For those of us of a certain age, there were sports "miracles" that are forever etched within our minds. Naturally, the ice hockey "Miracle on Ice" tops the list, but way back in 1983 the term "Cinderella" took on a different meaning, and NCAA college basketball a new god-like form when a not-highly-regarded North Carolina State Wolfpack team kept slaying demons until it found itself in the NCAA final game. What followed next was perhaps the greatest upset in college basketball history.Led by a captivating coach, Jim Valvano, and a gritty refuse-to-lose team of role players, the "Cardiac Pack" un-assed the clear favorite, Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston, 54-52. The game winning shot was fluttered towards the rim by Pack star guard, Dereck Whittenburg, and it looked like overtime was inevitable until a lanky big man emerged from the base line and stuffed the ball through the rim. Lorenzo Charles was the young man who set off an explosion on the floor, including the images of Valvano running around in joy like a schoolkid. Valvano passed several years ago to cancer. Regrettably, Charles passed yesterday in a bus crash in North Carolina. He was the driver for a limo company, and the only one on the bus.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/06/28/north.carolina.charles.death/index.html?hpt=hp_t2