Front page from Sunday, Jan. 21, 1968. I really wanted to post something about this last Sunday on the official anniversary, but alas, my laziness got the better of me. This past Sunday, the 20th of January, was the 40th anniversary of the Game of the Century when the #2 University of Houston Cougars lead by Elvin "Big E" Hayes defeated the then #1 UCLA Bruins and big man Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) 71-69 at the Houston Astrodome in front of over 52,000+ screaming fans. The Coogs victory snapped UCLA's 47-game winning streak and essentially put college basketball on the proverbial map as this was the first ever college basketball game that was nationally televised in primetime. Granted, UCLA defeated Houston in both the 1967 and 1968 national championship games, but it was this magical game that proved the viability of college basketball as part of the pantheon of major sports. Despite attempts by Houston AD Dave Maggard and head coach Tom Penders, it is rumored that UCLA coach Ben Howland refused to play the Cougars this season in Houston. Let's hope in 10 years that UCLA will be ready to celebrate the anniversary of the Game of the Century as it was meant to be celebrated with a rematch.
For more introspection on the game, check out The Game of the Century.
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