Father Remains a Figure

John Thompson Jr. and John Thompson III trudged through the airport with friends on Sunday night. About the moment they reached Gate C 24, a well-meaning man excitedly approached Georgetown's former coach.

"Congratulations on that victory," he told Big John, who retired in 1999 and, in point of fact, did not coach the team that had upset Ohio State hours earlier to secure the Hoyas' first round-of-16 appearance in five years.

Thompson, laughing, finally pointed to his son and said: "This is the coach of Georgetown. Right here.'"

They all felt for that embarrassed soul. But, in a larger scheme, the father said: "That stuff has never bothered John. He just rolls with it. He's strong enough as a man to know: I don't want to lose my right to meddle with my child.

"Now, that would frustrate the hell out of me."

John Thompson III taking over his old man's store two years ago seemed more rife with peril than hope. The program had not been truly relevant for a few years, and there was always the danger of being compared to the university's iconic figure, who happens to be his Pops.

Walking in your father's footsteps is one thing. But who on earth would want to coach in Big John's shoes?

Two years later, their relationship -- coupled with JTIII's success -- has become one of college basketball most endearing stories. The young coach is secure, completely unthreatened by his father's presence or influence. In fact, he made the team plane wait for Big John on Sunday night after the Hoyas' historic win. Figuring his son might be hungry, Big John grabbed him a double cheeseburger at Wendy's before climbing aboard.

"He's never made me feel like the door is closed," Big John said. "That's always important to an old man."

They sat next to one another on the way back home. JTIII watched a movie. Big John listened to his oldies music. A few times his mammoth right hand reached over and patted his son on the knee and whispered: "You did a good job. You did a good job." The son smiled back affectionately.

"I like the little stuff where he comes home and kisses me on the forehead and says, 'I'm getting ready to go,' " Big John said. "I want to be cared about by my children."

The public softening of Thompson has been a spectacle to witness from afar. His son's players hug him like a grandfather. For the Westwood One radio network, he will go to Minneapolis and announce his son's game against Florida on Friday night -- knowing he has no real chance at objectivity.