[Editor’s note: Welcome back to the return of “Collector’s Corner” to Uni Watch. Although no longer run by Brinke Guthrie, it has been ably resurrected by Chris Weir. Chris approached me about restarting CC, vowing to uphold the old look and style, but with one new twist: he will make each edition timely with what is going on currently in the sports world (i.e. rivalry games, big events, anniversary of events). Enjoy and please give Chris some feedback about the new (old) feature. — PH]
by Chris Weir
There isn’t a better feeling in the world than turning on CBS today and hearing This Song.
• It all started in 1939 when the Oregon Webfoots/Ducks beat Texas, Oklahoma, and Ohio State to win it all. The finals were held on the campus of Northwestern and I’m not sure if there was any net cutting. Here is a program commemorating Oregon’s title.
• This CBS Sports Hat is from the days in which the tournament was ONLY on CBS. How did we survive? I specifically remember listening to the majority of the first half of Maryland vs. Georgetown in the 2001 Sweet 16 on the radio because the game before ran late.
• The one thing I’d change about the Tournament is including more historical sites as the hosts for first and second round games. This 1977 NCAA Tournament Program is from the Palestra which hasn’t hosted the tournament since 1984. We had games at Hinkle Fieldhouse, my all time favorite venue, in 2021 with limited crowds and it was awesome.
• Before the days of the internet I couldn’t wait to get that SI March Madness Issue in the mail.
• Many consider the 1979 Tournament featuring Magic and Bird to be the one that really brought March Madness to the forefront of the American sporting scene. Here is a nice autographed piece from that tournament.
• We’ve got Glasses from the ’87 Tournament featuring the old NCAA logo.
• Only the NCAA Tournament could make a nun so famous she got her own Bobblehead. I’m sure Sister Jean isn’t a bandwagon Loyola fan and will be watching them in the NIT this year.
• The Tournament also makes you think about Onions a little differently. You can pair your Sister Jean Bobblehead with this Bill Raftery Bobblehead.
• Glad Dickie V has a clean bill of health but I couldn’t stand his overexposure back in the 90s through the 2000s. He really was Everywhere.
• Sports writer John Feinstein recently passed away. While I felt he was rather off-putting and I routinely disagreed with the majority of his opinions, there was no denying that when it came to writing about college basketball no one was better. The Last Amateurs and A March to Madness are the pinnacles of college basketball books. Check them out if you never have.
“The one thing I’d change about the Tournament is including more historical sites as the hosts for first and second round games.”
I totally agree but with one caveat, non standarized courts. I use to love watching opening matchups and being exposed to a variety of intricate court designs.
Agreed!
“There isn’t a better feeling in the world than turning on CBS today and hearing This Song.”
Am I the only one who’s beyond tired of that song? I wish Fox would get the broadcast rights so we could hear Roundball Rock instead.
And “The Last Amateurs” was a very good book. Highly recommended.
I like where you’re going here, but the worst offender has to be One Shining Moment. I can’t hit the mute button fast enough!
“the worst offender has to be One Shining Moment”
Uh oh.
As long as they use the Luther Vandross version, that can stay.
Agreed. I turn off the TV in plenty of time to ensure zero shining moments.