Eric Erkins

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>No 2 </strong><strong>ERIK</strong><strong> ERKE</strong><strong>NS</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>1960 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>EriksErkens was born in Latvia in 1924. Latvia was invaded by the Russians in 1940 as part of the Pact with Germany and then by Germany in 1941 as they drove the Russians out and then again by the Russians in 1944 as part of a “liberation”. Like so many other future Australian basketball identities Erik and his family fled from the Russians to the American forces in Germany and were placed in Displaced Persons Camps before securing passage to Australia as refugees in 1948.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1949 the Latvian community in Adelaide decided that they should form a Latvian team and play in the local competition. The team was called Adelaide Latvian Sports (ALS) and future Olympians and Latvian refugees George and Mike Dancis were to become members of the club. Erik played with the club until he was badly injured in a railway shunting accident at his work. Erik’s days as a player at ALS were over and he became the coach of the team. This was around 1951 as Inga Freidenfelds the future 1956 Olympic basketball team captain and a Latvian refugee came to Adelaide in May 1952 and remembers that Eric was the coach of ALS at that time.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik married in Adelaide and had a daughter. Inga Freidenfelds remembers Erik as “never being much of a person for socialising and he (Erik) spent most of his after work hours studying and coaching basketball. He was a very dedicated and well liked coach and tactician and taught many the finer points of the game of basketball.”Erik was the coach of ALS up until late 1954 when they appointed a new coach –Augusts Rings who had recently arrived from Perth and had been playing back in Europe at a higher level.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>At that stage (1954) Erik became the coach of the Adelaide “VENTA” team which was founded earlier as a Latvian Youth’s Sports club, and which was the club that Inga Freidenfelds joined upon his arrival in Adelaide.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik was appointed to coach the South Australian State side and in 1953 won the Australian Championships when SA defeated Victoria (58-52) to win that State’s first ever national championship. Erik coached SA every year from 1952 to 1960. Under Erik and with the abilities of the refugee players from Europe domiciled in Adelaide, SA won the titles again in 1957, ’58, 59, and 1960. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>On the strength of his outstanding results with South Australia Erik was appointed as the Australian Olympic Coach for the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik decided that for the team to have any chance in the Olympics (they had first to win get through the Qualification Tournament) all the players should come to Adelaide to live, work and train. For most of the players this meant moving to Adelaide for three months. The players complied such was their determination to get to the Olympic Games. Most lived with other SA members of the Olympic team and some brought their wives with them. It was a hard and for most an expensive sacrifice as some had to get leave from work without pay or quit their jobs, as the players worked during the day, did shooting before work, did strength training, trained in the evenings and played in the Adelaide district competition as a team. Doug Harrison a fellow South Australian was the manager of the team and to him fell much of the work to co-ordinate the team in Adelaide as well as for the trip overseas. The team played games in Darwin, and the Philippines (against the national team) and then a practice game against Italy in Bologna, Italy.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Unfortunately the Australian team did not win a game in the Olympic Qualification tournament in Bologna and failed to qualify for the finals in Rome. They played against the Sudan for 17th position and won their only game of the tournament.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik and the team were very disappointed as they had worked so hard and sacrificed some much. The fact was that Australia was very far behind the better European countries and the Americas when it came to basketball. Their efforts were not in vain as the Australians knew what they had to do to get a better result in 4 years time in the Tokyo Olympic Games.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lindsay Gaze a member of the 1960 Olympic team remembers “upon arriving in Australia Erik immediately instructed his wife that they would only speak English in the home. He became a dedicated Aussie although never picked up the accent. He tried hard to pick up the Aussie humour as well but didn&#39;t quite make that either. &#160;Ross Graham a member of the 1960 team was about as “Ocker” as you could get and his favourite greeting when asked &quot;Owyagoin?&quot; would be &quot;Out in front and goin&#39; easy&quot;. One day after practice, Erik was trying to berate the team by criticising their effort and retorted, &quot;There is too much of this &quot;in the lead and taking your time&#39;.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>After the1960 Rome Olympics Erik moved to Melbourne where he coached the Southern Districts team in second division and got them promoted to first division. In 1966 and ’67 he coached the East Perth “Redbacks” in the Western Australian League.