I have been watching sports since I was 6 years old, back in 1967. There are some events that stand out above the others. The 1980 Miracle On Ice was one. Another was the improbable run that the North Carolina State Wolfpack and their coach Jimmy Valvano made in 1983 to win the NCAA Tournament. NCST had no room for error. To even get into the NCAA Tournament they would have to win the ACC tournament. That was highly unlikely. The ACC in those days had players like Michael Jordan at North Carolina and a fellow who ruled in college[ but wasn’t as great a pro} in 7’4″ Ralph Sampson at Virginia.
I have my problems with a lot of what ESPN does but I have very little negative to say about their 30 for 30 series which is their finest hour. Sunday night I stayed up to watch the latest installment “Survive and Advance” the story of NCST’s incredible run. It is in my opinion along with the one they did a couple years ago on Marcus Dupree their best 30 for 30. I will be watching it again soon.
What an inspiring story. Even if you are not a sports fan it is worth watching. This is the event- NCST’s winning that tournament that year-that made the tournament what it is today. Every year we are looking for another NCST in the tournament. NCST was talented but there were teams with greater talent. This team never gave up and Valvano did the second greatest coaching job in American sports history-[behind Herb Brooks coaching the Miracle On Ice team in 1980.} Watch “Survive and Advance”
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