'The way we were:' Tears, triumph, time in Arizona’s Final Four history | Greg Hansen

Good and bad, here's a look back at the way we were:

1988, Kansas City

I boarded a flight in Tucson and was encouraged to see Arizona football coach Dick Tomey sitting in the economy section near me. Tomey went to KC on his own dime, taking advantage of a weekend off from spring football drills.

Also on our flight were Odiemae Elliott, mother of UA All-American Sean Elliott, who had taken the weekend off from her job as a critical care nurse (she worked the graveyard shift) at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Tucson, and Ann Kerr, mother of UA point guard Steve Kerr. She was on the final leg of a 24-hour trek from Cairo, Egypt, to see her famous son play.

I had not been to a Final Four since the 1979 immortal Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson duel in Salt Lake City, and did not need to be reminded what a big event it would be. But seeing Tomey and the mothers of Kerr and Elliott made the importance of the game stick.

Unfortunately, the defense-solid Oklahoma Sooners beat the Wildcats 86-78, and a faucet of tears followed. When I walked into the UA locker room, I immediately saw Sean Rooks, Kenny Lofton and Harvey Mason crying. What I didn't expect was to see Lute Olson break down. That was the first and last time I ever saw him show that much emotion.

When a reporter asked Olson what he would remember about Arizona's historic 35-3 season, his voice cracked, and he paused to wipe tears from his eyes. By the time he left the locker room for a formal interview session in the media center, Olson was composed and talked openly about how good the Sooners were. "We didn't face better defensive guards all year," he said, mentioning Mookie Blaylock and Ricky Grace, two elite-level stoppers.

Kerr spent about 30 minutes answering questions. He entered the game leading the NCAA, shooting an amazing 59.9% from 3-point distance. He shot a career-worst 2 of 12 that night.

"I made about 30 consecutive jumpers in warm ups," he said, solemnly. "I'm shocked right now. Blame me." (No one did).

A day later, Kerr was honored at the media hotel by the NCAA. He was named college's basketball Most Courageous Player of the Year. His mother and two brothers were in the audience.

After he was introduced, Kerr's voice broke and he began to cry, Kerr said "I've enjoyed every minute of my career at Arizona."

I dabbed away tears, as did almost everyone in the room, and sat down.

A day later, a Monday afternoon with no more basketball on the schedule, I attended the Kansas City Royals-Toronto Blue Jays season opener. As I looked into the crowd, I immediately spotted Olson and most of the Wildcat players, all enjoying themselves on a sunny baseball afternoon. It made me smile.

Headline in the Daily Star the morning after the game: "Sooners dash UA's dream season."

1994, Charlotte, N.C.

Before Saturday's opening game against Arkansas' "40 Minutes of Hell" juggernaut, I saw President Bill Clinton walk into the Charlotte Coliseum, followed about 20 yards later by the Ooh Aah Man, Arizona's beloved cheer-king, Joe Cavaleri. For once, the Ooh Aah Man didn't do much cheering.

The Razorbacks won 91-82 with a defensive press that caused Arizona's All-American guards Khalid Reeves and Damon Stoudamire to combine for 2 for 22 from 3-point distance.

Said a composed Olson: "This year didn't seem to have the finality of 1988." There were no tears in the UA locker room, although Wilbur the Wildcat (UA student Devin Elliott) sustained a torn ACL when he and the Arkansas mascot got into a "friendly" tussle before the game.

Tucsonans thought so much of their ’94 Wildcats that when they arrived home at noon Tuesday, 22 convertibles were lined up at the Tucson Airport, delivering the Wildcats to Arizona Stadium for a welcome-home bash.

Headline in the Daily Star the morning after the game: "Hogs make it final for UA."

1997, Indianapolis

Two days before tipoff, I checked into a downtown Indianapolis hotel no more than 100 yards from the RCA Dome. The clerk completed my paperwork and gave me the keys to room 711.

I had to look twice. My lucky number has forever been 711, relating to my birthday. I didn't tell anyone — I didn't want to jinx it — but I thought maybe it was a sign from the basketball gods.

And it was. Arizona beat No. 1 seeds North Carolina and Kentucky to win the national championship. I remember seeing Tucson auto dealer Jim Click sitting on the front row, by the UA bench, standing and pumping his fists, sensing immediately how important the weekend in Indiana would be.

After the championship game against Kentucky, I stayed in the press room until the stock of beer was gone. I walked with several reporters to a nearby Steak 'n Shake restaurant near the RCA Dome. Star guards Mike Bibby and Miles Simon were already there, signing autographs. I went to bed about 3 a.m., but had to get up at 5 to drive to Chicago for a flight to Tucson. Not recommended. I typed the next day's column bleary-eyed, sitting in O'Hare Airport near maybe 100 UA fans, similarly bleary-eyed (but joyful).

Room 711 didn't help Bibby and Simon make all of those crucial baskets to beat Kentucky, but to this day I have the key and the envelope it came in.

Headline in the Daily Star the morning after the game: "Champions!"

2001, Minneapolis

It was cold in downtown Minneapolis, maybe 40 degrees, and the 15-minute walk to the Metrodome was unpleasant. There was no lucky number, 711 or otherwise. My wife, who accompanied me to Minnesota, had to leave for Albuquerque because her father, a former UA athletic department employee, passed away that weekend.

Things warmed up quickly as the Wildcats blew out Michigan State 80-61 in the semifinal, although as I left the UA locker room, assistant coach Jim Rosborough told me "off the record" that star guard Gilbert Arenas had injured his ribs/shoulder and might not be able to play in the finale against Duke.

To this day, I believe that's all that kept Arizona from beating the Blue Devils. Arenas, who averaged 16 points and was the most explosive player on the court, shot 4 for 17. He was clearly compromised. Talk about the worst possible timing.

Much like ’94, the UA locker room was tear-free. Arizona had won 18 of its last 20 games after Olson returned from a two-week hiatus following the death of his wife, Bobbi. The starting five of Arenas, Jason Gardner, Richard Jefferson, Loren Woods and Michael Wright was the best in UA history, and until Arenas was injured, the Wildcats were championship-caliber.

Olson left the Metrodome after the Duke game, accompanied by his five children and their spouses. To me, the snapshot of Olson and his family was "One Shining Moment" more than whatever CBS put on the air that night.

I was expecting to see the Wildcats back at the Final Four in the next year or two; Olson's roster was loaded, and being in the Final Four seemed almost routine. Now we know how difficult it is.

Headline in the next day's Daily Star: "A for effort"