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Olympian Bruce Flick says “Erik made a major contribution to the Foundation Years of the development of Australian Basketball”.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lindsay Gaze tells a story about Erik and his dedication. “While shopping to select a set of uniforms for his club team in Melbourne, he suffered a mild heart attack and was rushed to hospital with one of his players by his side. When he recovered consciousness in the hospital the first words he uttered to his player was “We’ll take the brown set of uniforms.” Lindsay uses this story as an example of Erik’s commitment to the sport. Lindsay adds “I don’t know if I have ever met anyone who was more enthusiastic or loved the game more. For dedication, commitment and loyalty I don&#39;t know there was any who would surpass him.”</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik Erkens passed away November 2nd1980 in Melbourne.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik coached the ASK (Adelaide Latvians) during their glory days&#160; of the late 50s early 60s and on the strength of those results was appointed coach of the 1960 Olympic team. He migrated to Australia after the war and immediately instructed his wife they would only speak English in the home. He became a dedicated Aussie although never picked up the accent. He tried hard to pick up the Aussie humour as well but didn&#39;t quite make that either. &#160;Ross Graham was about as Ocker as you could get and his favourite greeting when asked &quot;owyagoin&quot; would be &quot;Out in front and goin&#39; easy&quot;. One day after practice Erik was trying to berate the team criticising their effort and &#160;retorted, &quot;There is too much of this &quot;in the lead and taking your time&#39;.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I do not know when Eriks was originally appointed to the SA State teams coaching position (perhaps in 1952 ???), but he most definitely was coaching the SA team in the 1953 championships in Adelaide when SA won the Australian title for the first time ever. From there on he coached the SA state sides every year until returning from the Rome Olympics qualifying games in 1960.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Latvian community in Adelaide decided in year 1949 that they should form a Latvian team and play in the local competition. The team was called &#160;Adelaide Latvian Sports ( ALS) and from what I can gather, George Dancis and EriksErkens may have been amongst the original players.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik worked under contract with the Railways and was badly injured in a shunting accident. This finished his playing days, and he became the coach of ALS.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p> I have not been able to establish the exact time when this took place, but I know for a fact that he was coaching ALS in May 1952 when I arrived in Adelaide, and he was the coach of ALS up until late 1954 when they appointed a new coach –Augusts Rings who had recently arrived from Perth and had been playing back in Europe at a higher level.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Eriks was born In Latvia in 1924.Came to Australia in 1948/49 .He got married here in Adelaide and had a daughter. He never was a person for much socialising and spent most of his after work hours in studying and coaching Basketball. He was a very dedicated and well liked coach and tactician helping most of his charges in the finer points of the game.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Eric Erkens a migrant from Latvia was the coach of the Adelaide Latvians when they were the dominating Australianclubin the late nineteen fifties</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik coached the ASK (Adelaide Latvians) during their glory days&#160; of the late 50s early 60s and on the strength of those results was appointed coach of the 1960 Olympic team. He migrated to Australia after the war and immediately instructed his wife they would only speak English in the home. He became a dedicated Aussie although never picked up the accent. He tried hard to pick up the Aussie humour as well but didn&#39;t quite make that either. &#160;Ross Graham was about as Ocker as you could get and his favourite greeting when asked &quot;owyagoin&quot; would be &quot;Out in front and goin&#39; easy&quot;. One day after practice Erik was trying to berate the team criticising their effort and &#160;retorted, &quot;There is too much of this &quot;in the lead and taking your time&#39;.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>After the1960 Rome Olympics Eric moved to Melbourne where he coached the Southern Districts team in second division and got them promoted to first division.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lindsay Gaze tells a story about Eric and his dedication. “While shopping to select a set of uniforms for his club team in Melbourne, he suffered a mild heart attack and was rushed to hospital with one of his players by his side. When he recovered consciousness in the hospital the first words he uttered to his player was “We’ll take the brown set of uniforms.” Lindsay uses this story as an example of Eric’s commitment to the sport.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lindsay adds “I don’t know if I have ever met anyone who was more enthusiastic or loved the game more.”