"shows too much self confidence"-Christian Laettner's 3rd grade teacher.

Born in the Buffalo area on August 17, 1969, Laettner grew up with two sisters and an older brother in the suburban village of Angola in Erie County. His father George worked as a printer for the Buffalo News, his mother Bonnie taught school. He led Buffalo's prestigious Nichols High School to a pair of State championships, was named State Player of the Year, then played for Duke University from 1989 through 1992. As a 6' 11" center/forward, Laettner led the Duke Blue Devils to the NCAA final four each year, and won the NCAA basketball title in 1991 and 1992, sweeping every major individual NCAA basketball award. In 1992 in Barcelona Spain, he won a gold medal as a member of the first "Dream Team" loaded with Pro basketball stars.

Duke's march to the 1991 title may have begun with a painful defeat in the ACC tournament final, in which Duke were humiliated by Carolina. Laettner openly argued with team mate Bobby Hurley and cussed at officials. After the game, coach Mike Krzyzewski rallied the team, and told them they would win the national championship.

In the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Duke were placed in the Midwest bracket, beginning that year in Minneapolis. Seeded number 2, the Blue Devils defeated Northeast Louisiana 102-73, then beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 85-70 to win the bracket. Moving on to the regional in Pontiac Michigan, Duke defeated the University of Connecticut 81-67, Laettner leading the way with 19 points, then downed St John's 78-61, winning the Northwest regional and setting up a showdown with arch rivals UNLV in the final four.

UNLV had intimidated and crushed Duke by 30 points in the 1990 NCAA championship game, causing at least one Blue Devil player to have nightmares during the off season. This time, Duke refused to back down, and won the game 79-77. The margin of victory provided by Christian Laettner, the best free throw shooter in the history of the NCAA tournament, who sank two foul shots with just under 13 seconds to play. In the final against Kansas, Duke lead all the way, winning its first NCAA basketball title 72-65. A tired Chris Laettner made 12 free throws in a row.

On December 6, 1991 Christian Laettner had a triumphant return to Western New York. Duke were in town to play Buffalo's small Canisius College, and Erie County declared "Christian Laettner Home coming weekend". When the team arrived at the airport, a press conference was carried live on all Buffalo TV stations. Laettner held forth for his team mates on the subject of Buffalo style chicken wings, and mobs of autograph seekers followed the Duke players everywhere they went. The game, held December 7, 1991 saw the largest crowed ever in Buffalo for a college basketball game, as over 16,000 fans crowded the Memorial Auditorium downtown. Final score, Duke 96, Canisius 60, the fans were happy to see the home town hero and the national champion team. That evening 350 people showed up at a reception for the Duke team at Nichols High School, which Laettner had led to two State championships. It was a red letter day in Buffalo's basketball history.

After playing for the U.S. national team in the Pan American games, Laettner was ready to lead his team to another national title in 1992. Duke won the ACC tournament championship 94-74, and Laettner was voted tournament MVP. Seeded number one in the Eastern regional, Duke began the NCAA playoffs in Greensboro N.C. with an 86-52 win over Campbell, and a 75-62 decision over Iowa. Moving on to Philadelphia for the next round, Duke defeated the Seaton Hall Pirates 81-69, setting up what many call the greatest basketball game ever played, and the most famous shot in basketball history.

It was a struggle against the Kentucky wildcats for the Eastern regional title, and a fourth consecutive trip to the final four for Duke. The Wildcats rallied late in regulation to force overtime. With just over 2 seconds remaining in the extra period, Kentucky lead 103-102. Duke called time out. What happened next will live forever in basketball history. Duke's Grant Hill had to throw the ball three quarters of the length of the court. Laettner ran from the left corner to the area just behind the foul line. A Kentucky player who was not properly positioned did not see him. Laettner caught the pass with his back to the basket, juked right, pivoted left, and let fly a 17 foot jump shot with 3 tenths of a second remaining. Watching from the sidelines, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski knew the shot was good before it went in. Final score Duke 104-Kentucky 103.

In Minneapolis for the final four, the Blue Devils struggled to an 81-78 victory over Bobby Knight's Indianapolis Hoosiers, despite several late game mistakes by Christian Laettner. Duke then defeated Michigan 71-51 for its second consecutive NCAA title.

By the end of his college basketball career, Laettner held the NCAA basketball records for most Final Fours as a starter (4) most games (148), and NCAA tournament career scoring. He also held the mark for most free throws attempted and most free throws made. Laettner then made the round of popular talk shows, "Arsenio Hall", "David Letterman" The "Tonight show with Jay Leno".

