Final Four Flashbacks
This weekend the Final Four returns to New Orleans for the sixth time for the men and for a second time to Minneapolis for the women. Looking back at the previous tournaments in those cities and the events at those times brings back memories but also ties to quite a bit on the news of today.
It has been 40 years since New Orleans first hosted.
Basketball Notes
The women’s tournament was the first ever held by the NCAA. From 1972 through 1981 college played in the AIAW women’s tournament.
Before becoming all everything, freshman Micheal Jordan hit the game winner in the championship game.
Men’s championship game featured Jordan, James Worthy, and Patrick Ewing all of whom were named in 1996 as part of NBA 50 greatest players. Sports Illustrated created a ranked list of 50 players in 2016 which had just Jordan (1) and Ewing (39).
For the first time, the consolation game between the losing teams from semi finals was not played prior to the championship game.
Duke failed to qualify for the tournament.
UNC won the tournament.
Kansas failed to qualify for the tournament.
Villanova secured the 3 seed in the West and lost to 2 seed Kansas.
World Notes
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission issued a casino license to Donald Trump on March 15th.
On March 19th, in a prelude to the Falkland War, scrap metal workers arrived at the derelict whaling station on South Georgia island of the UK and raised the flag of Argentina. Argentine invasion of the Falklands began April 2nd.
North Carolina Senator Jessie Helms cast the only dissenting vote on the US resolution to support Great Britain over Argentina. Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, said the Senate resolution “clearly recognizes the United States is on the side it should be on, the side of Great Britain”.
Top movie at the box office in March was On Golden Pond