</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Gunars (George) Berzerins who is a sports journalist in Adelaide would be the best person to tell you more about Erik. He is very fluent on Latvian basketball, particularly Latvian women&#39;s basketball and followed the ASK club when it was in existence. George Dancis would be able to pass on his contact details. Erik coached the ASK (Adelaide Latvians) during their glory days&#160; of the late 50s early 60s and on the strength of those results was appointed coach of the 1960 Olympic team. He migrated to Australia after the war and immediately instructed his wife they would only speak English in the home. He became a dedicated Aussie although never picked up the accent. He tried hard to pick up the Aussie humour as well but didn&#39;t quite make that either. &#160;Ross Graham was about as Ocker as you could get and his favourite greeting when asked &quot;owyagoin&quot; would be &quot;Out in front and goin&#39; easy&quot;. One day after practice Erik was trying to berate the team criticising their effort and &#160;retorted, &quot;There is too much of this &quot;in the lead and taking your time&#39;.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Somehow Erik&#39;s effort to translate Ross&#39; expression didn&#39;t work and the group cracked up.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I think it is fair to say the 1960 team started its Olympic preparation in quite reasonable fomr but by the time we had finished our preparation playing in the SA District competition and daily training, we had regressed to mediocrity. There were a number of one liners Erik expressed during his pre and post game talks that demonstrated his lack of international experience, but this should not be criticised as all members of the team and staff were in the same boat. I will leave it to others to mention any examples.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik moved to Melbourne and began coaching at our first division level and we became quite friendly, although there was not much evidence that this might happen during our Olympic training. Erik was unbelievably enthusiastic, but could never get in charge of a strong group. During his latter days he coached the &quot;Southern Districts Spartans who were borderline second / first division. I think the best example I can recall of Erik&#39;s enthusiasm was demonstrated when he and his American recruit went shopping for a team uniform.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Just as they were about to make a decision Erik suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital and took some time to regain consciousness. When he awoke the American recruit was by the bedside and the first words Erik uttered were, &quot;get the brown uniforms&quot; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik&#39;s health deteriorated and to me it seemed like his vital organs were collapsing one at a time. Although deathly ill he was still attending basketball games, supporting his old club and wanting to stay involved. He died peacefully, but it was so sad that at his funeral there were only three people in attendance (including me)</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I don&#39;t think Erik ever pretended to be a great coach, but for dedication, commitment and loyalty I don&#39;t know there was any who would surpass him</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I would not be surprised if other members of his teams would have contrasting stories to tell and I could add much more, but prefer that others did in order to get a wider impression of an interesting, but I think a somewhat lonely man.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Regards</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lindsay</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I don&#39;t think Erik coached Sandringham. The Southern Districts theoretically were based in Caulfield but they never really had a dedicated home and used Albert Park for their competitions.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Good luck with your new home.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lindsay</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>RE: Erik Erkins</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Enduring respect is the immediate thought that comes to mind when the name of Erik Erkins is mentioned in my presence.&#160; The opportunity to get to know Erik personally unfortunately did not eventuate throughout the period of our competitive involvement in representative basketball.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>What does endure is the continuing record of achievements of the South Australian Team, and especially how it was done,</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik made a major contribution to the Foundation Years of the development of Australian Basketball. Similarly, as did Harry Burgess.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Regards</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Bruce Flick</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>After the 1960 Rome Olympics Eric moved to Melbourne</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Unfortunately, after perusing all of my paraphernalia and discussing the history with people that may have been able to tell me about the times before I arrived in Adelaide in mid 1952,I will not be in a position to fully give you all the information you are seeking, but by taking whatever I can give you and enhancing it with info obtained from others you may be able to put a reasonable picture together</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Latvian community in Adelaide decided in year 1949 that they should form a Latvian team and play in the local competition. The team was called &#160;Adelaide Latvian Sports ( ALS) and from what I can gather, George Dancis and EriksErkens may have been amongst the original players.