The Bear | Total Package's Blog

10:33 AM ET 09.09
Share

Views: 1092
Comments: 4

One of the best basketball coaches past away this past Sunday without any mention from any members of the national media. His team the UTEP Miners (Texas Western) won the NCAA title with a starting lineup that consisted of African-Americans which was a first. This happened during a time of civil unrest. Coach Haskins' teams dominated the WAC and teams always new that on any given year the Miners could the NCAA tournament under his leadership. He was respected by his peers and was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame. All members of the media that like to promote civil rights are missing on an opportunity by not recognizing "The Bear".

Comments (4) Add A Comment

September 9, 2008 10:38 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

The Free Press had an article about him:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/SPORTS18/80909037 5/1066

Cassidy's House:…

Whatsittoya, NO

Total Comments (16281)

September 9, 2008 11:58 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

Don Haskins died?

Man, I didn't even know that.

Thanks.

J. HOVA: BROOKLYN

Brooklyn, NY

Total Comments (18081)

September 9, 2008 12:42 PM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

I was the assistant security supervisor at UTEP and NMSU special events in the early nineties, and met Coach Haskins a few times. We were usually there during concerts, which for the most part seemed to irritate the local athletic departments. Each time I ran across Coach Haskins he was great. He never displayed an arrogant attitude like we received from many others. Quite the contrary, he always struck me as a man that treated all others as equals, and he always had time to shoot the bull with us. This is the first I have heard of Coach passing away. This is a loss of a REAL good man.

NMBF just got lost

Into The Great Wide Open, NM

Total Comments (220)

September 9, 2008 05:06 PM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

I wtached that game vs. Kentucky coached by Rupp when I was a teeneage. It was one of the best games I have ever watched. The great thing about Haskins is he never made a big deal about it. He said then, and later, that he was not trying to make a point. He just wanted to win a championship and he started his five best players.
Years later michener the noted author did a piece about how the players were some kind of failures and it was all a gimmick. Absolutely not true. Every one of those guys either graduated and/or went on to very useful careers and lives.
The guy changed everything with that game. That was the beginning of the end of " Jim Crow" in sports. Even
Alabama and Bear Bryant started to recruit and play African Americans....If anyone wants a gooood read on the times and where basketball and the " Black" player was then, read Red Aurbachs book...." Let Me Tell Ya.".. He talks about Haskins, and that game and the other players like Earl the Pearl and all at the time.
Every American should know about this part of our sports history......A good man, a great coach, a tremendous loss to our Country..
I think a whole lot of people want to forget. That just ain't right..