The top-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks were in the middle of enjoying their first victory of the season. Most on the way to or from the showers, others just starting in on a light postgame meal.
Coach Nolan Richardson called them together in the locker room after their 97-79 victory over No. 14 Georgetown on Sunday in the inaugural Martin Luther King Classic. He wanted them to listen to Jesse Jackson, who visited both locker rooms after the game.The civil rights leader praised the defending national champions for bouncing back from a 104-80 loss to No. 3 Massachusetts less than 48 hours before.
"You now know you can't take last year's reputation to this year's schedule," he said. "That's also true in life."
Jackson wanted to make sure the players remembered the man for whom the doubleheader sponsored by the Black Coaches Association was named.
"Dr. King would have been happy to have witnessed what you did today and what you represent," Jackson said in a room so quiet you could hear a towel drop. "I was with him on April 4, 1968 in this city. He spilled his blood on the balcony and made things like this possible. Without that there wouldn't be a Nolan Richardson coaching at Arkansas or a John Thompson at Georgetown. In his 39 years he showed what could be possible. You have to take every opportunity his life gave you.
"If you study with the same compassion you play basketball, if you study three hours a night as you practice basketball, you can have a slam dunk of thought."