Carl Rodwell

HTML <h2><strong>No</strong><strong> 31 CARL RODWELL</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>6 feet 9 inch (205</strong><strong>cm) Centre/Forward</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>1964, 1968 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Australia was playing Poland in their first game of the 1968 Mexico Olympic Basketball Qualification Tournament in Monterrey, Mexico. Poland was a tough, difficult and talented basketball nation and it had finished in 6thposition in the Tokyo Olympics four years before. This game was vital for the Australians to start off the tournament well and to gain confidence for the games ahead. Everything was going to plan and they led 41-29 at half-time, and by eleven points with ten minutes left in the game. The Australian Centre Carl Rodwell, who was now playing College basketball in the USA, was a dominant player for Australia so far in the game. Rodwell committed his fourth foul, however the official bench signalled that Rodwell had five fouls and was out of the game. The Australian Manager and team were keeping check scores and they knew the officials had made a mistake. The referees did much shoulder shrugging and arm waving to say “we can do nothing...it is the official bench call.” In addition the variety of languages and inability to understand each other became a factor. Reluctantly Rodwell had to leave the court. Without Rodwell on the floor the Poles were able to power over the smaller Australians and went on to win 68-64. That lossand the manner of the loss severely affected the Australian Team which was to go on and fail to qualify for the Olympic Finals in Mexico City.</p>

HTML <p>Clifford Carl Rodwell was born on the 12th of May 1944. He grew up in Cowra, central NSW. Carl was introduced to basketball by Gordon Rintoul a local school teacher who later became a NSW Junior Team Coach.European immigrants in the district also had a basketball influence on Carl. Cowra, although only a small community of four thousand, had an Army Camp during the Second World War which was converted into an immigration centre after the war. The displaced immigrants had learned basketball in Europe through US servicemen and had brought the game with them to their new home in Cowra.</p>

HTML <p>In 1961 with Carl leading the way Cowra won the NSW Under18 title. This proved to be no small feat since Cowra was such a small community and the team had beaten all the far larger communities in the state to capture the title. </p>

HTML <p>Carl Rodwell (Courtesy C. Rodwell)</p>

HTML <p>Carl was very tall for his age, and at near 6 feet 7 inches (203cm) and still growing at this stage showed outstanding potential and ability. Big men with skills were a rarity at this time on the basketball court in Australia.</p>

HTML <p>Carl was selected to represent NSW in 1960 and 1961 in the Under 18 National Championships. He moved to Sydney in 1962 to attend East Sydney Technical College and also to be coached by Charlie Amitt at the Eastern Suburbs Colts Club. </p>

HTML <p>In 1963 and 1964 he represented NSW at the senior level. In the NSW senior teams werefuture Olympian John Gardiner, and 1960 Olympians Terry Charlton, Ken Cole and Ross Graham.</p>

HTML <p>Carl’s progress was very rapid. His strength was now matching his skills and athleticism, and he was gaining much valued experience. So much so that he was</p>

HTML <p>selected on the Australian 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games Basketball Team. Carl’s time on court during the1964 Olympics was curtailed because of a bad ankle injury. The Australians lost only one game in the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Yokohama and then went to the Olympic Finals in Tokyo where they gained 9th place. The result astounded the basketball world and established Australia on the world basketball map. Carl’s top scoring games in Tokyo were 16 points against Korea and Uruguay. </p>

HTML <p>“The hospitality of the Japanese people was definitely one of the highlights for me,” remembers Carl. “The team performance was very encouraging for the future of Australian basketball.”</p>

HTML <p>Even before his selection on the 1964 Olympic Team, Carl realized at a young age that if he wanted to improve his skill and knowledge of the game he should pursue the possibility of going to the USA. After the 1964 Olympics, that opportunity was presented to Carl and he was awarded a scholarship in 1965 to attend the University of California at Riverside, California in the USA. </p>

HTML <p>At Riverside, he was a standout centre. At 6’9”in height Carl was tall, even by American standards. </p>

HTML <p> He was very mobile for a tall player, had silky skills, good hands, was a good passer and had a strong sense of the game. In one standout game he scored 30 points against a strong Cal State Fullerton team. </p>

HTML <p>Carl Rodwell scores in a US College game</p>

HTML <p>(Courtesy of C. Rodwell and UC Riverside)</p>

HTML <p>While at UC Riverside he broke his leg during the first season in which he set a new school single game record of 38 points. He averaged 20.4 points per game and was well on the way to break the school’s single season scoring and rebounding records. Even now he still remains on the Riverside College top ten for scoring and rebounds.</p>

HTML <p>Carl was still at Riverside University when he was selected to the Australian Basketball Team for 1968 Mexico Olympic team.</p>

HTML <p>Unfortunately Mexico proved to be a less than satisfactory geographical location for the Olympics. Many athletes the world over succumbed to the detriments of high altitude and unhygienic conditions. </p>

HTML <p>The Australian 1968 Olympic Basketball Team competed in the Olympic Qualification series held in Monterrey, Mexico.In a major incident in the first game in Monterrey Carl was incorrectly given five fouls by the score-bench when in fact he only had four fouls. Carl’s removal from the game when the Australians were in front against the Polish team was a huge factor in the Australians losing the game. </p>

HTML <p>Unfortunately the Australian Team did not qualify for the Olympic Finals held in Mexico City.</p>

HTML <p> After the 1968 Olympic Games Carl returned to UC Riverside where he graduated in April 1969. Upon graduation from UC Riverside, he was selected in the NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. It is thought that Carl was the first Australian player ever to be drafted to play in the NBA.</p>

HTML <p>In 1972 Carl incurred a traumatic back injury and this kept him from playing basketball for several years.</p>

HTML <p>Although the opportunity to play in Europe or Australia was available to Carl he opted to embark on a very successful thirty year career in sales and marketing with Joseph E. Seagram and Sons, a global leader in spirits, wine, beer and non alcohol products. That career took him all over the US and Company properties in Europe. </p>

HTML <p>He was also very active in youth programs, coaching sons Matthew, Mark and David.</p>

HTML <p> Carl continues to play senior basketball after his retirement and has participated in many United States Masters tournaments as well as numerous internationalMasters tournaments. This competition includes mostly ex top college players and many ex NBA players.</p>

HTML <p>Included in Carl’s accolades are multiple medals from World Masters Games in Australia, USA, New Zealand and Canada. He has also been selected to the All Tournament teams at the US National Masters Games in Florida on many occasions.</p>

HTML <p> In 1991, Carl was inducted into the University of California, Riverside Athletic Hall of Fame. </p>

HTML <p>Carl and his wife Judy currently live in the foothills of the scenic Colorado Rocky Mountains in Roxborough Park, Colorado, USA.</p>

HTML <p>Carl Rodwell (45) shoots in a game for US College game (C. Rodwell/ UC Riverside)</p>

HTML <p>Carl Rodwell (right) and Ken Cole departing for Tokyo (J. Heard)</p>