'Big T' Bailey joins SportsBeat to reflect on N.C. State title, Jerry Sloan


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SALT LAKE CITY — Thurl Bailey was part of one of the greatest upsets in NCAA Tournament history when he helped North Carolina State win the 1983 national title.

But the Wolfpack never got to the White House as has become customary for all national champions. Instead, the team held a satellite call with President Ronald Reagan, and that sufficed — until the gang got back together earlier this year to meet with President Barack Obama at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

“I’m not sure it was entirely customary back then,” the man most Jazz fans know as Big T said during an interview on KSL SportsBeat. “Our school was a little frugal, and had to figure out ways to spend that championship money. They didn’t send us.”

Bailey wrote a letter to President Obama a few months ago with the story, and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch endorsed the idea for the Pack to enjoy their championship together.

“We felt like the journey was kind of incomplete,” Bailey said. “If we could go to the White House and meet the president, it would tie things together. We celebrated the late Jim Valvano and Lorenzo Charles.

“In hindsight, I think it was good that we didn’t get the chance to go. We enjoyed it more now.”

Click the video above to see Bailey’s full interview Sunday night on KSL-TV, where he also talks about what the Utah Jazz need to become a championship contender and his relationship with legendary coach Jerry Sloan, who is battling Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.

“I love that man; I think we all do,” Bailey said. “Jerry’s one of the toughest son of a guns ever created, and you know he’s going to battle whatever comes before.

“A lot of people who know Jerry know that he’s a fighter.”

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