My son will often ballboy at Knick games. That means he'll go rebound for the guys before the game when they are getting their warmup shots. Most of his duties are sitting under the basket during the game and watching with a huge gaze in his eyes. At this point in his life, he doesn't realize what a privilege it is to see the best basketball players in the world up close. One day he will look back and have a true appreciation for what he saw.

While growing up in Louisville, Ky, Freedom Hall was the place that our world heroes lived and conquered. It was our Roman Coliseum, and the gladiators were the members of University of Louisville basketball team. The players were my big brothers that I idolized just because my father was the assistant coach. In Cleveland, people are witnessing greatness. Let me tell you what I witnessed when Freedom Hall was my home.

My father coached Darrell Griffith at Male High School, where they won the state championship in 1973 in Freedom Hall.

At nine yrs old I witnessed Darrell Griffith and Derek Smith take UofL to a National Championship in 1980, when they beat Larry Brown's UCLA with Kiki Vandewegh. Darrell still 'Louisville's Legend' and got the name Dr. Dunkenstein, helped give birth to Louisville's 'Doctors of Dunk'.

At 11, Patrick Ewing goal tended the first 6 layups it seamed, as Georgetown beat UofL in the 1982 Final Four. I went further to clown Patrick as a teammate on how I was 11 years old when he broke me down as a kid beating Louisville that day. Milt Wagner, who wore no 20 for Louisville was my guy, and the reason I wore no 20. 

The following season in 1983, as a 6th grader, I saw Louisville, who had Rodney and Scooter McCray, Lancaster Gordon, and Billy Thompson, run into University of Houston, with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. The coldest frat in history was Phi Slamm Jamma, the nickname given that Houston team because of how much they dunked. 

In 1986, the Final Four was in Dallas at Reunion Arena. I was a freshman in high school. It was a reunion in many ways.  In the practice before the game, Darrell Griffith, then a player with the Utah Jazz, introduced me to the NBA 3pt line in a game of H.O.R.S.E.  

In the National Championship, Louisville's young and talented crew led by freshman MVP 'Never Nervous' Pervis Ellison along with Milt Wagner, Billy Thompson, and Herb Crook went onto beat Duke with Jay Bilas and Johnny Dawkins

As a junior in high school, the Ky State Tournament was back in Louisville. You guessed it, Freedom Hall!

Our Ballard High team beat Clay Co., who beat us the previous season in Rupp Arena. Richie Farmer gave us 50!, but I couldn't describe the feeling of winning the title in the same building I dreamed of playing in since I can remember watching basketball.

When my father got the head coaching job at the University of Tennessee, I only had one regret. That is we never got to come back and play in Freedom Hall. 

So I will watch the Syracuse/Louisville game today, March 6th a little differently. 

To all the players, coaches (esp my father), and everyone who made those memories of FREEDOM HALL for me, Louisville fans, and basketball fans everywhere.......

THANK YOU