Jones Blog: Tournament memories

The men’s NCAA basketball trophy (that cheesy flat plaque) will be given out tonight in Houston and from years of watching it; maybe this is why I’m a basketball guy more than anything else. Like any other sport, it’s a tradition that’s been built over time.

I remember all the trivial details as I sit and ogle at the tournament, particularly those from the final game. And you know what? I can’t wait to watch it all unfold….again.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sports nut. I watch it all. In fact, starting Thursday I can’t wait to sit on a couch – if I get the chance that is – and get “square butt” watching the Masters.

But as a kid, when all my buddies were out playing road hockey, I wasn’t always there. If it was a tournament Saturday (and they were rare because I started to watch the tournament when it wasn’t big business, not played in Domed Stadiums and had only… oh say….32 teams), I was watching it inside.

So I’ll tune into the classic David and Goliath game tonight, as Butler takes on the University of Connecticut, and reflect on memories of the final games from the 70’s and 80’s, my formative years watching the tournament.

These are in no particular order, but I remember details of the tournament when it wasn’t just one giant office pool:

– Bill Walton of UCLA dominating a final game

– Watching the late John Wooden’s final game and win over Kentucky with my kid brother on a grainy black and white Philco because my mom was upstairs watching the Oscars on our new ‘colour’ TV

– Bobby Knight’s undefeated team at Indiana (the Miami Dolphins had nothing on these guys because we’ll never see it again in college basketball. It seems like we get a threat every year in the NFL)

– Seeing tough guy Al McGuire in tears after his Marquette Warriors won the title at the brand spanking-new arena, the ‘Omni’ in Atlanta in 1977

– Bird and Magic in 1979

– Isiah Thomas and Indiana defeat North Carolina on a night many thought the game shouldn’t be played because John Hinkley had just shot U.S. President Ronald Reagan

– Michael Jordan break Patrick Ewing and Georgetown’s hearts at the Superdome in New Orleans, and then gasping as Fred Brown inexplicably passed it to James Worthy thinking he was a Hoya.

– The late Jimmy Valvano running around the court looking for someone to hug after Lorenzo Charles dunked home the winning hoop at the buzzer in NC State’s improbable win over Houston

– And speaking of improbable, Villanova shocked Georgetown in 1985 with the name Harold Jensen becoming as famous as any Final Four Most Outstanding Player

– Danny and the Miracles beat a conference rival when Kansas took down Oklahoma in 1988

– And finally as I sit on the Raptor plane, I look two seats in front of me at P.J. Carlesimo and think he was that close to cutting down the nets before his Seton Hall Pirates lost in overtime to Michigan

In some people’s eyes it may not be the same as traditions of other sports, but when ‘One Shining Moment’ is done, trust me, any youngster who’s watched the tournament right to the end will be another follower of the madness for life.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today