STAR-BULLETIN / 1982 Chaminade celebrated after defeating Virginia at Blaisdell Arena on Dec. 23, 1982.

The day David
dunked on Goliath

The Maui Invitational features players
and coaches from Chaminade's
legendary upset of No. 1 Virginia

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By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

Usually when former athletes get together, the tales are of the tall and taller variety. In this case, the stories told this morning at Chaminade's Ching Center were all true ... and even taller than 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson

It was a rare reunion commemorating an even rarer event. Some 20 years ago, Chaminade stunned No. 1 Virginia 77-72 in what is considered the greatest upset in college basketball history.

The T-shirts handed out said it all: "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Chaminade."

DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM Former Chaminade coach Merv Lopes recalled telling his players before the game "to go out and show everyone in Hawaii how the game of basketball is played."

The stunning victory by the Silverswords spawned what has become one of the premiere preseason tournaments, the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Next Monday, Chaminade and Virginia will open the 19th annual event at 9 a.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center.

But this morning was not about the present, it was about the past. Virginia great Sampson was in the middle of the players from what has been dubbed "The Team Heard 'Round The World."

Richard Haenisch. Tony Randolph. Jasen Strickland. Tim Dunham. Mark Rodrigues. Mark Wells.

Teammates who traveled from near and far to share the moment and a lot of laughs.

Sampson fired one of the first salvos across the table to former Chaminade coach Merv Lopes.

"Merv, how much did you pay those refs?" questioned the former three-time college player of the year. "But seriously, I knew what we were up against coming to Hawaii. After our tournament in Tokyo (beating Houston). We were relaxed and we weren't prepared to play.

"But in some ways, we didn't lose because it established this tournament. It's the best tournament in the world. And if that game led to this, then I'm blessed to have been a part of it."

Sampson also took a friendly jibe at Randolph, a friend from high school days in Virginia. Randolph elbowed right back.

"Although we battled on the court, Ralph has always been a good friend," said Randolph, who still lives in Honolulu.

"But this is great. I love seeing all the people here and sharing such a special moment. We've come back full circle."

The win forever changed Chaminade. Four days after the Silverswords played the Cavaliers, the school was scheduled to change its name to the University of Honolulu.

DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM Ralph Sampson, left, and Tony Randolph, right, chat before this morning's press conference at Chaminade University.

"There was no way they were going to do that after we beat Virginia," said former CU athletic director Mike Vasconcellos. "We have to thank the University of Hawaii because when they turned down the chance to play Virginia, that's how we got the game.

"It is amazing that one game could affect an entire university."

"It is amazing how it put Chaminade on the map," said Aaron Griess, current Silverswords coach and athletic director. "Recruiting-wise, it still helps 20 years later. The kids we call all know about Chaminade.

"I remember staying up late when I was growing up in Nebraska, watching Chaminade's game, just to see if they could pull it off again. What is amazing is how one game could have such an effect on one university. And when you think about what that team did, it was an amazing feat, given the odds against Chaminade and the size and athleticism of Virginia."

Dunham, at 5-10, hit an electrifying alley-oop in the second half of that game 20 years ago.

"If you missed that game, you missed it," said Dunham, now a pastor in Pittsburg, Calif. "You should have been there."

"The last thing I told them before the game started was to go out and show everyone in Hawaii how the game of basketball is played," said Lopes. "People always asked how we did it. I didn't score a point. I had a cigar afterwards."