Fan’s view: A tribute to Tark

It was a sad day in Las Vegas and for basketball fans around the nation on February 11, 2015 when Danny Tarkanian tweeted out that his father, the great Coach Jerry Tarkanian had passed away at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas.

“Tark the Shark” essentially put UNLV basketball on the map, and is responsible for bringing success and pride to the program that so many of us support today.

Rebel fans got together in person and on social media to share memories of the legendary coach. On Rebel-net.com message boards, posters talked about chance meetings with Tark and becoming fans of UNLV because of Tark. I know some people who moved to Las Vegas because of Coach Tarkanian and UNLV while others said they would have never met their significant other without him.

A UNLV fan named Scott mentioned meeting Tark at Piero’s after he announced he was leaving UNLV and, still, all he wanted to talk about was the next opponent.

Another fan mentioned how Tark showed up to one of his youth basketball team practices and how hard the whole team hustled when he was there.

Another had the good fortune to sit next to the coach at a holiday basketball tournament as a young kid. He said Tark sat and talked with him for the entire game like he was an old friend. It made such an impression on him.

Joe, born and raised a Rebel fan, talked about leaving his sister’s wedding as not to break his streak of being at UNLV home games. He hasn’t missed one in 29 years. He also talked about the first time he met Tark about 25 years ago this week right before the game where Greg Anthony broke his jaw.

Every memory that was shared made us smile or laugh and it felt nice to read and hear about all the ways Coach Tark touched lives.

As for me, I had a few interactions with Coach Tark - like when I got a copy of his book signed or when we sat and talked Rebel hoops for a while at a Coaches vs. Cancer event at the Palms, or at Born And Raised when they held a celebration for him being selected into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

But, I really wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for Jerry Tarkanian. My first Rebel game was in 1985 and I sat right behind the announcers. My love for the Rebels grew over the years of watching Tark’s teams play and after I graduated I bought season tickets so I would never miss a game. I cried at Jerry’s last game and rejoiced when he was welcomed back to UNLV and had the court named after him. There would be no unlvgirl with out Jerry Tarkanian.

For all of the influence that Tark had on UNLV and Las Vegas in general, we are doing our best to honor him.

First, there was a vigil held at the Tark statue outside of the Thomas & Mack on the night of his death. Over 100 people turned out to pay their respect to the coaching icon, leaving the statue draped in white towels and red and white carnations (compliments of Tiger Lily florist).

Plenty of media came out for the event, along with the UNLV cheerleaders and Rebel girls. We paid our respects to Coach Tark while sharing memories and tears.

But the big honor will take place on Wednesday night. That’s when - thanks to a campaign undertaken by UNLV alums Scott Gulbranson, Tony Cordasco and Trevor Hayes - the majority of the casinos on the Strip (and businesses elsewhere around the valley) will go dark to honor Tark the Shark.

Last I heard, all of the casinos on the Strip - except for the Wynn and Encore - and parts of Fremont Street had agreed to participate.

The Strip casinos have only dimmed their lights to honor an individual 6 times previously. The last time was in 2004 for President Ronald Reagan’s death. It’s the ultimate tribute for Jerry Tarkanian.

There will also be a public memorial service on March 1 at the Thomas & Mack but the time has not yet been announced. Tarkanian’s private service was held Monday at Our Lady of Las Vegas.

Back on the court, the Rebels’ next home game is Wednesday at 8 p.m. against Boise St. It is a black out. The team will be wearing black uniforms and fans are also encouraged to wear black in memory of Tark. Right after the game at 10:30 p.m. for 3 minutes is when the lights will be dimming on the Strip and all over town.

Switching to hard ball - the UNLV baseball team opened their season against No. 23 Nebraska on Friday night to a sold out crowd of 3000+. Bryce Harper and the Mountain Ridge Little League team threw out the first pitch. It was a beautiful night for baseball but the Rebels dropped the opener, 2-0. However, they came back to win on Saturday and Sunday to claim their first series of the season. Check out their schedule here and make sure you follow along with catcher Erik VanMeetren’s weekly blog.

The Lady Rebels are 10-13 and play again at home on Saturday at 2 p.m. against New Mexico.

The women’s softball team is 4-3 and have their next home game Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.I hope to see you out at an event real soon, and as always … GO REBELS!