Hoop Historians share their favorite memories
The Final Four site, fittingly, serves as the Hoop Historians' annual convention. There's a dinner Thursday night and a business meeting Sunday, but the raison d'etre is always the Saturday semifinals and Monday night's NCAA title game.
With that in mind, here are the favorite Final Four memories for our local Historians:
Fred Allman, 45, Addison: "I would say having my first Final Four (1982) being the one where (Michael) Jordan hit the shot to win it.
"And then have him come to Chicago and have him be as great as he was here, and be able to tell kids at my school (DuJardin Elementary in Bloomingdale), 'I knew him before he was a star here.' I saw him hit a shot that they don't even know about.
"That was the first year CBS had the TV contract and (Ted Reineking and I) said while sitting there, 'What a way for CBS to start, having that game.' From the (Patrick) Ewing goaltends to Freddie Brown throwing the bad pass …"
Brian Burmeister, 67, Geneva: "1975 was (John) Wooden's last championship. We got invited to go to the post-championship party and Wooden had already decided he wasn't going to return.
"And then the next morning, I had my close (Warren High School) friend with me, who has since died of cancer. Wooden spoke with us for about a half-hour about his decision to retire and one thing and another.
"They were packing up and getting ready to head back to L.A. It was a nice, sunny day and we're just talking outside."
Ted Reineking, 63, Schaumburg: "Many thoughts and many highlights, but I think my all-time highlight is 1985 in Lexington, Kentucky.
"I did not have tickets, but a friend of mine had a telecopier business and said, 'If you help me in the media room, you'll be able to watch the games from the hallway.'
"On Saturday, I helped him out a lot. But for the title game, I sat in the third row of the press section behind the Villanova bench.
"Probably my greatest seat at a Final Four and I got totally emotionally involved in that game to see the incredible upset Villanova pulled on Georgetown. Playing the perfect game.
"And to see Harold Jensen knock down a long jumper and Georgetown calls timeout. And Jensen came over to their little trainer (Jake Nevin) and he tapped him on the head and said, 'We did it for you.' I'll never forget that as long as I live."
(Editor's note: Nevin, who suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, died eight months after Villanova's win. The school renamed its field house in his honor).
Joe Spagnolo, 46, Lombard: "1992 was my first Final Four. I drive up to Minneapolis. I get a ticket from one of our (Proviso West) assistant coaches, 20 rows up from the court. Best seat I've ever had.
"I never had to buy a thing to eat all weekend. I always found hospitality rooms and people who knew people. I said, 'Gosh, I've got to do this all the time.' "