I had some familiarity with Hank Gathers and the uptempo style of basketball played at Loyola Marymount University in the late 1980s. I knew of Gathers' tragic collapse during the course of a game, of Bo Kimble's tributary left-handed free throws and of LMU's improbable run to the Elite 8 of the 1990 NCAA Tournament - it's one of the greatest stories in the history of sports. But I did not know the full story of their coach, Paul Westhead, which is in and of itself something of a Shakespearean tale. But most importantly, I did not know the gripping details of Gathers' death and, quite honestly, was not prepared for the personal connection he and I share.
Earlier in the 1989-90 college basketball season, Hank Gathers collapsed momentarily during a game and it was later discovered that he suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, one of two strains of the cardiomyopathy disorder - I suffer from the other, dilated cardiomyopathy. While regular exercise is an integral component to any treatment plan for cardiomyopathy, strenuous exercise can and often is detrimental.
Under Coach Westhead, the LMU Lions ran an offense known simply as, "the system." They pushed the ball and blazed up and down the court like no other team. They played as if every possession was a fastbreak. They tormented their opponents, regularly registering scores in the triple digits. And tragically, they ran out the clock on the young life of their brightest star.
During the 1988-9 season, Gathers lead the nation in both scoring and rebounding - only the second time, at the time, that a player had achieved the feat. But unfortunately, Gathers' insistence on pushing himself physically to excel at the game he loved - to the point that he reduced the dosage of his heart medication to reduce the effects of sluggishness - drove him to the brink of death and beyond. Gathers died during the West Coast Conference Tournament just over 20 years ago on March 4, 1990.
There was so much about watching this documentary that struck me personally. I can relate to Gather's fear, frustration and stubbornness. When I first started my medication my energy was gone. I'd wake up in the morning, take my pills and be out again within minutes for several more hours sleep. When I first started working out again, I found the exercise I was accustomed to doing uncomfortable and aggravating. And the uncertainty that confronted me was immense and overwhelming.
I've been working on this post for over an hour now, and my heart is still lurking in the back of my throat from watching this documentary. I'm not sure when it's being re-aired, but it is a must watch film - I watched the Hurt Locker last night and as intense and gripping as that was, the Guru of Go is far more powerful. I feel sad for Paul Westhead. He was eventually dulled out more of the blame for Gathers' death than he deserved. The medical information we have about heart conditions and how to treat them compared to that of 20 years ago is staggering, and I am incredibly grateful for it. It's because of tragic stories such as Gathers' that more attention is paid to these disorders and better treatments are practiced. Hank Gathers will forever be an inspirational figure to me, and like his teammate and friend Bo Kimble, I will find my own way to honor him and his memory.
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