Remembering Hank

Watching "Guru of Go," the latest ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, late last night. I really enjoyed it. My only complaint is that I wish it focused entirely on the Loyola Marymount teams as opposed to Paul Westhead's entire coaching career.

It brought back vivid memories of Loyola Marymount's 1990 season. I will never forget the emotional feelings Hank Gathers' March 4, 1990 death spurred across the country. Here is how ESPN covered his death, with Chris Berman and Dan Patrick anchoring SportsCenter and Chris Myers reporting on the scene:



I vividly remember seeing the video of Hank's last dunk against Portland in the West Coast Conference semifinal and then collapsing on the court. And like everyone else, I immediately became an LMU fan, at least for the rest of that season. I remember watching as Bo Kimble shooting his free throws left-handed, in honor of Hank who had tried shooting them lefty because he was failing at them shooting them right-handed, and cheering loudly in my living room when he sank them. And I will never forget the second round game, when the Lions ran up and down the floor and put 149 points on defending national champion Michigan.

Every year, when CBS rolls out the various "One Shining Moments" (as they proudly call them) during the tournament, the one they never show is the LMU-Michigan game. They always sho Kimble's lefty free throws. They never show this game though and it ranks as one of my top four NCAA Tournament games that I watched live (along with Duke's upset of UNLV in 1991, Duke's epic win over Kentucky on Laettner's shot in 1992 and this year's Kansas State-Xavier double overtime classic that just joined the list). Loyola Marymount 149, Michigan 115. It was the high point of Westhead's tenure, even as it was coming on the heels of the lowest point. Jeff Fryer made 11 three-pointers in that game. 11. He scored 41 points. No one in college basketball history has ever been better from long range in one game than Fryer was in that game. J.J. Redick on his best day couldn't compare to Fryer in this game. And the segment on this game in 30 for 30 brought back memories of that game as well.

Butler is captivating America this year, and the whole country save the gamblers and its students and alums will be rooting against hated Duke tomorrow night. But Butler cannot possibly captivate America the way that LMU team did. This small school from the tiny WCC was the most entertaining team any of us had ever seen, playing with a purpose that no other team ever had. The emotions they brought out in everyone cannot be topped.