Print
E-mail
Share
delicious
digg
Newsvine
Facebook
Stumble
Technorati
reddit
Fark
twitter
Now THAT was a great win. UNLV’s victory at Louisville was, in some ways, the best win the Rebels have had since we left.
That Louisville team is supposed to be really good. I can’t say enough about how UNLV played without Wink Adams, and I’ll be at the game Saturday night against New Mexico.
All Rebels fans should come out to the game because this is a very special team.
I’m going to hop around on a few subjects here because so many people have inquired about so many different things.
Yes, my Chargers squeaked into the playoffs. I am so happy for them. Really, they’re luckier than hell.
They play Indianapolis in San Diego on Saturday night in the Wild Card Playoffs, but I’m not going to go. I need to see the Rebels in person because they are really rolling.
I couldn’t believe San Diego got by Kansas City. If they had lost to the Chiefs, they would have been eliminated. Chargers coach Norv Turner would have been run out of town.
But if they beat Indianapolis, he’ll get a three-year extension with a big bonus. That’s something, how the ball bounces.
Someone asked about Piero’s, my favorite restaurant. Had my own corner booth. They are famous for their Osso Buco, but I try to eat a lot of fish these days. Everything there is good.
The salmon is what I most often eat. No sauce. I don’t put sauce on anything. I’m trying to be healthy.
I just got back from Pasadena, where I stayed with my brother Myron, for New Year’s. My daughter Pam has two kids who go to Penn State, so I had 12 tickets to the Rose Bowl, where USC beat the Nittany Lions.
But I didn’t go to the game.
My radio show on Sirius should be starting soon. I heard they’re having financial problems. I guess their stock is way down.
As far as Rebels whom I would have loved to play for me, I have to start with Marcus Banks. He’s so quick. I think he could have played great, great defense for me.
He would have been a lock-down defensive player.
Of course, everyone loves Shawn Marion. He could run and, again, play great defense.
I also loved that little guard, Jerel Blassingame. I loved him. His first season at UNLV, I thought he played great. As a senior, he didn’t play well. But, boy, I thought he was really good his junior year.
He’s so quick. He played quick defense. I really love the really quick guys.
I loved Joel Anthony. He could block shots and plug up the defense for you.
I also liked Louis Amundson. He played hard and he was a really tough guy.
Someone sent in a note asking if I pitied the coaches who followed me, with all the success we had, the Final Fours and the national championship.
No.
But I’m sure that happens at a lot of places. A lot of people didn’t take the job because of that reason. Many turned it down.
Lorenozo Romar, who now coaches Washington, was an assistant at UCLA when he turned it down. Pat Kennedy turned it down. A bunch did.
That happens anytime a program is successful. In fact, there’s a saying among coaches. You want to get a great job like that but you want to be the guy who follows the guy who gets the job.
Because THAT guy will probably be fired.
Next season will be 20 years since we won the national title. I’m not sure how they plan to celebrate that, but I wish they'd have a reunion for that whole team, bring all of them back.
That’s as nice a group of guys as any team in America. The character of those guys is amazing.
To this day, it upsets me how our president, Bob Maxson, tried so hard to make them look like they were bad guys who were good players. It was quite the contrary.
They are good people and I will always defend those guys.
I’ll see everyone at the game Saturday night and will get to more of your questions and thoughts next week.
I liked Blassingame as a player too coach. Was only like 5'8" but really quick with the ball and could hit shots. I herd the guy had a lot going on off the court, distractions and all, which is probably why his senior season wasn't so great. You didn't mention it but I'm sure Rene would have played great for you as well :)
Well see you at the game Saturday.
SMB, Tark has talked so frequently about Rene, he just took that as a given, that so many already know how much he is a fan of Rougeau's game. Heck, Rene might not have a bigger fan than Tark. That's an exclusive club. thanks!
Rob, can you fix the typos? Two not to and heard not head.
I agree with Tark about that National Championship team, I was a Senior that year, what a great bunch of guys. Maxson really screwed the pooch.
Me, great editorial catches! thanks. Some things fell through the cracks there. Hope Tark is entertaining you. Drop a line or two with some topics you'd like Tark to address.
Off-topic, but something I've always wanted to ask Tark was about the 1977 game versus North Carolina....I remember the officiating was horrendous. I don't recall the foul shots UNC shot, but it seemed like it was something like 25-30 foul shots to UNLV's 1 or 2. I also remember one of UNLV's players wouldn't go into the game after another one got hurt....what did Tark think about the officiating in that game? and who was that player who wouldn't go into the game, and why? I was only 8 yrs old, but I remember crying my eyes out of that game, because I felt we were invincible that year.
Coach, I don't even know where to begin when it comes to Maxson. I could go on for hours about the way Maxson handled the program back in his day. It almost seemed like he resented the basketball program for being so successful. I, like many others here in Vegas, could never figure that out. UNLV, in the grand scheme of things, was essentially a brand new college, growing at an alarming rate. The basketball program was a huge symbol of pride for the students and citizens of Vegas. The Rebels actually brought more money to the university because kids would enroll just to be a part of the program. Maxson, with some help from others, seemed to be jealous that we were a "basketball school". Every time I see his name in print, I am instantly irritated. We love you coach, and thanks for so many great memories.
He might cry his eyes out when he hears about that Carolina game again, rebelx. But I'll run it by the Shark. That just might be an entire column! :-)
glory, what a strange chapter. Many others feel the same way. Tark appreciates your thoughts.
Hey Tark,just found out about Shark Bytes from my brother in law.His name is Billy Morris,lives in Reno now, his dad was a booster and football player way back.been a rebel fan since they opened the mack,helped build it by the way.Just wanted to say I love reading about the good ol days and your take on the new good ol days were havin now.Don't stop writing.Go Rebels!