everything that's on my mind
(as if there's not already enough people doing this)Tuesday, March 28, 2006
March 28, 1992
I remember nearly 5 years ago, when I started my new job in Huntsville, a co-wor
ker came by and saw a Sports Illustrated from 1992 sitting in my cube. It had Bobby Hurley on the cover, and the title read "Dynasty". He immediately said, "Is that the year Christian Laettner hit the shot to beat Kentucky?" I said, "Yes, it was." Then I found out why he brought it up - he was a UK graduate. Seems every time I meet a UK fan and they find out I'm a Duke fan, they bring it up first. From what I read online, it still hurts and it still fuels their hatred for Duke. But, I don't mind seeing it over and over every March.
I was in a Chili's restaurant in North Little Rock when Laettner hit the shot. I had scheduled a date - a first date, in fact - for that night, having been mistaken about the game time. I thought it was in the afternoon, and was horrified to find out it was that evening. Some priorities, huh? Anyway, I went on the date. We were going to eat and then to a movie. As we sat in Chili's, I continued to hear people in the bar area roaring occasionally when something would happen. Evidently, it was when Kentucky was making great plays, because being in SEC country (even though it had just become SEC country that very season), the people were pulling for them. Plus, Duke had started to become what they are now - a team people liked to dislike (which has now grown into hate.)
As we got up to leave, she first went to the restroom. As I waited, I walked over to the bar area to see what was happening with the game. I said to someone, "What's the score?" They gleefully replied, "Kentucky 103, Duke 102 - 2 seconds left!" I was crestfallen. How could this happen? How could they lose this game? They were supposed to repeat. They'd been #1 all season long, only lost 2 games by 2 and 4 points, and were clearly the best team in the country. Now it was going to end here, short of the final four, and even worse, at the hands of Kentucky??
What I didn't know was that in the huddle, Mike Krzyzewski was telling his players, "We're going to win this game." Evidently, despite the circumstances they faced at that moment - needing to go the length of the court in :02 and score - they believed him.
As the teams broke from the timeout, I stood there and watched a TV probably 30 feet away. I only saw one play in that game live. It was the best play of the game. I would later see it all on tape - which I'd set as soon as I realized my scheduling error. But I saw the pass from Grant Hill. I saw Laettner catch, dribble and shoot. I saw the ball hit the net. I saw the Duke bench explode onto the court. I saw Laettner running down the court. At this point, the crowd in the bar deflated, and as my date was returning from the bathroom, I was able to verify that indeed the shot had counted.
Duke 104, Kentucky 103.
Some argue that it was the greatest game ever. I'm sure Kentucky fans aren't as passionate about that as Duk
e fans. I recall something that former Kentucky player John Pelphrey - who was one of the four Kentucky seniors on that team, all of whom I believe are fondly remembered by UK fans for what they did for UK basketball (and rightfully so) - said on the ESPN Battlelines episode about this game. I don't recall the exact quote. It was something about how everyone has their high points and low points in life, but not everyone has their low points replayed on ESPN all the time. So, certainly, the game is probably not remembered as fondly by Kentucky fans and players. But certainly, basketball fans all over the spectrum - from Duke lovers and Duke haters - have to admit what a great game it was. There were more great plays in the game - by both teams - than I can list here. The last minute of the game alone was full of unbelievable plays. And while Laettner's final shot is what is most remembered, his "perfect game" is sometimes not. He went 10-10 from the field and 10-10 from the line in that game. If he hadn't, Kentucky would have won.
I realize I am, as a Duke fan, biased about the game, but I think there's not much question from unbiased sources that this very well may have been the greatest game in history. I know it's the greatest one I've ever seen. I still watch it at least a couple of times a year. And 14 years later, it never gets old.
