RIP Jerry Tarkanian

RIP Tark. Was a big Runnin' Rebels fan back in the day. I grew up in Southern California, but one of the then-independent LA stations would run the UNLV games on tape-delay on Saturday night with Chick Hearn calling the action.

We almost had him at SDSU after he left UNLV -- the AD had all but hired him when Aztecs basketball was at its nadir, but the school president nixed it. It would been interesting to see what he would have done with the program, although the NCAA probably would have opened an office in San Diego if that had happened.

 

Sorry if someone already linked it, but it's worth another one.

Jerry Tarkanian: A true rebel if ever there was one - Yahoo Sports

 

"Tarkanian vs. NCAA was the legal version of Ali vs. Frazier."

Nice.

 

Smith. Tark.

If I am Norm Stewart, John Thompson, Louie C, Nolan Richardson, George Raveling or Bobby Cremins, I probably stay on the couch until this passes.

 

Tarkanian was always a joy to talk to. Covered his Fresno State teams occasionally and his basketball mind was amazing. The SID at the time told us how he really enjoyed the interaction with the press.

RIP.

 

Talked to a a former Houston player a while back and unfortunately I think Guy Lewis is a strong candidate

 

Raveling should be fine since every other guy you named could actually coach.

 

Loved the two stories of making the inmate the valedictorian and the other one of telling the NCAA official to steal the coach's bag of money.

Here's another cool story, of the guy in charge of Tark's towels.

Why superstitious Jerry Tarkanian was always chewing on a towel | The Dagger - Yahoo Sports

 

Not sure who the player is just like the shot.

 

Waiting for the editorial cartoons of the towel draped over an empty chair.

 

I want to see Tornoe do one with Tark at the gate and both he and Peter are biting on a towel.

 

2006 interview:

RIP Coach Jerry Tarkanian: CYInterview Pulls a Conversation with the Coach from Our Archives | CYInterview