In the midst of Madness: 50 people. 50 memories

For 3 weeks every March, the madness of the NCAA Tournament galvanizes America - from the die-hards who sketch out a bracket in October to the secretaries and grade-schoolers who fill brackets for fun (or perhaps the chance to win a few extra dollars in the office pool) - in a way that almost nothing else does. In a country of such rich diversity, March Madness has become a cultural touchstone, our shared language.

Bring up Christian Laettner's buzzer-beater for Duke against Kentucky at the Spectrum 20 years ago and it will usually elicit a very specific memory, depending on whether the respondent was at the game, bet on the game, or was stuck at the office during the game. There are those who watched it at a crowded bar, in a silent living room, or out of the corner of their eye while on a first date. But we all remember.

SportsWeek asked 50 people from around Philadelphia - from those intimately involved in games, to those who watched them - for their most vivid NCAA Tournament memories. Here's what we found:

Former mayor and governor Ed Rendell: My worst NCCA Tournament moment was in 1971 watching my beloved Quakers, the second-ranked team in the country, lose 90-47 to a Villanova team they had beaten three times. This happened in the regional final, and I thought then that I would never get to see Penn make the Final Four. This led to my best moment 8 years later in Greensboro when I watched Timmy Smith can two clutch jumpers to beat St. John's in the regional final to send Penn to the Final Four, fulfilling my lifelong dream.

Bill Bradshaw, athletic director, Temple: My fondest memory of the NCAA Tournament was Al McGuire winning the 1977 championship with Marquette. Like a Damon Runyon character, he announced his retirement before the season, then won the title in his final game as a college coach.

Mayor Nutter: My favorite March Madness memory is from 1979, when Penn beat No. 1 seed UNC and made it all the way to the Final Four. They ended up losing to a worthy opponent and eventual championship team - Michigan State - that included Magic Johnson. It was thrilling to see an underdog team go so far, especially during my senior year at Penn.

Stephen Fried, author, Penn grad: I was at Penn in 1979, when they made it to the Final Four. I was a senior at college and all my friends went. Penn was the surprise team in the tournament that year. We basically spent all our money traveling twice to North Carolina . . . then we all flew to Salt Lake City [for the Final Four] . . . It was a dream come true.

Joe Lunardi, Saint Joseph's color commentator and ESPN "Bracketologist": Saint Joseph's upset of No. 1 DePaul in 1981 remains seared in my brain, as it is for every Hawk who was at the U.D. Arena that day. It launched a fascination for me with the NCAA Tournament that still remains, both personally and professionally. For me, the building of the bracket is almost as much fun as the games themselves.

Vegas Vic, handicapper, Daily News: Let me take you back to the Final Four in 1981 at the old Spectrum. This was the very first time I attended as a member of the press. And being the odds/gambling guy, I feared for my life, since Bob Knight was at the party and he thought we - anyone from the gambling/odds community - were all prostitutes. Then, the Monday of the championship game, President Ronald Reagan gets shot by John Hinckley, and we were not sure if there was going to be a game. There was[], and the General scooped up his second title with a 63-50 victory over Dean Smith and North Carolina. Isiah Thomas was the most outstanding player, and Double V was the MOB (most outstanding bettor), collecting a nice little bundle of cash.

Marc Zumoff, play-by-play announcer, 76ers: I was the color man for the year Villanova won the title in 1985, but I had professional obligations, so Whitey Rigsby filled in for me for the tournament. I told myself that since they were only an eight seed, maybe they'll go one or two rounds and that will be it. And there I am, watching all the games on TV. I was the halftime host for Sixers basketball, so that prevented me from seeing that magical run.

Jay Wright, head coach, Villanova: It was my first Final Four [in 1985]. I was a huge Villanova fan. It was my first year as an assistant coach at the University of Rochester. So it was my first Final Four as a member of the [National Association of Basketball Coaches]. I had never seen it, had no idea of what it is. I was in awe of the whole thing, and then Villanova was there. I was also the assistant intramural director at Rochester. So I was there Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Went to the semifinals game, but had to come back Sunday because I had to run intramurals on Monday. I didn't get to watch the championship game! I had to watch it on TV.

