With Spitz and the Spathas boys, a walk down memory lane

Jeff Spathas, Marty Spathas, Matt Spathas, Walt Spitznagel, Jim Johnston

A rare occasion: All three Spathas boys are in legendary Claudia’s Tavern, Portland’s first sports bar.

An even more rare occasion: Walt Spitznagel, who coached Claudia’s AAU basketball teams for 23 glorious seasons from 1963-85, is in the house.

“I see you’re enjoying a refreshing Claudia’s adult beverage,” Matt Spathas, the oldest of the Spathas brothers, tells Spitznagel.

“I haven’t changed,” cracks Spitznagel, quick with the wit at 94.

“But you can’t go to sleep on us, Spitz,” says Jim Johnston, now 75 but once a feisty guard for the Claudia’s quintet. “No napping now.”

This is a mini-reunion of a special group of people. Gene Spathas was long-time proprietor of Claudia’s, which opened its doors in 1968, the year the Baltimore Colts beat the New York Giants in overtime for the NFL championship in the “greatest game ever played.”

Claudia Spathas was Gene’s first wife.

Gene and Claudia Spathas in 1957 (courtesy Spathas family)

“Dad told her, ‘If you marry me, I’ll put your name up in lights,’ ” says Marty Spathas, Gene’s youngest and the current owner. And sure enough, if you look at the sign in front of the tavern, there’s Claudia’s name.

Claudia died of cancer in 1971, when Marty was five. Thirty years later, he took over his father’s business. Gene died at age 76 in 2009.

The restaurant/bar business is about survival. For 64 years, Claudia’s Tavern has stood the test of time, delivering “Boss burgers” and legions of ale to its customers, who gather not only to play video poker but also to watch sports on the bar’s 21 television monitors. Marty, now 56, presides over the scene of merriment and mayhem with at least a degree of bemusement.

Joining Marty today at his establishment are his brothers. Jeff Spathas, 61, has been one of the Portland area’s most respected dentists for 35 years. Matt Spathas, soon to be 64, has been a leader in the San Diego commercial real estate market since 1983.

The middle one tells me, “There’s not Jeff Spathas without Claudia’s Tavern.” It’s a good line, but what does it mean? When Jeff can’t come up with an explanation, we move on.

Jeff remembers, as a kid, going to a Claudia’s game when they met their biggest rival, Dr. Bernard’s, a local dentist who sponsored the team.

“He wasn’t a big influence on me,” Jeff confesses. “I never even met Dr. Bernard.”

Jeff was an all-city offensive tackle at Benson who still isn’t over the Techmen’s 55-7 loss to Corvallis in the first round of the 1978 state playoffs. He got his degree in biology at Oregon State, though “I absolutely hated biology.” He was a student when Oregon State had the worst four-year record in school history (and maybe in FBS history — 3-40-1) but also when the “Orange Express” started 26-0 and were ranked No. 1 in the nation in 1980-81. Jeff pulled an unforgivable scam during the basketball season as other students stood in line to gain entry to games.

“My fraternity brothers would give me their jackets, and I’d go in with one of Dad’s reserved tickets,” Jeff says. “I’d lay out the jackets so they could all have seats at midcourt when they were able to get in when they let students in. If anybody asked, I’d say, ‘They’re just getting a Coke.”

Jeff began his dental practice in an office adjacent to Providence Medical Center in Northeast Portland in 1987, sharing an office with his family dentist, Whitey Dahl.

“He had five rooms, I had one,” Spathas says. “I was working out of one room without a dental assistant at first. I rented space from him until he retired in 1995; then I bought his practice.”

As the oldest brother, Matt Spathas led the family charge into sports. He was a three-sport athlete at Washington High, a slashing halfback in football, a rugged swing man in basketball and an all-city first baseman in baseball. Matt went on to pitch a fall season of junior varsity ball at Oregon State before giving up his diamond togs after a knee injury, but he had one more memorable moment in the sporting world. He suited up for Claudia’s in one game while a junior at Oregon State in 1979, against the OSU JVs at Gill Coliseum before a sold-out varsity showdown with UCLA. Spitznagel was short on bodies and called into action Matt and former Washington High teammate Billy Holt.

“I was in Dixon Rec Center shape, but not in Oregon State full-court press trapping shape,” Matt says. He went scoreless on 0-for-1 shooting, but Claudia’s prevailed.

Upon graduation from OSU, Matt worked a couple of years in the Portland real estate market before venturing south to begin a SoCal career that has spanned four glorious decades.

Young Marty was also an athlete in high school, playing varsity basketball for the legendary Dick Gray as a senior at Benson. A spunky 5-10 1/2 guard, Marty earned more playing time as the season wore on, corralling a starting job the second half of the campaign. “Dick liked my enthusiasm,” Marty says.

Marty was also popular as music maestro for the Techmen road trip.

“Matt’s friend, Charles Bedford, owned a record store,” Marty says. “I’d go there after closing and borrow some demo records. I’d stay up all night recording them on cassette tapes. Then I’d bring them on the bus the next day. The brothers all loved it. They relied on me for good tunes.”

