University of Virginia Library

III. INTERLUDE

The mystery of the morning is did the motel operator forget
to include Barry Parkhill and Gus Gerard in the 8:45 call, or did
they sleep through it? Only Ma Bell knows for sure.

Anyway, they make it to the motel office in time to join the
rest of us for a trip to Anheuser-Busch, brewers of Budweiser,
Michelob, and Ed McMahon. Two more cars have been rented, so
the entourage splits up for the 15-minute drive.

In the lead car which arrives last (figure that one out), Slick
explains how unusual it is to have a day off on a road trip,
Usually after an away game the team gets something quick to eat
and then piles into the bus for the long haul back to C'ville,
arriving at 3 or 4 a.m. "And God forbid you lose," adds Wilheim.

***

The brewery tour seems rather skimpy – even the Clydesdales
have left town (for the Tournament of Roses parade) – but the
guides are pleasant, the aroma intoxicating, and the entire
operation Brobdingnagian.

The tour first takes us to the brewery house, then to the
stable. Here the guide tells us that next we are to sample some of
the products. Gibson moves toward Stevie Morris and playfully
tugs at his jacket as if to say, "You can't have any," which draws
laughter from the other players. The inside joke becomes clearer
when, after a brief respite, quaffing some hops at ye local oasis,
and a glimpse at the bottling operation, the Hoot introduces
Morris to the guide.

"We call him 'Mic," Gibson tells the guide, explaining that
"Mic" is short for Michelob."

"You like Michelob,huh?" the guide inquires of Morris.

Stevie smiles bashfully and says he does.

Michelob Morris. What next?

***

Well, I'll tell you what next, as Groucho Marx might say.
Would you believe the Gateway Arch? How about the General
Robert E. Lee Riverboat, docked on the Mississippi, a popular
spot for lunch if you don't mind waiting twenty minutes. Gibson
decides we don't. Besides, there's a cocktail lounge to pass the
time in.

While we wait, I talk to Wally Walker about his fledgling
stardom, and learn that last year at this time he was still debating
between Notre Dame, North Carolina, and Virginia. Why
Virginia? "I liked it best here," the baby-faced freshman replies.
"Besides, I liked Coach Gibson." Ask almost any player this
question, and he'll point to the type of guy Gibson is as being a
major factor in his decision to come here.

Walker impresses one, at this time, as an eager, maybe slightly
awe-struck, young athlete, dedicated to developing his
considerable talents. Though not the natural conversationalist
Hobgood is, he's easy to get along with, and it's a pleasure to
watch the delight he takes in just being part of the team, relishing
both the knowledge and the good-natured ribbing ("Hey, Rookie,
when was the last time you shaved? How's the peach fuzz?") his
teammates give him.

We sit at two tables to eat in the stylish restaurant. Chris
Cramer recalls that road trips weren't always this nice. "I
remember five years ago when Bus Male (Director of Athletic
Facilities and Finances) and I went down to Clemson and had to
flip for a milkshake."

"When I played, we got $17 for five days, and we thought that
was a lot," Conner observes, before having a piece of butter
flicked at him off the tip of Cramer's knife.

One of the players wryly comments, "That's the sort of thing
people expect us to do."

There is talk about some bad calls against Georgetown last
night which the Hoyas didn't protest, much speculation about
who'll be named tourney MVP, and a Dan Bonnerism about
Robert E. Lee – "He looks like Colonel Sanders after three

months at the spa."

Practice is scheduled for three, but it's already two-thirty, so
it's pushed back half an hour to allow for a leisurely lunch on the
Mississippi.

***

A quick stop at the motel, then on to the "dumpy old gym"
once again. As we pull out of the driveway, the Wisconsin hockey
team pulls in (on a bus, no less), and we pass what must be the
five or six least desirable girls in Wisconsin, apparently here to
cheer on their team. In the back of the car, Larry Gerry and
"Skibo" Stahurski go into conniptions."Gross!...Step on it. Get
out of here!...I can't take it." En route, Gerry and Morris play a
game – mess up Lanny's hair and see how fast he can straighten
it. Well, anything for kicks in St. Louis.

The practice gets under way about 3:45, and lasts until 5,
when Gibson calls the team together at center court.

In a light vein: "No more racing down the corridor like last
night. Okay, Mic? I've never seen Hobbo run so fast in his life as
when he saw me coming around the corner (when he and Morris
were going for ice to 'cool the brew,' as it were)."

On the opponent: "Coach Conner and I were not at all
impressed with their ball handling, so we're gonna go after them.
That's what Evansville did and best them. Keep the pressure on.
Go after the ball."

On food: "There's a strong rumor going around that you guys
lay better when you cat at Musial's. Is there any truth to it?"

There is, and co-captains Parkhill and Hobgood win a $7.25
nner allowance for each player. First class.

As Gus Gerard points out. "They're spending some money on
trip. Bus Male will lose his mind."

So we go back to Musial's, then most of us continue on to the
Arena for the Minnesota-St. Louis hockey game, which turns out
to be a down-to-the-wire thriller, answering the question why
hockey outdraws basketball.

It ends at 11:20, ten minutes before curfew and twenty-one
hours and forty minutes before the game we traveled almost
halfway across the country to win.