THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503230701
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALA. LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Georgetown coach John Thompson had vowed not to turn his portion of Wednesday's Southeast Region media session into another ``I Love Dean'' rerun.
Thompson, through the years, already had documented his admiration for North Carolina's basketball program and his respect for the man behind it, Dean Smith.
But considering how rare it is that these two coaching giants meet competitively, as they do in the regional semifinals tonight, Thompson decided it was unrealistic not to comment on the relationship when asked.
After all, this is a kinder, gentler John Thompson who is trying to deliver his Hoyas to next week's Final Four in Seattle.
``I have promised myself to be nice,'' Thompson confided.
So, he did not climb on a soap box to condemn raising academic standards for athletes. He did not stir emotions over the world's injustices.
But it took only a little coaxing to get him to talk about Smith and a relationship so special that the two men won't permit their teams to play each other unless circumstances dictate, as was the case in the 1982 NCAA championship game.
That was the year Michael Jordan, then a North Carolina freshman, became a national hero with his game-winning jump shot that gave Smith his first NCAA championship.
Their teams had met only once before, when bracketed together in the 1980 Great Alaskan Shootout, and have met only once since, in the 1989 ACC-Big East Challenge, scheduled by other coaches who selected them to finish first in their conferences.
Now they meet again on the road to the Final Four. For a couple hours they will put aside a friendship that blossomed in the early 1970s when Thompson was a high school coach in Washington and Smith was recruiting one of his players.
Thompson says he took an immediate liking to Smith.
``We shared similar philosophies, and I enjoyed being with him,'' Thompson recalled.
When Thompson became the Georgetown coach in 1972, it seemed only natural for him to pattern his program after Smith's.
``I felt back then he was way ahead of his time in the way he did things,'' Thompson said. ``I feel the same about him today.''
Smith says his friendship with Thompson is so special he does not feel comfortable discussing it.
But that has not stopped him from telling a few ``I Love John'' stories this week.
Smith selected Thompson as one of his assistants when he coached the 1976 Olympics team. He recalled the two holding hands, tears rolling down their cheeks, while the national anthem played.
Smith asked Thompson to speak to the team before one of the games.
``He is a great motivator,'' Smith said. ``When he finished speaking, I was so fired up that I wanted to play, but they wouldn't let me.''
Smith says Thompson, whose 1984 team won the NCAA title, is vastly underrated as a coach by those who don't understand basketball.
``Georgetown plays great defense, and they play hard,'' Smith said.
Despite their talents and accomplishments, though, one team is going to lose tonight. That coach is sure to hear the whine of critics.
Smith's Tar Heels were supposed to go all the way last year and lost in the second round.
Thompson's Hoyas have not been back to the Final Four since 1985.
``We know only one of us can win,'' Smith said.
``This isn't football, where you could have a tie. I know John wants very much to win for his players and his school, and it is the same with us.
``But, win or lose, we will still be special friends.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
North Carolina's Dean Smith, left, and Georgetown's John Thompson
have a close relationship - so close that they won't schedule their
teams to play each other.
by CNB