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Post by loyalion on Mar 4, 2015 18:03:55 GMT -5
Today marks the tragic death of the most famous and talented Lion to ever lace it up: Hank Gathers. There was a great article today on ESPN about Hank and those closest to him, and also I encourage everyone to check out the documentary Guru of Go if they have never seen it. What I want to know is are any fans on this board fans from the 1989-1990 team? I want to hear your favorite Hank memories. Please share with us your impressions of Hank, that team, that era. Thanks! ~~ us younger Lion fans! RIP Hank. Sad that i never got to see you play live. espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12408850/remembering-hank-gathers-25th-anniversary-death
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Post by slblions08 on Mar 4, 2015 18:16:11 GMT -5
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 4, 2015 21:40:42 GMT -5
slb - the report on Hank's death brings chills to my spine - what a tragic experience for his family as well as for those who witnessed the evening.
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Post by ALioninWinter on Mar 4, 2015 22:46:18 GMT -5
Husky - Yes, I remember that era, that team, the individual players, and (of course) Hank. My wife asked me tonight why there is still so much national attention focused on something that happened 25 years ago. It's a valid question. That Lions team was good (very, very good) but it's not like that was the only very, very good college team that's ever played. Hank was one of the most dominating players of any era. But he's only one of quite a few guys who belong in discussions of "some of the best ever." Unfortunately, there have even been other athletes who have died while playing.
I told her the answer lies in fact that the LMU Lions of that era had an aura that captured the hearts of nearly an entire nation's basketball fans. Even before Hank died, "that little Jesuit school on the hill overlooking LA" had fans EVERYWHERE. It's probably hard for you to believe but LMU jerseys were the top selling jerseys in the COUNTRY in those days!
This wasn't simply an LMU fan base thing. Nor was it limited to Southern California. I can't tell you how many people all over the country over the past 25 years have told me how they rooted for the Lions in those years. How those living on the East Coast would stay up late into the night to listen to Lions' games. How those who were kids at the time would try to emulate Hank and Bo on their schoolyards.
They didn't win every game they played. But there was never a dull moment. Who couldn't fall in love with so much non-stop action? Even non-fans were attracted to the games in a big way. LMU's Lions were a national rage. Personally, I think some of the funniest comments I have heard over the years have been from official scorers who had to track the stats in those games. Talk about mission impossible!
Then ... Hank died, and the sports world went into a bit of shock. Bo, Jeff and the rest of the team storming through the tournament with Bo's left-handed free throws, the utter annihilation of Michigan, and advancing to the Elite Eight cast a magical spell over that aura that has never disappeared. It was a special story 25 years ago, and it still resonates in 2015. Today's ESPN column quotes several people as saying, "Don't read this column at work if you don't want your co-workers to see you crying." And those are comments coming from grown men. I don't know of a more magical sports story. It's pretty much right up there with Gehrig's "I'm the luckiest guy in the world" farewell address.
My personal memory of Hank and Bo began the year they were red-shirting. I was talking to Coach Westhead one day in Gersten and he commented that, "Next season we're going to be real good because of those two red-shirts over there (pointing to Hank and Bo)." I said, "Coach, you've got a tournament-worthy team this year. These guys are pretty good, too." He agreed with me but said, "Wait until next year! We're really going to start some rockin'." He was excited about what the future held. He finally had the horses he needed to run the team the way he had always wanted to run a team. ...... And, of course, the rest is history.
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Post by longtimelionfan on Mar 4, 2015 22:57:32 GMT -5
I'll never forget thst night. Even now, when I seriously think about that night tears cloud my eyes and I have to think of something else or I'll start crying. And, I'm not someone prone to cry or show that type of emotion.
To loyallion and those who never saw Hank and his Lions team play, you can't imagine what that was like. Hank was to LMU what Joe Montana was to the 49ers. Lions fans simply felt unbeatable with Hank on the floor. Hank and the Lions would find a way.
More than that Hank seemed like a family member; your favorite family member. I never met anyone who followed the Lions during that period who doesn't go silent and solemn when you mention that night 25 years ago.
