File this under “things I must watch.”
On the night before the NCAA Tournament starts, HBO will be airing a documentary on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels program under the watch of Jerry Tarkanian. Tark was in Vegas for 18 years, building a program that, in the early 90’s, was one of the most exciting teams, at any level, to watch in the history of basketball.
From their emailed press release:
My fellow lowly blogger Matt Norlander makes a great point -- UNLV was like basketball’s version of The U. The Runnin’ Rebels were just so much better than everyone, and they weren’t afraid to let you know it after tuning you up by 40 points. Throw in the recruiting scandals, the betting scandals, and the fact that this program was located in Vegas, and UNLV was that team you loved to hate. That team that you simply couldn’t turn away from.
Yeah, I’m excited for this documentary. You should be too.
Here’s to hoping they get everyone -- Tark, Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, everyone -- involved in its production.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @ballinisahabit.