Basketball greatness, 1970s style

Butler came within an eyelash of inspiring another “Hoosiers” movie — of completing a roundball holy trinity with the Milan Indians and the Hickory Huskers. It didn’t quite make it — Duke was just too tough, too big — but the Bulldogs showed that Hoosier Hysteria doesn’t end in the high school ranks.

Wasn’t it a great game? Got to be one of the best I’ve ever seen in an NCAA final. Hell, in ANY final! No lead greater than six points, for either team. A refusal to die on the part of the underdog Bulldogs. A determination to live up to their own press clippings on the part of the favored Blue Devils. Breath-taking three-pointers. Adroit maneuvers for advantage in the paint, often leading to athletic layups — or muscular blocks by the defense.

And the best part: No King Kong-style slam dunks. No loosey-goosey, “Look at me, I’m just IT!” type showboating. No grossly exaggerated dramatics over “bad” calls by the referees.

OK, all you bleeding hearts — you knew it was coming, didn’t you? Wait for it … wait for it …

Both teams were actually RACIALLY INTEGRATED!  The days of all-white teams in championship games in college are long gone — we all know that. But the Duke-Butler game actually looked like we’d stepped back into a 1970s time warp, to the time when black players were coming into their own, but white players were still holding THEIR own. The era when the two races shared the floor in starting positions, in roughly equal numbers. The days before coaches, scouts and the general public became convinced that white players were all slow, clumsy, and unable to jump — fit only for a place on the bench.

It’s interesting how, with their different styles, players of the two races can set a definite tempo, a, well, STYLE, for a game. Look at the NBA, where 10 black players on the floor is routine, and you’ll see racehorse fast breaks replete with un-called traveling violations, slam dunks designed to look as showy and flashy as possible, one-on-one working of the ball in which the ballhandler seems determined to be the one to take the shot, in spite of the most tenacious defense and of the guy standing open under the basket.

On Monday night, both Butler and Duke “played white,” to coin a phrase. The black players the same as the white ones. “Playing white” is just a different game, based more on teamwork, moving the ball, unselfishness — and getting the basket, often in an economical, no-frills way. Hey, it’s still two points, whether it’s a layup or a slam dunk that begins at the free throw line with five full steps and nary a dribble.

Gee! White guys who can jump high enough to block shots,  grab rebounds with authority, and out-run people down the court. Black guys who are unselfish with the ball and are willing to play a straight-forward game, with victory the goal, not peacock-like preening.

Maybe our — um — “stereotypes” about black and white players were just that. Maybe all the reverse racism about the slowness and clumsiness and lead-footedness of white players was not justified.

But there’s no maybe about this: Americans saw a crackerjack of a basketball game Monday night. It was the hardwood at its very best. Congratulations, Duke! Wait ’til next year, Butler! You’ve got most of your guys coming back!