Marty followed his own brothers to Oregon State and Delta Tau Delta fraternity, graduating in sociology in 1989. The following year, while working a shift for his dad at Claudia’s, he was watching the TV news before  Monday Night football.

“They were interviewing some of my fraternity brothers, who had taken down the goalposts (after the Beavers’ only victory of the ’90 season, over Arizona) at Parker Stadium two days earlier,” Marty says. “They’d put it up in the yard at their live-out house. They had a live shot of them walking into the house. I thought, ‘Oh my God, those are my guys.’ ”

Marty says owning and operating Claudia’s “was never a dream of mine. I was going to go to real estate school. My dad started having health problems. I had to jump in to help him out and never got out of it.”

Marty managed the tavern for years before taking over ownership in 2001.

“I’ve been here longer than my dad ever was,” he says. Many customers have come through Claudia’s over the past 20 years who knew Marty’s parents.

“One guy told me my mom was the disciplinarian,” Marty says. “Dad was the social guy.”

Sports used to be a big part of Marty’s life. Not as much anymore, he claims.

“To be honest, I’m kind of burned me out on sports,” he says. “I’m around it all the time (in Claudia’s). I hear people yelling and screaming. I’m kind of out of touch because I’m always working. I don’t see a lot of games anymore.’

But then the truth comes out: “I love being at home in my man cave, watching games.”

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Together, the Spathas boys carry on the legacy their father began and support the memories provided by the Claudia’s team that ruled the Oregon AAU hoop circuit from 1963-85. Collectively, they have become supporting sponsors of the kerryeggers.com website. Next time you see one of them, give them a hearty “thank you.”

On hand today at Claudia’s are Spitznagel, who directed his teams with a less than iron fist through their entire 23 years of existence. And with him is Johnston, who played more seasons for Spitz (eight) than any other cager who wore the Claudia’s garb. Johnston is a former Idaho guard who played with other Portland AAU teams until joining Claudia’s at age 29.

“Finally one year I decided I was going to call up Walt,” Johnston says. “He said, ‘We’re practicing at Wilson High School tonight. Show up.’ It just kind of evolved from there.”

Spitznagel’s credentials are shiny. Under his direction, Claudia’s won 14 city league (Portland Basketball Association) championships, eight state AAU titles and one Northwest Regional crown. “Not bad for a local tavern,” notes a 2014 documentary made on the Claudia’s dynasty.

Through the ‘60s and ‘70s, AAU basketball was big stuff. Until 1967, there were only 10 teams in the NBA. The CBA didn’t become the NBA’s developmental league until 1980. European basketball was a possibility for a select few. For former college players with aspirations of turning pro — or who simply wanted to play more high-quality basketball — AAU ball “was the place to play,” says Frank Peters, the former Oregon State star who played five years for Claudia’s. “And for guys in Oregon, Claudia’s was the team to be on. The main inspiration was Walt Spitznagel.”

When you look up “character” in a digital encyclopedia, Spitz’s smiling photo pops up.

“Walt was special,” says Steve Philpott, who played six years for Claudia’s.

“Spitz was a classic,” says Doug Oxsen, the ex-Oregon State big man who was with Claudia’s two years.

“Walt is a character,” says Greg Smith, the former Blazer who played four seasons for Claudia’s after his NBA career ended.

Former Blazer Greg Smith (33) skies for a rebound. Smith, who won a championship ring as a starting forward for the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks and later played with the Trail Blazers, spent four seasons with Claudia’s (courtesy Spathas family)

“He was off the wall,” says Dale Schlueter, who actually played for Claudia’s before making a return to the Blazers in 1978.

Spitznagel’s career included stints working as a longshoreman, as a parimutuel clerk at Multnomah Kennel Club and operating a grocery store. But his avocation was coaching.

“He loved it so much,” said Pudgy Hunt, who spent seven seasons with the Claudia’s contingent. “That was his whole life.”

Pudgy Hunt goes up for rebound. The former Knappa High star played the first seven seasons for Claudia’s (courtesy Spathas family)

Spitz began his coaching career with the Milwaukie Merchants of amateur baseball in the late ‘50s. He says his team won the regional championship and went to nationals one year. By 1963, though, Spitz was looking for a new challenge. He reached out to Gene Spathas.

“Gene had an AAU (basketball) team, but it wasn’t winning,” Spitz recalls. “I went to Gene and he said, ‘Yeah, I’d like to have a winning team. You’re hired.’ ” 

Spitz immediately got after it in recruiting some of the region’s better talent.

“Some people thought (Claudia’s) was a florist outfit or something,” Spitz says. “They were surprised how great a team I could come up with with our sponsor a local tavern.”

Before we go further, we should mention Spitznagel’s propensity for landing free tickets to sporting events. There may never have been a bigger freeloader at Blazer games in Memorial Coliseum, or anywhere else.

