Bannon-era fan favorite Joel Salvi on The Scarlet Spotlight podcast

[RUJON]

Great interview with the guy fans were wearing wigs for in the Y2K era. Joel talks about the Billets, Bannon, and his pro career in Italy among many topics.

Danny and I also review the busy weekend that was in Rutgers sports including hoops, lax, wresting, etc.

Listen here:



And as always were would love your comment and feedback below.

Enjoy, Jon

 

[RUChoppin]

One of my all time favorites at RU - great interview.

The close losses at SHU (15-15, 8-10) and vs. G'town (15-16, 6-12) down the stretch that year really torpedoed our chances on selection Sunday. Win those two, and we'd have been dancing at 21-11.

Would have liked to have heard him talk about the two SHU games he played in, and any memories he had of that rivalry.

 

[RUPete]

These podcasts are great. I'll need to check this one out at lunch.

 

[angmo]

Great interview. Lots of personality. Salvi was always a great spark when he came in.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

One of my all time favorites at RU - great interview.

The close losses at SHU (15-15, 8-10) and vs. G'town (15-16, 6-12) down the stretch that year really torpedoed our chances on selection Sunday. Win those two, and we'd have been dancing at 21-11.

Would have liked to have heard him talk about the two SHU games he played in, and any memories he had of that rivalry.

I think if we won one of those games, we would have danced. Both rank high among the most heartbreaking losses in RU hoops history.

 

[RUJON]

Yes, should have asked about The Hall rivalry.

Thanks for the great feedback.

 

[RUPete]

I think if we won one of those games, we would have danced. Both rank high among the most heartbreaking losses in RU hoops history.

We had the ball at the end with a chance to win or tie both.

 

[SHUSource]

That was really fun - nicely done, Jon and Danny.

Joel Salvi was one of those guys we loved to hate, which was obviously just in a basketball context. He had that crazy hair and used to be like a shot of triple espresso off the bench (which we hear now he hated). The actual guy is a funny, glib interview who really didn't blunt his words here at all. The bit with him and Bannon was priceless.

 

[RUJON]

Thanks, for the feedback. He was unplugged at its best.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

One of my faves, for sure. I remember meeting him at the Golden Rail....
These of the types of guests I hope the Court Club will try to get in the future.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

One of my faves, for sure. I remember meeting him at the Golden Rail....
These of the types of guests I hope the Court Club will try to get in the future.

Thanks for the fun interview.

 

[Night Man]

This was great. Great RU sports rundown after the interview too.

 

[RU848789]

I think if we won one of those games, we would have danced. Both rank high among the most heartbreaking losses in RU hoops history.

Agreed - we were that close, which was why CBS had a crew gauging the RU reaction, iirc. Brutal.

Who didn't love Salvi though? Great kid and competitor.

 

[Plum Street]

That was a great listen . Good job by the hosts and salvi, for being an honest . I was surprised about his lack of respect for hodgson and Geoff billet’s games. He wasn’t better than hodgson as he says.
Funny story about bannon in the bar . You wonder if bannon ran a tighter ship , and if salvi and the rest of the team were disciplined if they would have broken through .
Salvi was honest that he was just here to play basketball and party, and not particularly in that order .
Sad the dude lost his hair . But it happens to the best of us .
Best podcast I have heard here.

 

[RUDave_01]

I really enjoyed the podcast too and laughed out loud a few times. I appreciate the honesty, though it does change how I see those two teams. It's kind of sad that the program lost touch with players like Joel (though, it sounds like that might be partly on him too).

That '98-99 team was so close. They just fell a little short in those two end of year games... in each game, RU had the ball in the last minute or so with an opportunity to tie or win the game. Let's hope that the pain of that year can be finally put to rest in the next couple of years.

 

[Rutgers25]

That was a great listen . Good job by the hosts and salvi, for being an honest . I was surprised about his lack of respect for hodgson and Geoff billet’s games. He wasn’t better than hodgson as he says.
Funny story about bannon in the bar . You wonder if bannon ran a tighter ship , and if salvi and the rest of the team were disciplined if they would have broken through .
Salvi was honest that he was just here to play basketball and party, and not particularly in that order .
Sad the dude lost his hair . But it happens to the best of us .
Best podcast I have heard here.

Kind of a joke that he thought he was better than Hodgson. Also was surprised about how negative he was about the 99-00 team. Lot of hype going into that season. He totally downplayed having a sophomore Dahntay Jones and junior Jeff Greer.
Banning totally screwed up with Flores. Super talented kid who didn’t respond well to being berated. He needed a softer touch and Bannon only knew one way.

 

[RUJON]

Thanks again for all the great feedback guys.

 

[Plum Street]

Kind of a joke that he thought he was better than Hodgson. Also was surprised about how negative he was about the 99-00 team. Lot of hype going into that season. He totally downplayed having a sophomore Dahntay Jones and junior Jeff Greer.
Banning totally screwed up with Flores. Super talented kid who didn’t respond well to being berated. He needed a softer touch and Bannon only knew one way.

The preseason strip free throw story of the 99-00 team, that team’s stumble and the jones transfer sealed bannon’s fate. Of course rutgers kept him a season too long, missed on wright etc.

 

[Salvi's Headband]

Great interview!

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

Geoff Billet also used to frequent the bars...

 

[RUPete]

Kind of a joke that he thought he was better than Hodgson. Also was surprised about how negative he was about the 99-00 team. Lot of hype going into that season. He totally downplayed having a sophomore Dahntay Jones and junior Jeff Greer.
Banning totally screwed up with Flores. Super talented kid who didn’t respond well to being berated. He needed a softer touch and Bannon only knew one way.

I think you could put Tenys in that category with Flores as well. He had ability and you saw it come out at times (one game vs. Nova particularly stands out). After a while he became too gun shy and was afraid to make a mistake.

 

[RUPete]

Loved the interview! But I am shocked, absolutely shocked that one of our players frequented the Golden Rail. Now, I'm not surprised by the coach...

 

[RUJON]

Thanks. Lol.