Jerry Tarkanian hospitalized in Las Vegas

[njhoya78]

espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12304133/hall-fame-coach-jerry-tarkanian-icu-very-scary-episode

Quick Tark story: Back in the 1984-5 season, a group of '78ers (including me) had season tickets for the Hoyas at Capital Centre, and our seats were directly behind the visitors bench. It was a different era. In any event, the first game that season was GU vs. UNLV, coached by Jerry Tarkanian. We were literally close enough to overhear his pre game instructions to the Running Rebels. We were eager to hear what guidance and encouragement Tark, who had developed quite the reputation in those days, would impart unto his players. All four of us leaned forward, just in time to hear Tark: "Okay. Hit the boards. . .get back on defense. . .don't Edited up!" A few minutes go by, and the Hoyas were hammering UNLV early; I don't remember the exact score at the point that Tark took the towel out of his mouth and called a time out. His players came back to the bench and sat down. His first words to his team: "You're Editeding up out there!" I remember thinking to myself that I could do as well as he, based upon his pre game speech and the result.  Coaching at its best.  GU won 82-46.  

[sleepyjackson21]

RIP Tark!

[Nevada Hoya]

Tark was a legend in Las Vegas. The first time I saw UNLV play in person was in 1980 vs Georgetown at the old Convention Center rotunda (before Thomas and Mack arena was built). It was a close game but the Hoyas prevailed and as they did to Syracuse, they officially closed the Convention Center arena. One of our student workers at the EPA here was also a UNLV cheerleader, so I had fun teasing with her that week. GU went 5-0 vs UNLV, before UNLV won one; I think it was in their championship year and we had Zo and Dek.

May he rest in peace.

[DanMcQ]

[njhoya78]

Tark the Shark. In an era when most college basketball coaches blended into the woodwork, he was truly one of a kind. He and Las Vegas were meant for each other. Requiescat in pace, Mr. Tarkanian. Hope the NCAA finally eases up on you.

[Elvado]

Rest in peace Coach. Your 30 point pasting of Duke in the finals still makes me grin.

Loved your 77 team too.

[njhoya78]

For the many members of this board who are too young to remember Jerry Tarkanian, this is an excellent article by Dan Wetzel:

sports.yahoo.com/news/jerry-tarkanian--a-true-rebel-if-there-ever-was-one-172417307.html

[FrazierFanatic]

He threw in the towel one last time.( oh come on, most of you were thinking it!)

[hoyarooter]

I became a fan of the Shark, the true star of Honeymoon in Vegas, when his Long Beach State team, consisting of Ed Ratliff and a bunch of guys named Joe, scared the daylights out of UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. Tark was one of a kind. He didn't give a about the rules, and made no bones about it, unlike the hypocrites we see in so many places today. He loved the ponies, and his nickname for Lute Olson, Midnight Lute, got latched onto by trainer Bob Baffert, who trained the horse Midnight Lute to two Breeders Cup Sprint wins. I'm sure Tark must have loved that. RIP, another JT.