Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/99790
As the days passed it became clear that after only 2 ½ years in an Iowa uniform, Street had become the measuring stick as to how basketball should be played. There were many players with more ability than he possessed, but nobody put more of himself into the game. Nobody got more from his ability. Nobody played the game harder. Street had earned the admiration of coaches all over the country with his relentless style of play. That's what Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski said: "Chris was a relentless competitor." Street played his last game at Duke ono national television. During a tough Big Ten campaign, coaches like Northwestern's Bill Foster and Minnesota's Clem Haskins found time to attend Street's funeral. "Some of my players broke down when they heard about his death," Haskins said. Michigan Coach Steve Fisher said, "Now those one-point losses don't matter. This is reality; this really hurts." Purdue Coach Gene Keady said: "There are no words to describe our sadness." Michigan State Coach Judd Heathcote called Chris "a coach's dream." Indiana Coach Bob Knight asked, "What could be more tragic?" Perhaps because Street was the point man in Iowa's full-court press and was often looking in the television camera at the end line, and therefore looking into our living rooms, fans felt they actually knew this Hawkeye. Opposing players had great admiration for Chris. Iowa State's Fred Hoiberg demonstrated his by discarding his jersey and wearing Street's No. 40 the remainder of the season. Other than his immediate family, those who had the most difficult time dealing with Street's death were his teammates and coaches. Iowa basketball shut down for several days as they went into seclusion and mourned their loss. USA Today reported that "An entire state paid homage" the day of his funeral, Jan. 22. Then Coach Tom Davis, in uncharted waters, showed great sensitivity in pulling his players together to face the rest of the season. "Chris lived life to the fullest every day," the coach reminded his players, suggesting that Street would want his teammates to do the same thing. The courageous Hawkeyes won 10 of their remaining 15 Big Ten games to earn an NCAA tournament berth. Street grew up watching Hawkeye games on TV in his hometown of Indianola, and he made a verbal commitment to play for Iowa before entering his junior year of high school. His dream came true the day he donned a black and gold uniform, took the court and competed as a Hawkeye for the first time. Not many current Iowa players knew Chris Street. Ryan Bowen, while still in high school, remembers More than one adult expressed their grief this way: playing against him one summer in Iowa City's "I feel like I've lost a son." Jill Winegarden, 11, of Prime Time League. Kent McCausland recalls Cedar Rapids wrote in Sports Illustrated for Kids: "I meeting him once. felt like he was my best friend just from watching In their daily routine, the Iowa players are him play. He always looked like he was having so reminded of Chris when they pass his picture, much fun." encased at the entrance of their locker room, or Street was a favorite with members of the news notice his jersey No. 40, which in retirement hangs media because, win or lose, he was always willing inside the door. to talk. He never ducked an interview, and Maybe if the Hawkeyes draw strength from those reporters greatly appreciated that. Regardless of daily reminders and play each game just a little the game's outcome, he would patiently answer harder, some sense can be made of his death. questions in his easygoing, friendly manner. Lots Maybe. We'd like to think so, anyway. of athletes — professional as well as college — could take a lesson from that. 46