ESPN Documentary on 1977 Final Four

[Les Nessman]

I found these after watching the video on Jae's training for the NBA draft. Aside from most of the stories on the Scoop about Al, I really have never heard or seen Al speak before. He is in these videos a lot and it was cool for a relatively new MU fan (within the past 13 years) to get a better impression of him by actually seeing him talk about basketball and that year's team.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqLPGRB71Cw

Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5tJraw-x0Q&feature=relmfu

Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HneDIqtST8&feature=relmfu

[Goose]

Thanks Tommy!

[Tugg Speedman]

What a great trip down memory lane!  Thanks for this.

And remind me why Lattner's shot against Kentucky is celebrated year after year but Whitehead's shot is not?

[warthog-driver]

And remind me why Lattner's shot against Kentucky is celebrated year after year but Whitehead's shot is not?

Dickie Vee

[MUMac]

What a great trip down memory lane!  Thanks for this.

And remind me why Lattner's shot against Kentucky is celebrated year after year but Whitehead's shot is not?

Cable TV.  Or more specifically, ESPN.

[tower912]

Laettner's shot was clearly good.   There are those to this day who swear Whitehead's was late.    Whatever.   More interesting was watching those guys and knowing the history that went with all of those characters and that coach.    Fights in the locker room.   Al trying to leave and not being allowed to.   Booze, drugs, funky uniforms.   Seal coats.    Dressing up on that limo.   Can you imagine the reaction to those things today?    This is the legacy of Marquette.   Embrace it. 

[warthog-driver]

Laettner's shot was clearly good.   There are those to this day who swear Whitehead's was late.    Whatever.   More interesting was watching those guys and knowing the history that went with all of those characters and that coach.    Fights in the locker room.   Al trying to leave and not being allowed to.   Booze, drugs, funky uniforms.   Seal coats.    Dressing up on that limo.   Can you imagine the reaction to those things today?    This is the legacy of Marquette.   Embrace it. 

The MU - USC fight is one for the ages. The last gasp of the Old South. Even the Local Mounties were attacking non-traditional MU players. You couldn't make that up.

[Lennys Tap]

Laettner's shot was clearly good.   There are those to this day who swear Whitehead's was late.    Whatever.   More interesting was watching those guys and knowing the history that went with all of those characters and that coach.    Fights in the locker room.   Al trying to leave and not being allowed to.   Booze, drugs, funky uniforms.   Seal coats.    Dressing up on that limo.   Can you imagine the reaction to those things today?    This is the legacy of Marquette.   Embrace it. 

The "we need more traditionals and fewer Jucos, etc." element of our fanbase would have been absolutely appalled by Al and the sideshow that was Marquette basketball.

[LloydMooresLegs]

Thanks, Tommy!  Awesome. 

I too was thinking about the failure of CBS to show this "One Shining Moment" highlight.  Frankly, they don't show many from pre MJ days.  What network was it on?   Also, I wonder if part of it is that the shot clock does not appear in video. 

[warthog-driver]

Thanks, Tommy!  Awesome. 

I too was thinking about the failure of CBS to show this "One Shining Moment" highlight.  Frankly, they don't show many from pre MJ days.  What network was it on?   Also, I wonder if part of it is that the shot clock does not appear in video. 

NBC had the NCAA rights in 77. Could be an issue for CBS. Perhaps, since Hoop works for DirecTV he could make some calls?

[Goose]

Lenny

+1

It is funny that what was completely out of the norm in Al's era was embraced by fanbase and now who knows? We were a sideshow and now really just like most schools.

[dgies9156]

The real issue with 1977 is that it was before college basketball was "invented" by television.

As we all know, college baseketball was invented by the National Broadcasting Company in March 1979, when Larry Bird played Magic Johnson in that "one-on-one" National Championship game.

It was perfected in 1982 when the Columbia Broadcasting System first telecast a national championship involving Michael Jordan.

Al McGuire, he was a television commentator.

John Wooden? Who's he?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West? Didn't they all just, well, play for the Lakers? (I know Oscar didn't, but I don't think most people know that).

[brewcity77]

That was a fantastic watch, especially for someone too young to have watched them at the time (6 weeks old when we won it all). Thanks for sharing

[Benny B]

Laettner's shot was clearly good.   There are those to this day who swear Whitehead's was late.    Whatever.   More interesting was watching those guys and knowing the history that went with all of those characters and that coach.    Fights in the locker room.   Al trying to leave and not being allowed to.   Booze, drugs, funky uniforms.   Seal coats.    Dressing up on that limo.   Can you imagine the reaction to those things today?    This is the legacy of Marquette.   Embrace it. 

Assuming the video is in real time, 2.6 seconds elapsed from touch (the initial touch, not when Whitehead actually came up with it) to release.  Scoreboard had 0:03.  Seems pretty cut and dry to me.

Of course, I'm sure there are pockets of Russia that believe - even to this day - that CCCP won the gold medal at Lake Placid in 1980.

[warthog-driver]

The "we need more traditionals and fewer Jucos, etc." element of our fanbase would have been absolutely appalled by Al and the sideshow that was Marquette basketball.

I just posted about Larry McNeill in another thread. Does anyone remember his wife picking a fight in the stands of a Marquette game? She ended up getting arrested.

[4everwarriors]

Remember it today, like it was yesterday.

[Lennys Tap]

I just posted about Larry McNeill in another thread. Does anyone remember his wife picking a fight in the stands of a Marquette game? She ended up getting arrested.

And Larry went up into the stands during the game to "defend" her. I realize it's a different world, but imagine what our fans who squirm over the presence of underage athletes in a bar (oh, the humanity!) would have thought about stuff like this.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

And Larry went up into the stands during the game to "defend" her. I realize it's a different world, but imagine what our fans who squirm over the presence of underage athletes in a bar (oh, the humanity!) would have thought about stuff like this.

I have to admit, I would squirm if a player went charging into the stands.

But, I love the old stories and legends. Very good stuff.

[Dawson Rental]

What a great trip down memory lane!  Thanks for this.

And remind me why Lattner's shot against Kentucky is celebrated year after year but Whitehead's shot is not?

Duke v. Kentucky, instead of

Marquette v. North Carolina, hyphen something or other.

The best game winner, IMHO was the Danny Ainge length of the court dribble and shot against ND the year before.

[We R Final Four]

"It is more important becoming one of the Final Four than winning it."

Interesting comment.  Al had such a feel for his team and the game.

[Les Nessman]

"It is more important becoming one of the Final Four than winning it."
Interesting comment.  Al had such a feel for his team and the game.

That was the one thing that really stood out to me too.

[LloydMooresLegs]

Is it me or does Al's voice sound a bit like a 70s (which is appropriate) Al Pacino?

[Marqevans]

And Larry went up into the stands during the game to "defend" her. I realize it's a different world, but imagine what our fans who squirm over the presence of underage athletes in a bar (oh, the humanity!) would have thought about stuff like this.

[cheebs09]

Well, as long as those players were of legal age to be in those stands, I think it is a completely different situation and is perfectly fine.

On topic, I do love hearing these stories. As a student now, it makes me very jealous, although it's not a bad time to be a Marquette student.