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Erik worked under contract with the Railways and was badly injured in a shunting accident. This finished his playing days, and he became the coach of ALS. I have not been able to establish the exact time when this took place, but I know for a fact that he was coaching ALS in May 1952 when I arrived in Adelaide, and he was the coach of ALS up until late 1954 when they appointed a new coach –Augusts Rings who had recently arrived from Perth and had been playing back in Europe at a higher level.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>At that stage Eriks became the coach of the Adelaide “VENTA” team which was founded earlier as a Latvian Youth’s Sports club, and which was the club I joined upon arrival in Adelaide.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I do not know when Eriks was originally appointed to the SA State teams coaching position (perhaps in 1952 ???), but he most definitely was coaching the SA team in the 1953 championships in Adelaide when SA won the Australian title for the first time ever. From there on he coached the SA state sides every year until returning from the Rome Olympics qualifying games in 1960.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Eriks was the SA State Team’s coach following the SA team’s win in 1953,losing at the games in 1954 and 1955, but then enjoying the 1957,1958,1959 successive titles.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1959 he was appointed the Coach for the 1960 Rome Olympics team. Erik retired from all coaching positions at the end of 1960.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Eriks was born In Latvia in 1924.Came to Australia in 1948/49 .He got married here in Adelaide and had a daughter. He never was a person for much socialising and spent most of his after work hours in studying and coaching Basketball. He was a very dedicated and well liked coach and tactician helping most of his charges in the finer points of the game.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Doug Harrison</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>I believe became the manager of the SA state team in 1954 and held this position until after the Rome qualifying games. He was a very efficient and well liked manager by everyone. Doug also held the SAABA secretarial position since 1954.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>This is about all I can tell you about Doug as I have no other information on him and we did not socialise with him or his family.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Hoping that this may be of some assistance to you,</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Regards,&#160; Inga.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>That will definitely be a challenge but I will try and do a bit more research. I may have made a mistake in the number of people attending his funeral because it was much the same for the funeral of Jay Bremmer who coached in&#160; Perth and struggling clubs in Melbourne as well. Jay got out of his hospital bed to attend an NBL game and then went back into hospital and died a few days later. He showed great courage as his body gave way an organ at a time while Eric&#39;s kidneys and liver took him down.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The little I can tell you about Doug Harrison was he was an avid consumer of alcohol and knew very little about how basketball was played. A good contrast to Erik, who never drank (or not that I can ever remember).</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lindsay </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>We commissioned a student to do his thesis on the history of Victorian basketball, for which he got an honours &#160;for his Masters degree. I thought he did well but like most thseis was a bit &quot;dry&quot;. My intention was to pass on the work to a quality sport&#39;s journalist and turn it into a more &quot;popular&quot; read. I never got around to doing that. I have often thought about writing a history of the sport, but have never come to grips with what feature would be most suitable. I don&#39;t want to do anything like Al Ramsay&#39;s effort, but more inclined to focus on the evolution of the competitions, the events and personalities. There are so many different &quot;themes&quot; I haven&#39;t got my head around the most suitable scenario and therefore have done nothing. I might be getting lazy. I have finished re-writing my coaching book with the document sitting in the computer for over a year now as IO have not found the time to produce the photos (probably about a morning&#39;s work for a good photographer) Access to a suitable gym and availability of players is my excuse. The publisher has been very patient but probably given up by now.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I will give writing a bit more thought and maybe get motivated.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I was aware of Toli&#39;s parental background but he was always reluctant to provide details of his birth place. I think his story is very similar to a lot of the migrants who came to Australia shortly after the war. I don&#39;t know if you have heard of Vic Soha, one of the better Lithuanian players from those early years. At least I always thought he was Lithuanian, but I later discovered he was more Ukranian (mix marriage parents and refugee during the war). The games he played as a kid growing up was dropping Molotov cocktails into the petrol tanks of German trucks while the drivers were otherwise occupied. Quite different to the games we played.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>regards</p>