Charles Barkley, TNT basketball analyst, former 76er: Like the old saying goes, you never forget your first time. For me, it was my one and only NCAA Tournament appearance in 1984, when Auburn was the fifth seed in the East and paired against the 12th seed, Richmond. So much for favorites in matchups. Richmond beat us in a heartbreaker, 72-71, and even though I scored 23 points and took down 17 rebounds, the sting of losing in a one-point game stayed with me for a long time. Getting selected to the NCAA tourney for the first time in Auburn's history was very exciting - for our team and school. Everything was great except the outcome  . . . The loss to Richmond was my last collegiate game, and the next season was the beginning of my pro career in Philly. I love watching the tournament and being part of it as a broadcaster and have a ton of great memories as a fan. But nothing beats playing in it. Even if you do get beat by one point by the damn 12th seed.

Bill Dooley, former coach, Chestnut Hill Academy: In 1988, I was an assistant coach at Richmond. We won the CAA that year and drew Indiana and Bobby Knight in the first round. They were the defending national champions. We ended up beating them in Hartford, Conn. I got engaged to my wife, Clare, on the day in between games. We then went on to beat Georgia Tech and Bobby Cremins the next day to reach the Sweet 16. It was a great few days.

Dave Duke, assistant coach, Temple: I was at Lehigh University 1988 against Temple coach [John] Chaney. We were the 16 seed, they were the 1 seed. They were a top-10 team [actually No. 1 in the country]. I think they went to the Elite Eight  . . . Coach Chaney plays a lot of zone, so were able to make some threes. We hung in for a while. I think we were down two or three at half. We lost by 13 or 14. But that was the first time I went.

Mark Macon, head coach, Binghamton University; former guard, Temple: My first year was memorable because not only was I a freshman playing on a stage in front of so many people - that never bothered me - but the camaraderie I had with the team and the coaches. We were focused and we had one goal: winning the championship. We played Duke [in 1988]. They were skilled at every position and they helped each other so well . . . We lost it at the end. That let me know how much studying and preparation you have to do. The things Duke did to win that game, that defense, I have great respect for that.

Kale Beers, associate athletic director, La Salle: Last time La Salle was in the tournament was my freshman year, 1992. I had just gotten out of the Army a couple months earlier and I went to school [at La Salle] in January. We won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which was basically a bottom-feeder. And I had a project due that Thursday. I arranged for my group to go earlier, but my professor wouldn't let us do it. So I was pretty mad about it, but I thought we'd beat Seton Hall Thursday and I'd go down Thursday night for our game Saturday in Greensboro and we'd be fine. And if not, I'm at La Salle, this is why I came here and we'll be in the tournament next year. Instead, I watch La Salle lose in the last minute or so to Seton Hall, in my dorm. I was devastated, and we haven't back to the tournament since.

Brian Schneider, Phillies catcher: Easy, Laettner's shot [in 1992]. I watched it at home. I remember my cousin was at the game because it was in Philly. My cousin's dad went to Duke, so I followed Duke. My uncle would get me Duke shorts and shirts. I was 15.

Mike Missanelli, host, 97.5 The Fanatic: I was the Inquirer's college-basketball beat writer in March 1992, covering the Southeast region semifinal game between the Fab Five of Michigan and second-seeded Oklahoma State. Okie State  . . . had no trouble beating Georgia Southern and Tulane in its first two games. But Michigan that day held Cowboys star Byron Houston to perhaps his worst game of the season and advanced to the final . . . Just winning wasn't enough for Jalen Rose. Rose walked a slow circle around Houston and said, right in front of me, "Yo, we heard all week how big and bad you were supposed to be. Man, you ain't [bleep]." Houston looked like he wanted to kill Jalen Rose, but held his tongue. Meanwhile, a day later in Philadelphia, I watched from a hotel room in Lexington Christian Laettner's miracle shot that beat Kentucky. Before the shot, Sean Woods had scored to put Kentucky in the lead, and the hotel's foundation literally shook with Kentucky fans stomping up and down.

