Flashback: Jim Valvano on David Letterman, 1987

Many thanks to Scott at GarageGabs for this blast from the past. Those of you who remember V will enjoy this. Heck, those of you who’ve only heard about V from the rest of us will enjoy it. This is Classic Valvano, and really, there’s no better words for it than that.

Flashback General NCS Basketball

35 Responses to Flashback: Jim Valvano on David Letterman, 1987

  1. BoKnowsNCS71 01/09/2007 at 1:51 PM #

    There needs to be something to recognize him. A statue or his name on something — official recognition by the university of what this man meant not only in sports but in life — and sadly — in death.

    This is an old wound that NCSU needs to heal — to bring everyone back “in the pack.”

    That action would benefit Wolfpack Athletics and the Alumni Assn. What’s the old saying “To err is human — to forgive — divine.”

  2. redfred2 01/09/2007 at 3:34 PM #

    Two great big JIM VALVANO COURT (s) painted on both ends, so that they show up on camera everytime the ball goes down the court. Then you have a chance to bring it all back. The smart announcers will focus on what he really did for NC State back then, and then well beyond, even now. It would be of great benefit, and further the cause of the “V” Foundation.

    Of course, it would also give the not so “divine” bottom feeders like Jimmy Dykes, some old news to talk about. And even some NCSU fans will listen in, and follow along. But since it seems folks like that are clueless about the facts and obviously cannot focus on any reality, even if it’s unfolding right in front of them, they will all probably just enjoy the fodder.

  3. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 01/09/2007 at 4:20 PM #

    One way for the idiots that called for Valvano’s head could save face and agree to name the court for him would be to simply put the V Foundation logo on the court. There could be other less noticable Jimm V Court signs not actually on the court and allow the foundation to get the publicity and tv exposure.

  4. ushum 01/09/2007 at 5:24 PM #

    I wonder if Sidney would support a movement to name the court after V, I would imagine that he would…

    he or Case deserve the honor at the very least…

  5. BoKnowsNCS71 01/10/2007 at 8:29 AM #

    I’m sure Sideny would support a movement — but could definitely not lead it.

    With a season unfolding as badly (as expected) as this one, doing something like this might take some of the bitterness out of it.

  6. redfred2 01/12/2007 at 10:22 AM #

    Bo, I thought this was interesting, the following actually came off of a Tar Heel site, this month.

    “From Charles Shackleford to Chris Washburn to the adoption of the unitard as the program’s uniform (it lasted for two games), there was never a dull moment with Jimmy V at the helm. And for Peter Golenbock and the NCAA, maybe it was too interesting.

    Golenbock’s book Personal Fouls was supposed to be a profile of NC State’s program under Valvano. The book alleged various counts of grade-fixing, overlooked positive drug tests, illegal money for players, and plenty of other so-called evidences Golenbock labeled as a lack of institutional control. Not only were many of the accusations unfounded and downright false, the book contained numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes, underscoring Golenbock’s credibility, or lack thereof. Nonetheless, the Raleigh News & Observer basically reprinted the most notorious portions of the book word-for-word. To this day, many Wolfpack fans hold their hometown newspaper in the lowest of regard. The NCAA investigated the program >>>per Valvano’s demand

  7. redfred2 01/12/2007 at 10:23 AM #

    ^…demand but the only significant violation found was players selling their basketball shoes. While neither the book nor the investigation got Valvano fired, they did affect much of the external and internal perception of the program.

  8. redfred2 01/12/2007 at 10:25 AM #

    ^And that’s on a very recent Tar Heel site.

  9. redfred2 01/12/2007 at 11:36 AM #

    ^My fault, I pulled that from a comment that was written in early 2006.

  10. BoKnowsNCS71 01/12/2007 at 11:39 AM #

    Amen.

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