The story is David Barrett was inspired to write his song after seeing Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics on TV, but he initially wrote it for football with the opening line “The gun goes off …” High school friend Armen Keteyian got the demo in the hands of CBS Sports’ creative director, who planned to use it for a montage after the 1987 Super Bowl until the broadcast ran long. The network still thought it might pair well with NCAA basketball highlights after the championship a few months later and a tradition was born. Barrett, who sang the original version, tweaked the opening to “The ball is tipped …” There have been versions by Teddy Pendergrass, Jennifer Hudson and Ne-Yo, but the best rendition is Luther Vandross’, heard from 1994-99 and since 2011. Sure, it’s a little schmaltzy, but you wouldn’t want it any other way.
13 March Madness things that make the NCAA Tournament special, including Sister Jean, Magic versus Bird, all the tears and, of course, that song