Vai Sikahema, sports director, NBC10; former Eagle: March 28, 1992, 20 years ago this month. I spent the 1991 season in Green Bay with the Packers, and with my contract expired, was in the process of being wooed as a free agent. I had arrived in Philadelphia the previous evening for a physical and workout . . . Having passed the physical that morning, I was asked to shower, then go directly to meet with Eagles GM Harry Gamble. I was expected in Cleveland the next day, but typically, if a team is interested, they won't let you leave town. As I visited with Mr. Gamble, he asked if I'd be willing to stay an extra night while they tried to work out a deal with my agent. I told him the Browns were expecting me the next morning. He reached into his desk and pushed an envelope across his desk. I thought it may be the team's first offer. He invited me to open it. It wasn't. Inside were two tickets to the Spectrum that evening. I hadn't even realized the NCAA Tournament was in Philly that weekend. When I looked closer, I saw that it was Duke vs. Kentucky. It turned out to be one of the greatest NCAA Tournament games ever. Christian Laettner hit the game-winner on a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to beat Kentucky. The next day, I flew home after agreeing in principle to a 2-year deal with the Eagles.

Aaron McKie, assistant coach, Sixers; former guard, Temple: When we made the Elite Eight [in 1993] and we were out in Seattle. We just loved to play basketball and we had no idea of the magnitude of the tournament. But when we got out to Seattle, they had time slots for teams to practice, and when we came walking in, there were 20-30,000 people in there to watch us practice. We came from playing in McGonigle Hall and it was crazy. It was like an experience that you can only dream of. All the pandemonium at the hotel, people calling your room, asking for autographs. That was crazy stuff. We never imagined anything like that.

Matt Maloney, former guard, Penn: It has to be the victory against Nebraska [in 1994]. I think it was my junior year. Winning in the NCAA Tournament, regardless whether you're expected to or not, is an incredible feeling. That's something I'll never forget. You try to go in thinking you're going to win every game, and that's not always the case. I don't remember the seed [No. 11], but I'm sure we weren't supposed to win. I just remember everyone being really confident going into the game. I don't know if we sneaked up on them or not, but we were really prepared.

John Giannini, head coach, La Salle: Making it to the Final Four [in 1994] when I was a [graduate assistant] at Illinois is obviously my personal favorite NCAA Tournament memory. We played a great Louisville team with Pervis Ellison in the Sweet 16, and then we played a great Syracuse team with Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas and Billy Owens in the Elite Eight. Both those games we were down. In fact, the game before we played Syracuse, Kenny Battle hurt his knee slipping on some water at practice.

Fran Dunphy, Temple head coach, former Penn head coach: For me, it goes in a couple different directions. [In 1995 at Penn], when Matt Maloney and Jerome Allen were seniors, that team was a very, very good team. We lost in overtime to Alabama in Baltimore. Antonio McDyess, who then signed a big-time contract, I always thought he owed us because we didn't guard him very well.

Steve Bilsky, athletic director, Penn: The thing that always stood out to me is when you watch the television screen and you saw the name of your school up there. Interestingly enough, at Penn we always knew we'd get in because we got an automatic bid. But when I was the AD at [George Washington], we got in as the last at-large bid [in 1993]. We were the last team to go on the board  . . . We had to sit through 63 seeds.

Jerome Allen, Penn head coach, former Penn player: I would mention the Nebraska game [in 1994] only because my mom ran on the floor at the end of the game.

Jim Rullo, coach, Malvern Prep; former guard, Drexel: Earning that elusive NCAA berth at Drexel my senior []year [in 1994] was the perfect ending to my playing career. As fate would have it, we drew Temple . . . The day before [the game], there's a press conference and we are up at the table and a reporter asks [Drexel stars] Malik Rose and Brian Holden if they were recruited by Temple. They both said no. The reporter then asked me. I replied, "Drexel didn't even recruit me. I was a walk-on!" . . . [During the game], as I was inbounding the ball in the first half in front of the Temple bench, coach Chaney was barking at his players pretty loud behind me as he felt they were not playing hard enough. Then he said to me, "Jimmy! Jimmy, they are not listening to me. What should I do?" I replied, "Coach, not for nothing, but I got my own problems to worry about out here." The best part of the experience was checking out of the game with less than a minute left and seeing my parents and family members in the stands. To share that special moment with the folks that supported me from Day 1 was the highlight of my career.

