Ron Putzi The Province Newspaper's "Player of the Decade" and all-time "Dream Team"

On this episode of Interviews with Anthony Beyrouti, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Ron Putzi, the Basketball BC Hall of Fame Inductee.    Ron Putzi started his elite basketball journey at Richmond High School where he was coached by Bill Disbrow. Ron captained the Super Colts to the Provincial Championships in 1987 and 1988. Ron ‘Putzi’ was selected MVP of those 1988 Provincials and subsequently named BC Junior Male Athlete of the Year. That same year he scored a famed tournament record 61 points in the final of the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. He was later honored as a member of The Province newspaper’s all-time “Dream Team” and “Player of the Decade.”   Ron received a 5-year, Division 1 scholarship to play for New Mexico State University where the Aggies became Big West Conference Champions, received 4 NCAA Tournament bids, and reached The Sweet 16 in 1992.   Ron graduated from New Mexico State University with a BA degree in Finance & International Business (Hon. Econ).   In the Aggies’ off season, Ron played two summers with the Canadian National Team (FISU). With this team he played in the World Basketball League, NBA Summer League, and received the silver medal at the World University Games in Sheffield, England.   Ron played professional basketball for 10 years in Europe – specifically Switzerland – where his teams reached 7 National Finals, including winning the Swiss National Championship in 2000. Along with being the top scorer and winning the Canada Games gold medal, he played in the “Magic” Johnson Pepsi All-Star game in Zurich, Switzerland 1994 (Mark Aguirre, Kurt Rambis etc). Ron scored 10 points while Earvin Johnson scored 22.   Later, coaching alongside 2x Olympian Howard Kelsey & Q.C. Wally Oppal, (Att. Gen. of BC) Ron won a Gold medal at the World Police & Fire Games.   In 2018, Ron was inducted into the Basketball BC Hall Of Fame & Richmond Sports Wall of Fame (Athlete).   Aside from Putzi's basketball achievements, he is an accomplished athlete. Putzi has completed three Iron Man Triathlons in 2010-2012. He completed the Vancouver Sun Run 10 Km three times, he cycled from Vancouver to Whistler in the RBC Granfondo Canada Whistler four times, and completed many Kayaking and Canoeing adventures that last up to 7 days on the water. He competed in additional races and competitions including other marathons, and triathlons around BC, as wells as many Dunk Championships at local tournaments.    Read his full Bio at: http://www.putzi.ca/basketball-resume