March 4, 1990: Basketball star Hank Gathers dies of a heart attack suffered during a game, sending a shock wave through the sports world. He was 23 years old.
Eric Wilson Gathers Jr. was born on February 11, 1967 in Philadelphia. Better known as Hank Gathers, he and Gregory "Bo" Kimble starred for Dobbins Technical High School, across Lehigh Avenue from the site of Connie Mack Stadium, former home of the Phillies, Athletics and Eagles. They lost the Final of the City Tournament as juniors in 1984, to a Benjamin Franklin High School team led by future UCLA and Minnesota Timberwolves star James "Pooh" Richardson. They won it as seniors in 1985, taking the Final over a South Philadelphia High School team led by later La Salle University and Sacramento Kings star Lionel Simmons.
Gathers and Kimble went across the country to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. They led the Lions to previously unreached heights, including both the West Coast Conference regular-season and Tournament titles in 1988, the Tournament in 1989, and the regular season in 1990. Both were expected to by lottery picks in the upcoming NBA Draft.
On March 4, 1990, already diagnosed with heart trouble, but refusing to give up basketball since he was so close to his NBA dream, Gathers collapsed in a West Coast Conference Tournament game against the University of Portland at LMU’s home court, Gersten Pavilion. He was dead at age 23. The rest of the tournament was canceled.
The right-handed Kimble paid tribute by shooting free throws lefthanded (as Gathers did) through the NCAA Tournament, in which LMU reached the Elite Eight, including a win over defending National Champions Michigan. They were eliminated by Nevada-Las Vegas, who went on to win the National Championship.
Kimble would play 2 season for the Los Angeles Clippers, 1 for the Knicks, and 4 in the minor leagues. He now runs a foundation to raise money for cardiac research, in the hopes of preventing future tragedies like Hank's. Both men have had their numbers retired by Loyola Marymount, Gathers' 44 and Kimble's 30. The school has not made the NCAA Tournament since 1990.
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March 4, 1990 was a Sunday. Draymond Green was born that day, but, given the ups and downs of his career, it's difficult to say whether the sport of basketball came out ahead.
Baseball was in Spring Training. Football was out of season. There were 4 games played in the NBA:
* The Chicago Bulls beat the Boston Celtics, 118-114 at the Boston Garden. For the not-quite-dynasty-ready Bulls, Michael Jordan scored 36 points. For the no-longer-dynasty-worthy Celtics, Larry Bird scored 38.
* The Detroit Pistons beat the Indiana Pacers, 111-105 at The Palace in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan.
* The Phoenix Suns beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-96 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
* And the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-96 at The Forum outside Los Angeles in Inglewood, California.
And there were 6 games played in the NHL:
* The New Jersey Devils lost to the Washington Capitals, 4-3 at the Capital Centre in the Washington suburb of Landover, Maryland.
* The Buffalo Sabres beat the Quebec Nordiques, 5-3 at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
* The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Minnesota North Stars, 8-6 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.
* In an "Original Six" matchup, the Boston Bruins beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1 at the Chicago Stadium.
* The Winnipeg Jets beat the Los Angeles Kings, 6-3 at the Winnipeg Arena.
* And the Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks, 6-3 at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton.
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