March 30, 201016 yr The following article appeared in the Evansville Courier and Press. I figured it might be of some interest to UK fans. http://www.courierpress.com I find this paragraph quite ironic. Please, CBS, roll the tape back a few minutes and show the true side of Laettner, who should not have been in the game for the final shot. If Bob Knight had been the coach, I suspect Laettner wouldn't have been. For most Hoosiers, Bob Knight could do no wrong. While he was a good disciplinarian with regard to his players, he never held himself to those same standards.
March 30, 201016 yr Laettner was quoted last year saying he had been looking for an opportunity to get back at Timberlake and took it. I'm confused by this comment in her piece.
March 30, 201016 yr This is hilarious! A friend of mine, a Duke graduate, works for the Evansville Courier & Press. :lol:
March 30, 201016 yr I'm confused by this comment in her piece. Watch the video clip that she provided in her story: Laettner states that he made a mental note after Timberlake had pushed him down a few minutes earlier and wanted to get him back.
March 30, 201016 yr Watch the video clip that she provided in her story: Laettner states that he made a mental note after Timberlake had pushed him down a few minutes earlier and wanted to get him back. Interesting. I don't remember that (probably because Wildcat fans have completely left that part out of the story when they bring it up). So, while not excusable, the stomp was provoked somewhat. That casts a whole new light on it.
March 30, 201016 yr Interesting. I don't remember that (probably because Wildcat fans have completely left that part out of the story when they bring it up). So, while not excusable, the stomp was provoked somewhat. That casts a whole new light on it. Not so fast my friend. With approximately 9:45 left in the second half, Jamal Mashburn hit a 6-foot turnaround shot to put the Cats within 5 points 70-65. Waiting for the rebound was Laettner with Deron Feldhaus directly behind him. As the shot went up, Duke's Brian Davis came up behind Feldhaus and pushed him in the back. Feldhaus took the push from Davis and added to the momentum to give Laettner a pretty nasty forearm to the back which left Laettner sprawled on the endline. No fouls were called. By the time Laettner looked up, all he saw was Timberlake coming up to guard the inbounds pass after the made shot. (Timberlake seems to have shouted "Get up and go" to the All-American.) Fast forwarding a few plays (G. Hill drive and foul by Timberlake, Sean Woods miss, Thomas Hill three-point play, Dale Brown three-point shot) and you get to the infamous play. Laettner received the ball near the block and drove to the basket. Timberlake slid down too late and hooked Laettner with his hip. The foul was called. Laettner landed, took two steps backward, lifted his right leg, hesitated, then planted his foot squarely on Timberlake's chest as Aminu was lying on the ground. This all happened well after the ball was whistled dead. Laettner stepped on Timberlake because he thought Aminu was the one who pushed him previously when it was really Feldhaus (and actually initiated by his buddy Davis) who hit him. From: http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/laettner.html Which is obviously written by Kentucky fans but is a relatively impartial article with some very interesting quotes.
March 30, 201016 yr ^ OK, I remember that play now. Timberlake is off the hook. Would you like to retract your "that cats a whole new light on it" comment? FWIW, I don't think the stomp was that bad. It was busch league and, from all accounts, typical Laettner-behavior. But I don't think he should've been ejected for it.
March 30, 201016 yr Are there any other things Kentucky fans can find or talk about to put Duke down because they are in the final 4 and we are not. I will say they had a somewhat easier bracket than the Cats but to keep going on and talking and finding things to put Duke down about just makes us look childish and jealous IMO.:deadhorse:
March 30, 201016 yr Are there any other things Kentucky fans can find or talk about to put Duke down because they are in the final 4 and we are not. I will say they had a somewhat easier bracket than the Cats but to keep going on and talking and finding things to put Duke down about just makes us look childish and jealous IMO.:deadhorse: Personally, I have never delved deeply into the story. I find it fascinating, and it has nothing to do with jealousy or the fact that Kentucky is not playing in the Final Four. I have no bitterness towards Duke. It's one of, if not THE best college basketball game of all time.
March 31, 201016 yr The referees did call a technical foul on the play. Whether Laettner should have been ejected or not is another story but Richie Farmer went to the free throw line to shoot the technical free throws and made 1 of 2 from the line.
March 31, 201016 yr I must say that on this one incident I can relate to the long memory and outrage. I still haven't forgiven Marcus Vick for stomping Elvis Dumervil.
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