coach Penders, who always tells it like it is, would have made a terrific character actor for some of the classic Wayne films.

This film was director John Ford's only film about the Civil War, which is based on the assault on Vicksburg in 1863. One of the great actors of all-time, William Holden also stars in this outstanding depiction of the times.

WILLIS WILSON (Rice) opted for "Rio Bravo." Wayne plays a no-nonsense Texas border sheriff who fights off ruthless mercenary gunmen in order to keep a murderer in custody.

This is an excellent film, which features singing star, Ricky Nelson. There is a great sing-along scene that includes the Duke. Dean Martin and Angie Dickinson also star.

FINAL CREDITS

Here are a few other John Wayne titles that I have decided to re-cast. You will undoubtedly recognize many of the substitute actors. I have included the original release dates in parenthesis.

BABY FACE (1933): The remake would feature Missouri's Quin Snyder who looks like a model.

WESTWARD HO (1935): Perhaps it would be best for me to not to suggest anyone for the second word of this title. I would be interested to hear whom the readers would cast in this role.

3 GODFATHERS (1948): No question, Jay Wright (Villanova), Rollie Massimino and Sal Mentesana (Lehigh) would headline in this one.

THE QUIET MAN (1952): The original is one of my all-time favorites. As for re-casting, perhaps it would be better to list those who would NOT fit the films title, which would include me, Bob Huggins (Cincinnati), Gary Williams (Maryland) and Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma). We have all been known to be just a little animated on the sidelines.

THE LONGEST DAY (1962): Cast anyone who has taken a trip to Cameron Indoor.

CIRCUS WORLD (1964): This would center on post-game press conferences and the some of the great questions fired off at coaches.

CAST A GIANT SHADOW (1966): Iona's Jeff Ruland is a walking eclipse of the sun.