While waiting to find out if a freakishly athletic guard would become part of Kentucky's legacy or a mirage, the name Dwight 'The Blur' Anderson popped into my head. So I watched the legendary January, 1979 UK versus Notre Dame game.
Still brings a bittersweet smile.
With under ten minutes to go, Kentucky was down 12 to a Notre Dame team that was poised to be No. 1 with a win, and that was playing four legitimate future NBA players: Bill Hanzlik, Kelly Tripuka, Orlando Woolridge and Bill Laimbeer, and two other guys, Tracy Jackson and Rich Branning, who were drafted by NBA teams. Up until then, Anderson hadn't scored a point.
But then 'The Blur' took over. Scored 17 in a series of remarkably athletic plays in about nine minutes. He was just unstoppable. There is a dunk off a steal that was the kind of thing that gets you up off the couch like you'd been hit with a current of electricity.
His talent was so obvious, that even before he had scored a point, the great Al McGuire said, "This kid will be on the cover of magazines some day soon." He was just like a flash of lightning, and even a team full of future pros had no answer for him at all. Cats ended up pulling away.
Of course, 'The Blur' was a mirage. Drugs soon ruined him at Kentucky, and as a basketball player.
But watching him for that one half of a half still is exciting. It's why we are always hopeful for that next extraordinary athlete who can do things that send your heart racing.
Still brings a bittersweet smile.
With under ten minutes to go, Kentucky was down 12 to a Notre Dame team that was poised to be No. 1 with a win, and that was playing four legitimate future NBA players: Bill Hanzlik, Kelly Tripuka, Orlando Woolridge and Bill Laimbeer, and two other guys, Tracy Jackson and Rich Branning, who were drafted by NBA teams. Up until then, Anderson hadn't scored a point.
But then 'The Blur' took over. Scored 17 in a series of remarkably athletic plays in about nine minutes. He was just unstoppable. There is a dunk off a steal that was the kind of thing that gets you up off the couch like you'd been hit with a current of electricity.
His talent was so obvious, that even before he had scored a point, the great Al McGuire said, "This kid will be on the cover of magazines some day soon." He was just like a flash of lightning, and even a team full of future pros had no answer for him at all. Cats ended up pulling away.
Of course, 'The Blur' was a mirage. Drugs soon ruined him at Kentucky, and as a basketball player.
But watching him for that one half of a half still is exciting. It's why we are always hopeful for that next extraordinary athlete who can do things that send your heart racing.
