R.I.P. Coach Tarkanian

The Shark

We'll miss Tark in Fresno too.....A former Bulldog player, Coach and fixture at the Elbow Room Restaurant. He gave me a basketball that said "Happy Birthday Alan".

I had him as a speaker for my football club in the 90's. He at one time coached at Pasadena City College.

Rough week to be an old NCAA Men's Basketball head coach. First, Dean Smith, and now, "the shark." Sad to hear. I remember, as a young child, UNLV coming to Albuquerque to play my beloved Lobos. I had my opportunities to yell at Coach Tarkanian. And, I did, too. I have since grown up a bit (debatable) and don't yell so much at the coaches or players of the opposing team. UNM and UNLV had some great games back in the day.

HBO had a great documentary on Tark and UNLV. At the end of the program is a photo of the check in the amount of $2,500,000 made out to Jerry Tarkanian from the NCAA. The NCAA harassed him for virtually all of the time he was a coach at UNLV.

When he spoke in Pasadena, he said that any hotel casino he entered on the strip, he would be approached quickly by the casino manager. The manager would then tell him that his money was no good there and they would be happy to pick up lunch or dinner for Tark and his group. He was the rock star of LV.

Tark also spoke of the hypocrisy of the NCAA. He said that when he was coaching Long Beach State, that his team made the playoffs. He said his team was in blue jeans and tennis shoes. While they were waiting at the baggage pick up, UCLA's basketball team showed up (under Wooden). He said all of the UCLA team was in tailored suits and alligator shoes. He then said "I wonder how their student athletes afforded such nice threads?".

RIP Tark.