Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Tarkanian enlivened Las Vegas

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, March 21, 2002 | 8:34 a.m.

It seems appropriate that the season so aptly titled March Madness should be the time for the announcement that one of the nation's best basketball coaches has announced his retirement.

When former University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian threw in the towel at Fresno State, literally and figuratively, I had but one thought:

Thanks for the memories, Tark.

The Tarkanian years at UNLV were filled with an aura of excitement and anticipation that brought thousands of fans together as one.

It was more than a polite "rah-rah" for teams that achieved so much. It was roaring acclaim and dedication.

There was a magnetism about the basketball program that spread through the entire state.

In tiny Lovelock, special events were cancelled so that fans could watch and cheer the Rebels on large-screen TVs.

Kids all over the country wore Rebel T-shirts and Rebel garb even found its way into foreign countries.

It was heady stuff for thousands of diehard fans.

At Big West Conference tournaments in Inglewood and Long Beach, Calif., entire hotels were booked to take care of the influx of Rebel fans.

My own fascination with Tark and his Rebels was recognized by a considerate son-in-law, whose birthday present to me was an all-expense paid trip to the annual Big West Tournament.

There were good years and very good years. One season I recall how fans would clamor not only for a win, but for the team to score 100 or more points.

Through it all, Jerry Tarkanian compiled the stats to prove he is one of college's best coaches -- in spite of being hounded by a vindictive NCAA.

The story of his battles and ultimate vindication has been told many times, but the longtime controversy had to have taken its toll on Tark and his family.

The vendetta against Tark, by the NCAA as well as university officials, is well-documented in the book "Shark Attack" by Don Yaeger. My own copy, autographed by both Tark and Yaeger, is a prized possession.

Sun sports columnist Dean Juipe said it so well: "It isn't that he can do no wrong, it's just that he has done so many things right."

Trying to put into words the sheer joy those glory days under Tark brought Rebel fans is almost impossible.

I guess you had to have been there.

Thank you, Jerry Tarkanian, thanks for the memories.

While on one of my favorite subjects -- basketball -- this would be the proper time to acknowledge the superb job current UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour and his staff did with this year's UNLV team.

Taking a bunch of what seemed to be misfits at the beginning of the season and turning them into a better-than-average team was quite an assignment.

The Rebels made it to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, where they lost 75-65 at South Carolina on Tuesday night.

Coach Spoonhour did it, which makes us believe the Rebel basketball program just might be on the way back.