Atlanta Duke
02-17-2014, 10:50 AM
I do not know why the N&O is runnning these stories now on the 40th anniversary of David Thompson and NC State beating UCLA for the NCAA championship in March 1974, but for anyone who remembers that team or is interested in reading about the greatest college basketball player I have ever seen the links are below.
1974 NC State Wolfpack: David Thompson walked on air
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628111/1974-nc-state-wolfpack-david-thompson.html
1974 Wolfpack stakes claim as greatest college team
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628127/1974-wolfpack-stakes-claim-as.html#
On team full of stars, Sloan’s contributions still overshadowed
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628143/decock-on-team-full-of-stars-sloans.html#
Bill Walton: Loss to 1974 Pack ‘bleakest day’
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628131/walton-loss-to-1974-pack-bleakest.html#storylink=cpy
1974 ACC final changed NCAA tourney landscape
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3613424/1974-acc-final-changed-ncaa-tourney.html#storylink=cpy
Before there was Michael Jordan there was David Thompson - of the two Thompson was thye superior college player. Link below to the classic Sports Illustrated cover of Thompson skying over Bill Walton in the 1974 national semi-final game in Greensboro.
http://www.cnnsi.com/vault/cover/featured/8376/index.htm
In the days before ESPN college basketball was very much a regional game with few national broadcasts prior to the NCAA tournament. I was fortunate to have been able to have seen so many of David Thompson's games broadcast by Jim Thacker & Billy Packer (Sail with the Pilot!).
1974 NC State Wolfpack: David Thompson walked on air
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628111/1974-nc-state-wolfpack-david-thompson.html
1974 Wolfpack stakes claim as greatest college team
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628127/1974-wolfpack-stakes-claim-as.html#
On team full of stars, Sloan’s contributions still overshadowed
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628143/decock-on-team-full-of-stars-sloans.html#
Bill Walton: Loss to 1974 Pack ‘bleakest day’
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3628131/walton-loss-to-1974-pack-bleakest.html#storylink=cpy
1974 ACC final changed NCAA tourney landscape
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/16/3613424/1974-acc-final-changed-ncaa-tourney.html#storylink=cpy
Before there was Michael Jordan there was David Thompson - of the two Thompson was thye superior college player. Link below to the classic Sports Illustrated cover of Thompson skying over Bill Walton in the 1974 national semi-final game in Greensboro.
http://www.cnnsi.com/vault/cover/featured/8376/index.htm
In the days before ESPN college basketball was very much a regional game with few national broadcasts prior to the NCAA tournament. I was fortunate to have been able to have seen so many of David Thompson's games broadcast by Jim Thacker & Billy Packer (Sail with the Pilot!).