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Post by ironlion on Mar 4, 2015 23:30:03 GMT -5
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lmu97
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by lmu97 on Mar 5, 2015 1:31:57 GMT -5
I was in attendance on that fateful day and actually found myself in the crowd shot in today's espn piece. I was 15 years old and can still remember every image like it was yesterday. This was pre Internet so it's hard to fathom how my father and I had to drive home from the game, with no information beyond what we had witnessed. Only late that night did a somber Hal Fishman relay the news of Hank's death over the local airwaves.
It's hard to believe a quarter century has gone by. Along with Hank's spirit, a piece of every person who was there that day will always live at midcourt in Gersten.
When the Lions finally find their way back to the big dance, the first free throw of the first round game shall be shot left handed. Only then will the spirit of the Lions be home.
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Post by ALioninWinter on Mar 6, 2015 11:42:57 GMT -5
Husky - see the lead article in today's USA Sports Section
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Post by husky on Mar 6, 2015 15:01:14 GMT -5
Great article Winter, thanks. There was a confluence of situations in the 80's that created that team I clearly recall the 81 Lakers; Magic Johnson complained that Westhead was coaching a slower match up style offense while the players, Magic foremost, wanted a faster free style approach. Magic blamed being slow for the Lakers being upset in the 81 playoffs to Houston who basically, out muscled them in a 3 game series. Westhead was subsequently fired. I believe Westhead chaffed under the accusations of unnecessary slowness. Later at LMU he began accumulating players amenable to a grueling fast paced offense. When Hank, Bo and Jeff joined up the die was cast. I believe Westhead's calm demeanor greatly facilitated keeping the enterprise on track; where a more outwardly emotional coach or a proud thin skinned egotist could not have pulled it off.
A few years back Vance Walberg, a great high school coach was hired in at Pepperdine. His approach seemed to take Westhead's system a step further in that he intensified defense. His system featured keeping players fresh by frequent wholesale substitutions, sort of akin to Ice Hockey changing lines. He supposedly recruited players who bought into his system; however, he didn't even make it a year. I have never tried to follow up on the why but his "100 percent all out all the time system" seemed to collapse of its own weight. He is now a journeyman college and professional assistant coach
I don't look for our current regime would tolerate much imitation of the 87 - 90 Lions. I think we will have to hope for a few more wins, or even fewer losses. But the fact is that faster pace games would be great fun to watch, as long as we can win our share.
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Post by fanblade on Mar 6, 2015 16:32:03 GMT -5
Here is the USA Today Article www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2015/03/05/loyola-marymount-hank-gathers-death-25-years-bo-kimble-paul-westhead/24447175/[Snippet] Had LMU had Gathers, Kimble said, it would have won the national title.
Bo Kimble says if he were to coach a college team, he woud employ the Westhead system. (Photo: Bill Pugliano, Getty Images) He pointed to their game at UNLV at the start of that season, an emotionally charged contest that was disrupted by a bomb threat that proved to be a hoax. The delay ended LMU's on-court run and squashed their momentum, giving the Rebels a chance to breathe. In the second half, UNLV played zone, a defense LMU never even practiced against, and won 102-91.
Kimble remains skeptical that there was any real bomb threat, adding: "The only bomb that was in Vegas that day was Loyola Marymount and Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble and Jeff Fryer."
It was an offense that major-college basketball has not seen since, and in this low-scoring age, one it is unlikely to see anytime soon. There's no 1990 LMU in this upcoming NCAA tournament. There will be no replays of that 289-point LMU-LSU game.
As Kimble says, all Division I teams can breathe a sigh of relief.
"In society, we are much more, 'Go hard when you have to and ease up when you can,' " Westhead said. "This system doesn't allow for that. That's why, when you do it, it works. That's why it is it's own worst enemy in some ways. ...
"At the end of the day, it's too hard."
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Post by loyalion on Mar 6, 2015 17:08:55 GMT -5
In regards to Vance Wahlberg at Pepp--- it wasnt his coaching style or his recruiting that had anything to do with him leaving. In fact, he was bringing it talent at a Bill Bayno pace... the problem was there was questions about how he was doing it. Pepp was about to get in some trouble so they gave Vance the axe.
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Post by thx4leavinjimlynam on Mar 5, 2016 3:12:11 GMT -5
Just wanted to give a shout out to Hank today. We miss you big guy, and I know you're still accumulating double-doubles up in heaven!
Go Lions!
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