“Ball ’till I Fall,”
Tuesday, June 4th, 2013
Former Albany Great Dane Levi Levine (left) has followed basketball to the ends of the earth.
The legend goes that former University of Albany enforcer Levi Levine was once bitten by a Rattlesnake. After three days of intense and excruciating pain, the snake died.
It’s a story that has been told millions of times before when describing figures (both historic and fictional) whom have displayed seemingly superhuman toughness. Even when told about the immortal Chuck Norris, it’s a story that always told in tongue-and-cheek fashion.
Well, almost always.
When talking about Levine and superhuman feats of toughness and tenacity, the line between myth and man is blurred at best.
Levine’s 1,270 points, scored over a four-year career which spanned from 2002-2006, rank 4th in Albany’s Division I history and 16th all-time at the school. His 610 career rebounds rank first in among Division I Great Danes (8th in school history), while his 138 steals rank 3rd (two behind Jamar Wilson) and his 250 assists rank 5th in the school’s Division I history (8th and 19th among all divisions).
Impressive as they are, numbers don’t tell half of the story of Levine’s impact on his team and importance in Albany Basketball history and Great Danes’ lore. Listed at 6’6” but standing far closer to 6’3” and change, Levine roamed the deadwood floorboards of the America East as the ultimate teammate and the league’s ultimate warrior. (more…)
