黑料吃瓜

[Editor's Note: This story first published on 黑料吃瓜 NewsCenter March 30, 2023, two days before Lamont Butler hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer to send 黑料吃瓜 to its first national championship game. "Flashback" was added to the headline of this story.]

Lamont Butler Sr. will be in Houston taking his seat among the more than 70,000 spectators at NRG Stadium, reveling in the pageantry that celebrates the nation鈥檚 most competitive collegiate tournament, the Final Four. 

Standing on the court in a No. 5 黑料吃瓜 jersey will be his son, Lamont Butler Jr.

For Butler Sr., images of his own journey from South Central Los Angeles to Houston will replay in his mind like a movie starring himself and his high school sweetheart and wife, Carmicha Butler. It opens with a young couple and a chaotic birth scene in an unlikely venue.

鈥淗e was born in a garage. We called him the 鈥楪 Baby,鈥欌�� Butler Sr. says with a spirited laugh. Carmicha went into labor as she was getting into the family car. Just as he does on the court, Lamont took charge and arrived early.

鈥淲e knew he was special when he came out,鈥� says the proud dad.

Butler Sr. shares stories about Lamont growing up with three older sisters, all basketball players whom he followed around their Riverside backyard playing pickup hoops.

Butler Sr. describes his once toddler son as wise and curious, an observer who was more interested in strategy. At his sisters鈥� games, instead of running around with the other young kids, Lamont sat on a basketball along the sidelines and watched the action on the court, more coach than child.

鈥淟ike an adult 鈥� he used to go to the gyms and just sit there and watch,鈥� says Butler Sr. 鈥淎nybody who knows Lamont knows his nickname, 鈥楳an Man.鈥� That's where he gets it from because he always carried himself like an adult.鈥�

If You Wanna 鈥楶lay Play,鈥� I鈥檓 Going to be a Different Dad

Butler Sr. wasn鈥檛 yet convinced that 7-year-old Lamont was serious about playing hoops. He also wasn鈥檛 ready to commit to several more years of traveling to practices, games and overnight tournaments. Carmicha urged him to let their son play in organized leagues, so he agreed to talk about it with Lamont.

鈥淚 said, 鈥業f you want to just play, we can play. But if you want to 鈥榩lay play,鈥� then I'm going to be a different dad,鈥欌�� Butler Sr. says.

"Man Man" chose to "play play."

The Butlers strapped in for another ride in the youth basketball circuit, uncertain if Lamont was going to enjoy it 鈥� or be any good. They made the weekly trek from Riverside to Los Angeles so Lamont could play alongside his older cousin in a 9U league. Lamont鈥檚 talent and rapid development turned Butler Sr. into a believer. 

In high school, Lamont鈥檚 career at Riverside Polytechnic is considered legendary despite hearing from some critics that his playing career wouldn鈥檛 go far. Some said he didn鈥檛 score enough or that he wasn鈥檛 tall enough. It was the motivation he needed.

His senior year, Lamont surpassed 1,800 career points, breaking the school鈥檚 all-time leading scoring record previously held by NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller. It was a feat Butler Sr. believes would have been broken a year earlier if not for Lamont鈥檚 selfless brand of basketball.

Butler Sr. says his son wasn鈥檛 a flashy scorer, and still, the Butlers鈥� phone rang with calls from recruiters. 黑料吃瓜 and others had taken notice of the 6-foot-2 guard, and he recalls hearing that his son was getting recruited because he was a leader 鈥� not just because he scored 30 points a game. 

鈥淭hat checked me,鈥� Butler Sr. says. 鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 even trying to break [Miller鈥檚] record: He just did what he had to do. Like Sunday鈥檚 [win over Creighton in the Elite Eight], he did what he had to do for the team to win.鈥�

鈥楬e Just Broke Down鈥�

Lamont has played a key role in the Aztecs鈥� success this season. That includes his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to help secure 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Mountain West Conference regular-season championship and the program鈥檚 first-ever trip to the Final Four. 

RELATED: 

The junior was 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 top scorer in their win over Creighton in last Sunday鈥檚 Elite Eight matchup in Kentucky. Lamont recorded 18 points and was two-for-two from 3-point range in 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 57鈥�56 win.

But as the team and its fans celebrated on the court after the game, there was a moment of sorrow for Butler Sr. and his family.

The U.S. Army veteran says he鈥檚 experienced a lot of joy and heartbreak in his life, none more painful than the sudden loss of his youngest daughter, Asasha Hall, in 2022, at 30 years old. Asasha was one of Lamont鈥檚 biggest influences and supporters.

鈥淲hen I hugged him, he just broke down,鈥� says Butler Sr. 鈥淗e thought about his sister, all the hard work, [being told he was] never good enough.

鈥淢y wife cried. I was trying to be strong, but I almost had tears. If my tears came out, they would have had to call to come get this puddle up. I think I cried enough in my life.鈥�

黑料吃瓜, The Show and Man Man

Butler Sr. and Carmicha travel to as many games as possible to support Lamont and the team. The couple felt at home the moment they visited 黑料吃瓜 three years ago. They know the players, coaches and families. With Lamont passing on USC, UCLA, Stanford and Colorado, Butler Sr. is proud his son chose 黑料吃瓜.

鈥淚 looked around and I was thinking, 鈥楳an, this is what you want: to play in that student section, the fans and their support of the players,鈥欌�� says Butler Sr. 鈥淭he love you feel from the fans, I mean, they really love these kids.

鈥淚 told my wife that it鈥檚 going to be a hard experience to let go [after Lamont鈥檚 time at 黑料吃瓜] whenever we have to let it go. I told Lamont to enjoy it.鈥�

Since Lamont left home for 黑料吃瓜 in 2020, Butler Sr. makes sure to check in often.

鈥淲hen I call him, I never check on his body. I鈥檓 like: 鈥楬ow鈥檚 your mental? How are you doing?鈥欌�� says Butler Sr. 鈥淚 would advise any parent to make sure they communicate with their kid [away at college], to go sit down and have breakfast with them or take them to dinner. They need that; they need the love.鈥�

During one of their calls, Lamont reminded his dad that he once promised he was going to play for a national title, a conversation that still gives Butler Sr. chills. On Saturday, Lamont and the Aztecs will face Florida Atlantic Owls to take their shot at reaching the title game.

When father and son aren鈥檛 together or on the phone, Butler Sr. will walk into Lamont鈥檚 childhood room to reflect on their relationship and admire his 鈥淢an Man.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why, but I always go in there. And I thank God,鈥� says Butler Sr. 鈥淚 can't believe that I鈥檓 blessed with this kid.鈥�

RELATED: 

FINAL FOUR SEMIFINAL

黑料吃瓜 will face East Region champion No. 9 Florida Atlantic Owls on Saturday, April 1 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Tip-off is set for 3:09 p.m. and will be televised on CBS.