The End of an Era

As I get older I realize that the folks that are in the limelight of sports are getting older as well. I have seen all of my favorite players growing up hang it up and ride off into the sunset. Well this season is the final season of Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching tenure at Duke. Coach K retires as one of the most decorated coaches in NCAA history and has a long lineage of winning which we may never see again. I must admit I have never been a big Duke fan but you have to take a step back and realize that this living legend is about to no longer patrol the sideline of Cameron Indoor Arena.

   At the time I am writing this I am 41 years old. It is hard to believe that Coach K has been coaching at Duke the entire time I have been alive. He started this journey at Duke in 1980. Let that sink in.  1980.  As a matter of fact on February 13, he will turn 75 years old. His basketball career started in the Army as a point guard. He started his coaching career as an assistant at Indiana, then went back to Army before landing at Duke. It blows my mind that he has been at the same place for that long. In this environment that is unheard of. Schools are so quick to fire coaches these days that it will be very hard for any other coach to reach the 40 year mark if not almost impossible. He also coached the USA Olympic basketball team and brought them back to dominance earning three gold medals. Yes I know the coach doesn’t actually get a medal but darn it he should! LOL!

   Coach K’s name is all over the record books. He is second in National Championships only behind John Wooden. He has the most wins in men’s NCAA basketball history. He has produced many first round NBA picks and heck he is already in the Hall of Fame.  This final Duke team, even though they lost on a last second shot last night against Virginia, are in the Top 10 and are primed to make another run in March Madness for one last Championship.  It would only be fitting if they did win. One last win for Coach K.  Agree or disagree, Duke Basketball is synonymous with winning.  am putting my money on this team to send Coach K off on top! 

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