I REMEMBER

article by PAUL LIPE
opinion expressed is that of the writer

I REMEMBER, how, in 1983, the North Carolina State Wolfpack basketball team helped to give meaning to the expression “March Madness”, a moniker used to describe the hectic, and sometimes unbelievable results of games in the NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament.  Led by Coach Jim Valvano, this group of young men pulled upset after upset against teams with far better records and more renowned players.  Neither supporters nor opponents of the Wolfpack thought that N.C. State would survive against such immeasurable odds.

The first hurdle facing this team was the challenge of even getting into the NCAA tournament.  With the field numbering about half of what it is today, an at-large selection was out of the question, given State’s 26-10 seasonal record and a record of 8-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Their only hope was to win the ACC tournament which would guarantee them a spot in the national contest – in everyone’s eyes, this hope was very slim.  Standing in their way was Virginia, led by 7 foot Ralph Sampson, the NCAA player of the year, and UNC, whose Michael Jordan was probably the best to ever play the game.  Few gave them a chance, but with a 71-70 win over Wake Forest, an over-time 91-84 triumph over UNC, and an 81-78 finals victory over Virginia, this Cinderella team had earned their way to the BIG DANCE!  “March Madness” was just beginning, and if the Pack could win just five more games, the crown would belong to them. For most basketball experts, to think such was indeed madness!

In the first regional match-up, Pepperdine almost sent these young hopefuls home to Raleigh, but after two overtimes, State pulled out a 69-67 victory.  The next contest, a nail-biter against powerful UNLV, resulted in a 71-70 triumph.  Then came a breather with N.C. State prevailing in a relatively easy 75-56 beating of Utah.  The semi-final matchup was another battle with Virginia in which the Wolfpack prevailed by a score of 63-62.  That left just one more hurdle before Valvano’s team could literally “cut down the nets”, something the team had rehearsed numerous times!  This challenge was presented by the number-one-ranked University of Houston, led by their dominating center, Akeem Olajuwon, and his teammates who were nicknamed “Phi  Slama Jama,” because of their  propensity for exercising the intimidating slam dunk.  Ironically, the Pack won the game, 54-52, with a slam dunk as time expired in the game!  The unbelievable ended in an unbelievable way – a perfect example of “March Madness”!

Several years later, when N.C. State was recruiting my son, Jonathan, we were invited to the campus and were present during a practice session.  I was impressed with his zeal and “fire” as he conducted the practice; but I was even more impressed with something he said later as we visited in his office.  He showed Jonathan the championship ring (which was impressive), and then he showed him his wedding ring. I wondered where he was going ‘til he said, pointing to the championship ring, “This one was the hardest to get,” and then pointing to his wedding ring, he said, “But this one is more important.”  Despite having to deal with “March Madness,” he still had his thinking straight.

Several years after this, Coach Valvano was in the middle of another battle, this time not against Duke, or Carolina, or Virginia, but against cancer.  He fought well, including helping to establish the “Jimmy V Foundation” which has raised millions of dollars in the fight to secure a victory over cancer, but cancer won a temporary victory. But before his death, Coach Valvano gave us this challenge, “Don’t give up; don’t ever give up!”

Let us give heed to his encouraging words as we contest with the widespread  “madness” in our world; if we put forth our best efforts, and if we seek God’s grace, maybe we will hit the winning goal!