The year 2001 in the United States was marred by the most tragic event in the history of our nation, the terrorist attacks of September 11. It was perhaps appropriate that the two best moments of what was a good year in 2001 sports, had some sort of linkage to that awful day.
The desert isn’t generally renowned as a great place to go for sports. But in 2001, it was Arizona—specifically the Tucson area—that had the most to cheer on in. While the entire state could unify around the Diamondbacks run to a thrilling World Series run, it was only half of the state that coalesces around the Arizona Wildcat basketball team that had yearlong reasons to be psyched up—Lute Olson’s Wildcats made the NCAA final. We should note that both 2001 seasons took place against somber backdrops, one personal and one national. Olson’s wife Bobbi passed away early in U of A’s season, and of course the terror attacks of September 11 cast a shadow on the end of the baseball season. But the achievements of both teams, and the joy they brought the fans deserve their own special memory, and that’s what this article will be about.