April 3, 2005

Downtown St. Louis, Missouri

Since the National Finals were also held at the Edward Jones Dome Stadium, the Villanova University basketball team that beat Michigan State returned to the hotel on the spot.

On the first day after the game, today Jay Wright could clearly feel the excitement from the players that could not be described in words.

It's understandable, he really understands it.

The NCAA National Finals, for many people, is a once-in-a-lifetime game. There are countless NBA superstars who may not even imagine what it would be like to play in a big restaurant with 80,000 people.

Even if the winner of the championship did not achieve anything in the NBA, it would be Duan Miao's experience to participate in the finals.

Today, Wright has given instructions to warm up. Don’t practice too hard, and make sure you can devote your best energy to the competition tomorrow.

Wright also said that before the training is over, he will review the video of the Wildcats' championship in the hotel room, and there will be surprises.

Compared to looking back at the game videos 20 years ago, the players are more curious about what the surprise is.

They returned to the hotel excitedly and entered Wright's room one after another. Suddenly they found an extremely tough middle-aged black man sitting inside.

For some reason, Wei Xia said at the first sight of the other party: "Patrick Ewing? I like your game very much. Can you sign me with an autograph?"

It seemed like a cold wind was blowing.

The sturdy old black man who looks like Ewing said jokingly: "Ewing? When I beat Ewing up in the finals, you were not born yet!"

After the other party said that, Wright walked up to him and shook hands and hugged him: "Ed, it's great that you can come!"

"Can you tell that boy, I'm not Ewing?" The old black man seemed to be resentful of Wei Xia's mistaken person.

Wright laughed and then introduced to everyone: "Ed Pinckney, the best player in the Wildcats that won the championship in 1985, is not only a great college player, but also a great NBA player..."

Just because you have never heard of his name, you should know that "great player" is mostly because Wright used a rhetorical technique called "exaggeration".

Pinckney is undoubtedly an excellent NBA player, otherwise he would not have played in the league for 12 years. Great is not considered a big one. There are not many great players, he is very outstanding, that's all.

"In order to give you confidence in tomorrow's game, I will take you to look back at the 1985 century war. Do you know that? The game has been talked about by those who have witnessed it so far, and the media calls it the "most surprising college game ever". All the "old cats" who participated in that game, including me, think it is the most important game in our lives."

The old man's story will begin.

After retiring from the NBA, Pinckney served as a home game commentator and a coach for the Heat's team's game development plan. His eloquence is excellent.

The ncaa in 1985 is just like the international landscape today, and it belongs to many strong people.

Georgetown University led by Ewing was the marvelous team in the country, and before the finals, it scored 34 wins and 2 losses like a wading water. In contrast, Villanova University Wildcats are well-known. When head coach Lori Massimino selected players, he paid great attention to responsibility for balance.

He will never let too many black or white players lead to one side being suppressed.

The Wildcats consisted of seven black players and seven white players.

The Georgetown University Marvel team they faced in the finals was an extreme black team.

College legend coach John Thompson believes their team should be like power generation.

If you don’t touch it, you will be shivering.

You know, it's always boring to tell stories in retired old men, but Pinckney is not. His eloquence successfully makes everyone ignore the old videotape that is being played.

He told the story in detail on April 1, 1985.

That day, the Wildcats held pre-match Catholic Mass and Dinner (now abolished) in a conference room at Ramada Hotel Lexington. The meal is usually a time for family entertainment.

Pinckney said that the old coach Massimino never gave exciting speeches, but that day, he did it.

He spoke tenderly about former Villanova Wildcats coach Al Cerfinch, who died the other day.

"Ar's soul will ensure that every shot at Georgetown University is biased, and he will also help you fill every goal you shouldn't score. You don't have to worry about anything. Go back to your room and think about the meaning of this game to your life. Your future still has infinite possibilities, but I'm sure, let your family, your neighbors, your community, and the city you represent to fill you with pride, this is only once in this life!"

Hours later, Villanova players rushed into the floor of Rupp Arena, crowded with more than 23,000 fans, who were deafening at Villanova's booing.

So what? Cinderella who has passed the finish line will not give up on her pursuit of the prince because of the ridicule of others.

In the next two hours, the Villanova University Wildcats, ranked 23rd in the United States, incredibly defeated the most popular Georgetown University Marvel in the shock of all the audience.

"That was the most precious experience in my life." Pinckney said, his eyes wet, "You must do all your strength tomorrow, and grit your teeth and persevere no matter what situation you encounter. As Lorry said, the opportunity to make all those who love you feel proud of you is only once in this life!"

Wei Xia felt that the room was surprisingly quiet.

Pinckney's words gave the new generation of wild cats a sense of calm, like meditation. They felt a very quiet confidence in the room. It was not like "Ahhhh, we are going to knock these guys down". It was a kind of unspeakable gift from the predecessors, which was a mission they had to complete.

After a long time, Wei Xia said: "I like this story, the only part that makes me feel bad is that the story of No. 1 in the United States sounds like a villain... Ed, didn't anyone tell you that we are No. 1 in the United States?"

After Wei Xia said that, strange laughter and discussion broke out in the room.

Pinckney had nothing to say except for a bitter smile.

Wright saw confidence in winning the championship from the relaxed players.

The final preparation was ready, and he believed that the Wildcats were ready to fight a fierce battle, both mentally and physically.
Chapter completed!