John Celestand, analyst, Comcast SportsNet; former guard, Villanova: My favorite NCAA tourney memory is Tyus Edney going coast-to-coast for the win for UCLA in 1995. UNLV beating Duke by 30 in the championship game in 1990. Scottie Reynolds' coast-to-coast layup vs. Pitt to send Villanova to the Final Four in 2009.

Lynard Stewart, former Temple forward; Penn Charter head coach: I made it to four tournaments [1995-98] and you would think that something would stand out for me personally. But the two things that stand out for me was, one, watching my brother Stephen his senior year [at Coppin State, in 1995] not making it because they lost in the finals of the MEAC, and they showed him collapsing on ESPN. Second was watching my older brother, Larry [also at Coppin State], play against Syracuse in the first round when they had Derrick Coleman and Billy Owens. He had 18 and 10.

Bruiser Flint, head coach, Drexel; former assistant coach, UMass: Going to the Final Four [in 1996], no doubt. When I was at UMass, we played Georgetown. Absolutely stacked. [Allen] Iverson, Othella Harrington, [Jerome] Williams, Jahadi White. They had an unbelievable team; we were the No. 1 seed. People were telling us we had no shot. That was most memorable, being able to go to the Final Four, being one of the last teams in. I know what it was like as an assistant. Hope I can feel that way as a head coach.

Mike Connors, assistant coach, Drexel; former assistant, UMass: The moment that stuck out in my mind was '96 [with UMass]. It wasn't the Final Four, but when we were playing Georgetown to win to go to the Final Four. In the second half, we got a sizable lead. So the last 6, 7 minutes of the game it was pretty much over. We're going to the Final Four. And that's when it hit me that it's going to happen.

Mark Jackson, former center, Temple: The Minnesota game [in 1997], that year, Minnesota had the biggest front court in the country  . . . John Thomas was 6-6, 300. The power forward was like 6-8, 270, and that game was a war, a battle in the trenches. I wanted my mouthpiece extra sharpened, ready to do battle. We lost. I thought we'd win if I win this frontcourt battle. We just didn't get that win. I wanted to beat John Thomas.

Tom Goodhines, general manager, Philadelphia Soul: [In 1997] I had just started out as the sports editor [for the Oneonta Dispatch in New York] and it was a little intimidating. I think Vince Carter was on that North Carolina team. But clearly, Dean Smith was the ultimate part of it for someone like me, who grew up a Tar Heel fan. That was the regional where Tony Gonzalez was on Cal and the Tar Heels beat Cal. I know the answer to the trivia question: Where was Dean Smith's last victory? In the Carrier Dome. I have a picture of Dean Smith cutting down the net.

Adam DiMichele, quarterback, Philadelphia Soul; former quarterback, Temple: [Bryce Drew's buzzer-beater for Valparaiso that beat Mississippi in 1998] was an awesome play. They had the whole thing set up: a fullcourt pass, big man [Bill Jenkins] caught it, flipped it to Bryce, who shot a three-pointer. That was just crazy.

Kyle Kendrick, pitcher, Phillies: When U-Dub [University of Washington] lost to UConn [in 1998]. I was home. I was in eighth grade, watching it. My dad was a fan, so I watched U-Dub.

Paul Romanczuk, head coach, Archbishop Carroll; former Penn player (and son-in-law of Doug Collins): My senior year [1999] we had lost to Princeton in a heartbreaking game early in the season, but our team bounced back, came together and clinched the Ivy title and our NCAA berth  . . . Our team sat together with family and friends awaiting our selection and, as team after team got announced, we wondered if they forgot about us . . . We had to wait until the absolute final pairing was announced to see that we were flying to Seattle to play against Florida.

