Don Haskins died today. If you're not a sports fan you might not know how he became an important figure in American society. In 1966 as coach at Texas Western he won the NCAA basketball championship by starting five African-American players against the University of Kentucky's five white players.
He was still coach at the school - now called UTEP - when I was a student many years later. Here's Hollywood's version of the stoy...
And some video of the actual event. That's before I was born, but it's still fascinating to me.
Haskins was a hero and the most admired resident of El Paso right to the end.
Here are related things I've posted over the years.
Update: 'Former UTEP and current Nebraska coach Doc Sadler couldn't remember who told him but he never forgot this description of Don Haskins: "He was the John Wayne of basketball." '
El Paso won't be the same without him. Sorry to hear about his death. Really a hero. Had a big impact on a lot of people.