Remembering the NIT Championship

[CL82]

Great, great Courant article. The tourney summary is terrific but it is the the behind the scenes stuff that was the best part of the article.

"Cliff and I were called to meet with Coach Calhoun in the old field house," Gamble remembers, "and he said, 'I'm going to build this team around you two.' When he finished talking, I said, 'OK, man,' and he said, 'Son, don't ever call me "man" again. Call me "Coach," or "Jim Calhoun," but never "man" again.' That set the tone right there. We walked out, and Cliff said, 'I'm not transferring.' I said, 'I'm not transferring.'"

Gamble's mother always told him that she never saw him look happier than he did that night, sitting atop the backboard at MSG. He played overseas for a time, then coached in Connecticut. Unable to come to grips with the end of his career, he wrote Calhoun a letter, telling him "the ball stopped bouncing and the clapping has stopped." Calhoun called immediately,and reminded Gamble that he had earned his degree and had much to offer in a post-basketball life. Back in D.C., Gamble fought through depression, became a teacher and now works in social services and coaches high school

 

[mauconnfan]

Great year and memories.........watched the WVU game at Mayo's in Middlebury on ladies night (now called Maggie McFly's) and picked up a hottie from New Haven too....great night/morning!! LOL

Then the VCU game at the Field House I was front row under the basket and on TV a hundred times...........didn't get as lucky at Husky's after that one although many attempts!! LOL

Saw the BC game live at the Garden with 8 guys we drove down............Lyman was our hero!!.......the Ohio State game at a dive in Meriden - the first "dream season" of sorts!! Lot of fun!!