UNLV Basketball Programs UNLV Athletics 11-20-1984 UNLV "Rebels" vs. MEIJI University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/basketball_programs Part of the American Popular Culture Commons, and the Civic and Community Engagement Commons Repository Citation University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1984). UNLV "Rebels" vs. MEIJI. Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/basketball_programs/106 This Pamphlet is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Pamphlet in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Pamphlet has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Basketball Programs by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TABLE OF CONTENTS Tonight's Game Most Americans are well aware of Japanese im­ UNLV President's Message 4 ports ... Toyota and Datsun cars, Sony TVs, Seiko watches ... What they are not as familiar with is Japanese Athletic Director Dr. Rothermel basketball, which Las Vegas sports fans will be seeing for Meiji President's Message 5 the first time when Meiji University's team take to the floor of the Thomas & Mack Center tonight to meet the Jerry Tarkanian 6-7 awesome strength of UNL V's Runnin' Rebels. How does a game like this go from the drawing board to reality between schools located half-way around the world Rebel's Best Since 76-77? 8 from each other? Ironically, the Meiji vs UNLV basketball game was an Rebel's ~asketball Staff 9 off-shoot of Japan's national sport of sumo. Sumo?? Highlighting Richie Adams 10-11 George Yoshinaga, a Japanese American entrepreneur, was in Las Vegas earlier this year, looking for a site to pre­ sent sumo to local sports fans. University of Las Vegas 12 During his stay, he was introduced to UNL V's athletic director, Dr. Brad Rothermel by Line Davies, director of casino event for the Riviera Hotel during a lunch at the Schedule, 83-84 Results, Attendance 13 hotel. There was some discussion about, perhaps, staging sumo Meet Your Rebel Players 14-15-16-17 at the Thomas & Mack but since Thomas & Mack is primarily known for its hosting of basketball games, the conversation turned to that sport. Coach Kyoichiro Hayashi 18 Somewhere between the main course and dessert, the subject of having a Japanese university team broke into Rebels in the Record Book 19 the conversation as a possible opponent for the Runnin' Rebels. Yoshinaga said he would put in a call to Japan to Mei j i Roster 20 find out if he could line up a representative team for UNLV and before he left Las Vegas, the game with Meiji was made. Rebel Roster 21 It will be the first time a Japanese university team will play against a major American collegiate basketball Meet the Meiii Players 22-23 power. The Japanese national team, and several "all-star" teams have toured the U.S. but as far as a single Japanese university team playing against a major U.S. team is con­ Meiji University 24 cerned, tonight's game is a historic "first." Basketball observers in Japan consider this game a ma­ Hoping for a Hot Hand 25 jor breakthrough for basketball among Japanese universi­ ty teams. Other universities in Japan will be looking close­ ly at the results, not so much from the finals points posted UNLV Cheerleaders 26 on the scoreboard, but how the Japanese players react to facing one of the best teams in America, coached by the Rebels Team Photo 28 winningest coach in collegiate basketball in Jerry Tarka­ nian. Basketball in Japan was among the best in the Orient for On the Job Training 29 a number of years in the 50s and 60s, but another sport came onto the scene and many potential young athletes, UNLV Athletic Administration 30 eyeing the chance to play in the Olympic Games, opted for the other game... volleyball. And, volleyball did, indeed, become the top sport for Alive with Pride 31 Japan in world competition. However, in recent years, many of the younger players are returning to basketball 'and Japan is slowly returning to the top in the Orient. Misty Thomas 32-33 Severa'[ post-season tournaments, featuring top American college teams, have heightened the resurgence UNLV Scholarship Donors 34-35-37-38 of interest among the young athletes, as they have had the The official program for the Meiji University and University of Nevada opportunity to see some of the best players in the world , Las Vegas basketball game is published by George Yoshinaga and participate. Associates in cooperation with the University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletic Department. 