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I’m hearing from my family that I was really, really goofier than hell when I was in the hospital. They said I was talking like I was already dead.
“How nice it is … even after you die, you get a chance to communicate with your family.”
That’s how they said I was talking. They were wondering what the hell was the matter with me. They just kept telling me how strange I was.
That was a rough period, after those two broken ribs and breaking my shoulder in three places, and then I took a hell of a fall. The most amazing thing is I can’t remember any of that.
I go to rehab three days a week to Dr. Keith Kleven. He’s one of the best in the country. We’re really pleased with the progress I’ve made.
He stretches me up, loosens me out. He’s so widely regarded, I’m fortunate to be able to go to him. They are 45- or 50-minute sessions.
The most difficult part is I’m not able to use my right arm. That makes it tough eating and writing. I’m trying to write with my left hand but it’s not easy.
I should be back in shape in about eight weeks. I’m getting closer. I’m taking the sling off my right arm half the time now.
And I go to a balance center for an hour two days a week. I didn’t know how bad my balance was. You have to rise up with both eyes closed and stand on one foot. That tells you how bad you’re balance is.
They’ve got me doing a bunch of stuff. They worked me hard last week. I realized how bad a shape I had gotten into.
My family has been so super, my daughters Jody and Pam, and my granddaughter Dannielle … they were like full-time nurses for awhile.
My wife Lois, and my sons Danny and George, have all been super. Lois is so busy with her City Council business, but I have had all kinds of help. It’s been great.
I’m in my home full time but I don’t really go anywhere. I can’t drive. They don’t want me to drive until I get better with my balance. I haven’t driven a car since June.
This weekend I’m going to Ely with George to represent Danny, who’s going to run for a state Senate seat but will be out of town, at a big political function. It will be the first time I’ve gone anywhere.
I’ve also got speaking engagements in San Francisco, at a coaching clinic, and one in Wheeling, W. Va. They won’t let me travel alone, so my grandson, Jerry King, is going to go with me.
I was supposed to go to the Michigan State-Notre Dame football game, but my kids wouldn’t let me go. They were upset at me, said I’m not capable of doing that yet.
My balance is not that good, so if I fell it would be very critical. Anyways, I canceled.
But I am planning to see the Ole Miss-Arkansas football game Oct. 24 in Oxford, Miss. They tell me that’s a great place to watch a game. Andy Kennedy, the Mississippi basketball coach, is getting me tickets.
All I do is watch football. Lois gets mad at me when she rents movies. She’s all excited and comes home with Blockbuster movies, and I tell her, Lois, it’s football night! I go to the family room and watch football, and she stays in the bedroom and watches movies.
UNLV’s football game against Oregon State was a heartbreaker. The Rebels played great and had every right to win that game, they just didn’t make the big play at the end.
But they did great against Hawaii. That was a big victory heading into a couple of road games, but it would have been fantastic if UNLV were 3-0. I’m looking for big things from that team this season.
I will be getting out to watch UNLV’s basketball team practice. Charlie Spoonhour has been calling me, so anytime I want to get out he said to give him a call.
I think Lon Kruger’s team will be very good. They’ve got some big-time players who have come from some big-time schools. They’re not getting transfers from Johnny Junior High … Kentucky, Memphis, UCLA.
Those are big-time transfers and the Rebels are going to be very good. I’m also looking forward to some reunions from that fantastic 1989-90 season.
I can’t believe it will have been 20 years since that magical season.
I’ll review plenty about that campaign in the next few months, so keep reading and submit any questions you’d like me to address. Again, I can’t thank all of you enough for your support as I get back up to speed.
2O years since that magical season ...
And 20 years since I was a sophomore at UNLV ... !
Ack!
any chance tark makes it to the utah or byu game rob? need to get him to a football game in person. the crowd would go nuts.
runrebs, yes they would. I will inquire for you. thanks
Great to hear from you again Coach. Good luck with all the rehab. Your columns are insightful and fun to read. I am a 30 year resident here in the valley and still feel like a little kid everytime I see you in person. You and your family have been an inspiration to me.
The Rebels will always be my favorite team (my second favorite team is anyone that beats Duke).
