A chuckle is heard in the raspy voice. Then a pause. And then a sigh.
John Dick knows that tonight will be special. He knows that the 75th anniversary of McArthur Court will be a memorable event that will gather more than 50 former players and coaches of the Oregon basketball family.
He recognizes the magnitude of bringing back Willamette to face Oregon at 7 p.m. tonight in a rematch of the Jan. 14, 1927, game between the two schools that marked the beginning of what is now the oldest Division I facility in the nation.
He just wishes some of his teammates could be there, too.
Dick scored a team-high 13 points to lead Oregon’s “Tall Firs” over Ohio State, 46-33, on March 27, 1939, in the first ever NCAA Tournament final.
He loved his teammates. They were his family. Together, they made up a team that will forever be mentioned in McArthur Court lore.
But tonight, when Dick, 83, is among those honored at halftime, he will be the only player present from Oregon basketball’s lone championship team.
“I miss all of my teammates,” Dick said. “I’m one of the few survivors. Coach is gone. The student manager is gone. The trainer is gone. All of the starters except me are gone.
“That makes it a little less joyous occasion, but it’s still nice to know that people care.”
But Dick also knows that tonight’s anniversary celebration isn’t about his team. That special group has had plenty of reunions over the years, including at the 1988 Final Four when the NCAA honored 50 years of the tournament.
Tonight, it’s about the building.
“Mac Court is a grand old place,” Dick said. “I don’t think there’s a better place to play anywhere in the country.”
And back when Dick was playing, the building went by a different nickname rather than “the Pit.”
“It was called The Igloo,” Dick said. “It had a rounded dome, which has since been replaced. If you looked at Mac Court from a distance it would have reminded you of an igloo. But it was well-heated.”
After Dick’s playing days were over, he served as an admiral in the U.S. Navy, where he commanded the famed aircraft carrier Saratoga for two years. When he retired from the Navy in 1973, he moved back to Eugene and immediately began going to Oregon basketball games.
The waiting list for season tickets was long. But he waited his turn. Finally, after two different sets of tickets, including a pair near the roof, he was given the seats he desired.
Section 103. Row 2. Seats 1 and 2.
He’s been there for every home game for many years. He used to always go with his wife, but after she passed away in the summer of 1999, he began going with friends.
“My seats are the best seats in the house,” Dick said. “I never miss a game. I’m going to keep these tickets for as long as they’re playing at Mac Court.”
Current Ducks said people such as Dick add to the Pit’s uniqueness and are a part of why so many former players were so eager to return for tonight’s anniversary. Once people become attached to Mac Court, the connection usually lasts a lifetime.
“Mac Court is just the building; it’s the people that make Mac Court special,” said Oregon coach Ernie Kent, who played for the Ducks from 1974-77. “It’s a special time for this community and even the state to stand up and applaud a great building. And to applaud themselves for giving it such a tremendous reputation across the country.”
Dick will serve as an honorary game captain for Oregon, while Willamette will be represented by Dick Hoy, who played for the Bearcats from 1952-55.
“This is going to be a terrific celebration for the University and for the city of Eugene because of Mac Court’s rich history and tradition,” Oregon Associate Athletic Director Dave Heeke said.
Tonight’s game gives the current Oregon men’s basketball team (12-4, 5-1) a chance to realize how rich a history they are part of and to take a break from the rigorous Pacific-10 Conference. After their sweep of the Bay Area schools over the weekend, the Ducks climbed to No. 23 in Monday’s Associated Press poll.
And Dick, who is a strong advocate of team play, loves watching this year’s Ducks.
“Last year we had a few players more interested in possibly playing in the NBA … and it showed,” Dick said. “This year, they’re a team and a fun group to watch. People in the crowd sense that and feel better watching it.
“It’s very special.”
So will be the sight of the former Ducks, including Dick, gathered together at halftime tonight, once again receiving applause in the building they’ve never forgotten.
E-mail assistant sports editor Jeff Smith at [email protected].