Throw Back

Ralph Sampson, my homie, is sitting in the stands of the Virginia-Tennessee NCAA match-up. It’s good to see you, Ralph! Seeing you takes me back. Way back…

I miss the generation of coaches and referees who stressed basketball fundamentals. What I’m seeing in college ball these days is sloppy play: one-handed passes, bounce passes, and cross court passes. Double dribbling and walking are rarely called any more. Big men are dribbling inside the key.  

None of this happened under Lefty Drisell at Maryland, Terry Holland at Virginia, Dean Smith at UNC, Coach V at NC state, and Coach K at Duke. These men were the coaches of the Atlantic Coast Conference back when every ACC team actually bordered the Atlantic Ocean. 

And while I’m sitting here griping, get off my lawn you darn kids, or I’ll spray you with my hose!