1983, UGA's Final Four year

Sports

1983, UGA's Final Four year

staff and wire and miscellany photos from the world during 1983.

In March 1983, the University of Georgia basketball team qualified for its first NCAA tournament. With Atlantan James Banks (L) and head coach Hugh Durham, the Bulldogs also shocked the college basketball world by reaching the Final Four with an upset of North Carolina and Michael Jordan. Click through the gallery to see what else happened 25 years ago, in UGA sports and elsewhere.

Dominique Wilkins left UGA after his junior season and was an NBA rookie with the Hawks when the Bulldogs reached the Final Four.

Will UGA still recruit the nephew of the college's all-time greatest player?

Walker's last UGA game was in the 1983 Sugar Bowl, in which Curt Warner and Penn State topped the Dogs for the national championship.

Also bidding farewell in 1983 were Hawkeye, B.J., Hot Lips and the cast of the long-running comedy series M*A*S*H* set during the Korean War.

The big hit record -- before such a term was rendered obsolete by the iPod -- was Michael Jackson's "Thriller." It stayed at the top of the Billboard charts for a record 37 weeks.

President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill making slain Atlanta civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a U.S. federal holiday.

Reagan withdrew U.S. troops in Lebanon after suicide bombers blew up an American military barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Marines. In another tragedy that year, Georgia Congressman Larry McDonald perished when the Korean Air Lines flight 007 on which he was a passenger was shot down over Korea.

Pope John Paul II returned to his native land in Poland in an historic visit in which he was greeted by Lech Walesa, the Solidarity movement leader who helped steer that nation and others behind the Soviet Iron Curtain toward democracy.

On the baseball diamond, Kansas City third baseman George Brett went into a rage against the Yankees and manager Billy Martin over the infamous Pine Tar incident.

In Atlanta, the Braves' Dale Murphy became the sixth player in major league history to steal 30 bases and hit 30 home runs in the same season.

UGA doubled its basketball pleasure when the Lady Bulldogs team, coached by a very young Andy Landers, reached the Women's Final Four with future Olympic legend Teresa Edwards. UGA was the first school to have both teams in the Final Four in the same season.

The Bulldogs came up short in the Final Four against an N.C. State team that won the national title on a miracle shot by Lorenzo Charles. For Banks, the memories of 25 years ago have hardly diminished. "You realize it more when people come up to you or pass by at a game or in the grocery store and they say, 'We really enjoyed watching you guys play.' That's when you pause and say, 'Gosh.' "

1/13

In March 1983, the University of Georgia basketball team qualified for its first NCAA tournament. With Atlantan James Banks (L) and head coach Hugh Durham, the Bulldogs also shocked the college basketball world by reaching the Final Four with an upset of North Carolina and Michael Jordan. Click through the gallery to see what else happened 25 years ago, in UGA sports and elsewhere.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia students organize protests against ICE after Minnesota killings

PHOTOS: Snellville's Brookwood High School students rally and march against ICE

Ice storm warning

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

As storm inches closer to Georgia, metro Atlanta braces for ice threat

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

01202026 day of protests

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

More Galleries

New Falcons president of football Matt Ryan

PHOTOS: Matt Ryan introduced as Falcons President of Football

Pelicans vs Hawks game

PHOTOS: Hawks defeat Pelicans

Pelicans vs Hawks game

PHOTOS: Trae Young reportedly traded to Wizards

aajc 010626 tech syracuse basketball

PHOTOS: Georgia Tech's comeback falls short in loss to Syracuse in ACC basketball