The Len Bias Legacy - Timeline

Dave Ungrady

Oct 4

4 min read

October 5, 2014

Len Bias Featured

in Terp Magazine

For the first time since the death of Len Bias, a periodical connected to the University of Maryland published a feature about him. Bias was featured on the magazine's cover. The story that stretched six pages inside the magazine prompted a sample of responses, as presented below.

Read the story online

How Did Readers React to the Story?

Thanks…

I have never written to a magazine before, but your article on Len Bias really touched me. Such a wonderful person, such a tragic loss. I never heard a bad word about him. Everybody is entitled to a “pass” for a mistake. Why didn’t he get his? Godspeed, Len.

Allan Weber ’87

Robbinsville, N.J.

No Thanks…

I take issue with your celebration of Len Bias’ election to Maryland Athletics’ Hall of Fame. While your article referenced the circumstances around Bias’ death, the tone of the piece suggested that his selection to the hall was, without question, the right thing to do. I disagree. Bias had the opportunity to represent the university on the grandest of stages and to put himself in a position to give back to his school and his community. Instead he wasted his talent and threw away his life.

So many Maryland athletes have done more for the school and the community while serving in anonymity. I’d have respected your editorial board far more if they made the decision to highlight one of these athletes instead. Indeed, they might even have gone so far as to acknowledge a student for their academic or artistic accomplishments. To elevate Bias does all of us a disservice. Bias may have achieved great things inside Cole Field House, but his legacy, sadly, rests in Washington Hall.

Paul Myette ’98

Byfield, Mass.

Thanks…

I am not a Maryland alum, but I was raised by Maryland basketball. I proudly grew up right next door to the university in University Park. Your article brought me to tears.

As a tween, I spent my summers running through Cole Field House learning to play tennis and swim with Dr. Steele. But in between the tennis courts and the swimming pool, what we were all really looking for was a glimpse of the greatness of Len Bias. And oh, when we saw him… Oh, our jaws dropped in awe, giggled in glee, and quickly extended our hands in hopes of touching greatness.

I always will always remember the day Len Bias died. What I remember was watching my younger brother sit in front of the television in tears. How do you explain the death of greatness to an 8-year old boy? Len Bias deserves to be recognized by Maryland. He was great, he inspired, and he was a kind soul. And he was a young man who made a silly mistake… and he paid for that mistake with his life.

As Merlyn said to a young King Arthur, “The best thing for being sad is to learn something.” I am now 43 years old. My parents still have their season tickets to Maryland basketball. With every Maryland basketball game win (or even loss), every time, you can still hear someone mention Len Bias. Pretty amazing that his amazing smile, kind heart and determined spirit still linger through the crowd.

And maybe what we have learned from the great sadness is to remember what was good and not the mistakes. Thank you for reminding us of that. Well done!

Karen D. Groppe

Bethesda, Md

No Thanks…

It is really disappointing to see the picture of Len Bias on the cover page and the centerfold after 30 years. Len Bias was in the news when I arrived to the U.S. and joined the UMD system, and I am surprised that after doing nothing for last 25th, Len Bias still occupies the cover page of Terp.

Len Bias was a gifted player but portraying him as the greatest—UMD is celebrating drug abuse on a college campus. This culture of drugs should not be celebrated at all. I am disappointed that a university system wants focus more on “sports” rather than education. Please celebrate leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, journalists and not some 18- to 20-year old who became famous by throwing a ball in the hoop.

Sunil Kolhekar

Potomac, Md.

I was extremely disappointed when the University of Maryland Athletic Department elevated Len Bias to Hall of Fame status. In this day of multimillion-dollar athletic departments run by businessmen with little input from the academic departments of the university, it didn’t surprise me. It seems that the motto of athletics is “my thugs can beat your thugs and misfits.” A coke-snorting Len Bias fit right in to that category. You have given a message to the youth in America that it is OK to do drugs so long as you win games and bring athletic glory to the athletic department. For shame.

George Hogan ’57

Southbury, Conn.

Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an accident while riding a bicycle when he was working as a volunteer on the project. The honor his memory, the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism has established the Enzo Bibes Alvarenga Endowed Scholarship in Journalism. For more information and to support the scholarship, click the button below.

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