Louis, Tark says thanks for writing. He was at UNLV's team workouts on Sunday and is very hopeful about the season. He's getting up and about more and more. He always enjoys seeing his many fans around town. Send along any questions you'd like him to review. thanks
Coach Tark,
I can not believe it has been 20 years since that magical year. I grew up on your teams from Danny...to Freddie Banks who came to my school in 86-87...to the great team from 89-91! I attended your basketball camp in the summer of 91 and my legs still hurt from defensive slides. I hope you get better soon and I hope the administration takes your advice and gets Larry involved with the school. Great stories keep them coming.
Question: Any suggestions for getting your kids started in basketball? My son is 1 but already 32" tall, 30 lbs. and walking. I know he will have to learn to dribble, regardless of his height!! Thanks.
First, I love Tark, he is a living legend and a god in my book. However, these articles have started downward spiral. I suggest let the great Tark start back when the season begins.
I totally disagree figybigsy.
I was glad to hear that Tark is recovering and doing better since his surgery. I would never have found out any other way except for Shark Bytes. Moreover, it's good to learn that Tark supports the football team and even attends practices.
And judging by the amount of comments posted on this article in such a short amount of time...I'd say I'm not the only one.
Wrong on that one Figsy. Tark can read from the Yellow Pages and I'll still love to hear from him. Won't have him forever ... (oops, Sorry Tark)
The reality of Tark's situation is that he has a long road to recovery. He is mending from multiple dings, and it will be challenging. It comes through in his voice after his rehab sessions. It is not easy. And all of that occasionally will come out in his column. That's life.
Rob, can you ask coach what he thought of all the Rebel parody songs and other music that was produced during the halcyon days? It was incredible how many of those came out, such as: "Walk Like A Tarkanian" and so on. For many of us these songs are super special and STILL give goose bumps!
you got it Gray, thanks ... he might have been a bit busy polishing the amoeba and figuring out how to beat those Titans in Fullerton :-) ... but I'll see what he says.
keep the questions coming for him, everyone ... let's keep this fresh and interesting for the Shark ... thanks
Coach Tarkanian,
I am a basketball coach from Eastern Ohio and I got to see you speak about the Amoeba Defense today in Wheeling, WV. It was great to see you were able to make the cross country trip to talk hoops and share your coaching knowledge. It would have been very easy for you to cancel your appearance but instead you made it a memorable day for those 160 or so coaches in attendance - who mainly came to see you speak. So I just wanted to say Thank You. Also, I enjoyed seeing you on the Billy Packer/Bob Knight NCAA show back in March, keep up the good work on the blog, and I wish you the best for a speedy and full recovery! -- Zach
Zach, coach will expand on his experiences in Wheeling in his next column. Look for it soon. Is there anything you want him to detail a little more, or elaborate on, from that talk? thanks
Coach Tark,
UNLV's defense is clearly the identity of the basketball team but their offense last year (or lack thereof) left me scratching my head and at times, was down right painful to watch. I became extremely frustrated watching them run half court sets that looked to be designed for elite NBA players (slow down offense, pick & rolls, etc.). Except for the occasional out of bounds play, none of the offensive sets seemed to create any easy baskets for our team. I would think that with our depth and talent at the guard position we would play and very uptempo style of basketball so we could get some easy baskets in transition. Any thoughts on last years offense and what to expect this year would be greatly appreciated?
Rob and Coach Tark,
I'd like to run a matchup - type defense this season with my team to compliment our base man defense. I don't want to run a regular zone because I feel that the gaps and holes in it are easily beatable. I'd like to try something like the UNLV Amoeba and the 1-1-3 matchup that Huggins used to run at Cincinnati in the 90s. I like the idea that you are still teaching man concepts with your change-up defense. So my question is, how much time during the practice week should you spend working on the Amoeba in (1) breakdown drills and (2) 5 on 5 team play for it to be effective? Thanks!! -- Zach
vj and z, great questions ... the Shark will detail both for you, if not in the next column then the one after that ... he's on his way back from West Virginia and might be a little pooped, but look for the next fresh Shark Byte tonight, or tomorrow at the latest ... thanks!