Elton Brand, forward, Sixers: Just being in a national championship game [Duke, 1999] and playing in that is what I remember most about the NCAA Tournament. Losing to UConn still hurts. March Madness and being in the last game and the excitement and everything that came with that is something special. Playing in that last game would be kind of like playing in the NBA Finals, I think. It's one game and I don't think there's anything like it in sports.

Dan Leibovitz, Penn assistant coach, former Temple assistant: In [2001], we lost in the Elite Eight. And we had become the sentimental favorite in that tournament because coach [Chaney] was like 70, we were an 11 seed and we were definitely the highest seed going that far in the tournament. People were saying the only thing Coach hasn't done is get to the Final Four. I felt a lot of people nationally kind of had a soft spot for Temple. We lost to Michigan State, with Zach Randolph, Charlie Bell and Jason Richardson. After the game, when they realized Michigan State had won, it was almost like an ovation  . . . for Coach Chaney. And when [MSU coach] Tom Izzo shook hands with Coach, I was standing right behind him and it literally looked like he was about to cry. He said, "Coach, I wish it could have been you. I wish we could have beaten anyone but you." And I'll never forget that . . . I've gone up to Tom Izzo since then and just thanked him.

Henry "Doug" Fairfax, head coach, Haverford School, former guard, Drexel: I'd imagine that anyone who played D-I ball gets somewhat of a bittersweet feeling this time of year with the NCAA tourney around the corner. I certainly do. Bitter was [Drexel] losing []to University of North Carolina-Wilmington in the CAA championship game in Richmond in 2003. We went on to lose to Temple in the first round of the NIT. Some would consider making it that far a successful season, but I'm so competitive that I felt second place was the first loser.

Evan Turner, guard, Sixers: I only played three or four games in March Madness [at Ohio State]. My biggest memory, though, is when Duke won the national championship in 2002. Mike Dunleavy had like seven threes in one half, or something like that. I remember when [Syracuse's] Carmelo Anthony won his freshman year, [Gerry] McNamara had like six threes, which was crazy. Playing in it was fun, a good experience, crazy.

Mike Stutes, pitcher, Phillies: Probably [Syracuse's] Hakim Warrick's blocked shot against Michael Lee of Kansas [in 2003]. I still remember that one pretty well. That was just a great game, back and forth the whole time. I was with my buddies in high school.

Phil Martelli, head coach, Saint Joseph's: My thoughts go to the Oklahoma State Elite Eight game [in 2004]  . . . Our bus rolling into the Meadowlands and seeing a sea of Hawk fans tailgating. Going back to Philly that night, checking my voice-mail, the first two calls were from Jay Wright and Fran Dunphy.

Don DiJulia, athletic director, Saint Joseph's: Being so proud of our team accomplishment in '04 with an undefeated regular season, then hearing Jim Nantz say on the CBS selection show, "And the last No. 1 seed, in the Meadowlands Regional, with a first-round game in Buffalo, Saint Joseph's University."

Rob Sullivan, director of basketball operations, Saint Joseph's: Walking through the hotel to our bus with literally hundreds of St. Joe's supporters surrounding all areas of the hotel and lobby [in 2004] - everyone cheering, chanting, and absolutely pumped up for the game! At that moment, we felt the energy of the crowd  . . . The adrenaline kicked into gear. We weren't just going to play a game  . . . We were representing an entire institution of believers that "the Hawk will never die!"

Will Bailey, assistant coach, La Salle: [Playing for East Tennessee State in 2004], we played against Cincinnati when they had Jason Maxiell. They hit a three to beat us at the buzzer . . . Obviously, at the smaller schools, when you charter in and play those games, everything is just first class. When you're at the smaller school, that's what you find out.

John Mayberry, outfielder, Phillies: Wayne Simien's last game [at Kansas in 2005]. I was a Kansas fan and they were upset. Was it Bradley or Bucknell? It was one of them [Bucknell]. I remember I had paid a little more attention to that game because I played against him in high school.

