Gary Gets 600
Things at Maryland are looking up. Blah.
Look, I'll still be as quick as anyone to make a sweat joke, or an American University joke, but 600 is a dang lot of wins. And there probably aren't too many guys who can take a team with three straight home losses--including to Ohio and American--and then turn around and win 9 out of 11. Or, heck,inherit a team that was 9-20 (and 0-10 on the road, with one NCAA tournament appearance in three years), and turn around and win 19 the next year.
That was in 1989-'90; within a decade the Terps would kick off a four-year stretch that any program in the country would be thrilled with, averaging 27.5 wins a year, going 13-3 in the tournament, making two Final Four appearances and winning a national championship. Those Final Four stretches also kicked off one of the craziest periods of local college hoops success for any region outside North Carolina; three teams from three states and three conferences combining for four Final Four berths over six years, and allowing a goofy locals-only basketball poll to thrive exist.
So think of Gary during your lunch break today, and if you need help reminiscing, you can watch his introductory press conference, pause over some great photos of him in tight shorts, watch a SportsCenter commercial in which Scott Van Pelt defends Gary, watch Gary knit with Brett Haber and do '80s-era commercials for Kroger, watch Stu Scott call highlights of Caron Butler vs. Lonny Baxter and crew in 2002 (highlights: "Playa please," and "Butler's got some mad skillz," and "Shorty only scored six points in the first half but in the second half you've got to drop that like it's hot,") and, most importantly, watch Gary ride his Lamborghini, below. Congrats to you, sir.
By Dan Steinberg |
February 7, 2008; 10:59 AM ET
| Category:
College Basketball
Previous: Super Bowl Fashion |
Next: Spags Says No, and I Defend Snyder
Get This Widget >>
Posted by: barno | February 7, 2008 12:05 PM
Thanks for the MD props Dan.
Gary is truly an icon that has to be witnessed in person.
Posted by: JDP | February 7, 2008 01:17 PM
Gary struggling to get out of the race car has to be the top Terp moment for me.
Posted by: ScottVanPeltStyle.com | February 7, 2008 03:36 PM
Gary struggling to smile has to be the top Terp moment for me.
Posted by: KC in DC | February 7, 2008 05:41 PM
Post a Comment
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
Awesome clips! You are the man...