Marquette basketball player John Glaser becomes voice on message board
NBA prospect Tyler Kolek talks about how he overcame all adversities to climb the draft list
Marquette guard Tyler Kolek talks about his journey in basketball and what makes him an outstanding player.
John Glaser loved to throw himself into a crowd and cause trouble.
That was what made him one of Marquette’s all-time best rebounders on the basketball court. That was also true later in life, when he found his voice as a prolific poster on one of the often vocal message boards surrounding MU basketball.
Glaser died earlier this week at the age of 87, leaving behind a unique legacy.
Glaser first became known as one of Marquette University High School’s greatest athletes. He was an accomplished high jumper and pole vaulter on the track team and used that leaping ability to his role in basketball as well, while tirelessly chasing rebounds. Glaser helped MUHS to the 1954 state basketball championship for private schools under legendary coach Jim Harding.
Glaser then went to MU and competed for the basketball and track teams. He left MU as No. 2 on the all-time rebounding list, which is impressive for a 6-foot-3 guy.
“His jumping ability was unparalleled,” said Pat Foran, a chronicler of MUHS athletics history. “It wasn’t a statistic that was often listed in the 1950s, especially at the high school level, but he was an outstanding rebounder. Which he took advantage of in his college career.”
Glaser began coaching in the Chicago area and returned to MUHS as head coach in 1961. In six seasons, he led the Hilltoppers to state championships in 1965 and 1967.
Glaser gave up his coaching career in 1967 and moved into the financial sector.
“I can tell you, his players loved him,” Foran said. “The Jesuits like to talk about ‘men for others,’ and he was certainly a model of service.”
“He was talented. He was a very, very good student. I would like to say that while he was at Marquette University, he studied business.”
Glaser expressed his clear opinion on the MarquetteHoops.com message board
John Dodds knew Glaser all his life.
Dodds’ father, Malcolm, was the MUHS basketball coach before Glaser. Malcolm Dodds and Harding, Glaser’s MUHS coach, were close friends. Harding later coached the Minnesota Pipers in the American Basketball Association.
“Because Jim Harding was like Uncle Jim to me and Jim Harding was a mentor to (Glaser), I saw (Glaser) my whole life,” Dodds said. “So John Glaser was a household name in our house.”
John Dodds started a message board about basketball at Marquette in 1999. Glaser, always a passionate supporter of athletics, was there from the beginning as a poster and followed the various developments of the board.
Dodds’ message board is now hosted by 247Sports and Glaser was a fixture on the site until a few months ago.
Glaser posted under the pseudonyms “Gr8one” and “Murfeus”, but was best known as “Murf”.
“I asked him about five times (why he chose that name) and he gave me crazy answers,” Dodds said. “But for him, it was kind of an inside joke.”
Glaser became a figure known for his outlandish views, including a strict aversion to zone defenses and a belief that good taping could prevent ankle or knee injuries.
“He loved to throw kerosene on campfires,” Dodds said. “Marquette signed Travis Diener. And he said, ‘I saw Diener in the AAU and he’s just a regular guard.’
“So the place, the board, just went crazy. He was very stubborn and loved to instigate people. I would say, John, I want insight, fight, not incite, quote.”
Glaser also knew the MU basketball program for a long time and intimately.
“He really knew basketball because he coached and played,” Dodds said. “So I said, ‘Hey, John, can you tell me a story about Tex Winter when you were in high school and watching him when he was the youngest coach in Division 1 when he was at Marquette. He was 29 years old.
“Tell me about Jack Nagle (Glaser’s coach at MU). Tell me about (MU basketball legend) Don Kojis. And when you started watching from afar, tell me about (former MU coach) Eddie Hickey.”
Dodds said former MU coach Tom Crean recently asked Dodds’ board about “Murf” because Glaser always drove Crean crazy with his criticism.
Then there was the Marquette basketball team’s 90th anniversary party in 2007. Former players from every MU era sought out Glaser at a party and wanted to talk about his rebounding skills, but also his message board personality.
“John’s wife Jane was there and a couple of guys wanted to come over and say, ‘John, we need to talk to you about what you’re saying on the forum,'” Dodds said. “And his wife said, ‘Oh no, not that message board again.’
“And he just had this really kind of evil grin, like, ‘This is exactly what I wanted to do.'”
The Price Is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won’t Save the Planet – Book Review
Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed explore love, loss and the afterlife
Indian families deceived in Russia’s war hope Modi will bring them home | News on Russia-Ukraine war
About The Author