Randy Foye, former guard, Villanova: Beating Boston College in Minneapolis [in 2006]. Going back and forth, back and forth, overtime, and then beating Boston College at the last second on a layup. That was to go to the Elite Eight.

Thaddeus Young, forward, Sixers: When I was at Georgia Tech how intense the game was and how the game changed from the regular season to the ACC Tournament to the NCAA Tournament. The physicality of the game just got to be more and more each and every time you played. We played UNLV in Chicago at the United Center [in 2007]. We were supposed to blow them out, but they had a couple of guys who were really good. I remember thinking that was a game I definitely didn't want to end my college career on.

Jodie Meeks, guard, Sixers: I remember my freshman year [Kentucky, in 2007] running out on the court. You hear so much about March Madness in high school and growing up that being a part of it is such a great experience. The game was played in Chicago. We played Villanova and we won, but it was just the whole experience more than anything that I'll always remember. We played well and the team won, but, again, just being a part of it was amazing. Every game we played was pretty close. It reminded me of the [NBA] playoffs a little bit because the crowds are so big and it is so intense. It's just a magical time of the year.

Doug West, assistant, Villanova: The Pitt vs. Villanova game [Eastern regional final in 2009]. The whole scenario. Reggie [Redding] throwing the ball away, them coming down, tying the game. Scottie [Reynolds] making the shot. And then Levance Fields throws the ball from three-quarters of the court and I'm thinking, "That ball's going in." We're looking at the ball and that ball is going in. He misses. And then the jubilation of finally getting the opportunity for myself as a coach.

Jrue Holiday, guard, Sixers guard: I remember we [UCLA] played Villanova in the Wachovia Center [in 2009] at the time, and we got blown out by 20 in the second round, and then the next year I got drafted by the Sixers. So my last college game and my first NBA game were in the same building. The first game, we played VCU and Eric Maynor was going to work. It was a fun game. He missed the last shot or something. At UCLA, we weren't supposed to get blown out by 20.

Nikola Vucevic, forward, Sixers: My junior year at USC [in 2010], we were right on the edge of making the tournament, so we were waiting. When they first started showing the matchups, the place where we thought we would fall came up and we weren't there. So we thought we didn't make it. We were all in the locker room, real disappointed, and then all of the sudden our name popped up so we started jumping around. My first experience when we went my freshman year, we had won the conference tournament and we played in Minneapolis and beat Boston College. And then we played a good game against Michigan State, who went on to the championship game.

Dalton Pepper, Temple forward who transferred from West Virginia: Being able to play in the Final Four against Duke as a freshman [in 2010]. It was a great atmosphere and maybe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Maalik Wayns, guard, Villanova: The first game I experienced was Robert Morris [in 2010]. A team that played real hard, gritty. That was a near loss for us . . . We lost in the second round [to St. Mary's], but I played a good tournament. It's a different atmosphere. Different fans. There are fans for the next game in there. You get to watch the team before you play, stay after, watch the team who plays after you.

Ramone Moore, guard, Temple: Juan [Fernandez's] game-winning shot against Penn State to get us over the 3-year hump [in 2011]. It was great seeing that shot go in and being able to move on in the tournament.

Lavoy Allen, forward, Sixers; former Temple player: My biggest memory is Juan Fernandez hitting the game-winning shot against Penn State [in 2011], just because it was our fourth try trying to get out of the first round and we finally made it. My first game in the tournament was in Denver, so I was struggling just trying to breathe.

John Chaney, former head coach, Temple: With me, it was about seeing our name go up on the board, knowing that you belonged. There were times we got in with 17 wins because of the schedule we played, and other teams with 22 and 23 that didn't get in were bitching and moaning. When you make it, it just puts you in a very different situation . . . Some of the memories are bittersweet. The one time, when we lost to Seton Hall [in second round in 2000, as a No. 2 seed], they didn't make a layup, but they hit all those shots from outside. The one kid [Ty Shine] came in off the bench, after their starter got hurt, and he was the least likely to succeed. But he did. There are so many memories I can't get out of my mind. But that one resonates, when I look at it from my eyes in terms of the whole moment. We had a lot of runs, but that was just unbelievable.