When I see the above photograph, it’s hard to believe 19 years have passed since it was first captured. The old saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words, but the story told is dependent of the receiving eyes. The young may see it as just another cover, marking just another moment in the NCAA tournament. The longtime followers of the college game will see and remember one of the most tragic events in sports, and the heart-warming conclusion.
But through my eyes, I see two young men, one being UNLV forward Stacey Augmon, and the other being my brother, Loyola Marymount center, Chris Knight.
In the photo, one man would win the National Championship, with the other winning the hearts of a nation. 1990 marks the last time that a mid-major program would be seated on the hoops throne. It also marks the last time LMU would be on the basketball map.
Hank Gathers is often described as one of the greatest college players of all time. I describe him as one of the greatest persons I’ve ever surrounded myself with. Raised on the tough inner city streets of Los Angeles, role models were few. But I often patterned myself after the kid that rose from the Philadelphia projects, doing all the right things to secure a better future.
Hank Gathers
February 11, 1967-March 4, 1990
His death was sudden and tragic, and he passed doing what he loved most, which was performing on the court. And every year when March arrives, it takes me back to my seat in the Gersten Pavilion bleachers, where I will again watch him fall. It’s a journey back to some of the darkest days for myself and family. But at the same time, I can reminisce on the courage and desire of a team to fulfill a dream in honor of a fallen teammate.
My brother was given the unfortunate task of replacing Gathers as the team’s starting center. Some will never be able to grasp how difficult it was, especially when no one on the roster wanted to ever play the game again. In a moment of death, love for the game was lost, and love for each other was intensified. It took a lot of persuasion just to put the ball back in their hands and the competitive drive in their hearts.
Hank died during the opening round of the WCC tournament, and the remainder of the event was immediately canceled, with Loyola unanimously voted to receive the automatic bid to the Big Dance. The NCAA tournament committee couldn’t promise the program a good seeding, but did promise to keep the Lions close to home, which they did.
As I’d always done, I traveled and followed the 11th seed Lions on their tournament journey. A team scrutinized for years over their conference and strength, embarked on a tournament run that wouldn’t end until they reached the Elite Eight, breaking records along the way. The national audience admired a group of men so dedicated to their goal, without knowing how much courage it took to ever suit up and lace their sneakers. They drew huge applause in nearby Long Beach for the opening games, but even more praise in the San Francisco Bay area for the round of Sweet 16.
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