ker came by and saw a Sports Illustrated from 1992 sitting in my cube. It had Bobby Hurley on the cover, and the title read "Dynasty". He immediately said, "Is that the year Christian Laettner hit the shot to beat Kentucky?" I said, "Yes, it was." Then I found out why he brought it up - he was a UK graduate. Seems every time I meet a UK fan and they find out I'm a Duke fan, they bring it up first. From what I read online, it still hurts and it still fuels their hatred for Duke. But, I don't mind seeing it over and over every March.I was in a Chili's restaurant in North Little Rock when Laettner hit the shot. I had scheduled a date - a first date, in fact - for that night, having been mistaken about the game time. I thought it was in the afternoon, and was horrified to find out it was that evening. Some priorities, huh? Anyway, I went on the date. We were going to eat and then to a movie. As we sat in Chili's, I continued to hear people in the bar area roaring occasionally when something would happen. Evidently, it was when Kentucky was making great plays, because being in SEC country (even though it had just become SEC country that very season), the people were pulling for them. Plus, Duke had started to become what they are now - a team people liked to dislike (which has now grown into hate.)
As we got up to leave, she first went to the restroom. As I waited, I walked over to the bar area to see what was happening with the game. I said to someone, "What's the score?" They gleefully replied, "Kentucky 103, Duke 102 - 2 seconds left!" I was crestfallen. How could this happen? How could they lose this game? They were supposed to repeat. They'd been #1 all season long, only lost 2 games by 2 and 4 points, and were clearly the best team in the country. Now it was going to end here, short of the final four, and even worse, at the hands of Kentucky??
What I didn't know was that in the huddle, Mike Krzyzewski was telling his players, "We're going to win this game." Evidently, despite the circumstances they faced at that moment - needing to go the length of the court in :02 and score - they believed him.
As the teams broke from the timeout, I stood there and watched a TV probably 30 feet away. I only saw one play in that game live. It was the best play of the game. I would later see it all on tape - which I'd set as soon as I realized my scheduling error. But I saw the pass from Grant Hill. I saw Laettner catch, dribble and shoot. I saw the ball hit the net. I saw the Duke bench explode onto the court. I saw Laettner running down the court. At this point, the crowd in the bar deflated, and as my date was returning from the bathroom, I was able to verify that indeed the shot had counted.
Duke 104, Kentucky 103.
Some argue that it was the greatest game ever. I'm sure Kentucky fans aren't as passionate about that as Duk
e fans. I recall something that former Kentucky player John Pelphrey - who was one of the four Kentucky seniors on that team, all of whom I believe are fondly remembered by UK fans for what they did for UK basketball (and rightfully so) - said on the ESPN Battlelines episode about this game. I don't recall the exact quote. It was something about how everyone has their high points and low points in life, but not everyone has their low points replayed on ESPN all the time. So, certainly, the game is probably not remembered as fondly by Kentucky fans and players. But certainly, basketball fans all over the spectrum - from Duke lovers and Duke haters - have to admit what a great game it was. There were more great plays in the game - by both teams - than I can list here. The last minute of the game alone was full of unbelievable plays. And while Laettner's final shot is what is most remembered, his "perfect game" is sometimes not. He went 10-10 from the field and 10-10 from the line in that game. If he hadn't, Kentucky would have won.I realize I am, as a Duke fan, biased about the game, but I think there's not much question from unbiased sources that this very well may have been the greatest game in history. I know it's the greatest one I've ever seen. I still watch it at least a couple of times a year. And 14 years later, it never gets old.
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I was practicing in Nashville at the time and we were entertaining a group of friends at our apartment and had the game on in the background. I was trying to be a good host, but as the closing seconds ticked away, I started paying more attention to the game than to my guests.
I was standing next to the TV when Laettner turned and hit the shot. I ran from one end of the apartment to the other, pumping my fists and screaming in celebration. Our friends sat there shocked and slackjawed, completely unaware of the fact that I bleed Blue Devil Blue.
Thanks for the commemorative post. It's funny that Kentucky fans just haven't been able to shake this after coming back on us in '98 and going on win the title. But I guess when it's played over and over, it has a tendency to stick with you!
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I was standing next to the TV when Laettner turned and hit the shot. I ran from one end of the apartment to the other, pumping my fists and screaming in celebration. Our friends sat there shocked and slackjawed, completely unaware of the fact that I bleed Blue Devil Blue.
Thanks for the commemorative post. It's funny that Kentucky fans just haven't been able to shake this after coming back on us in '98 and going on win the title. But I guess when it's played over and over, it has a tendency to stick with you!
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