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SALT LAKE CITY -- Okay, okay! So call me sentimental. There's just something about March and basketball that just makes me want to jump up and down and scream, "We did it, we did it. We're number one!"
Even though it's been 29 years since the N.C. State Wolfpack's miracle run to the NCAA Championship, it's still as fresh in my mind today as it was back then. For you young readers who were just babes or a twinkle in your parents eyes, thank goodness for Google and YouTube.
It was a true to life Cinderella story of a little known coach named Jimmy Valvano and a scarcely talked about basketball team that took the world by surprise after beating the No. 1 ranked team in the country, the University of Houston "Phi Slamma Jamma" Cougars. Although there were too many story lines to mention, suffice it to say the Cougars were picked as the heavy favorites.
As a matter of fact our 6th seeded NC State team at 17 wins and 10 loses would probably not make the Big Dance if not for winning the ACC tournament.
That journey to the National Championship, and in particular the finale against Houston, has already been heralded as one of the most exciting games in sports history. Almost 30 years later as I reminisce with my old college teammate Sidney Lowe (now an assistant with the Utah Jazz), watch old highlights of that famous last second dunk by my teammate Lorenzo Charles and Coach V's quest at the buzzer to find someone, anyone to hug, I am reminded of how much we can all learn from sports at it finest hour.
Regardless of who we are, we all have a desire to win... to be a champion in something. It takes a lot to claim that title; passion, preparation, failure, focus, teamwork and maybe even a bit of luck, to name a few. But, when all of those things come together magic happens. David slays Goliath, the glass slipper fits and what once seemed out of reach is suddenly achievable.
So, here's to March Madness and those of you still on your journey to be crowned a "champion." I hope you soon get the opportunity to feel what it means to... "cut down the nets!"
