not!
but it once was. and not that long ago. strong as football is, basketball could re-take the top sport.
but what would it take?
this:
one ultra-memorable game.
then: a star.
that was heathcote's formula.
the game: ucla, ncaa tournament, 1975. despite the loss, arguably the best performance ever by a montana team in a championship contest against a fabled national powerhouse and a legendary coach who would go on that year to win his last national championship.
the star: micheal ray richardson, who scored zero points that night against ucla, but would go on to establish his own legend at montana, winding up as the third player taken overall in the '79 draft by the new york knicks.
and how did football turn it all around?
the game: the 1995 national championship contest at marshall.
the star: of course, the legend of the fall, dave dickinson.
in each sport, more stars followed, and more memorable games. but it was those two key games, and those two key stars, who built kingdoms, first in basketball, then in football.
it could happen again for basketball.
the game?
a huge upset in the ncaa tournament, a la weber's against north carolina several years ago. given our seed, something on the order of the first-ever 16 knocking off a one.
the star?
too early to tell. but when he arrives, i think he'll be a four-year player.
lady griz?
star: mandy morales.
game: greatest in the history of women's basketball, on the horizon.
but it once was. and not that long ago. strong as football is, basketball could re-take the top sport.
but what would it take?
this:
one ultra-memorable game.
then: a star.
that was heathcote's formula.
the game: ucla, ncaa tournament, 1975. despite the loss, arguably the best performance ever by a montana team in a championship contest against a fabled national powerhouse and a legendary coach who would go on that year to win his last national championship.
the star: micheal ray richardson, who scored zero points that night against ucla, but would go on to establish his own legend at montana, winding up as the third player taken overall in the '79 draft by the new york knicks.
and how did football turn it all around?
the game: the 1995 national championship contest at marshall.
the star: of course, the legend of the fall, dave dickinson.
in each sport, more stars followed, and more memorable games. but it was those two key games, and those two key stars, who built kingdoms, first in basketball, then in football.
it could happen again for basketball.
the game?
a huge upset in the ncaa tournament, a la weber's against north carolina several years ago. given our seed, something on the order of the first-ever 16 knocking off a one.
the star?
too early to tell. but when he arrives, i think he'll be a four-year player.
lady griz?
star: mandy morales.
game: greatest in the history of women's basketball, on the horizon.
