Tweet
Was wondering where he went......
Little contract snag waylaid SDSU big man
August 6, 2006 Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Years ago, when he was living the dream, former South Dakota State University standout Steve Lingenfelter once played in the company of pro basketball's immortals.
On Nov. 19, 1982, he stepped onto the Great Western Forum court against Magic and Kareem, James Worthy and Jamaal Wilkes - and managed to score four points and grab a handful of rebounds.
Turns out that was the shining moment in a career that was ever so fleeting.
ADVERTISMENT
"I actually got into the game the first quarter," Lingenfelter, 49, recalls fro
m his home in Lakeville, Minn. "I came out of there pretty pumped up."
For all his college success at the University of Minnesota and, after transferring, at SDSU, the 6-foot-9 Twin Cities native never recaptured the glory at the highest professional level.
The 6-foot-9 forward was drafted in the second round by the Washington Bullets in 1981. The slow pace of his contract negotiations was the subject of a column by Argus Leader writer John Egan in the sports pages on Aug. 6, 1981.
"We couldn't come to an agreement," Lingenfelter says of that time. "So I didn't actually sign that first year."
Instead, he played in northern Italy with the Udine Tropic. A year later, he got a four-year contract with the Bullets, the first year guaranteed.
But that led to just a handful of games with the Bullets and, later, to a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
He ended up with the Wisconsin Flyers in the Continental Basketball Association, then overseas again for five more seasons before injuring both knees and quitting at age 30.
Lingenfelter now teaches special education in South St. Paul. He is divorced with a daughter and a son and says his biggest regret from his playing days was having to quit just when salaries began to skyrocket in the European leagues.
"The only disappointment for me was the timing with the money," he says. "The rest was a blast. I still got to see the world, so it was a pretty nice experience."
Little contract snag waylaid SDSU big man
August 6, 2006 Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Years ago, when he was living the dream, former South Dakota State University standout Steve Lingenfelter once played in the company of pro basketball's immortals.
On Nov. 19, 1982, he stepped onto the Great Western Forum court against Magic and Kareem, James Worthy and Jamaal Wilkes - and managed to score four points and grab a handful of rebounds.
Turns out that was the shining moment in a career that was ever so fleeting.
ADVERTISMENT
"I actually got into the game the first quarter," Lingenfelter, 49, recalls fro
m his home in Lakeville, Minn. "I came out of there pretty pumped up."
For all his college success at the University of Minnesota and, after transferring, at SDSU, the 6-foot-9 Twin Cities native never recaptured the glory at the highest professional level.
The 6-foot-9 forward was drafted in the second round by the Washington Bullets in 1981. The slow pace of his contract negotiations was the subject of a column by Argus Leader writer John Egan in the sports pages on Aug. 6, 1981.
"We couldn't come to an agreement," Lingenfelter says of that time. "So I didn't actually sign that first year."
Instead, he played in northern Italy with the Udine Tropic. A year later, he got a four-year contract with the Bullets, the first year guaranteed.
But that led to just a handful of games with the Bullets and, later, to a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
He ended up with the Wisconsin Flyers in the Continental Basketball Association, then overseas again for five more seasons before injuring both knees and quitting at age 30.
Lingenfelter now teaches special education in South St. Paul. He is divorced with a daughter and a son and says his biggest regret from his playing days was having to quit just when salaries began to skyrocket in the European leagues.
"The only disappointment for me was the timing with the money," he says. "The rest was a blast. I still got to see the world, so it was a pretty nice experience."
Comment