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JASON TERRY JERSEY NO. 31 RETIREMENT THURSDAY
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Steve Rivera has covered the Arizona men’s basketball program for more than 23 years, including currently with FoxSportsArizona.com. He covered the Wildcats for two decades for the Tucson Citizen. He’s covered 17 Final Fours, three NBA Finals and two Olympic Games.
“Through the 20-plus years of covering the University of Arizona, Jason Terry is easily one of the best guys I’ve covered and I’m not talking about ability, but personality.
He’s got it and he gets it. Whenever I needed a quote or something funny J.T. was the go-to guy. Obviously, his senior year was one of the best all-time here at Arizona (it did get tainted a bit with the NCAA problems but that’s come and gone).
J.T. had so many good stories as many have reflected on. I enjoyed him because he was such a good personality.”
In the book authored by Rivera and Anthony Gimino titled, “100 things Arizona fans should know and do before they die”, Terry’s meeting with Lute Olson discussing his sixth man role in 1996-97 was described. Miles Simon returned from his academic suspension and was coming off the bench before Terry met with Olson about being a reserve instead of Simon.
“He said, ‘We’ve got to get Miles back in the starting lineup, Coach,” Olson is quoted in the book. “I said, ‘Yeah, but are you going to sit (Mike) Bibby down? He’s a freshman and his confidence will be totally destroyed.’
“Michael Dickerson? You couldn’t do that. So, I said, ‘Yeah, I agree with you, but who are we going to sit down?’ And J.T. said, ‘Me. I love coming off the bench and I think I can give a team a lift off the bench.'”
Rivera and Gimino also describe Terry’s recruiting trip to Arizona in 1994 with current assistant Damon Stoudamire as his host.
“I just stayed on his couch all night,” Terry is quoted as saying in the book. “Most recruits go out, but I didn’t even go out. I didn’t go to any parties but (instead) watched them go to the 1994 Final Four. I thought, one day we’re going to win it.”
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Site founder and award-winning sports journalist Javier Morales has published his first e-book, “The Highest Form of Living”, a fiction piece about a young man who overcomes a troubled upbringing without his lost father and wayward mother through basketball and hope. His hope is realized through the sport he loves. Basketball enables him to get past his fears. His experience on the court indirectly brings him closer to his parents in a unique, heartfelt way. Please order it at Amazon (for only $4.99) by clicking on the photo:
Definitive Arizona hoops book
Authors Steve Rivera (left) and Anthony Gimino put together the definitive Arizona hoops book late last year titled “100 things Arizona fans should know and do before they die”. You can order the book online through Triumph Books or e-mail Rivera for a copy.
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Jason Terry proclaims Arizona has advanced to four Final Fours in a video released by the Arizona athletic department
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.COM JASON TERRY STORY INTERVIEWS
— Bennett Davison talks about what Terry stirred up the night before the 1997 NCAA title.
— Brett Hansen, former Arizona basketball media relations specialist, offers special stories about Terry, including a touching one about what Terry did for his son.
— Jim Rosborough recalls a funny story about Terry in his first road trip as freshman with the Wildcats in 1995.
— A.J. Bramlett gets a good laugh over Terry’s superstitions after all of these years.
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Ex-#ArizonaWildcats in NBA: Jason Terry – most games, minutes, baskets, 3-pointers, steals, points … and counting. (+ 1 title)
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) February 18, 2015
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has also written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