“People were inside (the arena) early, getting drinks and stuff,” Spitz says. “So we’d stand outside, and then somebody would leave the building for a smoke or something and get a stamp on their hand for re-entry. When you knew somebody, you’d ask, ‘Can we borrow your stamp?”

“Security was a little lighter in those days,” Matt Spathas notes.

Spitznagel’s recruiting pitch as the years went on was simple. We play more games than anybody — 60 or so in a season. We’re good. If you want to play with good players, join up.

“We had good players,” Spitz says, further noting, “You don’t win with hay-shakers. You had to make a decision what you wanted to do. We always wanted to win, so we tried to get the best players.”

Spitz had one more selling point — free eats and beer at Claudia’s after each game.

“That was part of the fun, being able to sit around and socialize for a couple of hours,” Johnston says.

Gene Spathas was an Oregon State fan, and Spitznagel made connections in Corvallis with coaches Slats Gill, Paul Valenti, Jimmy Anderson and Ralph Miller.

“We had a pipeline to Oregon State,” Spitz says. “All those guys wanted to stay in the area and play some high-level ball.”

Spitznagel courted the best of the best for Claudia’s. He struck out on two all-time greats — Terry Baker and Mel Counts (courtesy Spathas family)

Some 23 former Beavers played for Claudia’s over the years, including Peters, Jim Jarvis, Steve Pauly, Ray Blume and Mark Radford. Spitznagel, a University of Portland grad, worked The Bluff for such talent as Cincy Powell, Rick Raivio, Milt Adams, Stan Talley and Leonard Williams. There were 13 ex-Ducks who wore Claudia’s unis, too, including Jim Barnett, Chuck Rask and Nick and Steve Jones.

A dozen Claudia’s players saw time in the NBA, and a 13th, Powell, enjoyed an eight-year career in the old ABA. Blume, Radford, Barnett, the Jones brothers, Greg Smith, Dale Schlueter, Leroy Ellis, Tom Workman, LaRue Martin, Jim Marsh and Phil Lumpkin all played in the NBA.

“Some other AAU teams complained that we were recruiting NBA players,” Spitz spits. “Well, how the hell do you expect to win if you don’t get the best players?”

In 1978, when Smith and Schlueter were playing for Claudia’s and the Blazers were in the throes of an injury-riddled season, Sports Illustrated noted in an NBA article that “at this stage, they might be hard-pressed to stop Claudia’s.”

“We were trying to get some ink,” Spitz says today with a smile. “That’s the best you can get.”

Urban legend is that Spitz has the SI article framed and hung above his bed at home in Clackamas.

And then, the Blazers — needing a big body — signed Schlueter, who played the final 10 games of his 10-year NBA career for them late in the season.

“Spitz may have considered that his biggest achievement,” Johnston says, “getting a player to the NBA.”

Spitznagel did all the organizing, but it’s fair to say game coaching wasn’t much necessary.

No chore was too small for coach Walt Spitznagel when a game was coming up (courtesy Spathas family)

“Spitz always had a lot of talent,” says Rob Closs, the former Oregon guard who played two seasons with Claudia’s. “He could pretty much just roll out the ball.”

“These guys have been playing college ball and in some cases the pros,” Spitz says. “And they’re thinking, who them hell am I? I’m not out there to ring the bell. We’re here to win basketball games.”

“To be fair, the guys weren’t real coachable,” Johnson says with a smile. “Guys came to play and do their own thing, and Walt knew there were some limitations on what they would do if he told them to. He sort of orchestrated the thing, which took a unique skill in itself.”

Barnett played a couple of seasons with Claudia’s after his 12-year NBA career was finished.

“We had really good players, guys like Dave Kafoury and Jim Boutin,” says Barnett, set to begin his fifth season as a TV analyst for the Golden State Warriors after 36 years on the radio. “One year we made it to the Regionals in Idaho, but we lost. I didn’t help very much. I didn’t shoot well or play well, but I guarantee you I enjoyed it.”

Gene and Claudia Spathas may have been the owners, but they were fans, too.

“The first few years, they went to all the tournaments with us,” Hunt says. “They were not just sponsors; they were really part of it.”

Gene wasn’t just a basketball supporter. He sponsored teams in just about every sport you can imagine, from flag football to slow-pitch softball to bowling to pool to “mushball” to — yes — ice hockey. The next time you’re in Claudia’s, take a peek at the trophy case. Most of trophies are from 20 years ago or longer, and they tell a story.

Claudia’s owner Gene Spathas sponsored teams playing almost every sport you can imagine, including ice hockey. Shown here are Claudia’s Red Wings (courtesy Spathas family)

“Dad loved the affiliation with sports,” Matt Spathas says. “And it was good promo for his business.”

Claudia’s didn’t drop sponsorship of its basketball team. The PBA folded in 1985, shutting the doors to AAU hoops in the city.

Now, Marty Spathas is keeper of the castle. Claudia got her name in lights, and Portland got an era of basketball for the ages.

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