Looking to Reggie & the Miracles: For the past several years I have attended the US Open watching tennis late into the night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This year I saw some great matches again seeing Melanie Oudin, Rafael Nadal, Venus Williams and others. I also took a trip across the #7 train to the new Citifield the new home of the NY Mets. I had not been to a Mets game since the Mets World Series Championship Year of 1986. Indeed, before the resurgence of the Yankees in the 1990's the Mets were the toast of NY for much of the 80's led by young superstars Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and veteran leaders Keith Hernandez, and Gary Carter. As great a team as the Mets were they stumbled through the World Series falling behind the Boston Red Sox 3-2. Then with a little luck and an uncharacteristic error from Bill Buckner, the Mets rallied to win the World Series and capture the hearts of the City. Indeed the 1980's were a glorious time for sports from D.C. to New York. The Redskins and Giants both won multiple Super Bowls, and the Georgetown Hoyas played in 3 national championship games in 4 years. However, in 1986-87 the Hoyas were not the mighty team that had created the Hoya Paranoia craze. After the graduation of Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson and Walter Berry at St. John's overpowered the Hoyas in the 85-86 season. Most people thought that the Hoyas would fall further in the 86-87 season with the lack of their vaunted power inside game. Former National HS Player of the Year Reggie Williams led the Hoyas with the help of Perry McDonald and a ferocious all-court defense back to prominence. Georgetown dominated Syracuse and their star Derrick Coleman, and destroyed Rick Pitino's upstart Providence team in the finals of the Big East Tournament. The Hoyas would go on to the Elite 8 before being knocked off on the road to the Final Four. However, it was a wonderful lesson to the college basketball world what a great team defense, and leadership could do. Thanks again to Reggie & the Miracles!
No comments:
Post a Comment