3 A MESSAGE FROM UNLV DIRECTOR OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLE.TICS Dr. Brad Rothermel UNLV PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS "RUNNIN' REBEL" FANS DR. ROBERT C. MAXSON The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to welcome Meiji University, the defending intercollegiate champions of the country of Japan, to a first ever exhibition contest between the Japanese Intercollegiate Basketball Champions and an NCAA Division I basketball program. This department is proud to have been selected the institution to inaugurate what is anticipated will be a continuing and long-standing relationship with our Japanese friends. Special thanks are due to Ms. Lyn Davies of the Riviera Hotel and Mr. George Yoshinaga for their involvements in assisting this contest to come to fruition. This department appreciates the continuing support of "Runnin' Rebel" basket ball fans and anticipates a highly exciting Mei ji vs University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball contest and an outstanding 1984-85 men's varsity basketball season. Sincerely, ~mel, Oi<eeCo< Department of Intercollegiate Athletics University of Nevada, Las Vegas It is both a honor and privilege for me to extend greetings to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and to the people of the City of Las Vegas, on behalf of Meiji University. The Meiji University and its basketball team are grateful that they have been given this opportunity to play against one of the great teams in America. It will be a ·gre_at exp~r.ien~e for our team and we hope that the1r part1c1~at1?n ~ill create a spirit of goodwill bet~_een our 1nst1tut1on of higher education. We at Me111 f':el that sports is a important facet in developmg young students and being able to travel abroad certainly enhances this- process. Pe~haps_, one day, the basketball team from the Un1vers1ty of Nevada, Las Vegas, will be able to travel to our country to experience our culture and the same time we will be able to reciprocate th_e hospitality extended to our young men on this tnp to the U.S. Shinichi Yamamoto President, Meiji University 4 Jerry Tarkanian ... More Coach Tarkanian ... Than Just A Coach Leonard Gray (Seattle Supersonics). Danny Tarkanian (San Antonio also coached the Junior College Olym­ UNLV alumni in the pros at one Spurs, 8th round), Eric Booker (Utah pic Team that same year. Year for his efforts on behalf of that record of 14-13, Tarkandian guided time or another include: Ricky Sobers Jazz, 8th round), and Paul Brozovich A native of Euclid, Ohio, Tarkanian Riverside to three California Junior organization. He also runs state-wide (Chicago Bulls), Larry Moffett (Golden State Warriors, 8th round) . attended Pasadena City College College Championships, including a basketball camps and clinics for (Houston Rocketrs), Eddie Owens In Tarkanian' s 11 years at UNLV, a before graduating from Fresno State perfect season ( 1963-64) of 35-0 . youngsters of a II ages as well as being (Buffalo Braves), Jackie Robinson total of 23 players have been drafted in 1955. He then went on to earn his Another attribute that Tarkanian is an active member of various (Seattle Supersonics), Sam Smith Masters degree-with honors-in widely known for his his ability to by the N BA. Six players alone from charitable organizations. (Chicago Bulls), Glen Gondrezick Educational Management from recruit. He is known in basketball the 1976-77 team were drafted by the The University recognized what he (Denver Nuggets), Sidney Green NBA-an NCAA and NBA record. Redlands University. has been doing for the Las Vegas com­ circles as the "Pied Piper of Basket­ (Chicago Bulls), and Reggie Theus munity and named him Assistant ball Recruiting"-a title he is indeed (Chicago Bulls, Kansas City Kings) . Tarkanian has been honored with Tarkanian and his wife Lois, the Athletic Director with designated worthy of. In addition, four members of the 1983- other coaching duties throughout his former Lois Huter, reside with their duties as Director of Community Every year, no matter how thin the 84 Rebel squad were selected in the steller caree. He coached in Ecuador four children-Pamela, Jodie, Danny Jerry Tarkanian Relations in 1982. recruiting field is, Taskanian recent college draft. They are Jeff for the People-to-People Sports Com­ and George-in the Charleston Head Coach While at UNLV, Tarkanian has manages to attract only the top Collins (Phoenix Suns, 4th rourld), mittee in April and May of 1968 and he Heights Section of Las Vegas. molded the Rebels into a veritable prospects. For nearly a quarter of a century basketball dynasty. In his 11 season, Among the top recruits Tarkanian Jerry Tarkanian's home has been the he has failed to win 20 games just managed to bring to Long Beach dur­ basketball court.