Ex-La Salle star Gola in critical condition

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Ex-La Salle star Gola in critical condition

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Associated Press


PHILADELPHIA -- Hall of Famer Tom Gola, college basketball's leading rebounder who led La Salle to the NIT and NCAA championships, was comatose and in critical condition Monday morning.

His wife, Caroline, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he had been in a coma since falling on July 25 and was in serious condition Sunday night. A nursing supervisor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania told The Associated Press early Monday that the 70-year-old Gola was in critical condition.

Gola lost his balance and hit his head on a curb while walking to a restaurant with his wife and two other couples, Caroline Gola said.

"It was so unbelievable," she said. "I never thought anything like this could happen to him."

Gola, who finished his college career with 2,201 rebounds, is one of only two players to win an NIT, NCAA and NBA championship, according to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

He was a three-time All-American who averaged 20.9 points and 18.7 rebounds for La Salle from 1952-55. The Explorers won the NIT championship in 1952 and the NCAA title two years later, when Gola was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

In his rookie season in the NBA, Gola helped lead the Philadelphia Warriors to the 1955-56 championship. He was a five-time All-Star during his nine-year career, which included four seasons with the New York Knicks. He interrupted his career from 1956-58 to serve in the military.

Gola also coached La Salle from 1968-70 and finished with a record of 37-13. His 1968-69 team went 23-1 but was ineligible for postseason play because of NCAA violations that had occurred under a previous coach. The school named its arena after him in 1998.

Gola was also involved in politics. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1966 and became Philadelphia city controller in 1970. He lost the Republican mayoral primary in 1983.

[u2sarajevo]

"Mr. All-around"

Alot of celebrity deaths lately.