Yet, just over a week after the 1992 Championship game, a disturbing report surfaced in the press. The Winston-Salem Journal published a copyrighted article by Bill Nichols, the headline of which suggested that Duke might have to give up its NCAA title! The reason given was a diary that Laettner kept during the season for publication in GQ magazine, a possible violation of NCAA rules. In fact, Duke had gone through proper NCAA channels before Laettner had even been told about the magazine's plan, and when NCAA spokesman Jim Marchionny announced that no wrong doing had taken place, the whole matter faded away. Another controversy erupted when Laettner came up one credit short of graduating in May of 1992. Some reporters wanted to know if Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski would take down Laettner's retired #32 Jersey and National Championship banner from the ceiling at Duke's home arena. That controversy also faded out, when Laettner graduated after attending summer school.

Laettner had played for U.S. teams in international competitions when many other college players were resting during the off season. Perhaps this was one reason he was chosen to be the only college player on the first "dream team", the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team loaded with NBA stars.

In 1935 the International Basketball Federation (FIBB) of Geneva Switzerland, forerunner of today's FIBA, received recognition from the International Olympic Committee, resulting in Men's basketball being an official sport in the 1936 games. Since 1974 U.S. Olympic basketball has been run by an organization called "USA Basketball", which wanted only amateurs to play in the Olympic tournament. They raised money by asking for donations and would allow a company to call itself an "official sponsor" in return for a large enough donation.

By the late 1980's, U.S. national basketball teams were regularly being beaten in international play, including the 1988 Olympics and 1990 world championships. Other nations, with the exception of Russia, wanted top U.S. pros to be allowed to play in the Olympics. They were willing to concede the gold to the U.S. for the experience of playing against the best. USA Basketball tried to keep the professionals out, and lost three quartes of their traditional sources of revenue when they failed. On April 7, 1989, the FIBA (International Basketball Federation), changed its rules to allow "open competition", in other words, to allow professionals in Olympic basketball.

A selection committee from both professional and amateur basketball was formed. The pros included Charles Grantham, executive director of the NBA players Association, Quinn Buckner, a former player, NBA vice president Rod Thorn, and six General Managers of NBA teams. Those from the amateur side included C.M Newton, Kentucky athletic director, Christian Laettner's coach form Duke University Mike Krzyzewski, and other well known college coaches. After plenty of arguing and back room deals, here is the unbeatable lineup they selected;

Dream Team lineup-Coach: Chuck Daly, Assistant Coaches: Lenny Wilkens, P.J. Carlesimo, Mike Krzyzewski;
Players: Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, John Stockton. This team won every game with ease. The average margin of victory? A mere 43.8 points! In high school and at Duke, Laettner had been the star. On the Olympic team he was sometimes the object of practical jokes by his team mates, and did not get as much playing time as the NBA players. He did, however, have one friend on the team, Charles Barkley.

This team tuned up by winning the Tournament of the Americas with a 6-0 record.
USA 136 Cuba 57
USA 105 Canada 61
USA 112 Panama 52
USA 128 Argentina 87
USA 119 Puerto Rico 81
USA 127 Venezuela 80
Christian Laettner played in all 6 games, shooting 18 for 31 (including 3 for 7 three point shots), and was 5 for 8 from the free throw line for a total of 44 points, and had 2 assists and 3 steals.

The team then won Olympic gold at Barcelona
1992 U.S. Men's Olympic results;

• U.S. 116, Angola 48
• U.S. 103, Croatia 70
• U.S. 111, Germany 68
• U.S. 127, Brazil 83
• U.S. 122, Spain 81
• U.S. 115, Puerto Rico 77
• U.S. 127, Lithuania 76
• U.S. 117 Croatia 85

After the U.S. defeated Croatia in the final, Laettner was the first to receive his gold medal, presented by International Olympic Committee chairman Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Christian Laettner began his professional carrier with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and currently (March 2002) is a member of the Washington Wizards. As many expected, he has not been as dominant in the NBA, but his is a solid starting player, and once made the NBA all-star team. He is also the Buffalo area's last Olympic gold medal winner of the 20th century. On a sad note, the NBA hit Laettner with a 5 game no-pay suspension on 1-13-04 for violating the league's policy on substance abuse. Laettner apologised to his fans and team mates on the Washington Wizards. He should also have apologised to his home town. BUT...lets remember the good things he accomplished on the court...

"Certainly Duke is Duke. They're on TV more than 'Leave it to Beaver' reruns..."Virginia Basketball coach Pete Gillen.

Christian Laettner's Duke Years (from the Encyclopedia of College Basketball, Mike Douchant, Visible Ink Press);

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