(ThyBlackMan.com) Danny Manning knows a thing or two about the NCAA Basketball Tournament (aka “The Big Dance”).
In 1988 as a senior at Kansas University, Manning and an upstart team coached by Larry Brown danced all the way to the Division I title. That squad was often referred to as “Danny and The Miracles” because the other players embraced their roles as sidemen to the versatile, superstar forward.
Named the 1988 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Manning’s performance made him an easy choice for the first overall pick in that
summer’s NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. But while he was selected to appear in the 1993 and 1994 NBA All-Star Games, Manning’s professional playing career was more solid than spectacular, largely due to knee injuries.
However, since his retirement from the NBA in 2003, Danny Manning has quietly plotted a return to college basketball’s biggest stage. First as a member of the Kansas coaching staff, where as an assistant he helped lead the Jayhawks to another national championship in 2008.
Now as the head coach at the University of Tulsa, Danny Manning is again working miracles by leading the Golden Hurricane to the NCAA Tournament in just his second year in charge of the program. By defeating a highly regarded Louisiana Tech team, 69-60, in the Conference USA championship game, Tulsa will appear in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. The Golden Hurricane enters this year’s dance riding an 11-game winning streak.
When Danny Manning accepted the Tulsa position he became a part of a rich Golden Hurricane coaching lineage, which includes two African American legends, Nolan Richardson and Tubby Smith. Manning is still in the early stages of crafting his coaching legacy, but he has long ago grasped a lesson that eludes many star athletes today: “Use the game, don’t let the game use you.”
As current Kansas coach Bill Self so eloquently stated: “Danny Manning is one of the most accomplished, humble people you will ever meet. He’s done more in his life through the athletic world than just about anybody, but you will never know it in visiting with him as he never ever talks about himself. His focus on deciding to be a basketball coach was to try to share some of his knowledge and make others better.”
Indeed, Danny Manning was not a victim of exploitation as so many basketball prodigies are. Instead, he truly used the game of basketball to better his life and the lives of others he will touch. The young basketball players at Tulsa will no doubt benefit from his wisdom, and so can other young athletes who take the time to learn more about his special story.
Staff Writer; Scott Talley
This talented journalist is owner of a public relations firm; Scott Talley & Associates, Inc….