Metal Sludge Gossip Board

After moving to Las Vegas I quickly realized how much an icon and legend Jerry Tarkanian was to this city. He led UNLV to four Final 4's and a National Championship in 1990. Literally put UNLV and Running Rebels Basketball on the map. From 1973 - 1992 he never had a losing season and went to 14 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. People are really bummed out here today.


LAS VEGAS -- Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian, who built a basketball dynasty at UNLV but was defined more by his decades-long battle with the NCAA, died Wednesday after several years of health issues. He was 84...
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... anian-dies

Wow, all these great coaches dropping dead this week! RIP Jerry

Woosh wrote:Wow, all these great coaches dropping dead this week! RIP Jerry

Yeah this is a big news story here. He was to Vegas what Ditka is to Chicago. They love the man.

KAOS wrote:

Woosh wrote:Wow, all these great coaches dropping dead this week! RIP Jerry

Yeah this is a big news story here. He was to Vegas what Ditka is to Chicago. They love the man.

Don't forget he went to Fresno State and put a winning team together there as well. The school did not receive the national attention that UNLV did, but Tark still put up some W's in that central california town.

Machado wrote:

KAOS wrote:

Woosh wrote:Wow, all these great coaches dropping dead this week! RIP Jerry

Yeah this is a big news story here. He was to Vegas what Ditka is to Chicago. They love the man.

Don't forget he went to Fresno State and put a winning team together there as well. The school did not receive the national attention that UNLV did, but Tark still put up some W's in that central california town.

I know he played there, did he coach there as well?

KAOS wrote:

Machado wrote:
Don't forget he went to Fresno State and put a winning team together there as well. The school did not receive the national attention that UNLV did, but Tark still put up some W's in that central california town.

I know he played there, did he coach there as well?

1995-2002

Loved Tark and his teams of Prop-48 players, and those guys loved the lifestyle Tark turned the blind eye too. I always felt bad for him for deciding to jump to San Antonio.

ParaDime77 wrote:Loved Tark and his teams of Prop-48 players, and those guys loved the lifestyle Tark turned the blind eye too. I always felt bad for him for deciding to jump to San Antonio.

Tark was very controversial. When he left Fresno St. the basketball team faced sanctions
while on Tark's watch. Yes the NCAA hounded him for years and years, but like any winning NCAA team, they broke the rules and were caught.

Machado wrote:

ParaDime77 wrote:Loved Tark and his teams of Prop-48 players, and those guys loved the lifestyle Tark turned the blind eye too. I always felt bad for him for deciding to jump to San Antonio.

Tark was very controversial. When he left Fresno St. the basketball team faced sanctions
while on Tark's watch. Yes the NCAA hounded him for years and years, but like any winning NCAA team, they broke the rules and were caught.

Tark won 2.5 million dollars in a lawsuit against the NCAA after he retired. He claimed and proved the NCAA had a vendetta against him and harassed him for no reason. They had to issue an apology and pay up. Guy made basketball in Vegas a big deal. During the UNLV heyday the term "Gucci Row" was coined for the court-side seats. Every big swinging dick casino owner (Steve Wynn) and their celebrity pals wanted to see the Reb's high-scoring team in action. Really was the hottest ticket in town. In a city NOT known for sports, he accomplished a lot. He is big hero out here and they are dedicating full hour long shows on our local network stations tonight to go over his career.

First Dean Smith, now Jerry Tarkanian.

You think Bob Knight is getting worried?

St_Augustines_Pears wrote:First Dean Smith, now Jerry Tarkanian.

You think Bob Knight is getting worried?

I am surprised they all lived this long to be honest. College basketball coaching seems to be a stressful profession. They are still all fucked up in Vegas over Tark's passing. Making a bigger deal about it than when Elvis died (note, I was one when Elvis died).

KAOS wrote:Making a bigger deal about it than when Elvis died (note, I was one when Elvis died). [/b]

This explains why you would say something as stupid as that.

Crazy Levi wrote:

KAOS wrote:Making a bigger deal about it than when Elvis died (note, I was one when Elvis died). [/b]

This explains why you would say something as stupid as that.

I know - it was meant to be stupid. They really are making a big deal out of his passing here. They are going to dim the lights on the strip at all the major casinos in his honor. All flags are at half-mast in the city. They are having a giant celebration for his life at the arena the team plays at and expecting 30,000+ people to attend! Tark was a big deal in this city.

Thanks for including his nickname. Had no idea he was the shark.

WhiteHouseSubsAC wrote:Thanks for including his nickname. Had no idea he was the shark.

No problem Subsie. That's your nickname on the boards, right?

St_Augustines_Pears wrote:First Dean Smith, now Jerry Tarkanian.

You think Bob Knight is getting worried?

One can hope.