{"id":1925,"date":"2016-02-26T12:07:27","date_gmt":"2016-02-26T18:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=1925"},"modified":"2026-01-24T15:49:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T21:49:09","slug":"a-look-back-at-the-shark-tarkanian-was-the-real-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=1925","title":{"rendered":"A Look back at the Shark; Tarkanian was the real deal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On February 11, 2015, Jerry Tarkanian died from respiratory difficulties in his beloved city of Las Vegas. The\u00a0flags\u00a0of the City of Las\u00a0Vegas were lowered to half staff on that day in tribute to the man.\u00a0 The following was an article I wrote on that day.<\/span><\/h3>\n

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Jerry Tarkanian died today in Las Vegas at the age of 84. Tark was one of the greatest coaches in College basketball history. My first game to watch this man coach was in the early 70\u2019s when he brought his Long Beach State\u2019s nationally ranked teams to Oklahoma City to play the Chiefs of OCU. A match-up between two Hall-of-Fame coaches, the Abe Lemons\/Jerry Tarkanian buzz was about as good as the game itself. Two of the most colorful coaches, winners in all respects. As much as I love Abe and his teams (my alma mater), the Shark\u2019s 49ers came from behind in the second half to beat Abe\u2019s boys. Again, as was his history, Abe Lemons, his team with a lead playing a run and gun\/man defense, he took his team out of what was working to try something else. OCU played like the team to beat in the Top Ten 49ers. But Abe outcoached himself as his team went into a zone in the second half, and Tark took advantage of the adjustment and pulled out the win.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I also remember when Tark brought his Las Vegas Runnin\u2019 Rebs to OKC a few years later on a rainy night in OKC. The State Fairgrounds Arena leaked like an OCU defense, and I was there when both Tark and Abe stood in the wings of the building discussing what to do. Finally, with heartfelt friendship, they shook hands and told the officials that the game would be cancelled. Disappointed, I still got a memory of the two men making an educated decision that the floor was dangerous and the game would not be played. I could tell that both men would go out to eat that night, as the two had great respect for each other, and a coaching friendship is hard to beat.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jerry Tarkanian took some fine teams to the final four, finally winning one with Las Vegas. You can read the incidentals of Tark\u2019s life at this site: www.http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/news\/son-former-unlv-coach-tarkanian-dies-las-vegas-171512953\u2013ncaab.html<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As for me, never a good day to hear about someone of greatness that passes. Thank you, Tark, and you too, Abe. It is always a significant memory when you get to see the best do their job. Appreciated more than you know.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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(Jerry Tarkaian took some fine teams to the\u00a0Final Four, \u00a0winning one with Las Vegas. You can read the incidentials of Tark\u2019s life at this site: www.http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/news\/son-former-unlv-coach-tarkanian-dies-las-vegas-171512953\u2013ncaab.html)<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Feature Photo:\u00a0 (January 21, 2011 – Source: Ethan Miller\/Getty Images North America)<\/span><\/p>\n

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On February 11, 2015, Jerry Tarkanian died from respiratory difficulties in his beloved city of…<\/p>\n

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